Arrive in Venice where you will be met and transported by water taxi to your private island where the San Clemente Palace hotel is situated. Set on the 17-acre private island of San Clemente is an untouched retreat on the Venetian lagoon dating from the 12th century. It is located just 12 minutes away from St. Mark’s Square by complimentary shuttle boat, which crosses the lagoon on a regular basis. The Beauty & Wellness Center is fully equipped with 2 jacuzzis, sauna, steam bath, fitness center, tennis court, pitch & putt golf course, and outdoor pool, and there are 2 restaurants. Le Maschere Restaurant offers an informal setting with a Venetian ambience, and local recipes. Gli Arazzi dining rooms welcomes guests for breakfast. Gli Specchi American Bar provides a charming setting to savor cocktails or Venetian Bellinis surrounded by a magical atmosphere.
Famous for its gambit of canals and small street cafes, spend your day strolling the streets of Venice exploring the boutique shops filled with blown glass, Italian art, and of course the famous Venetian masks. Make sure to explore St Mark’s Place and the Doges Palace. Take a boat ride to the islands of Murano and Burano to see glass blowing and colorful waterfront buildings.
This afternoon, we have included a private gondola ride for two through the small canals of Venice, a chance to see the buildings and bridges from below - and to experience the real magic of Venice.
Evenings and nights in Venice are unmatched in terms of romance. With a blanket of stars overhead, get lost in the twisted streets over small bridges, meandering past violinists and candlelit tables, until you find that perfect spot for dinner. Dine in the wondrous Piazza San Marco at one of the many restaurants for an unbelievable backdrop you will never forget.
After breakfast you will be transferred to the train station to catch the train First Class to Florence. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel, the new B&B La Dimora del Centro. The Cherubini family owns and manages this small and charming B&B in the heart of the old, historical center. It offers nine rooms, seven of which have an amazing view of the Duomo and Repubblica Square. Every room is furnished with only the best amenities, each with its own charm and personality. With unique and different furnishings, atmosphere, colors, and features, no room is the same. A few of the emotions that these designs transmit are romantic, colonial, Mediterranean, classic, playful, intriguing, pure, stylish and innocent. Stay overnight in the minimalist Costanza Room with a view of the courtyard.
After settling into your hotel, wander the streets of Florence to get your bearings and to find a suitable spot for dinner. You may also wish to shop in the markets with their tantalizing selection of leather goods - bags, belts and jackets.
This morning enjoy a 3-hour small group walking tour of the city. Tread in the tantalizing footsteps of over 2000 years of tumultuous history. Find out who was buried alive near the Duomo. Why Michelangelo never forgave Leonardo da Vinci. How the ‘Bill Gates of Florence' used famous artists to amaze everyone with their extravagance during the Renaissance. Discover why Florence became one of the greatest art centers the world has ever seen. See fabulous masterpieces. Hear about astounding events that shocked the Florentines. You will see famous sculptures, frescoes & paintings in the Duomo (to right), Santa Trinita and Orsanmichele. Also, the Baptistery, Bell Tower, Gates of Paradise, Brunelleschi's Dome, Vasari's Corridor, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, Medieval towers, the Ponte Vecchio (below), Renaissance Palaces, famous shopping streets & other sights.
After breakfast pick up your rental car at the Florence train station and start driving into Tuscany. In an hour you will arrive at your castle hotel, Castelletto di Montebenichi. Surrounded by precious works of art, including period frescoes, archeological finds, sketches and antique paintings, sculptures, bronzes and ceramics, you will be transported back in time.
In this exclusive hotel in Chianti, traditions and modern comfort are combined perfectly. Together with works of art there are also modern amenities such as wi-fi. The rooms of this castle date back to the 12th century and contain antique art collections. There is a small collection of paintings and drawings from various periods in the library. In the foyer there is a display cabinet full of Greek, Roman and Etruscan terracotta specimens. The open gallery on the first floor houses the breakfast room, where you can drink coffee as well as eat the tasty buffet breakfast offered each morning.
Enjoy the large private park near the castle that merges into the gently sloping Tuscan hills. Inside the park there is a panoramic swimming pool with a small sauna, and a short walk away, in the greenhouse overlooking the valley you can find a gym with a jacuzzi mini-pool. Other facilities include a bar where you can help yourself at any time of the day and a free car park just a short walk from the hotel. The hotel does not have a restaurant. In the village, however, very close to the hotel, a wonderful “trattoria” called “L’Orciaia” offers tasty traditional Tuscan dishes. Wine and olive oil produced in Montebenichi can be found in the small hotel shop, located in the tiny square, just in front of the main building.
