Romantic Getaway to Rome & Tuscany

Rome is a city with a special ambiance of passionate history and romantic niches. In the morning, the decadent aroma of espresso drifts through the streets as it emanates from the cafes hidden inside the historical architecture. Your guide will meet you and your partner in the lobby of your hotel ready to take you through the captivating remains of the former Roman Empire. The Temple of Vesta rises above the Roman Forum beneath the gaze of the towering four stories of the Colosseum. The temple contained the Sacred Fire, which residents used in a ceremony on the first of the new year by extinguishing the flames in their home and using the fire from the temple to illuminate their homes once more.

The remaining columns were erected between the 1st and 2nd-centuries AD and the temple remained mostly intact until the 16th-century when builders reutilized the marble to build the palaces and churches around the city. The Arch of Titus frames the edge of the Roman Forum as one of the first arches built to commemorate the Roman victory. Scenes depict the general’s triumph over Jerusalem in the year 70 AD before Titus became emperor. After lunch, your guide will lead you into the tasty confections of the city.

You and your partner will have a fabulous tour that spans the ages of Rome’s desserts, from the empire that used honey and cheese to make cakes, to the use of sugar in the Middle Ages that ushered in the age of brioche, until finally filling yourself with the luxurious flavors of tiramisu. You will indulge in the flaky chocolate cake of the Torta Caprese as the almond flour will add a layer of creamy sweetness that you will always remember.

One of Rome’s most captivating sites is the independent principality of Vatican City, which encompasses nearly a half-mile near the banks of the Tiber River. The Vatican gained its independent standing in the 1930s. However, the Vatican has possessed international and political power for more than a millennium, personified in its collection of masterful art and captivating artifacts from around the world displayed in the Vatican Museums. Your private guide will lead you from the hotel to St. Peter’s Square, a cobblestone piazza with an oval shape. Columns frame the piazza as a grand gateway that flanks St. Peter’s Basilica.

You will enter the grandeur of the Vatican Museums with wide eyes, eager to observe the opulent sculptures and lavish paintings. The polished marble floors and gilded walls will add to the layers of exuberance. The marvels of the Sistine Chapel will strike your senses as Michelangelo painted the ceiling and walls in the 16th-century that cover an area of 8,611 square feet. The features depict a colorful array of biblical characters over nine panels, including the story of Adam and Eve. Your guide will position you to stand directly beneath the notable fresco of the Creation of Adam. The masterful depictions of characters, from their musculature to their lifelike expressions, turn the beauty of the work into majesty.

In the morning, the sunlight will spread cover the current of the Tiber River and reflect off of the water to give the city a gentle, golden glow. The aroma of freshly baked brioche emanates from the bakeries near the Campo di Fiori and the day is yours to explore the romance of Rome at your desire. If you enjoy history, you can visit the ancient streets of Ostia Antica to see the empire’s closest port city. If you prefer activity, you could partake in a cycling tour along the old Appian Way.

The Villa Borghese contains Rome’s largest park and is ornamented with umbrella pines, a neo-classical replica of a Greek temple, and serene promenades. Geese swim in the quiet waters of the man-made lake. You can enjoy a pleasant bike ride along the pathways to explore the grounds or stroll in the aroma of hyacinth blossoms. You can sit in the shade of the gardens and relax with a picnic of traditional Roman dishes with pecorino cheese, prosciutto, and spiced black olives. Take the time to visit the stunning works on display in the Villa Borghese, which include stunning paintings by Botticelli, Caravaggio, and Titian. In the evening, step aboard a boat on the Tiber River and weight anchor for a four-course meal amidst the gentle glow of Rome’s glowing streets.

In the morning, you will find the aroma of fresh flowers emanating from the market at Campo di Fiori. The bright petals of roses and hydrangeas turn the marketplace into a picturesque image of traditional Rome. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you at the hotel and escort you north to the famous region of Tuscany, known for its lush hills, vibrant vineyards, and preserved historical towns. You will arrive in Siena, once the artistic, architectural, and military rival of Florence.

The old walls of the city continue to protect the historic center from outside invaders. Cobblestone lanes turn into a maze, with each street eventually leading to the Piazza del Campo. The Torre del Mangia casts a shadow over the large square at a height of nearly 290 feet, and the Renaissance architecture creates a storybook atmosphere as if you and your partner have stepped back in time. The Gothic cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta was erected in the 13th-century with a unique rose window that allows natural light to pour into the nave.

Venetian mosaics complement the red and white marble inlay of the façade. Step inside to find a remarkable blend of dark and light marble to a dramatic degree. The horizontal stripes help break the severe height to which the pillars soar and the strips also contrast with the marvelous color of the ceiling, which contains cobalt blue with gold flecks, meant to imitate the night sky. Stroll along the walkways of the church for an unforgettable time that takes you along a delicate wooden pulpit from the 13th-century along the 56 marble panels that depict biblical history and local legend.

Cypress trees frame the county roads along the hills of Tuscany that lead to lush vineyards that roll along the landscape. The sun shines gold, and the trees glow emerald outside your villa. After breakfast, your guide will take you on a fabulous wine tour around the roads of Chianti for an in-depth look at the world famous wines of the region. You will take the Chiantigiana Road, which travels through the heart of the Chianti Classico zone, filled with tens-of-thousands of wine producing acres. The town of Greve, in Chianti, stands less than 20 miles south of Florence where the Franciscan Monastery remains at the heart of the town that overlooks the main triangular square. The weekly market has run for centuries to serve the castle, local communities, and nearby hamlets.

