Balsamic Vinegar Tour
Exclusive VIP tour to taste authentic Aceto Balsamico in Modena/Reggio Emilia, with gourmet lunch, private driver, and guide. Book now!
EXPLORE ALL OUR EXPLORE YOUR PRIVATE WINE TOURS IN ITALY
Rome is one of the most exciting and fascinating cities on earth. But it can also be exhausting and daunting, with hectic traffic, and there is only so much you can see and do. We have designed this tour for those looking for a relaxing and luxurious, hassle-free break taking in fabulous wines, gourmet dining, and of course, Rome’s architecture and antiquities. Food and wine are the main protagonists this trip, and you will enjoy an array of experiences from traditional Roman dishes to a tasting menu extravaganza at an unforgettable Michelin starred eatery, a private wine tasting to a VIP market tour and cooking class. From the moment you arrive to when you depart, you will be effortlessly chauffeured around Rome, taken to fabulous restaurants, and privy to many much loved and secret corners of this stunning city.
Gourmets and foodies will love Rome with its colorful markets, picturesque shops, and its traditional cuisine. Excellent local dishes include Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe (delicious pasta with cured Pecorino cheese and freshly ground black pepper), Bucatini all’ amatriciana (gorgeous pasta with “guanciale,” tomatoes and garlic), Spaghetti Alla Carbonara (famous Roman pasta dish with comforting bacon, eggs, Pecorino and Parmigiano) and Abbacchio Alla Romana (lamb cooked with rosemary, sage, and cloves). On this tour, you will visit Rome’s loveliest quarters and areas around the Campo dei Fiori, the Ghetto, Trastevere, with your private guide.
Along the way, you will take in some of Rome’s most beautiful sights such as the 12th-century gold mosaics of Santa Maria in Trastevere to the Piazza Navona with Bernini’s beautiful Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of four rivers, namely the Danube, Ganges, Rio de la Plata, and the Nile) and Hadrian’s Pantheon with its charming piazza. You will walk through the breathtaking Forum, see Obelisks, visit neat Gardens, and promenade through pretty squares lined with favorite cafes, all with your guide. If you have little time and want to see and taste the best of Rome, contact us for more information on this tour.
Rome
Once you arrive at Rome’s airport, your private chauffeured Mercedes will be waiting to sweep you away on this fantastic tour. Head into central Rome to your boutique hotel. You will find a bottle of fine Italian wine in your welcome pack, as well as a bound keepsake itinerary with information on Rome, Italian food and wine, and shopping and dining tips. Your hotel is right off the elegant Via Condotti, location for Rome’s best boutique clothing stores.
After you settle in and relax, in the early afternoon, you will meet your friendly and knowledgeable private guide for a guided walking tour. You will visit the nearby Piazza di Spagna and Spanish Steps, Piazza del Popolo (home to some beautiful Caravaggio’s, in the Santa Maria del Popolo church), and enjoy the art galleries and cafes en route to Trevi fountain. You will also visit Pantheon and Piazza Navona to admire Bernini and his archrival Borromini’s masterpieces, not to mention secret gourmet corners of Rome.
Your envigorating walk will end at Rome’s mythical Roscioli. In the early evening, you will enjoy a spectacular wine and food storytelling experience. Your charming host and food guide Alessandro will take you on an Italian food and wine adventure at the table, with an unforgettable private masterclass of the best wines, gourmet products and dishes Italy can offer. There could be no better way to start your Roman holiday.
Rome
This morning you will meet your private chef and explore Campo dei Fiori market to select the freshest ingredients for your next hands-on cooking class. You will learn how to make a classic Italian lunch with an antipasto like Fried zucchini flowers stuffed with mozzarella and anchovy, a pasta dish like Tonnarelli cacio pepe, and main dishes like Roman meatballs cooked in tomato sauce, and for dessert, delicious homemade gelato.