Today drive around the beautiful Val d’Orcia region - inspiration of many renaissance artists. This is where you will see the most picturesque countryside and medieval towns and villages like Siena, San Quiro d’Orcia and Montalcino. Enjoy a wine tasting tour at Castello Banfi, near Montalcino, a 11⁄2 hour scenic drive away. They also produce the most delicious olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and for lunch you will experience a wonderful 5-course Tuscan tasting menu accompanied by wines from the estate. After lunch, drive up to the Val d’Orcia villages perched high above the countryside for some breathtaking views, and explore the cobbled streets stopping for coffee and gelato. Have a coffee in Siena’s Piazza Del Campo then climb to the top of the Torre Del Mangio for a bird’s eye view of this terracotta walled city.
This morning explore the quaint hilltop towns of Chianti such as Castellina, Greve and Radda in Chianti, the beautiful art cities of San Gimignano, and Volterra. Greve is considered the most typical of the cities in the Chianti Classico area. It is located half way between Florence and Siena. The area surrounding Greve is well know for its beauty while the city offers the noteworthy 19th century Matteotti Square, the beautiful loggias and the small Santa Croce Square. Greve is a friendly market town with no shortage of craft shops, cafés, and enoteche (wine bars) lining its main square.
Castellina in Chianti has historic and noble origins. In the 13th century it was built on a high ridge, probably over Roman ruins. There must have been a castle with two doors and a single road which all of the houses faced. The name Castellina in Chianti dei Trebbiesi, in honor of a nearby noble family, is tied to the civil history of Florence and the religious history of Fiesole. It was part of the Chianti League and given its position near the border with Siena it was of great strategic importance. It has a 14th - 15th century character with a number of religious structures, including the church of San Salvatore.
San Gimignano is Italy’s best preserved medieval city, famous for its medieval towers looming over the landscape. As in most Tuscan towns, the center is closed to traffic but there is plenty of parking outside the walls, it is therefore a pleasure to stroll around in the center.
Volterra is one of the finest and lesser known hilltop towns tucked away in the heart of Tuscany. Idyllically set amidst an evocative landscape of soft rolling hills and lush woodland abruptly defined by barren, deep clay walled chasms, gullies and ravines, Volterra, dominates the Cecina and Era valleys.
Today, Radda in Chianti conserves the medieval harmonious structure of the village, but in the territory operates also several wine factories.
Drive 21⁄2 hours south to Rome this morning. Arrive at your hotel, the Metropole, located in the center of the Rome, just a short walk from the Termini train station, the Teatro dell'Opera, and a few minutes from the main historical and artistic sites, and designer shops. The Metropole has 236 recently renovated rooms, characterized by cherry-wood furnishing, great silver leaf-plated mirrors and luminous bathrooms of delicate Italian marble. Your overnight stay will be in a Superior Room with free Wi-fi, satellite TV, starbed (a soft feather bed), hot beverages and minibar. You can also choose your pillow from a menu with options ranging from allergy-proof to massage pillows.
Join a small group tour of the Vatican this afternoon. This tour will take you inside the the walls of the Vatican, a 44 hectare independent country within the city of Rome. You'll get to hear about the lives of the artists while surrounded by the works that inspired them. Discover the history of the church in relation to politics, power, paganism and see some of the most beautiful architecture and art ever created.
This morning take a 2- hour tour of Ancient Rome. If there's one thing everyone wants to see in Rome it's the Colosseum. This tour focuses on the ancient city center, the Roman Forum and Colosseum, from the city's mythological birth, through the republic, to the rise and fall of the empire. This tour will take you back to a time when Rome ruled the world, covering everything from it's legends and history to gory death matches, neurotic emperors and the just downright bizarre. Uncover the secrets behind one of the world's greatest ancient civilizations, both good and bad. And find out just how much Rome has influenced us today in relation to everything from the way we build, to our government structures and even our TV.
Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Rome. Walk back in time, down cobbled streets to some of Rome's most scenic piazzas and memorable sites. Take in some designer shopping at the area around the Spanish Steps. Start at Via Dei Condotti - the epicenter of Roman ‘bling’ shopping. Stand in front of the Spanish Steps by Bernini’s iconic boat fountain and straight ahead lies the gauntlet of Condotti where Italy’s most famous brands lie. In between shops, make sure to visit the rooftop bar, Il Palazetto which also has a fabulous wine cellar if the roof bar is closed. Later, take a stroll through the beautiful Borghese Gardens and walk back past the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. There are plenty of places to stop for lunch along the way.
