Essential Europe Travel

Amalfi Coas - 6 nightst

Meet & greet private transfer from Rome airport to Rome train station

• 1st class train from Rome to Naples with seat reservations
• Departure at 1:45 pm, arrival at 3:20 pm
• Meet & greet private transfer from Naples airport to hotel
• 1 double room, with sea view, breakfast & taxes included at Il San Pietro*****

This Relais & Châteaux property, with its gorgeous views, is the most luxurious retreat in the south of Italy. A mile from Positano toward Amalfi, the San Pietro is signaled only by a miniature 17th-century chapel out on a high cliff. The hotel opened in 1970 and has been renovated virtually every winter since. An elevator takes you down to the cliff ledges to a private beach. The suitelike guest rooms are super-glamorous with state-of-the-art bathrooms, many with picture windows beside the bathtubs (one suite even has a huge sunken Roman bath). Antiques and art objects add to the elegant effect. Room no. 8 1/2 is named for longtime guest Federico Fellini. Guests have included Julia Roberts and Sting. Bougainvillea from the terraces reaches into the ceilings of many living rooms.

Full day private guided tour of the Amalfi Coast

Discover this magnificent coastline.  
Along the coast there is a string of towns that not a long time ago were only accessible by boat.  Today, the Amalfi Drive, a spectacular "thousand bends road" offers everyone except the driver a great treat.

Amalfi and its center is dominated by the 11th century cathedral of San Andrea. Ravello ,a delightful town is set on high ridge with stunning views.
The heaven of piece and tranquility attracted Wagner who was inspired by the beauty of Villa Rufolo gardens when composing " Parsifal ". Positano with its cascade of brightly colored houses overlooking rugged cliffs and the sea below is one of the pretties corners of the Amalfi coast. Perched high above Positano , Montepertuso is a sleepy hilltop village where time has stood still.

½ day private guided tour to Pompeii

Nothing compares to the magic and mystery of Pompeii. You view the seemingly tranquil Mt. Vesuvius and then walk among the remains of a city buried underneath 30 feet of ash during its violent eruption. A bakery, theatre, gymnasium and public bath all stand sentinels to a time and lifestyle literally sucked breathless in a split second then entombed for a thousand years.

Day at leisure to take the hydrofoil and explore the island of Capri.

Cooking class at Mamma Agata followed by lunch
Come to Mamma Agata's clifftop home in Ravello to learn Mediterranean and Italian specialties like pasta, pizza, cakes, and dishes made with veal, chicken, seafood, and fresh seasonal vegetables. Mamma has been the chef for some of Hollywood's most shining stars: Liz Taylor, Federico Fellini, Humphrey Bogart, and Fred Astaire to name a few. The hands-on and demonstration lesson will be followed by a gourmet meal on the terrace overlooking the sea, in the spacious garden surrounded by lemon trees and flowers. Class runs for approximately 4 hours, followed by a gourmet lunch, 10:30am to about 3:00pm.

Day at leisure in Positano

Florence - 6 nights

• Private transfer from hotel to airport
• 1st class train from Naples to Florence with seat reservations
• Departure at 11:48 am, arrival at 3:06 pm
• 1 double room, breakfast & taxes included at Palazzo Magnani Feroni*****

Located in an outstanding location at the heart of the bustling, medieval neighbourhood of San Frediano, a mere 5-minute walk from the Ponte Vecchio and the city's finest shopping district, the All-Suites Palazzo Magnani Feroni Florence Hotel houses 12 luxury suites, and 12 suites only. Each suite reflects the refinement of the Renaissance style, with the subtle combination of comfort and modern technology and decorated with tasteful antique furnishings and materials originating from the owners' ancestors' antique collection.

Spanning between 80- and 120-square meters (860- and 1300- square feet) in size, the suites each comprise a large living room, bedroom(s) and master bathroom(s). Each includes all amenities expected of a five-star luxury hotel, including stereo, satellite television in the living room and bedroom, internet port and self-regulating air conditioning units.
An architectural jewel of the 16th century, the All-Suites Palazzo Magnani Feroni Florence Hotel belongs to the National Register of Historical Monuments of the State of Italy. Detail and ornamentation characterises the building throughout, surprising the wanderer with frescoes, vaulted ceilings and intricate wood-carvings. Providing 24-hour Reception and Service, the All-Suites Palazzo Magnani Feroni Florence Hotel is run by a staff dedicated to meet your every need with efficiency and discretion, both prior, during and following your stay.

