We then visited another superb hotel in Venice, the Hotel Luna Baglioni, located in a perfect location, approximately 80 metres from St Mark’s Square, in the heart of Venice, overlooking San Giorgio Island and the basin of San Marco. The hotel has a private dock where you can arrive by water taxi, or gondola on a quieter and smaller canal.  It is very grand and luxurious and has kept all its original Italian characteristics and charm. Meals are served in an elegant ballroom with impressive interiors and stunning views across the lagoon.

Today we left Venice, although it was a short stay I quickly understood why so many people fall in love with the city. It does get busy, especially in summer, so do consider visiting off-season too.The next leg of our journey was in Prima Class on Italo Trains from Venice to Florence. The journey takes approximately two hours and is a very comfortable service, with complimentary drinks and snacks being served. There is also free wi-fi. Travelling by train is a great way to take in the scenery en-route.

After an enoyable morning in Florence soaking up the Italian culture, we headed to Rome, again travelling in Prima Class on Italo Trains, which takes approximately one hour and 20 minutes.On arrival, we had a private transfer to our hotel, followed by a three-hour guided tour of the Vatican museums, which was fantastic, with our very own private guide. The Vatican museums have masterpieces of paintings, sculptures and other works of art collected by popes throughout the centuries. The museums include several monumental works of art, such as the Sistine Chapel, the Chapel of Beato Angelico, the Raphael Rooms and Loggia and the Borgia Apartment.  Our guide told us amazing stories and facts of the museums and the history about the artworks, which made the tour very interesting. Again, this is something that must be pre-booked, and we can take care of this for you.

Rome is a large city, however if you enjoy walking it can explored easily on foot. We enjoyed a three-hour walking tour of the city, visiting the most iconic places, and this really gave us a feel for the city, including the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. There is so much to see in Rome and it is great to be able to take everything in during a walking tour, especially if you only have a short time in the city. We also strolled through the fashion district and many quaint little streets, stopping for coffee at some of the many coffee shops throughout the city. Finally, we enjoyed lunch at the Hotel Bernini Bristol, which had the most amazing roof-top restaurant with fantastic views over Rome. It is one of the most fantastic restaurants with a view I have ever seen!