Unforgettable Wine & Art Tour of Rome and Amalfi Coast

In the morning, the aroma of fresh cappuccino emanates from the cafes adorning street corners and hidden by grand palaces in narrow alleys. Cafes and restaurants set out tables and chairs on the cobblestone streets to allow patrons to enjoy the lively atmosphere personified in the rushing passersby. After breakfast, you meet your guide in the lobby of the hotel and venture out into the ancient world in the heart of Imperial Rome. The Imperial is a collection of squares bordered by wondrous structures erected between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC.

Mussolini erected the wide triumphal road straight through the Imperial Forums for a view directly from his villa to the Colosseum. The ancient public squares filled with opulent temples and upwards of 150 shops crafted by celebrated architect Apollodorus of Damasco. Trajan’s column was erected in the 2nd century BC out of Carrara marble, standing nearly 115 tall from the base to the adorning statue. A relief depicts Trajan’s victorious military campaigns against the Dacians, emphasizing soldiers in ceremony and engaged in construction instead of battle.

You climb the steps to reach Rome’s citadel, on which a piazza designed by Michelangelo remains. Step onto the terrace in Palazzo Senatorio for a sweeping view of the Roma Forum below. After exploring the brilliance of ancient Rome and its continuous marvels, your guide escorts you to one of the celebrated public squares in Rome to enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting and people watching, indulging in the pleasures of Italian flavor and Roman flair.

In the morning, you sip a rich espresso and delight on a buttery, sweet brioche, absorbing the flavors of a traditional Italian breakfast. Your guide meets you at the hotel and leads you to the colonnade framing the cobblestone space of St. Peter’s Square. The brilliant dome of the basilica crowns the piazza, towering above the more than 80-foot tall Egyptian obelisk at the square’s heart, which once decorated the Circus of Nero. The aroma of oranges emanates from the private gardens.

Your guide offers a genuine experience by combining history with local perspective in the art and monuments collected from around the world and exhibited at the Vatican Museum. The museum contains more than 2,000 rooms, which placed side by side would span nearly 10 miles, located inside the independent principality of Vatican City which is less than a half square mile in size. The Gallery of Maps contains a series of topographical frescoes commissioned in the 16th century under Pope Gregory XIII.

There are 40 panels that decorate the 400-foot long gallery, overtaking the walls and ceiling and framed with gilded edges. Each map depicts a region from the perspective of the most prominent city within that region. You reach the Sistine Chapel, the unmistakable masterpiece crafted by Michelangelo. It is nearly impossible to draw your eyes away from the marvelous panels decorating the ceiling. You find a hint of frankincense filing the room, leftover from the last ceremony the pope performed in the chapel. The radiant hues of the frescoes make the images burst from the walls and ceiling as you stand inside a three-dimensional work.

Rome is a city to be experienced through discovery, but never allows itself to be conquered. Whether by historic armies or cultural collectors, Rome has remained relevant for nearly 3,000 years through its architecture, artwork, and tradition, inspiring locals and visitors from around the world. The day is at your leisure to enjoy the splendors of Rome at your preferred pace. Linger in the park at Villa Borghese or explore the treasured collections of Villa Farnese. The Galleria Doria Pamphilj hides behind the tepid exterior of the eponymous palace.

The museum contains lavish exhibits of one of the richest private art collections in Rome. The palace was erected in the 15th century and thrived when one of the Pamphilj family was ordained Pope Innocent X. The galleries contain stunning frescoed ceilings, golden mirrors, and elaborate paintings stretching from floor to ceiling. You uncover Caravaggio’s Rest During the Flight into Egypt, in which the master artist depicts the medieval legend of the Holy Family fleeing into Egypt and resting beneath a grove of trees.

In the evening, you meet a professional chef eager to show you the best of Roman cuisine. Venture to the heart of Rome to enjoy the process of selecting the freshest ingredients to create unforgettable dishes full of texture, color, and most importantly, flavor. Once in the kitchen, your instructor teaches you the method to properly make pasta dough, by first creating a volcano of flour, cracking eggs into the center, and whisking the ingredients together.

Today you leave the imperial capital behind with your private transfer south to Naples, the former capital of the eponymous kingdom. The Castle dell’Ovo stands on ancient foundations overlooking the historic port of the bustling city. Pizzerias along the promenade emanate the scent of baking dough and creamy cheese blending into the sea breeze. You continue to the edge of the Bay of Naples to arrive at the entrance to the archeological site of Pompeii, one of the most famous ancient cities in the world due to its tragic ending and nearly perfect preservation.