From the edge of the hillside, you can look into the rolling knolls and see the stone outline of another town in the distance. The nearby vineyard contains old cellars that are still in use, along with late-Renaissance gardens that frame the grand villa. Your guide will introduce you to the grounds first and foremost and explain the importance of the earth as the slightest gradient or breeze could change the type of minerals the grapes absorb as they grow. The estate also has an olive grove that grows alongside the edge of the vineyard. Stroll hand-in-hand with your partner along the vines before you enter the refreshingly cool sample room. The open window provides a splendid panorama to the landscape, and you will find the aroma of dark cherry and a refreshing acidity in the flavor of your glass of wine.

Tuscany will easily captivate you and your partner with its medieval villages and gorgeous landscape. The cuisine is equally as enticing as it emanates savory aromas and pairs perfectly with the regional wine as if the cuisine and liquor grew up together. Your guide will meet you at the villa after breakfast to escort you to the nearest village to partake in the morning market. You will follow the instructor to learn the secrets of Italian cuisine, along with the art of selecting the freshest ingredients at the market.

Merchants sell entire wheels of locally made cheese as fruit stands offer crates of delicious ruby tomatoes and plump, purple eggplants. Your instructor will pick the best ingredients available and will guide you in sampling some of the ingredients before you make your way to the kitchen. The kitchen has an open view of the hills and of a local garden that brims with herbs. The scent of rosemary and jasmine drifts through the window before your instructor picks the herbs needed to complete the dishes you will create.

You will likely start with a traditional panzanella, a salad of ripened tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and bread. Your instructor will explain how farmers would try to season and use stale bread rather than throw it away. You will dress the produce and bread with olive oil, salt, and vinegar to complete the simple, but delicious, dish. The chef will offer you the chance to add capers or tuna, but the refined and refreshing flavors of the salad as they stand are a perfect start to your culinary creations.

The Republic of San Marino overlooks the edges of the Tuscan countryside as it has since the 4th-century AD. This beautiful sovereign state resembles a hilltop village that fills an area of less than 700 square feet at the top of Mount Titano. Medieval stone walls outline the original settlement, and a single cobbled street leads you and your partner to the Piazza della Libertan. Charming cafes border the perfect piazza, and shop windows display stunning ceramic wares. Three fortresses adorn the mountain ridge, each with its own tower to provide views to the coastline plains and the Dalmatian coast. A pave pathway links the lower walls to the higher towers.

The earliest fortress was erected in the mid 13th-century, and as you walk along the streets of San Marino, you will feel as if you are stepping into a fairy tale. Emerald trees blanket the limestone mountain as the aroma of fresh pasta emanates from the charming restaurants along the main street. The tallest tower of Cesta contains a museum established in the 1950s to showcase the more than 1,500 medieval weapons, and the base of the tower is an old Roman fortress that once protected the landscape from invaders. Although small, the San Marino carries with its indelible splendor.

In the morning you will wake to another perfect day in the Tuscan hills. The cypress trees will rustle in the breeze and the vines that string along the sides of your private villa will shine brightly against the aged stone. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you in the pebbled drive and escort you south towards Rome, with stops in the villages and towns of Umbria along the way. The city of Perugia is the capital of the region set atop a golden hilltop that overlooks the valley that separates the city from its rival of Assisi.

The original Etruscan walls continue to encircle the perimeter of town and reach a length of over 9,000 feet. Fields overtake the valley and brush it with gold and green colors near the banks of the Tiber River. Cobbled lanes meander into arched stairways and palace framed piazzas. You can stroll hand-in-hand down the empty streets that make you feel as though you have once more stepped back in time as café terraces provide a view to the illustrious landscape.

The scent of rich chocolate emanates from the confectioneries along the streets. The Palazzo dei Priori was erected in the Gothic style popular in the late 13th and early 14th-centuries. The façade faces the main square of Piazza IV Novembre and a griffin and bronze lion commemorates the city’s victory over Siena in the 14th-century. Brilliant frescoes line the interior hallway and depict biblical allegory. The city lends itself to enchanting exploration that leads of the 16th-century papal fortress of Rocca Paolina.

It is never easy to say goodbye to Rome. In the morning, the familiar aroma of fresh brioche will blend with the decadent scent of espresso that drifts out burgeoning cafes. The figure of the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II resembles a wedding cake as it watches over a small courtyard. Winged chariots flank the imposing figure of the king who unified Italy at the center of the monument, proudly mounted upon his horse to watch over Rome.

The Baroque character of Piazza Navona emanates from the gorgeous fountains and lavish palaces. The Fontana dei Fiumi portrays the four main rivers known to the Western World in the 16th-century. Each river has an allegorical figure representing the spirit of the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Rio de la Plata. The water cascades into the basin accompanied by plants and animals of each river’s respective region. After you enjoy this leisurely last morning, then your private transfer will meet you both at the hotel and escort you to Fiumicino Airport for your flight home.