Italy Private Tour
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Why You Should Go
What make Italy so special is its strong sense of national identity. No matter where you go–despite endless aesthetic variation throughout the country–people rally around a way of life that is distinctly Italian. This central mandate of how to actually live doesn’t foster competition; it fosters true harmony.
With a history spanning 2,500 years, the “Eternal City” of Rome is simply overwhelming in terms of ancient monuments/history –the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Forum, the amazing underground Church of San Clemente, the Vatican– too numerous to name! Rome’s preoccupation and obsession with aesthetics fuse with a wonderful urban lifestyle to make it a city where you feel chic and “smart” simply strolling through the streets. Della Valle described the Florence/ Siena area of Italy as, “Total aesthetic perfection; a synthesis of everything that is beautiful about Italy.”—we agree!
Best Travel Time: Spring Summer Fall
*All of our comprehensive private tour itineraries are inclusive of all luxury accommodations, private guide/driver throughout, daily meals as specified, INTERNAL flights/rail /private transfers as needed, & all taxes/service fees.
Sample Itinerary
16 Days
Each private luxury tour is custom to the wishes of each client. This itinerary is a sample. Partnering with our long-established relationship with United Airlines, our sister company, TRAVNET, may provide competitive Polaris/Business Class international airfare, along with mileage points conversion.
Day 1
Fly to Rome
Through our sister company, premium air provider TRAVNET, we may assist with your international airfare, as well as with mileage points conversion.
Day 2
Arrive Rome
Upon arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino/Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, you will be transferred to Hotel Eden or Hotel de Russie. You can spend the remainder of the day exploring Rome on your own, with our suggestions here.
Meals: —
Accommodations: Hotel Eden or Hotel de Russie
Day 3
The Vatican Full Day Private Tour
You have the option in the morning to attend a private cooking session at a Roman pizzeria. In the afternoon, the Vatican City (the smallest state in the world!) awaits you. Protected by Swiss Guards in their Renaissance garb, you have the opportunity to visit the expansive St. Peter’s Basilica as well as Vatican Museum containing an illustrious collection of antiquities. For those with children, you may opt to go to the Gladiator School where the kids embark on 2-hour training sessions learning the ways of the gladiator!
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel Eden or Hotel de Russie
Day 4
Imperial Rome
A living museum, you will first visit the iconic Colosseum with the chance to enter the subterranean areas of the arena. Nearby you may explore the Roman Forum to witness the ruins of ancient Rome. A glance at the Arc of Constantine, you will continue to Pantheon, the most preserved structure in all of Rome. An exploration of Rome’s famed piazzas then commences from the Trevi Fountain, Piazza di Spagna, to Piazza Navona.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel Eden or Hotel de Russie
Day 5-7
Private Transfer Rome to Positano, Amalfi Coast
Upon arrival in Positano, you have the option to be taken to your property of choice. It is difficult for us to choose our favorite 5-Star luxury hotels of the Amalfi Coast. Perhaps our three top choices are Caruso, Il San Pietro Positano, and Le Sirenuse. All offer high-touch, hands-on service, coupled with dramatic settings within unique historic structures.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Hotel Caruso, Il San Pietro, or Le Sirenuse
Day 8
Private Transfer Positano – Amalfi Coast/ Florence
Following your high-speed rail transfer to Florence, you will be privately transferred to Four Seasons Florence. A 2012 UNESCO Report (Financial Times, 7/21/12) claims that 60 percent of the world’s most important art treasures are in Italy – half of which are in Florence!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: The Four Season Hotel Firenze
Day 9
Florence Full Day Private Tour
Following breakfast at the JK Palace or the Four Seasons, your private guide will meet you for a full day of a discretionary private walking tour of Florence including the following options: Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore), Galleria dell’Accademia, Museo Galileo, Uffizi Gallery, San Lorenzo Church and Chapels, the Vasari Corridor, and Church of Santa Croce.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: The Four Season Hotel Firenze
Day 10
Day Trip to Pisa
Upon arrival in Pisa, you will begin your walking tour that includes Piazza dei Miracoli and the famous Leaning Tower, an architectural project gone-awry. Enjoy lunch at leisure and some time to walk around exploring this wonderful city. At the end of the day, you will be transferred back to the JK Place Hotel or Four Seasons Hotel Florence.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: The Four Season Hotel Firenze
Day 11
Drive Florence/Tuscany
Following breakfast at your hotel, you will then be privately driven from Florence to Tuscany and subsequently checked into the boutique, luxury property, Borgo Santo Pietro. Renowned for its art, history and evocative landscapes, Tuscany is a region where the past and present merge in pleasant harmony.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Borgo Santo Pietro or Il Falconiere Village Hotel
Day 12
Tuscany Countryside Private Touring
Today you will have the option to tour various towns from the unchanged 800-year-old Siena, the World Heritage Site Pienza, the archetypal Tuscan town of Montepulciano, and Lucca – being our favorite.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Borgo Santo Pietro or Il Falconiere Village Hotel
Day 13
Discretionary Tuscany Free Day
Enjoy a day on your own to explore this beautiful countryside.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Borgo Santo Pietro or Il Falconiere Village Hotel
Day 14
Drive Tuscany/Venice via Florence
Upon arrival in Venice, you will be privately transferred to the Gritti Palace. In the early evening, you will be met at your hotel by your guide and taken to the nearest gondola pier for a 45-minute ride through the city (touristy, yet fun!).
