Luxury Venice, Rome & Sorrento - 7 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Venice by Private Water Taxi

Benvenuti in Venezia! Enchanting visitors for centuries, Italy's "Floating City" is located in the country's northeast and comprises a unique network of ornate bridges and canals that form the elegant palazzo-lined Venetian Lagoon. Arrive in style at your centrally located hotel by private vaporetto (water taxi), where you can unwind and relax before heading out to explore. 

Start at Piazza San Marco, the heart of the city's cultural and administrative district and flanked by two Venice institutions, Caffè Florian and Gran Caffè Quadri, two splendid neo-Baroque 18th-century coffee houses that have attracted the city's writers and artists for 300 years. It's a fitting setting for the San Marco Basilica, one of the best-surviving examples of Italo Byzantine architecture, that features exquisite art, gold, mosaics, and marble floors.

While Venice is brimming with art and history that would take months to discover, take a moment to soak up the incomparable atmosphere of the car-free, canal-studded city. Do as the locals do and savor a glass of wine alongside plates of cicchetti (the Venetian version of tapas) at a local bar. While the city has its fair share of iconic bridges, the Ponte dell'Accademia gives a picture-perfect view of Venice and the Grand Canal. In the evening, dine on delicious seafood or pasta with fresh truffles at one of the city's renowned restaurants. 

Day 2: Boat Tour to Venice's Lagoon Islands, Gondola Experience

Spend a morning touring three of Venice's famous neighbors—the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello, by private motorboat. Your first stop is Murano, known worldwide for its colorful, elegant glassmaking. You'll get to see firsthand how the intricate pieces are made, using techniques passed down through the generations, with a visit to a local glass blower. Continue to Burano, a picture-perfect island known for its striking, colorful houses and elegant lacework, then boat over to nearby Torcello, where you'll enjoy a delicious lunch before returning to your hotel.

Later on, spend your last afternoon in Venice gliding through the evocative back canals of San Marco with the time-honored tradition of a gondola ride, the primary mode of Venetians for centuries. As your gondeliero navigates the city's narrow canals spanned by tiny romantic bridges, sit back and discover parts of the city only accessible by gondola. In the evening, head to a local bacaro to sample cicchetti and local Veneto wine. 

Day 3: First Class Train to Rome, Explore the "Enchanted City"

After one last leisurely stroll along the Grand Canal, your Italian trip continues this morning with a high-speed train to Rome. Travel first class, and in just over four hours you'll arrive in the "Eternal City" with its enticing mix of ancient history, art, culture, and la dolce vita lifestyle. Upon arrival at Termini station, your private driver will transfer you to your central hotel. Savor a glass of wine on the terrace before heading out to see the sights.

One of the city's most beautiful panoramas can be found at the top of the Spanish Steps, Europe's longest and widest staircase. It's the perfect spot to soak up the views over Rome's skyline and the Piazza di Spagna below, where you'll find the Baroque Fontana della Barcaccia. The city's main sights are easily navigated on foot, and it's a 15-minute stroll through picturesque alleyways and cobbled streets to the 2,000-year-old Pantheon, whose imposing silhouette dominates the Piazza della Rotonda.

Relax with a spritz or gelato at one of the café tables dotting the square, then continue to Bernini's Trevi Fountain, another Baroque masterpiece where a coin tossed inside is said to seal your return to Rome. As golden hour approaches, head over to Piazza Navona, famous for its Fountain of the Four Rivers and afterward head to dinner in the elegant Jewish Quarter, established in 1555 CE and famed for its leafy cobbled streets and terrific gastronomy. 

Day 5: Foodie Tour & Tasting of Sorrento's Artisanal Producers

Today, you'll embark on a private foodie tour around the colorful Amalfi coastline. Your driver will collect you from your hotel, ready for your first stop: a local olive oil mill where you'll learn how this centuries-old staple of Italian life and diet is harvested, pressed, and bottled. Sample the estate's extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) alongside delicious bread and snacks and discover the different flavor notes (grassy, floral, and spicy) that make the oil an essential ingredient in Italian cuisine.

Italian formaggi (cheeses) are some of the best in the world, and your next stop at a renowned dairy farm on the Sorrentine Peninsula will guide you through local cheese production with a master cheese maker. You'll learn the traditional cheesemaking techniques handed down through generations and see perfectly preserved copper churns and manual machinery from the 19th century in the farm's small museum. Of course, there'll also be plenty of cheese to try, including the farm's famous Provolone del Monaco DOP, washed down with a glass of the local wine. 

Your last stop is a scenic lemon farm where you'll meander through lemon groves filled with Sfusato Amalfitano lemon trees. See the farmers at work and discover the special qualities of Amalfi lemons and how citrus fruits are used throughout Italian cooking in both salato (savory) and dolce (sweet) dishes. You'll end your tour with a delicious farm lunch using local produce and finish by tasting the farm's own artisanal limoncello (lemon liqueur).

Day 6: Explore Sorrento at Leisure

Spend a relaxed day exploring Sorrento at leisure. Soak up the sunshine in Piazza Tasso and wander the nearby boutiques on Corso Italia. Continue to Via San Renato and immerse yourself in local life with a stroll around the colorful open-air market, a great place to pick up fresh produce and delicious cheeses. Stop for lunch at the Marina Grande, Sorrento's fishing village famous for its seafood restaurants and gorgeous views. The nearby volcanic sand beach is the perfect spot to relax after a delicious meal with a cool drink. 

Spend the afternoon relaxing at your hotel's pool, or head out on a private tour. Oenophiles should opt for a sommelier-guided wine tour of the Irpinia region's prestigious estates, with the added attraction of tasting your way through some of the area's wonderful scenery and the rugged Apennine mountains. Spend your last night sampling delicious local specialties, such as gnocchi alla Sorrentina (tiny potato dumplings with tomatoes and bufala mozzarella) and scialatielli alle vongole (spaghetti-like pasta with clams), and raise a toast to your trip.

Day 7: Transfer to Rome, Depart

After one last cappuccino and pastry at breakfast, it's time to meet your driver and head back to Rome (or Naples, depending on your itinerary) to catch your flight home. Safe travels! 

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