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Home , Sirenuse, Venetian Lagoon

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ITALY EXCLUSIVE OPTIONS

Private parties or dinners can be arranged in many exclusive homes or

historic venues-private islands in the Venetian , dramatic castles An extraordinary view from overlooking the Portofino coastline, a Renaissance palace overlooking the River Arno, and public spaces such as the Borchese Gallery in Rome, the Guggenheim in Venice and the Pitti Palace in Florence. Entertainment can also be organized– from sending out invitations– to the last water taxi home in Venice. My premier Italian partners are experts, allowing me to offer amazing, exclusive events anywhere in !

• Villas can be rented accommodating 2-30 in grand style.

• Private cooking class with professional chef. This can either be an informal pizza class including children or a more informative class spent creating an exquisite Tuscan feast. CLIENT TESTIMONIAL "All in all, Italy was a fantastic • A private visit to the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums. A recent vacation, thanks so much for all the group celebrating a birthday managed to gain access to the chapel of planning and organizing! We couldn't Nicholas V, normally closed to the public, with exquisite frescoes by have planned it better if we had tried Fra Angelico. AND had a year to research it while you did it in pretty much less than a • A private visit to St Mark’s Basilica in Venice. Enter through a side month; it was definitely a once in a door in the evening after the crowds have dispersed and watch the lifetime trip to Italy for us. We really mosaics come to life through the flickering candlelight. wouldn't have had such incredible memories if it weren't for your efforts!" • A private tour of the Ducal Palace in Venice – discover the fascinating history of the Venetian Republic, the trading, wars, and scandals that Sandy Yu & Harry Cheung, have absorbed her for the past 1000 years. Global Travelers

• Lunch or dinner on the only privately owned island on Lake Garda; travel by boat to dine with the owners in a villa that was based on the Ca d’Oro in Venice.

• Lunch in a Palladian villa with frescoes by Giambattista Tiepolo. Wine tasting with one of the oldest families in Florence at their Chianti estate.

• Dinner in a romantic 15th century Venetian palazzo overlooking the Grand .

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• Lunch on the grounds of one of the most beautiful gardens in Italy, the inspiration for some of the most original English gardens of the 20th century.

• In Siena, enjoy the spectacular medieval-style Corsa del Palio, held twice yearly on July 2 and Aug 16. An exclusive visit to the private Palazzo d’Elci, take your window seats for the exciting Palio on the top floor of the Palazzo; the new James Bond movie filmed here in the summer of 2007. From the windows of the Palazzo, before the race takes place, you can see the festivities below: the square is filled with a wonderful procession of flag throwers, and a historic parade of the contradas dressed in their finery.

• Tour the Tuscan hill-towns in vintage cars with full back-up support.

A TWO WEEK SUGGESTED TOUR The Palio of Siena Tuesday PALIO, SIENA Arrive Milan Malpensa The Palio of Siena takes place each Helicopter transfer from airport to Villa Feltrinelli. Grand Hotel Villa year, on 2nd July to commemorate Feltrinelli on Lake Garda. Villa Feltrinelli is very much a destination the miracles of the Madonna of hotel with guests rarely finding reason to venture from the grounds. Provenzano, and on 16th August However there is a traditional wooden motor boat ideal for exploring the to honor the Assumption of the Virgin. lake, and for opera buffs the Roman Arena in Verona is a short drive One of the most exciting and away. Unwind from the long flight in your suite in the Park Cottage unforgettable events in the Italian Cascade Fiore with a view of the park & lake from your private terrace. calendar, residents pack the main square to watch their representative Wednesday horses and riders race around the Relax at the hotel famous Piazza del Campo. The rider who wins the ‘Palio’, a heraldic Thursday banner, becomes an instant hero. Tour of Lake Garda in La Contessa If he loses or partakes in one of the You will be collected from the hotel by the Villa's own boat, "La Contessa". many bribes on offer then he risks Designed by Pamela Babey and commissioned by the Villa in a local being chased out of town by the shipyard, this 16-meter pleasure craft is Lake Garda's largest privately youths of that contrada. owned boat. With its wood paneled salon, "La Contessa" harkens back to a classic 1920's American riverboat. There is much to see cruising around the lake and you can stop for lunch at the beautiful lakeside restaurant at Punta San Vigilio.

