Escaping to the Lazio countryside for the day, we visit Zagarolo, a beautiful Renaissance village in the Roman hills just an hour from the city centre. Here we meet a local expert for a tasting of local produce and wines. We will continue to Castel Gandolfo, summer retreat of emperors, aristocrats and popes, for lunch overlooking the sparkling waters of the volcanic lake. Finally, we shall visit nearby Palestrina, where we will see the magnificent Nile Mosaic created by Alexandrian craftsmen in the 1st century BC.

After a morning at leisure we shall stroll up the Spanish Steps for an aperitif with a view at the elegant Casina Valadier at the highest point on Pincio hill. We then continue to the famous Hotel Hassler for lunch in the Michelin-starred rooftop restaurant Imàgo. Sitting down at one of the best restaurants in Rome, at the top of the Spanish Steps, with a vista over the Roman skyline, is an unforgettable moment. The rest of the afternoon is free and this evening there will be an optional visit to St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, after the crowds have departed.

This morning we will visit the Palazzo Barberini, home to one of the most important painting collections in Italy, crowned with a magnificent frescoed ceiling by Pietro Cortona. After a light lunch near the Fontana di Trevi we will return to the hotel before a tour of the Testaccio district, a passionately authentic Roman quarter with an ancient history and a vibrant modern culinary scene. A memorable final dinner will be taken at a famous local restaurant run by the same family since the late 19th century, which specialises in the authentic traditional dishes of Rome.

After breakfast we shall visit the archaeological site of Ostia Antica, the ancient harbour of Rome, noted for the excellent preservation of its ancient buildings, magnificent frescoes and impressive mosaics. There will be time for a light lunch at an excellent local trattoria before we depart for the airport.