Catch a morning train to Naples, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Positano for the next 3 nights, the Covo dei Saraceni where you will have a beautiful Oceanview room with balcony directly overlooking the sea. The rooms are all beautifully furnished in traditional Mediterranean style with large windows which form immense picture frames around a unique seascape. The open air terrace also looks out over the sea and serves delicious seafood, while the breakfast room offers a sumptuous buffet. The pool is located on the highest floor of the hotel with a fabulous view out over the sea and the town of Positano. Drinks and light lunches are served at the pool bar, and you are just a short walk from the beach and town.
The list of mythical resorts along the spectacular winding corniche that runs along what is, quite simply, Europe's most magnificent stretch of coast - Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello - conjure up an irresistible mixture of glamorous celebrity hideaways and breathtaking natural scenery. Situated a thousand feet above the sea, perched on a craggy cliffside, Ravello commands the ultimate panorama over the Amalfi coast, a magical location that the French poet, André Gide, evocatively described as "between the sky and the sea".
Spend an afternoon exploring a unique landscape that has inspired the likes of composers Richard Wagner and Edward Grieg, the painters William Turner and Miro, and authors, D.H. Lawrence, Tennessee Williams and Gore Vidal, who spent part of their lives here. Greta Garbo successfully sought refuge from the crowds and prying paparazzi in Ravello, and ever since it has been a favorite haven for Hollywood stars. Ravello is a very important historical and cultural center. Among the various places of outstanding interest are: Villa Rufolo, Villa Cimbrone and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. Famous classical music concerts are held on a stage over-hanging the sea.
Take a ferry across to the island of Capri to spend the day exploring this glamorous island. From Piazza della Vittoria you can take a breathtaking chairlift to the top of Mount Solaro, the highest point on Capri at 1,932 feet and look back at Mt. Vesuvius and other spots on the mainland. When you descend, enjoy a true pizza at the small restaurant to your left. When you walk the path to Axel Munthe's Villa Casale, stop and accept all free samples of Limoncello to better enjoy your day. The must-see attraction on Capri is the magical Blue Grotto, where visitors take a boat ride through a natural cavern that is filled with an ethereal and eerie light reflecting on the (very blue) water. Also, you can’t miss I Faraglioni Rocks - The extraordinary and rugged beauty of Capri is signified by these timeless rock formations jutting from the sea.
Begin your new life as a couple at your private island retreat in Venice, the San Clemente Palace hotel. Take a gondola ride through the canals where you can explore St Mark's Square and Basilica. Stop at Murano for a glassblowing demonstration and to shop for the finished product. In Florence, one of the world's most beautiful cities, visit the Duomo, shop for jewelry on the Ponte Vecchio and view Michelangelo's David. Enjoy the charm of Tuscany's medieval hilltowns & castles while sampling the region's wines.
Departures:
Completely customized trips from any departure city, on any day for any number of travelers.
Places Visited:
Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Rome, Positano and the Amalfi Coast
Activities:
Architecture - Art & Music - Beach - Cultural Activities - Gourmet & Cooking -Gourmet & Dining
History & Archaeology - Nightlife - Spa - Spectacular Scenery - Walking Tours
Price:
Upon request.
Rates Inludes:
- Private roundtrip transfers by water taxi in Venice.
- 2 nights at the San Clemente Palace Venice in a Double Room with breakfast.
- Private gondola ride for 35 minutes.
- 2 nights in Costanza Room at La Dimora Del Centro with breakfast.
- Small group tour of the Streets of Florence (3 hours).
- Car rental for 3 days - a Lancia Delta manual 4 door with a/c. 3 nights in a Mini Suite at Castelletto di Montebenichi with breakfast.
- 5 course meal and wine pairings at Castello Banfi with wine tasting tour.
- 4 nights in a Double Room at the IQ Hotel in Rome with breakfast.
- Small group tour of the Vatican. Small group tour of Ancient Rome.
- First class train from Rome to Naples. Private roundtrip transfers to/from Naples.
- 3 nights at Covo dei Saraceni in a Double Oceanview Room & breakfast.
- All taxes, fees and service charges.
- The price will vary depending on hotels, travel dates, and other preferences.
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