In an era where most travel is about reaching the destination as quickly as possible, the opportunity to undertake a truly enjoyable journey is something to savour. Inspired by a golden age of Italian glamour and cinematic beauty, La Dolce Vita Orient Express harkens back to when travel was an elegant affair celebrating indulgence and discovery. Eight exclusive itineraries traverse 14 regions, inviting you to unveil Italy as you’ve never seen it before.

Departing from Rome’s Ostiense station, passengers can embark on a two-day jaunt across the romantic hills of Tuscany to sip Brunello in Montalcino with the Tuscan vineyard route, or head east to the Unesco-heritage stones of Matera and the medieval magnificence of Pescocostanzo. Northbound routes reveal the floating serenity of Venice’s canals before returning to Rome via either the historic city of Siena or the charming Portofino on the Italian Riviera. In the northwestern region of Piedmont, the experience of walking the truffle paths of Nizza Monferrato is enriched with tradition, including local-wine tasting followed by a delectable truffle-based lunch.

Venice

Rome

You can even visit Sicily, with the outbound train from Rome loaded directly onto a ferry to cross the Strait of Messina after a fascinating cultural stop in Maratea. Once on the island, you’ll enjoy the sea-kissed charm of Taormina and Palermo’s Baroque grandeur. The same journey can also be made in reverse from Palermo to the capital, or you can forgo the mainland leg and focus on a mosaic of Trinacrian stories with the Shores of Sicily route, which encircles the coast from the fiery volcanic splendour of Catania, via Palermo and Taormina.

Taormina

Whichever route you choose, onboard, Italian excellence is de rigueur. From the refined interiors echoing 1960s sophistication to three-star Michelin menus devised by world-renowned chef Heinz Beck, every detail celebrates the dolce vita – artfully unhurried, endlessly tasteful and deeply connected to place.

This is not simply travel – this is a celebration of a nation’s past and present, experienced through the frame of a moving masterpiece. It’s an invitation to slow down and appreciate the true heart of Italy, one unforgettable stop at a time.

Reserve your voyage

Matera