In Rome we stay at Villa Spalletti Travelli, an elegant and refined five-star hotel with spacious rooms on the Quirinale Hill, and just a few minutes walk from the Trevi Fountain.

We’ll explore neighbouring hill towns including Trevi, built around the 13th century Church of San Francesco. From here we’ll explore trails once used by pilgrims en route to Rome.

Above the tiny village of Pettino, we’ll hunt for truffles. It’s a day of surprises, with sheep, truffle hounds, fresh pecorino cheeses and a wonderful meal of fresh pasta with truffles in a farmhouse kitchen.

Rome exults in Baroque architecture and art, and we’ll take a half day walking to tour to experience some of the highlights. Bernini, Piazza Navona, Caravaggio, the Trevi Fountain, palaces and soul-lifting churches

Taste Italy ‘s finest olive oils and Sagrantino wines, grown only around the town of Montefalco. At Redibis we’ll enjoy fine, contemporary Italian cuisine beneath Bevagna’s Roman amphitheatre.

As well as the noble cities of Assisi, Perugia, Gubbio and Orvieto we’ll wander in the hills of Umbria, exploring fortified hilltowns that overlook the Via Flaminia, the 3rd century Roman road.