Paris and Rome for Couples Itinerary

Paris is an iconic city of romance stemming from an ambiance of sweet confections, luscious dinners, and photogenic cobblestone streets. Essential Paris retains the dreamy mixture of luxury and passion, secluded beauty, and endless artwork matched only by the prestige of the fashionable boutiques and tree-lined avenues. Your flight lands at Charles de Gaulle Airport, where your private transfer greets you upon arrival. The city shimmers during the day with light-reflecting against the River Seine. Your guide greets you in the comforts of your hotel and leads you into the grandeur of Paris for a private tour ending at the marvels of the Eifel Tower.

The renowned image of Paris was erected in 1889 as the entrance of the World’s Fair Exhibition. The masterful architecture continues to tower above the lawn along the Champs de Mars standing approximately 1007 feet tall. Seeing the Eifel Tower in person has an indelible romantic charm welcoming you to Paris. In the evening, you step aboard a quiet boat on the River Seine and set sail for a dinner cruise. The city shines alongside the banks reflecting in the rippling waters highlighting the shape of the Louvre Museum with the Eifel Tower in the background. The scent of butter, champagne, and rosemary fill the dining room as you toast to a majestic first day in Paris.

The Louvre Museum resides in the sumptuous palace once belonging to the King of France. The marvels of the museum derive from over 30,000 works of art stretching from antiquity to medieval times including European paintings crafted from the 15th to 19th centuries. Your guide meets you in the courtyard near the glossy glass pyramid eager to introduce you to the splendors of Italian Renaissance sculptures and masterpieces spanning the millennia. The scent of espresso and fresh croissants swirl around the café inside the museum blending with the floral aromas from the Jardin des Tuileries across the avenue.

Your guide leads you through the massive halls of the Louvre Museum until reaching the gorgeous 18th-century Neoclassical sculpture of “Psyche Revived by the Kiss of Love,” crafted by Antonio Canova. The sunlight floods the Pavillon de Flore glinting against the marble skin of the mythological gods from Ovid’s Metamorphoses reflecting how Cupid revives Psyche with a kiss. The lifelike movement and expression embody passion, down to the precise detail of Cupid’s wings.

In the afternoon, your exploration of Paris’s entrancing artwork continues at the Musee d’Orsay. The gallery’s famous collection of Impressionist art embodies the beauty of the Belle Époque, both in the artwork and in the design of the former turn of the century railway station. You reach Degas’s “Dinner at the Ball,” painted in 1879. The small painting shows the power of nuance in social commentaries told in vibrant colors exemplifying subtle decadences like expensive suits, rich dresses decorated with gold, and glistening chandeliers.

The Palace of Versailles is a symbol of opulence and the essence of absolute monarchy. The grounds were designed to dazzle visitors, inspire nobles, and remind the aristocracy of the French king’s glory. You venture to the elegant palace grounds after breakfast, easily stricken by the baroque façade and monumental expanse of the galleries, halls, and gardens encompassing over three square miles. The Hall of Mirrors glistens with reflective beauty spanning nearly 240 feet long with 17 ornamental mirrors. Extravagant chandeliers shimmer in the light above gilded statues and beneath the painted ceilings showcasing the remarkable grandeur spreading across every layer of the room. The hall was designed to impress visitors and staff as the passageway leading between the royal apartments.

The gardens stretch beyond the parameters of beauty resembling a piece of artwork with perfectly trimmed hedges and lawns until shaped into captivating geometric patterns. Walkways parade along the edges of waterfalls, pools, and fountains reaching a classic orange grove and a small Austrian hamlet constructed for Marie-Antoinette. Stroll hand-in-hand along the garden grounds until finding the Dragon Fountain at the end of a semi-circle. The artwork derives from a legend regarding Apollo, who killed the serpent Python with an arrow.

The charming neighborhood of Montmartre continues to captivate visitors and locals of Paris with the stories of Bohemian artists from the Belle Époque. When walking along the cobbled lanes winding up the hillside, you can’t help but marvel at the joie de vivre emanating from the merry-go-rounds, comfortable sidewalk cafes, and sporadic artists capturing the gorgeous white dome of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica crowning the hillside. The interior of the church contains hints of frankincense and myrrh illuminated with the flickering light of wax candles. Climbing the 300 steps of the top of the terrace provides as romantic panorama offering vies to the Opera House and Notre-Dame de Paris.

