Italian Trilogy

After a short early morning flight we arrived in Rome for the first of a 3 night Italian Trilogy with Kirker Holidays and the 5* Baglioni Hotels. We checked into the Regina Baglioni Hotel which is located just a short stroll from the Spanish Steps and Villa Borghese Gardens and easily accessible on foot to all the major landmarks. We started with a ‘light lunch’ (the Italians don’t do light!) then burnt off said lunch with a private walking tour of some of the major sights, to include the Colosseum, Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. 

On our second day after a leisurely breakfast we headed to Termini Central station to board the fast train to Florence, taking just 90 minutes. We were greeted on arrival and taken to the boutique yet grand Baglioni Realis Santa Croce which would be our home for tonight. The hotel is in a quiet yet central location, just 50m from Santa Croce Basilica and being less than a 10 minute walk from The Duomo. The hotel shares it’s building with the famous ‘Enoteca Pinchiorri’ which has three Michelin stars, I am told you need to book well in advance to eat here so unfortunately we didn’t have the opportunity, however the hotels own restaurant didn’t disappoint. As part of our private walking tour this afternoon we enjoyed fast track access to the Uffizi Gallery which is a must do for any art lover along with a stroll across the famous Ponte Vecchio.

Our final journey by rail was from Florence to Venice Santa Lucia, taking approximately 2 hours. After a short private water taxi we arrived at Baglioni Hotel Luna, the cities oldest hotel and being just a stones through from Piazza San Marco. After checking in we headed to the Londra Palace for lunch right by the Grand Canal. This afternoon’s private walking tour included entrance and a tour of Doge’s Palace. On our final day, after breakfast in the former ballroom of Hotel Luna we had time at leisure to explore the narrow alley ways and sights of Venice including Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs. The trip ended perfectly at sunset with a private water taxi from our hotel’s own dock. Venice really is a city like no other, one which is on my list to return to.