Enjoy a free afternoon to relax, walk through the Villa Borghese, enjoy some sightseeing or shopping, or linger on your fantastic rooftop bar overlooking Rome. In the late afternoon, your private guide will pick you up, and you will transfer to Vatican City. Here you will visit Saint Peter’s Basilica (climb the dome designed by Michelangelo) and then have a memorable tour of the Vatican museum and Sistine Chapel, and experience the unique classical concert performed each evening.
After the tour, you could have a late dinner in bohemian Trastevere or the charming Ghetto, with traditional dishes such as Carciofi Alla Romana (Roman-style artichokes) or alla Giudia (Roman Jewish style artichokes), Gnocchi alla Romana (semolina dumplings) and Saltimbocca (slices of veal cooked with prosciutto and sage).
Rome
Sleep in today! Late morning, your art guide will come to pick you up, and together you will explore Rome’s most prized possessions- the Forum, Capitoline Hill, Baths of Caracalla, and the one and only Colosseum. Wear comfortable shoes today and get ready to work off some of those delicious Roman dishes! From your hotel near Piazza Spagna, you will head south winding your way through narrow streets running parallel to the bustling Via Corso until you reach the Baths of Caracalla, built around 212 AD. Next is the ancient Colosseum, dating back to 70AD! This is one of the greatest achievements of Ancient Roman architecture and engineering. You will learn all about the Colosseum’s colorful past from when they used to hold mock sea battles to the more famous gladiator games.
Continue to the Foro Romano and breathe in the history. Walk up the steps to the Campidoglio, the location of the town hall, and the fantastic Capitoline museums. From here, you also have incredible views of the forum.
In the evening, your chauffeur will pick you up to take you to a fine-dining experience at Rome’s most panoramic restaurant, complete with Michelin star. Giuseppe di Iorio is the chef, and you will enjoy a tasting menu of his superbly executed Mediterranean creations. The atmosphere is refined, but not stuffy, and panoramic views over Colosseum are utterly romantic. When your meal concludes, your driver will take you back to your luxurious hotel, Buona Notte!
Rome
This morning, your chauffeur will take you just south of Rome to the Fattoria di Fiorano wine estate for a tour and tasting. The winery was founded in 1946 by the Prince of Venosa, Alberico Boncompagni Ludovisi. The Prince’s granddaughters Allegra, Alessia, and Albiera Antinori (Tuscan winemaking dynasty) now produce four organic wines; Fiorano Bianco, Fiorano Rosso, Fioranello Bianco, and Fioranello Rosso; as well as organic vegetables, cheeses, extra virgin olive oil, and honey.
After a tour of the winery, you will have a full tasting of these delicious wines, paired with the locally produced delicacies.
After this terrific tasting, your private guide will meet you and whisk you away on a bike tour of Appian Way. The Appian Way was one of the most important roads to the ancient Romans and is now considered one of the oldest surviving in the world. You will also tour the monuments and the catacombs home to some of the most important early Christian artworks.
After such an active day, you will be ready for dinner at Slow Food Trattoria Armando al Pantheon, founded in 1961 and still run by the Gargioli family. You will enjoy a traditional menu, such as Bucatini All’Amatriciana, Abbacchio a Scottadito con Puntarelle (lamb chops), and Torta Antica Roma, all paired with delicious wines.
Rome
This morning, at your preferred time, your chauffeured Mercedes will arrive to take you back to the airport. Depending on the time of departure, we can suggest and organize other activities in Rome. Drop off at the airport. Arrivederci!
Mike and Debb McShane, Texas
Now home with lots of great memories. Wine tasting, ancient Rome, Vatican and Pompeii tours were all excellent.
Impressed with the depth of knowledge of all tour guides, as well as being very personable. Everyone was prompt, all the cars were clean, drivers friendly etc. As mentioned in a prior email, would certainly recommend to anyone. The keepsakes were much appreciated and enjoyed. Thanks again for a well organized and executed tour program!
If you would like us to customize an exclusive luxury tour, contact us and let us know your travel plans. We offer luxury food and wine tours for private groups of a mininium two guests. In addition, all of our private, chauffeured tours are available year-round upon request.