Italy

A Journey into Italy

For glittering lakes, vintage cars, and lemon groves
italy

A Journey into Italy

Italy leaves us enchanted. Every time. Perhaps it’s the magic of sipping on a limoncello spritz in a cliffside lemon grove in Sorrento, mere steps from bustling marquetry bottegas (traditional workshops). Or putting your foot on the pedal of an Alfa Romeo to reach your picnic spot on the shores of Lake Como. Or even rowing beside turtles and temples on Rome’s Villa Borghese Lake.

There’s a lot of life – and magic – to be found in Italy. On this mesmerising journey, weaving your way south from Lake Como to the Amalfi Coast, through Tuscany and Rome, we’ll show you. One passo at a time.

Andiamo.

When

April to October

Price

From £15,500pp excl. flights
(based on 2 ppl sharing)

How long

12 nights
Ideal length
Days 1-3

Lake Como

Sitting at the base of the Alps, Lake Como’s deep blue water and stunning vistas have drawn people to the northern region of Lombardy for centuries. With Como’s reputation as the “Silk City”, you’ll find negozi (Italian shops) selling luxury silk accessories tucked between Romanesque churches and tavola caldas (eateries serving up hot, fresh bites on the go). Then there’s the lake itself, bordered by cobblestone promenades, public gardens, gelaterias, and elegant 16th-century villas.

Grand-Hotel-Tremezzo-at-night-in-Como-in-Italy
Grand-Hotel-Tremezzo-in-Como-view-in-Italy
Rooftop-Front-Suite-at-Grand-Hotel-Tremezzo-in-Como-in-Italy
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Day 1
Glamorous Villas and Lakeside Bliss

Touching down in Milan, you’ll be met by your private driver. They’ll ferry you to the stylish shores of Lake Como, where you’ll stay for three nights in the palatial luxury of Grand Hotel Tremezzo. You’ll spend your first day and night settling in. Relaxing at the hotel’s world-class spa within the 18th-century Villa Emilia, dining on traditional Marchesi dishes at the lakefront La Terrazza, and soaking up the sun at T Beach, the hotel’s private lido.

Alfa Romeo vintage car in Italy
Lake Como, Italy roads
Day 2
Get behind the wheel

After being shown a variety of routes and spots by your helpful concierge, you’ll pick up the keys to an Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider – your elegant transport for the day. Beside glittering Lake Como, you’ll cruise through the natural beauty of the surrounding area, passing green mountains, rolling valleys, and terracotta-tiled villages. When hunger strikes, the brunch hamper provided will enable you to have one of the most scenic picnics of your life.

Take to the waters on Lake Como
Villa del Balbianello, Lake Como
Villa del Balbianello, Lake Como
Day 3
Take to the waters

Swapping an Alfa Romeo for a Venetian Lancia Ruy and ‘battello’ (a traditional Italian boat synonymous with the lakes), you’ll head to the water to experience the lake in all its splendour, visiting some of Como’s most illustrious addresses: the Casino Royale film set of Villa del Balbianello, the wisteria-crawled Villa d’Este, “the Pearl”. We’ll also arrange for you to enjoy a champagne picnic on a secluded island.

Days 4-6

Tuscany

Sweeping, idyllic, and green, Tuscany is best known for its gently rolling hills and Renaissance treasures, such as Florence’s Uffizi gallery and its gravity-defying Duomo. The movie, Gladiator, framed the Tuscan countryside well: a rural paradise, to which people are desperate to return. Cypress trees, wheat fields, and Renaissance settlements. Let’s explore.

Florence, Tuscany, Italy
Borgo Pignano
Borgo Pignano
Borgo Pignano
Borgo Pignano
Florence, Tuscany, Italy
Florence, Tuscany, Italy
Day 4
Into the heart of the Renaissance

Leaving Como behind, you’ll head off to the rolling hills of Tuscany and the birthplace of the Renaissance: Florence. With one of our expert local guides, you’ll discover the city’s iconic sites, exploring the Ponte Vecchio, the grand hub of Piazza della Signoria, and the magnificent Duomo. Now, for your hotel. Nestled deep in the Tuscan hills, you’ll head beyond the city to Borgo Pignano – your rural retreat for the next three nights.

Chianti, Tuscany
Chianti, Tuscany
Chianti, Tuscany
Chianti, Tuscany
Day 5
A different kind of Vintage

Setting off along the enchanting roads of the Chianti countryside, you’ll marvel as vineyards and olive groves unfurl over gentle hills. For a taste of local vintages, we’ll take you to the Badia di Coltibuono winery with its fortified former abbey for a special wine-tasting lunch. Then, to the Castello di Fonterutoli winery, where you’ll learn more about the secrets of Italian viniculture.

