Your private discovery tour starts in the lively Piazza Santa Maria Novella, with the beautiful Dominican church of the same name (interior*), where you can appreciate great masterpieces such as Brunelleschi's Crucifix, and Masaccio's Trinity. You will then proceed through the characteristic little square of the Croce al Trebbio and along elegant Via Tornabuoni to reach Palazzo Strozzi.

A little further on you come to Palazzo Davanzati and the 14th century Palagio di Parte Guelfa by Brunelleschi. Shortly afterwards you reach the Ponte Vecchio, the "Jewelers' Bridge", one of the symbols of Florence;. You will then pass through the Piazzale degli Uffizi to enter Piazza della Signoria, a splendid "open-air sculpture museum", overlooked by the famous and imposing Palazzo Vecchio.

The tour continues through the heart of the Medieval city to Dante Alighieri's house and church, and on to the Cathedral Complex, where your tour ends.

For centuries Venice was a republic of immense power; controlling trade routes in the Adriatic, and waging successful wars with rival states. Ruled by a doge, who had his powers controlled by a cabinet, Venice was a proud and rich republic, known as la Serenissima, the most serene. Every year the Doge would take part in a symbolic ceremony, the Marriage of the Sea, to celebrate Venice's mastery over the ocean.

Like most great powers, however, Venice's glory was followed by a decline. La Serenissima lost her chattels in wars, and the city's trade routes declined in importance after the discovery of the New World. By the eighteenth century, Venice was already seeking profits from the tourist trade, leasing fine 'palazzi' to foreign travelers.

Venice is composed of more than a hundred tiny islets, packed closely together around canals. The city is in a lagoon, protected by the longer island of Venice Lido. Venice is famously sinking. Every year high water levels (acqua alta) threaten the city's fabric, and it has long been feared that the beautiful city will one day disappear beneath the water. Many ideas (and funds) have been put forward to protect the endangered heritage site; current plans include a giant water-gate.

The first stop this morning is to Agrigento town to admire the fascinating and famous Valley of the Temples. Agrigento was founded as Akragas around 582 BC by a group of colonists from Gela. In the historical center of the city, the Romanesque Gothic Cathedral, built during the 14th Century, still displays some of its medieval character, as does the 13th Century Church of San Nicola. In the Valley of the Temples - which UNESCO included in the list of the World's Heritage - are the ruins of numerous temples but also necropolis, houses, streets and many other remnants of an ancient city. The Temple of Concord, built around 440 BC, which is still in good condition, and is illuminated at night, is a sight to behold. A number of telamons (large segmented stone columns in the form of human figures) have been preserved.

Then you reach Sciacca less than an hour's drive west from Agrigento. Sciacca is a picturesque seaside town built on rocky hills that overlook the splendid beaches and the Mediterranean Sea midway between Marsala and Agrigento. It has several interesting churches and monuments but it is best known for its numerous artisan ceramics shops, thermal baths and beautiful beaches. Also it is famous for its elaborate Carnival festival, which is the Acireale's Carnival as one of the best in Sicily. Time for lunch and some wine tasting in a winery of this area which is rich in vineyards where they produce excellent Sicilian wine.

The city of Selinunte proper, known as the "Acropolis," is situated on high land overlooking the Mediterranean Sea which is about 20 meters below. Its an Archaeological Park and the biggest in Europe. It is famous as one of the most important cities of Greek Sicily for a period of about 2 Centuries, when it was one of the most progressive Greek cities in Sicily.