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Friday Private transfer from Villa Feltrinelli to Venice You will be collected by a Mercedes and driver and taken to Venice Piazzale Roma where a boat will be waiting to whisk you down the to the Gritti Palace Hotel, or the hotel of your choice.

Private tour of Ducal Palace

Your guide will collect you from the hotel for the short walk to the Ducal Boating on the canal Palace which will have been closed to the public. She will lead you on a tour describing the fascinating history of the Venetian Republic, the trading, wars and scandals that have absorbed her for the past 1000 years. Saturday Morning Walking Tour of Venice with private guide Guide will collect you from the hotel for a walking tour of the city including some of the most beautiful churches and the Academia Museum. Sunday Morning boat tour of Venice Guide will meet you and take you to see the main sights of Venice. The boatman Paolo will accompany you throughout with his beautiful wooden riva boat. The tour will include a journey up the Grand Canal with your guide pointing out the most important palaces and their fascinating history. Monday Overhead view of the Basilica San Marco Lunch cruise on Eolo “Eolo” is the last bragozzo boat in existence – ever since the foundation of the , these delightful boats were used for fishing in both the lagoon and the sea. This is a highly entertaining way to explore the lesser-known islands of the lagoon and enjoy an outstanding lunch or dinner. Captain Mauro will collect you and sail out into the lagoon before finding somewhere suitable to moor. In the summer months, you can enjoy swimming in the crystal clear waters of the lagoon before sitting down on the deck to enjoy a fabulous feast. Mauro is an outstanding chef and along with his team he will create an unforgettable meal, based on seasonal Venetian dishes and the freshest fish from the market that morning. Children especially love cruising on the Eolo, they can dive off side & swim safely.

Private visit to St. Mark’s Basilica Guide will collect you from your hotel and walk with you to St. Mark’s Square. This is a unique and rare chance to visit one of the worlds most

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stunning and visited buildings, alone, after it has closed and been lit up for your benefit. You will be allowed to access areas not normally open to the public. It is a magical experience and fabulously romantic, as you enter the Basilica in the dark and watch the spectacular golden mosaics being slowly lit and brought to life before your eyes. For an exceptional experience, I can also arrange for you to be serenaded by the organist of St. Marks. Thousands of people pass through the doors every day, and to have the entire basilica alone is unforgettable. After the visit Rome I suggest you walk the short distance to Harry’s Bar for dinner.

Tuesday Private visit to Seguso Glass Factory, Guide and Paolo will collect you from the hotel and you will travel in Paolo’s boat to the famous island of Murano for a private visit to the workshops of Archimede Seguso, which are not normally open to the public. The Seguso family tradition of glass making can be traced to the 16th century and Archimede's great-grandfather was one of the foremost figures in the industry's rebirth in the second half of the 19th century. Seguso makes glass for Cartier, Versace, Tiffany, and Valentino among others, however, all production is carried out by hand from these workshops which are renowned for being one of the few which still use original techniques. Seguso's work is among the finest examples of making – his pieces reaching record prices in auction rooms the world over. I then recommend that you travel onto the charming island of to have lunch at the Locanda Cipriani – Luxury awaits your arrival at Rezidenza Napoleone III the garden setting is one of the most delightful restaurants in Italy.

Wednesday Fly from Venice to Rome Transfer to Residenza Napoleone III. The Residenza Napoleone III is one of the most luxurious places to stay in Rome. Situated in a XVI century palazzo on Rome's Legendary Via Condotti, the Residenza is named after Emperor Napoleon III, who lived here in 1830. Careful renovation has restored the apartments to their original splendor. La Residenza Napoleone consists of magnificent rooms each more impressive than the next with antique furnishings, massive oil paintings, XVI century tapestries, parquets floors and hand-stenciled walls. Thursday Morning tour of Ancient Rome Guide will collect you from the apartment to visit the heart of the Roman Republic and Empire. The ruins of the temples, palaces, triumphal arches and amphitheatres conjure up the extraordinary success and longevity of Roman antiquity.