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Gritti Palace Hotel
Day 15
Venice Full Day Private Tour
Via a private motorboat, you will take the island of Murano, renowned for its glass making, and thereafter to Burano. An island filled with color and art, this quaint and quiet is not to be missed. After lunch at one of our favorite “lunch-only” breakfasts in all of Venice, you visit several of the most famous landmarks of the city.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Gritti Palace Hotel
Day 16
Fly Venice/Home
Hotels
Having recently stayed at the renovated 98-room Hotel Eden, we now consider this property to be our new favorite, number one, luxury hotel in Rome! Located near the via veneto and the Spanish steps, the Eden’s turn of the century building renovation was led by French designers, Bruno Moinard and Claire Betaille. All rooms are dressed in classic Italian furnishings and feature large windows and marble baths. We particularly enjoy the Eden’s rooftop La Terrazza restaurant and its panoramic views of Rome. Other amenities include a very nice spa, nail salon, and small gym.
Hotel Eden
Having recently stayed at the renovated 98-room Hotel Eden, we now consider this property to be our new favorite, number one, luxury hotel in Rome! Located near the via veneto and the Spanish steps, the Eden’s turn of the century building renovation was led by French designers, Bruno Moinard and Claire Betaille. All rooms are dressed in classic Italian furnishings and feature large windows and marble baths. We particularly enjoy the Eden’s rooftop La Terrazza restaurant and its panoramic views of Rome. Other amenities include a very nice spa, nail salon, and small gym.
Originally designed in the early 19th century by noteworthy architect Giuseppe Valadier, the 5-Star Hotel de Russie was renovated and opened in 2000. This is perhaps our favorite 5-star luxury hotel in Rome, located near the Spanish Steps and the Piazza del Popolo (“Peoples’ Square”). Updated by Tommaso Ziffer, we have also used his stunning Berlin property, the Hotel de Rome. The de Russie’s 122 high-tech rooms/suites include simple designs with a nice mix of classic and contemporary furnishings. Perhaps the most pleasing feature here is the hotel’s lush terraced gardens that extend up the hillside, merging with the gardens of Pincio and Villa Borghese. A fun family feature is the de Russie’s World Wildlife Fund-sponsored Butterfly Oasis, located in the Secret Garden.
Hotel de Russie
Originally designed in the early 19th century by noteworthy architect Giuseppe Valadier, the 5-Star Hotel de Russie was renovated and opened in 2000. This is perhaps our favorite 5-star luxury hotel in Rome, located near the Spanish Steps and the Piazza del Popolo (“Peoples’ Square”). Updated by Tommaso Ziffer, we have also used his stunning Berlin property, the Hotel de Rome. The de Russie’s 122 high-tech rooms/suites include simple designs with a nice mix of classic and contemporary furnishings. Perhaps the most pleasing feature here is the hotel’s lush terraced gardens that extend up the hillside, merging with the gardens of Pincio and Villa Borghese. A fun family feature is the de Russie’s World Wildlife Fund-sponsored Butterfly Oasis, located in the Secret Garden.
The 50-room Caruso was conceived as an aesthetically pleasing compound of various buildings, including an 11th-century palazzo, overlooking the Gulf of Salerno (1,000 ft. below!)Similar to the nearby Il San Pietro and Le Sirenuse luxury hotels, the Caruso features whitewashed walls, hand-painted tiles and modern, updated bathrooms. If you enjoy “dress-up” for dinner, the property’s Belvedere restaurant offers a lovely terraced setting. Caruso’s horizon infinity pool is among the most impressive in all of the Amalfi Coast (the bar patio is a great place to visit/chat). During our last visit here we were most impressed with the hotel’s lush, green terraced gardens overlooking the gulf – truly heavenly!
