A Luxury Italian Honeymoon

What better introduction to your stay in this fascinating city than a private tour in a Fiat 500? Cruising the streets in this Italian automotive classic, you’ll learn about Rome’s role as Italy’s political capital, its importance as the cradle of Catholicism and its place at the heart of the ancient world. The tour starts in one of the most famous squares in Rome, the Piazza Navona, and takes in the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the famous Spanish steps.

Even the Vatican museums can feel like they’re just made for two. Arrive early, when the museums are still closed, and prepare for a tour  with your personal guide. You will pass through room after room full of treasures, before the culmination of the visit, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. The ceiling frescoes and Last Judgement on the altar wall are among the most viewed, and revered, paintings in the world.

Having dined your way around Rome, learn how to make some delicious Roman specialities. Your personal chef will welcome you into their kitchen where, after a short introduction, you’ll get hands-on cooking authentic recipes that you can easily recreate back home. After your lesson, you’ll get to sit down and enjoy your just-cooked dishes. If the class is planned for the morning, you can also combine the lesson with a tour of an open-air market.

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 include the Li Galli Islands, the legendary home of the sirens who lured Ulysses with their enchanted singing. This is also an ideal place for snorkelling with its clear waters and underwater treasures.

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 found in the area, this hike is one of the region’s most spectacular. The path snakes through peaceful pinewoods, past hidden caves and offers some seriously picturesque views. The hike has a medium degree of difficulty, and once the steps have been ascended, the walk is either flat or downhill.

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. Excavation started in the 18th century and continues to this day. 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’.

Visit Venice’s most famous islands, Murano, Burano and Torcello. Your first stop will be Murano, world-famous since the 1200s for the art of glassmaking, where you’ll visit one of Venice’s most important glass factories for a private show. Burano is known for its brightly coloured houses and lace school. The last stop is Torcello, the first inhabited island in the lagoon, where you’ll see its beautiful cathedral with magnificent mosaics dating back to the 1100s. 

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.