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Friday Morning tour of Rome Your guide will collect you with a car and driver to visit the most important sights, monuments and churches of Rome. These will include St. Peter’s and the Vatican. Saturday Free Day Sunday Private Transfer to Villa San Michele, Fiesole Depart Rome for Florence with car and English-speaking driver. Your driver will be happy to stop en route for lunch. I suggest the stunning hill town of Orvieto which is just off the main highway to Florence. Villa San Michele was designed by Michelangelo. The Villa was originally a monastery, and still exudes an expertly preserved aura of the past. Lunch or dinner on the loggia of this gem, set on a peaceful hillside overlooking Florence, is an unforgettable experience. Monday Image from The Vatican Walking tour of Florence My guide will meet you at Piazza della Repubblica. During the tour, you will visit the Duomo, Florence’s cathedral, with its world-famous dome built by Brunelleschi, the graceful bell tower by Giotto and the Baptistery with its amazingly intricate bronze doors. You will also see Brunelleschi’s church of San Lorenzo with the Old Sacristy and Michelangelo’s New Sacristy in the Medici Chapels. Tuesday Full day with car to Siena and San Gimignano St. Peter’s Driver will collect you from your hotel for the journey to Siena. Siena is the most romantic town on mainland Italy. It is very evocative of the Middle Ages, both in the splendor of its Gothic architecture and its festivals, particularly the Palio. I suggest you see the highlights of the city, including the Piazza del Campo which stands at the junction of Siena's three hills, and the Duomo whose black and white stripes are one of the city's landmarks. One should also visit the Palazzo Pubblico or the Museo del’Opera dell Duomo, both of which contain fabulous collections of Renaissance. Lunch at a favorite restaurant: Le Logge is Florence just a few meters from the Campo and is extremely popular with locals. In the afternoon, you will visit San Gimignano, which is famous for its numerous towers that make it conspicuous from a great distance and provide one of the most remarkable sights in Italy.

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Thursday Fly to . Driver to tour coast. Hotel Le . The Sirenuse is one of my favorite hotels in Italy and easily one of the few five star hotels on the that deserves every one of its five stars. Privately owned, it maintains the ambience of a noble 18th century summer residence, which is how it originally started off. It oozes understated charm and luxurious elegance. Friday Speedboat tour of the Amalfi coastline The speedboat Tornado will collect you from the hotel for the day to tour the Amalfi Coast. This is the most sensible way of seeing the area as you can visit secluded coves for swimming, admire the craggy landscape and avoid the terrible traffic!

The stunning Amalfi Coast Saturday Tour by speedboat You will be taken by speedboat for the day across to the island of Capri. You can talk to your guide on the boat over about what you'd like to see - you may want to spend more time on the boat and visit Capri’s famous Blue Grotto and see the island from the sea, or you may want to take one of the many fabulous walks on the island taking in the sites. Sunday Transfer to Naples. Grande Albergo Vesuvio, Naples The famous tenor Enrico Caruso called this hotel ‘his Neopolitan House’ and spent the last years of his life as a resident at the hotel, here in the city of his birth. The roof garden restaurant at the hotel bears his name and from here you can enjoy the marvelous views of the of Naples.

Afternoon tour of Naples Guide will meet you at your hotel. A walking tour of the city will take in the city’s evolution through the centuries and should be followed by a walk in Spaccanapoli, the heart of old Naples laid out on the Roman grid plan. The most interesting streets are Via Biagio dei Librai and Via Gregorio Armeno. You will also visit the stunning Piazza del Plebiscito and the beautiful Galleria Umberto I.

Sailboats in Naples

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