Siena, Italy
Siena, Italy
Piazza del Campo, Siena
Day 6
Gothic palazzos and almond ricciarelli

Today, you’ll explore the medieval streets of Siena, stepping over the threshold of the Piccolomini library and admiring its collection of artworks by Pinturicchio, discovering the Gothic-style Palazzo Pubblico, and making your way to the renowned Piazza del Campo (the setting of the annual nail-biting Palio horse race). Sipping on cappuccino and savouring ricciarelli (Sienese almond cookies), you’ll soak in the views of this enchanting city.

Days 7-9

Rome

Rome – the “Eternal City” – rises in defiant splendour along the banks of the mighty Tiber River. The former capital of the Roman Empire and Republic, and the spiritual and physical seat of the Catholic Church. Between the Vatican, the Colosseum, and the Spanish Steps, there’s eateries serving up “cucina povera” (rustic cooking), rowboat renting on Villa Borghese Lake beside turtles, and the Temple of Asclepius, and enoteche (rustic wine bars frequented by locals).

Trevi fountain, Rome
Rome at sunrise, Italy
Hotel de Russie, Rome
Hotel de Russie, Rome
Hotel de Russie, Rome
Hotel de Russie, Rome
Day 7
Your arrival at the ‘Eternal City’

Leaving the charm of Tuscany for the grandeur of Rome, you’ll head south to Italy’s historic capital. Here, in the heart of the city, you’ll find Hotel de Russie. Just a stone’s throw from the Spanish Steps – and with striking views of the Piazza del Popolo – you’ll have Rome at your fingertips. You’ll settle in, exploring the hotel’s very own secret garden, sipping on cocktails at the bar, or simply looking out over the Eternal City from your private terrace.

Pantheon Fountain, Rome
Luxury vacations in Rome
Piazza del Popolo, Rome
Colloseum
Day 8
Explore the heart of an empire

Accompanied by your expert local guide, you’ll embark on an enchanting walking tour of the city. We’ll arrange for you to see it all: the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, the Fountain of Four Rivers. Along the way, you’ll walk the via Margutta, browsing the street’s myriad galleries and ateliers, before making your way to the magnificent Piazza del Popolo. Pausing for breath, we’ll take you for a spot of “caffe”, Italian style.

Gelato in Rome
Gelateria, Rome
Day 9
The secrets of gelato

Stepping over the threshold of a Roman gelateria, you’ll learn the secrets of making the freshest Italian-style ice cream. Alongside a gelato expert, you’ll enjoy a step-by-step workshop to create your own signature flavour (we find a dash of limoncello is always a good idea), before savouring your efforts. Fabulous, fresh, and full of flavour.

Days 10-12

The Amalfi Coast

Declared by UNESCO as an area of great physical beauty, the Costiera Amalfitana (the “Amalfi Coast”) is a glorious 50-kilometer stretch of coastline along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula. With prosperous lemon groves (much of which goes into the production of limoncello), rugged cliffs jutting down into glittering waters, volcanic black sand beaches studded with orange and white striped parasols, and pastel-painted fishing villages, it’s the perfect place to unwind – and to breathe in the fresh sea air.

Amalfi Coast, Italy
Sorrento, Amalfi Coast
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Day 10
To the coast

Venturing further south, your final stop comes in the form of the inimitable Amalfi Coast. Delicately scented by the lemons which cling to its hillsides, and characterised by a wash of crumbling pastel buildings, there’s an unshakeable romance to this place. No more so than when seen from the cliffside terrace of Casa Angelina, where you’ll rest your head for the next three nights.

Day 11
Of grottos and dolci

Today, you’ll take to the water on a private speedboat to the idyllic island of Capri. With a personal guide and water chauffeur by your side, you’ll discover the island’s nautical sites: the Green Grotto, the Sailor’s Cave, and the endearing Heart Grotto. Next, you’ll pass through the love arch of the three Faraglioni rocks and stop for a breath-taking visit to the legendary Blue Grotto. Back onboard, you’ll enjoy a selection of traditional pastries and a delicious assortment of local wines.

Amalfi Coast, Italy
Path of the Gods, Amalfi
Path of the Gods, Amalfi
Day 12
Follow the “Path of the Gods”

For an alternative view of the Amalfi Coast, we’ll take you down the iconic Path of the Gods – an ancient, meandering mule path up the cliffs. You’ll follow the path through rosemary-clad hillsides to reach Nocelle, and the sweeping views it affords, passing shepherd’s huts and stone houses carved into the limestone. Descending 1700 steps down to Positano, you’ll cool off with an aperitivo or a quick dip in the sea. Or both.

View of Positano, Amalfi Coast, Luxury Italy trips
Day 13
Ciao for now

Today marks the end of your journey through Italy. But as you leave the colourful cliffside towns of the Amalfi behind, we can’t help but think that you’ll be back. Presto.

So, ready to start?

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