A Luxury Italian Honeymoon

Rome, Italy’s capital and largest city, needs little introduction. One of the most historied locations in the world, glorious reminders of Rome’s illustrious past, from ancient Roman wonders to Renaissance masterpieces, are all on show. That’s not to say that its cosmopolitan streets do not embrace the now; Rome is as exhilarating and forward thinking as ever.

A perfect introduction to your stay in this fascinating city, you will learn about Rome as Italy’s political capital, its importance as the cradle of Catholicism and its place at the heart of the ancient world from the seats of an Italian automotive icon. The tour starts in one of the most famous squares in Rome, the Piazza Navona, once a 1st century AD stadium and now the site of wonderful Baroque architecture with handsome buildings and ornate fountains. Nearby is the Pantheon, the most complete ancient Roman building, its dome the largest free standing dome in the world until 1960. The reason for its incredible state of preservation is that in 609AD, it became a church and has therefore been continuously maintained ever since. It is the burial place of Raphael and the first kings of a united Italy. The next stop is the Trevi Fountain, an essential port of call, and the equally famous Spanish steps.

Discover the great Roman Forum, for centuries the centre of civic life as the site of triumphal processions, elections, public speeches and criminal trials. Then, along the Via Sacra (Sacred Way), head to the Palatine Hill, one of the most ancient parts of the city, where you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of the Circus Maximus, an ancient Roman chariot racing stadium. Last but not least, enter the magnificent Colosseum, considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering, and capable of seating up to 50,000 spectators.

Arrive early at the Vatican when the museums are still closed. Then prepare for a tour of the museums with your personal guide. You will pass through room after room full of treasures, before the culmination of the visit, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, home to the conclave that elects Popes. The ceiling frescoes and Last Judgement on the altar wall are regarded as some the most viewed paintings in the world.
From here, enter St Peter's Basilica, one of the largest churches in the world and a testament to Renaissance architecture, showcasing the work of Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Once inside, one of the first treasures to capture your gaze will be Michelangelo's Pieta. Sculpted by the artist at the age of 23, it must be the most moving of all Michelangelo's sculptures; a mother gazing lovingly at her child as if seeing the baby she gave birth to, but in fact it is the body of the 33-year-old Christ. Moving down the church, you will pass the statue of St Peter, whose bronze toes have been completely worn away by the millions of pilgrims who have stroked them. You will then arrive at Bernini's Baldacchino, under the centre of the dome and behind this, the throne of St Peter.

Having eaten your way around Rome, why not learn to make some of the delicious Roman specialities you have tasted? Meet your personal chef who will welcome you into their kitchen. After a short introduction about the Roman food tradition, get hands-on and start preparing your dishes. You will learn many different recipes that you can recreate for friends and family when you get home. After your lesson, you'll get to sit down and enjoy your just-cooked specialities. Buon appetito!

If the cooking class is planned for the morning, there is the possibility of combining the lesson with a tour of an open-air market.

Draped along the cliffs on the southern side of the Sorrento Peninsula, between Salerno and the city of Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast is one of the most dramatic and glamorous spots in Italy. Between the two, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello’s candy coloured buildings spill their way down into blue bays.

The peninsula combines affluent sophistication with a honest simplicity, where super yachts and gurgling Italian sports cars sit amidst an unchanging rural way of life. The food gloriously reflects this and some of Europe’s finest restaurants can be found here, thriving on fresh local produce, whilst the rustic Neapolitan food found everywhere here to many epitomizes Italian cuisine. The views and food are perhaps the main draw here, but there is a rich history to explore too, hidden beaches to discover and pristine trails in the Lattari Mountains to hike.

Head out into the Gulf of Naples across to the beautiful island of Capri, a draw to visitors for thousands of years.

The tour will touch Li Galli Islands, the legendary home of the sirens who lured Ulysses to the islands with their enchanted singing. This is also an ideal place for snorkelling with its clear waters and underwater treasures. Tide permitting, you will approach the famous Blue Grotto where it will be possible to get inside using the local small boat.

Discover the spectacular Amalfi Coast, situated like an amphitheatre among the mountains and the sea. Visit Ravello and the Villas Rufolo and Cimbrone, two sites not to be missed for their splendour and decorations. Both villas have amazingly beautiful gardens. You'll also take in the wonderful Positano, considered to be one of the most picturesque of all Italy's coastal resorts.

A different way to explore the stunning Amalfi Coast is to hike along the Path of the Gods, or the ‘Sentiero degli dei’. Named for the number of Roman temples, which were found in the area, this hike is one of the region’s most spectacular. Discovering this spectacular landscape at a slower pace will allow you to appreciate it more and spot things you never would have from the road. Here, the path snakes through peaceful pinewoods, past hidden caves, and offers some of the most picturesque views of the Amalfi Coast. The hike has a medium degree of difficulty, and once the steps have been ascended, the walk is either flat or downhill. Be sure to bring a camera, comfortable walking shoes, water and sunscreen.

