Romantic Tour of Italy’s Most Enchanting Destinations

On your first full day in Italy, this romantic setting will come alive on a tour unlike any you have experienced. Towering over you like twin giants, the mountains of Amalfi begin at the town’s edges and climb precipitously into green oblivion. Into this lush environment, you will venture on a horseback tour of the Amalfi Coast. A short drive will carry you to the trailhead, where you will be met by your guides and horses. A detailed orientation will ensure your comfort with your new form of travel before you proceed along the earthy trails.

Today, you will visit one of the area’s finest day spas. In the morning, you can sleep in or visit some of the top attractions in Amalfi. The main cathedral in town provides some stunning examples of Late-Baroque and Byzantine architecture and overlooks a sturdy town square. After you have had the chance to explore this town, a private car will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to a luxury spa. At the conclusion of your visit, you can ask the staff for recommendations of local restaurants or follow a more spontaneous strategy to enjoy a dinner of local ingredients and excellent hospitality.

After breakfast this morning, your guide will lead you over the Sorrentine peninsula to the main rail line that services the area. First-class rail accommodations will then carry you toward the Italian Capital. When you arrive in Rome, a short transfer will carry you the remaining distance to your accommodation. Upon arrival, you will waste no time in getting acquainted with the city. The Villa Borghese park offers visitors a lush landscape of manicured gardens, groves, and grottos and boasts one of the best art galleries in the city. Here, you can enjoy a prepared picnic with local ingredients and entrance to the Borghese gallery.

Rome boasts an impressive array of historical sites, romantic walks, exquisite art galleries, and much more. For your first full day in the city, you will visit some of the city’s iconic sites on a guided tour of the city center. A guide will rendezvous with you at your hotel before leading you to a nearby gelateria for your first sample of this frozen dessert. The tour also includes stops at the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps. A saunter to the top of the Spanish Steps will afford you an excellent place to watch the sunset.

Your Roman holiday will conclude with a visit to a theater with over a century of history under its belt. The Teatro dell’Opera is the premier opera house in the city. Here, operas and ballets appear, and locals and visitors alike witness some of the most timeless performances in Europe. With weekly performances, you will definitely have the chance to see some of the best international talent in the opera house. Attendance will involve formal attire, and like many things in Rome, a trip to the opera house is best paired with a full-course Italian meal.

Today, you will journey to the rural beauty of Tuscany and its vibrant capital of Florence. This burgeoning community that straddles the Arno river affords visitors breathtaking examples of Renaissance artwork along with some of the country’s finest winemaking. It is this latter quality you will explore upon your arrival to the city. With Chianti and Sangiovese as popular exports, you can feel free to venture into some of the more avant-garde types because the producers here enjoy centuries worth of experience.

Today will present you with an opportunity to roll up your sleeves on an active introduction to one of Italy’s most cherished and fabled institutions. The Italian kitchen has long been the crucible for some of the world’s finest dishes along with the chefs that produce them. After you have enjoyed a day of exploring the city at your own pace, you and your partner will venture to a nearby kitchen to learn the secrets of the Italian kitchen and how to make the perfect plate of pasta.

Today, you will explore the non-culinary legacy of this jewel of Tuscany. Comfortable shoes will be the vehicle of choice because you will indulge in a walking tour of the city’s artistic and architectural attractions. By the time your head hits the pillow this evening, you will have witnessed some of the highlights of the Renaissance, the largest brick dome in the world, and one of the best views of the city.

After a relaxing breakfast, a driver will transfer you to the central rail station for your first-class accommodations. Venice remains a floating city, and a combination of private car and water taxi will carry you the remaining distance to your accommodation in Venice. Upon your arrival, you will have the remainder of the afternoon to uncover the pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods of Old Venice at your leisure. As you explore, you will notice the exquisitely carved and painted masks that hang in shop stores and vendor stalls. In the evening, you will have a chance to make them during a mask-making course in a nearby studio.

Relaxation will be the theme for your final full day in Venice. In the late morning, you will make your way to the marina to board a private boat that will provide a perspective of Venice from the waves. Starting with some of the major attractions in the city, your guide will regale you with stories of the city and the local lore that contributes to making this a top destination in European travel. Your voyage will then turn its back on the palaces and piazzas of Venice for the countryside and a trip up the Brenta river. Once in Padua, you will have the option to stay for dinner before a private driver ensures your comfortable return to Venice.

The morning of your final day in Venice will afford a small window to see any last-minute sights or to sample that tasty pastry you noticed in the window of a nearby bakery. Soon, a private driver will transfer you to the airport for your flight home.