Your exploration of Paris continues with confections tour of Paris urging you to indulge in the sweeter side of the city. Your knowledgeable guide introduces you to the specialties of the city, of France, and of specific chocolateries across Paris by sampling the diverse flavors and remarkable culture surrounding the sweet treats. Begin the tour by sharing a decadent bite of a chocolate truffle finding the rich, dark chocolate coating your palate.

The Eternal City of Rome has inspired romances for over two millennia and captured the hearts of lovers in the histories, mysteries, stories, and art preserved along the labyrinth of cobblestone streets. Your brief flight from Paris lands at Fiumicino Airport where your private transfer greets you upon arrival. The city quickly enchants you with visions of the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and promises of master artists, Michelangelo and Raphael. You meet your guide in the hotel lobby before setting out on a sunset guided tour of Rome starting at the Spanish steps.

The marble stairway leads from Trinità dei Monti don wot the Piazza di Spagna. A bubbling fountain resembling a boat stands at the foot of the steps and was designed by famous baroque sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The fashionable shops along Via Condotti present window displays like artwork before you reach the splendor of Piazza Navona. The cafes fill the air with the aroma of espresso. The Fountain of the Four Rivers demands attention with four significant figures acting as allegories for the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Rio de le Plata rivers.

In the morning, you have an easy walk to the Borghese Gardens at the heart of the ancient city connected to the grand villa supported by Cardinal Scipione Borghese. The patron of the arts amassed one of the most extensive private art collections in the world featuring paintings, sculptures, mosaics, and reliefs while the gardens transformed into a public park with charming walking paths, ponds, and landscaped hedges. Enjoy an Italian-style breakfast as a picnic in the park by sipping a cappuccino and indulging in the balanced sweet flavors of a cornetto stuffed with cream. The park in the morning retains sensible tranquility that is perfect for enjoying your lover’s company.

The remainder of the day is yours to wander around the beauty of the Eternal City until arriving at the Vatican in the afternoon for an exclusive after-hours tour. The museum galleries contain approximately 70,000 works of art averaging 20,000 on display at any time. The opulence in the halls reminds you of the Versailles until you reach “The School of Athens,” a 16th-century painting by Raphael. The work depicts contemporaries of Raphael as famous philosophers during the Golden Age of Athens with Leonardo da Vinci at the center of the image representing Socrates. Visiting the museum after hours brings a unique quiet to the halls allowing you to enjoy the elegant and complex details of each work you pass.

The aroma of ciambelle—Italian donuts—and rich espresso fills the morning air as you reach the steps of the Capitoline Museums. The galleries were opened in the 15th century becoming the world’s oldest public museums with one of Italy’s best classical sculpture collections. A giant head, hand, and foot decorates the interior courtyard reflecting the remnants of a massive statue of Constantine that once graced the Basilica di Massenzio in the Roman Forum standing over 39 feet tall. The gallery hosts the famous Lupa Capitolina, the sculpture depicting Romulus and Remus suckling the wolf, which has become a symbol of Rome.

You meet your guide and private chef in the afternoon. You are eager to learn more about the authentic recipes of Roman cuisine you can take back home. You begin your traditional Italian meal with an Italian apertivo, a glass of wine or cocktail, and a fun conversation with the chef. The chef introduces the ingredients for making simple, yet delicious pasta, consisting of semolina flour, egg, salt, pepper, and cheese. You quickly prepare the iconic Roman dish of Cacio e Pepe, a pasta with a black pepper and cheese sauce exemplifying delicious, simple cuisine made from local, accessible ingredients. The succulent dish offers perfect insight into the passion for Italian cuisine.

Before your flight home, you return to the Trevi Fountain early in the morning to throw a coin in. The legend states those who stand with their back to the pool and throw a coin over their shoulder will soon return to Rome. Two coins thrown into the water celebrates your romance, and the third coin blesses your marriage for an even more spirited embrace on the endless passion of Italy. Your private transfer meets you in the hotel lobby and escorts you to Rome Fiumicino Airport for your flight home.