To visit Pompeii is probably as close as we can get to travelling in a time machine back to ancient Rome. In August of 79 AD, Vesuvius had been rumbling for some days and it is estimated that a large part of the population of 20,000 had been evacuated; those that were left were as if suspended in time, as the plaster casts made of the bodies that were found shows. Excavation started in the 18th century and continues to this day.

The first impression, on entering into the Forum, is just how massive Roman structures were; they really dwarf revered Medieval or later sites. You will get to walk Roman streets, look into bars, stroll into Patrician villas, complete with frescoes and mosaics, there is even a mosaic doormat, saying ‘beware of the dog’. Even graffiti (an Italian word) is written on some of the walls, reflecting a forthcoming election. When you see the baths, the central heating systems and the gentle fountains in the courtyards of the villas, you really feel it wouldn’t be too much of a hardship to live there.

Surrounded by rolling Tuscan hills, the beautiful city of Florence is one of Europe's most enchanting and historically influential cities. If anywhere in the world can claim to have shaped modern Western consciousness, it is Florence's grand piazzas and palazzos.

The world's greatest Renaissance artworks and sculptures can be found at every turn in the historical centre, an area that can be traversed on foot in under an hour but would require infinitely longer to properly explore.

Explore Florence’s Renaissance past with this guided walking tour of the city's historic centre. The Academia Gallery is home to Michelangelo's ‘David’, one of the finest sculptures ever created, and though there are many copies across the city, this is the real deal. You'll also visit the church of Santa Maria del Fiore – the famous Duomo - to view Brunelleschi’s magnificent dome; the nearby Campanile of Giotto (bell tower); and Ghiberti’s enchanting ‘Gates of Paradise’, the door to the Baptistry. Continue to the Piazza della Signoria, centre of Florentine politics and home to a captivating outdoor sculpture gallery. Shopping, architecture and history will collide as you stroll over the Ponte Vecchio.

Discover the beautiful Chianti region en route to your hotel, with a private driver at your disposal. Learn about some of the most excellent Italian wines, or perhaps simply explore the beautiful of Tuscany countryside and its scattered Medieval towns.

Rolling hills dotted with rustic farm houses, Medieval towns, dark green cypress trees and ranked vines, there are few views more quintessentially Italian than that across the Tuscan countryside. Spend your time here getting acquainted with an enviable culinary tradition, fine Chianti wines, beautiful towns and warm locals.

After an early start, take an unforgettable flight over the beautiful hills, vineyards and medieval villages of Tuscany in a hot air balloon. Your pilot will also regale you with tales from the history of the area. After gently coming in to land, follow the tradition of all balloonists with a celebratory glass of Champagne.

Sat within a shallow lagoon between the mouths of the Po and Piave rivers, Venice is formed of 118 islands dissected by some 170 canals and connected by over 400 bridges. The entire city is considered a World Heritage Site, an extraordinary architectural masterpiece in which even the smallest building may contain works by some of the Europe's greatest artists.

Iconic attractions on the main Rialto islands are evocative by name alone - Piazza San Marco, the Rialto Bridge, Doge’s Palace, Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Grand Canal - a unique collection of brooding Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque architecture. Days can be spent discovering tucked away galleries, museums and palazzos. Away from the crowds, other islands are where traditional Venetian culture still runs deep.

Visit Venice’s most famous islands, Murano, Burano and Torcello, and learn about their importance in history and trade. Your first stop will be in Murano, world-famous since the 1200s for the art of glassmaking, where you'll visit one of Venice’s most important glass factories and have a private show of how the intricate glasswork is made, as well as a tour of the showroom to spot works of great glass masters like Signoretto.

The second picturesque island is Burano, a fisherman island known for its brightly coloured houses and for its lace school. You'll see the women who still work this antique technique of lace-making by hand. The last stop is Torcello, the first island to be inhabited in the lagoon, where you'll hear the history and see its beautiful cathedral with its magnificent mosaics dating back to the 1100s. In Torcello, you'll also see the Locanda Cipriani where Ernest Hemingway stayed when in Venice and wrote A Farewell to Arms.

Venissa Ristorante is nestled in the island of Mazzorba, a 30-minute boat ride from the centre of Venice. Surrounded by vineyards and the lagoon, it doesn't get much more idyllic than this. Choose to dine at the Michelin-starred restaurant or the osteria - the menus at both are inspired by the fishermen of Burano and the vegetable gardens of the estate. There is also an exceptional wine list with lots of labels from the local area. For something really special, you can dine at a private table surrounded by the vines.