Hotel Caruso
The 50-room Caruso was conceived as an aesthetically pleasing compound of various buildings, including an 11th-century palazzo, overlooking the Gulf of Salerno (1,000 ft. below!)Similar to the nearby Il San Pietro and Le Sirenuse luxury hotels, the Caruso features whitewashed walls, hand-painted tiles and modern, updated bathrooms. If you enjoy “dress-up” for dinner, the property’s Belvedere restaurant offers a lovely terraced setting. Caruso’s horizon infinity pool is among the most impressive in all of the Amalfi Coast (the bar patio is a great place to visit/chat). During our last visit here we were most impressed with the hotel’s lush, green terraced gardens overlooking the gulf – truly heavenly!
Carved into a cliff on the outskirts of Positano, the Il San Pietro may offer the most dramatic setting among the Amalfi luxury properties listed. Set among tiers of gardens, the hotel’s 60-rooms feature unique hand-painted doors and scenic verandas. The white-washed public areas include tasteful vaulted ceilings, surrounded by bright bougainvillea and manicured gardens. San Pietro has its own grotto for swimming, along with a beach cove and lunch pavilion – reached by a cleverly-built elevator that descends from the center to the cliff (!) The adjacent tennis court is quite striking, set between the rock face and the Mediterranean. Very nice outdoor/indoor restaurant, fitness center, spa and smallish, cliff-top pool.
Il San Pietro
Carved into a cliff on the outskirts of Positano, the Il San Pietro may offer the most dramatic setting among the Amalfi luxury properties listed. Set among tiers of gardens, the hotel’s 60-rooms feature unique hand-painted doors and scenic verandas. The white-washed public areas include tasteful vaulted ceilings, surrounded by bright bougainvillea and manicured gardens. San Pietro has its own grotto for swimming, along with a beach cove and lunch pavilion – reached by a cleverly-built elevator that descends from the center to the cliff (!) The adjacent tennis court is quite striking, set between the rock face and the Mediterranean. Very nice outdoor/indoor restaurant, fitness center, spa and smallish, cliff-top pool.
Built in the 18th century, this glitzy family-owned 58-room luxury hotel has a commanding location overlooking Positano’s colorful harbor. We feel the best rooms here are on the higher floors (2014 clients made special note of the seventh-floor rooms). Many of the rooms here have vaulted ceilings and beautifully hand-painted tile floors. The only rooms without balconies at Le Sirenuse are the standard rooms. Brightly lit with over 400 candles at night, the hotel’s La Sponda restaurant is a truly enchanting place to enjoy your evening dinner. Although offering picturesque views, the property’s pool is quite small/narrow.
Le Sireuse
Built in the 18th century, this glitzy family-owned 58-room luxury hotel has a commanding location overlooking Positano’s colorful harbor. We feel the best rooms here are on the higher floors (2014 clients made special note of the seventh-floor rooms). Many of the rooms here have vaulted ceilings and beautifully hand-painted tile floors. The only rooms without balconies at Le Sirenuse are the standard rooms. Brightly lit with over 400 candles at night, the hotel’s La Sponda restaurant is a truly enchanting place to enjoy your evening dinner. Although offering picturesque views, the property’s pool is quite small/narrow.
The Four Seasons Hotel Firenze is located in a private park, with original frescos and sculptures, in the center of Florence. The art-filled renaissance building has 117 rooms and suites, all individually decorated. All the rooms, combining architectural designs of their past with high-tech comfort, are situated either in the 15th century Palazzo Della Gherardesca or the 16th-century Conventino, a former convent, and are overlooking the inner courtyard, the garden or the neighboring streets. The hotel has two restaurants: Il Palagio with its vaulted ceilings, located on the ground floor of the Palazzo, and La Magnolia, on the ground floor of the Conventino, serving Italian cuisine. The Atrium Bar under the skylight of the Palazzo offers cocktails, afternoon tea, and light meals, and is the place to see and be seen in Florence. The Spa features various treatments, indoor and outdoor pools (for kids!) and a fully equipped fitness room.
The Four Season Hotel Firenze
The Four Seasons Hotel Firenze is located in a private park, with original frescos and sculptures, in the center of Florence. The art-filled renaissance building has 117 rooms and suites, all individually decorated. All the rooms, combining architectural designs of their past with high-tech comfort, are situated either in the 15th century Palazzo Della Gherardesca or the 16th-century Conventino, a former convent, and are overlooking the inner courtyard, the garden or the neighboring streets. The hotel has two restaurants: Il Palagio with its vaulted ceilings, located on the ground floor of the Palazzo, and La Magnolia, on the ground floor of the Conventino, serving Italian cuisine. The Atrium Bar under the skylight of the Palazzo offers cocktails, afternoon tea and light meals, and is the place to see and be seen in Florence. The Spa features various treatments, indoor and outdoor pools (for kids!) and a fully equipped fitness room.