Your guide meets you at the entrance and leads you onto the historic cobblestones. The aroma of rich and aged earth drifts from the ash and pumice still covering a large portion of the massive cityscape. Your guide points to the lingering figure of Mount Vesuvius visible in the distance. The volcano erupted in 79 AD and encased the city. The Villa of the Mysteries is a grand structure outside the main area of the dig site.

Frescoes on the walls glow with original color and depict a series about which archeologists continue to debate, with a woman performing a type of ritual. At the House of the Small Fountain, you view elegant frescoes depicting life in the city, along with a stunning fountain situated beneath a sloped roof to help gather rainwater. The mastery of classical art emanates from the unearthed villas across the excavated site, including an image of Venus lounging in her shell. The fresco provides insight into the idea of beauty in the ancient Roman world.

The sunlight washes over the turquoise water of the Bay of Naples. Sorrento is perched atop a plateau overlooking the Mediterranean Sea within view of Mount Vesuvius across the bay. The town highlights the charm of Italian character with a hint of historic Spanish décor set amidst the mythological land of the sirens. The cathedral contains a unique clock tower soaring above the main street of Corso Italia. Boutique shops open up on the bottom floor of the tower homes, bordering the narrow cobblestone streets of the old town center.  The ancient city walls were first erected by settling Greeks and reworked over the centuries before being fully remodeled in the 16th century after a Turkish invasion.

The day is yours to enjoy the captivating splendor and exciting history around the Bay of Naples at your leisure. You can enjoy a hike into the lemon groves to reach the edge of the Bay of Naples or venture to the island of Capri to visit the lavish villas of Roman emperors. For a thrilling view of classic Western Civilization, you venture to Naples to visit the National Archeological Museum, which maintains one of the most important collections of ancient Roman and Greek artwork. The structure held the barracks of the former cavalry and transitioned into a museum in the late 18th century to house the antiquities collected by the matriarch of the Farnese family. Marble floors lead to the polished white walls supporting lavish archways and vaulted ceilings.

The basement contains Egyptian relics and epigraphs collected by the Borgia family while the ground floor exhibits the Farnese collection, highlighted by the crowning figure of the muscle-clad Hercules. The sculpture was crafted in the 3rd century AD and stands more than 10 feet tall. It was modeled after the original sculpture carved in the 4th century BC. The towering figure leans against a post, looking lost in thought. You find a familiar image in the original mosaic of The Battle of Alexander against Darius, a copy of which you saw at Pompeii. After wandering the steps of history, you can partake in a private pizza making class to learn the proper methods to cooking a Neapolitan pizza.

In the morning, you can sip an espresso and enjoy the view of the fishing boats returning from sea. The crew steps back onto land carrying large nets brimming with squid, shellfish, and branzino ready for the market. You meet your guide in the lobby and travel through the hills separating the Bay of Naples from the Gulf of Salerno. The olive groves and citrus orchards frame the open Mediterranean Sea. The road winds along the mountain promontories before reaching Positano, which is considered the most northerly town of the Amalfi Coast.

Your day encompasses the remarkable culture and landscape wedged between the limestone mountains and turquoise waters. Stop in the gem of Conca dei Marini, a fishing village of white houses nestled into the rocks as sculpted out of the landscape. The emerald trees hide the bright yellow of magnificent lemons contrasting the water’s shades of blue. A 16th-century Saracen tower once used to guard against pirates continues to rise above the beaches. You take the stairs down to the small marina and board a local fishing boat.

The water is cool and refreshing on your fingertips. The sea breeze brushes against your cheeks and over the calm wake of the Mediterranean. Enter into the mouth of a cave to visit the natural wonder of the Emerald Grotto. The cave ceiling rises upwards of 100 feet and glows like a precious stone due to the reflection of the sunlight off the seafloor. The cave walls are damp, and the sweet, briny scent of the sea fills the gallery.

In the morning, the sunlight washes over the orange and lemon groves thriving on the hillsides outside of Sorrento. The cliffs bordering the city reach a height of 180 feet above sea level. You sip your cappuccino and indulge in the top layer of foam. You have embraced the vibrant culture and unique histories of Rome and the Amalfi Coast. The colorful boats in the Marina Grande reflect in the crystal clear waters of the sea. Roman columns stand out against the 11th-century architecture of St. Anthony Abbot in Piazza Sant’Antonio. Your private transfer meets you at the hotel when you are ready and escorts you around the Bay of Naples to Capodichino Airport for your flight home.