Also, Palazzo guests choose from a selection of CDs, DVD films and soap fragrances for their suite, as well as benefit from private Guides to shopping and restaurants off the beaten path, personally written by the owners of the Palazzo for an "insider's view" of Florence.

½ day private guided tour of Florence and the Accademia with priority access

Explore the most famous sights of Florence's ancient centre. Tread in the tantalizing footsteps of over 2000 years of tumultuous history. Find out who was buried alive near the Duomo. Why Michelangelo never forgave Leonardo da Vinci. How the ‘Bill Gates of Florence' used famous artists to amaze everyone with their extravagance during the Renaissance. Discover why Florence became one of the greatest art centers the world has ever seen. See fabulous masterpieces. Hear about astounding events that shocked the Florentines. Immerse yourself in history and listen to medieval stories with a three hour stroll around Florence's essential sights.
We see famous sculptures, frescoes & paintings in the Duomo, Santa Trinita, and Orsanmichele. We also see the Baptistery, Bell Tower, Gates of Paradise, Brunelleschi's Dome, Vasari's Corridor, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, Medieval towers, Ponte Vecchio, Renaissance Palaces, famous shopping streets & other sights.

The most famous sculpture in the world, a must see masterpiece in Florence.

Listen to stories about its amazing creation. Hear about the artist - Michelangelo - a fascinating and difficult genius, a tormented poet who died a miserly multi-millionaire. See where Michelangelo carved the David as well as enjoying an exclusive introduction to his other famous works.

Cooking class with Chef Barbara followed by lunch with wine

Barbara is a native Florentine, and has been fascinated by food since she was a small child. Her father is a noted musician and opera singer, and she had the opportunity to travel widely through out the world with him, observing and absorbing different culinary styles. Following her acquiring a degree in political science, Barbara began her journey into the world of cooking. She has worked at the famed "Cibreo" restaurant in Florence, and was a teacher at the Scuola di Arte Culinaria Cordon Blue for three years. In 2002 she became a sommelier, and in 2003 she began giving cooking lessons.

Now you can join Barbara, who speaks perfect English, for a daily class beginning at 10:00am, when you visit the wonderful Sant'Ambrogio market. Then on to her "atelier" where she has created a cozy, welcoming atmosphere and teaching kitchen with all modern equipment for the hands-on cooking lesson, followed, of course, by your wonderful lunch with wine. If you only have time for a one day class in the Florence area, this is a great experience!

Day at leisure in Florence.  Clients could do some shopping and we could also get them priority access to the Uffizi.

Cooking class at Tavarnelle Val di Pesa with lunch and wine + stop in Siena and English private driver guide
Located midway between Florence and Siena, the Osteria La Gramola, recognized by the Guide Michelin, is the setting for a hands on cooking class in traditional Tuscan cuisine. Chef Cecilia Dei and Sommelier Massimo Marzi, join you in the kitchen for a day to discover the ingredients, flavors, wines and history of the Chianti area and the Tuscan people. In each session you will learn to prepare a three course country lunch: 1st course of soup or pasta with sauce, 2nd course, main dishes, 3rd course, desserts. Afterwards, you eat the meal you have cooked together, complete with tastings of local wine, typical products and Tuscan extra-virgin olive oil. The class begins at 10:00AM and lasts approximately four hours.

½ day private guided tour to the outlets

This tour offers you the opportunity to visit the outlets of the most prestigious fashion companies, and to buy with a real reduction from 30% to 50%. First stop on the tour is the Prada outlet, where you will stay for approximately two hours.
Your tour will then proceed to The Mall where you will find prestigious high fashion labels such as: Agnona, Alexander McQueen, Armani Jeans, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Emanuel Ungaro, Ermenegildo Zegna, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hogan, I Pinco Pallino, La Perla, Loro Piana, Marni, Pucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sergio Rossi, Stella McCartney, Tod's, Valentino, Yohji Yamamoto, Yves Saint Laurent.
On the way back to Florence, you will travel through the Valdarno area, where you can admire the splendid Tuscan landscape where the early Italian Renaissance painter Masaccio was born.

Private transfer to Florence airport