Though there are many wonderful hotel/residence choices in Tuscany, we feel Borgo Santo Pietro to be a special place. This lavish 15-room boutique hotel, restored from a 13th century stone farmhouse, epitomizes idyllic Tuscan life and personal service. Located approx. 35 minutes southeast of Siena and about 90 minutes from Florence, the property is set in a rural corner of Tuscany, including lovely cypress trees among the 13 acre landscaped gardens. We felt the full flavor of Tuscan life while staying here! The Borgo’s Garden Suites are our favorite rooms, each with their own private terrace and garden. All rooms feature pine floors, beamed ceilings, fire places and period antiques. Although there are many areas for quiet, reflective time, family activities include a free-form outdoor pool, tennis, bocce and basketball courts + a very nice spa. Being big garden fans, Bev, Zen and I particularly enjoy the lush, green lawns dotted with secret garden pathways, grottos, and traditional Italian roses – truly heavenly for one’s open-air private moments. We loved the hearty breakfasts served in the large, warm country kitchen (cooking classes and wine tasting available). We rate the Borgo Santo Pietro an A+ among Tuscan luxury properties!
Borgo Santo Pietro
Though there are many wonderful hotel/residence choices in Tuscany, we feel Borgo Santo Pietro to be a special place. This lavish 15-room boutique hotel, restored from a 13th century stone farmhouse, epitomizes idyllic Tuscan life and personal service. Located approx. 35 minutes southeast of Siena and about 90 minutes from Florence, the property is set in a rural corner of Tuscany, including lovely cypress trees among the 13 acre landscaped gardens. We felt the full flavor of Tuscan life while staying here! The Borgo’s Garden Suites are our favorite rooms, each with their own private terrace and garden. All rooms feature pine floors, beamed ceilings, fire places and period antiques. Although there are many areas for quiet, reflective time, family activities include a free-form outdoor pool, tennis, bocce and basketball courts + a very nice spa. Being big garden fans, Bev, Zen and I particularly enjoy the lush, green lawns dotted with secret garden pathways, grottos, and traditional Italian roses – truly heavenly for one’s open-air private moments. We loved the hearty breakfasts served in the large, warm country kitchen (cooking classes and wine tasting available). We rate the Borgo Santo Pietro an A+ among Tuscan luxury properties!
Though we have not stayed at the property ourselves, the two Tuscan guides we use gave glowing reviews of this luxury villa/resort. Il Falconiere was conceived by Silvia and Riccardo Baracchi, when they transformed the 17th century home of poet Antonio Guadagnoli into an idyllic Tuscan retreat. The resort is set on a 30-acre site alongside olive groves and the Baracchi’s own wine estate, an approximately 30 – 40-minute walk to the nearby town of Cortona. Among the amenities here are a Thesan Etruscan spa, winery, a Michelin-star restaurant, and a pool. Based on the conversation with the local manager, the Executive Suite looks like the room of choice
Il Falconiere Village Hotel
Though we have not stayed at the property ourselves, the two Tuscan guides we use gave glowing reviews of this luxury villa/resort. Il Falconiere was conceived by Silvia and Riccardo Baracchi, when they transformed the 17th century home of poet Antonio Guadagnoli into an idyllic Tuscan retreat. The resort is set on a 30-acre site alongside olive groves and the Baracchi’s own wine estate, an approximately 30 – 40-minute walk to the nearby town of Cortona. Among the amenities here are a Thesan Etruscan spa, winery, a Michelin-star restaurant, and a pool. Based on the conversation with the local manager, the Executive Suite looks like the room of choice.
This 82-room, luxury, boutique hotel is housed in a 16th-century palazzo and is a perfect location on the Grand Canal with views of Santa Maria della Salute. Recent $50 million renovations included handcrafted refurbishment of its treasures, such as guest room mirrors, chandeliers, antique furniture, and artwork. There is also a wonderful new library and several new suites overlooking the Grand Canal, individually decorated with Murano glass light fixtures and exquisite Rubelli fabrics. The Gritti’s Club del Dodge Restaurant offers a wonderful terrace on the Grand Canal.
Gritti Palace Hotel
This 82-room, luxury, boutique hotel is housed in a 16th-century palazzo and is a perfect location on the Grand Canal with views of Santa Maria della Salute. Recent $50 million renovations included handcrafted refurbishment of its treasures, such as guest room mirrors, chandeliers, antique furniture, and artwork. There is also a wonderful new library and several new suites overlooking the Grand Canal, individually decorated with Murano glass light fixtures and exquisite Rubelli fabrics. The Gritti’s Club del Dodge Restaurant offers a wonderful terrace on the Grand Canal.
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Location
Overview
Population |
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61 Million |
Language |
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Italian |
Currency |
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Euro |
Temperature |
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Highs: High 80’s |
Lows: Mid 60’s |
Area |
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301,338 SQ KM |
116,346 SQ MILES |
Capital |
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Rome |