A special way to enjoy Capri's magic

Ever fancied an exclusive trip with your loved ones? Perhaps, sharing unforgettable sunsets cradled by the waves or enjoying Caribbean-like waters miles away from the beach crowd? With more than 5,000 kilometers of coastline, exclusive seaside locations, unexplored corners, virgin beaches and forgotten islands, Italy provides the perfect setting and atmosphere for an unforgettable honeymoon, romantic holiday or family vacation. Just a few know that the most beautiful stretches of the Italian coast can be reached only from the sea.

Take, for example, the variety of landscapes offered by the 1,000 kilometer Sicilian coastline; a mix of high cliffs, striking rock formations, secluded bays and long sandy beaches. Let the Tyrrhenian Sea astonish you with its small gems such as the Pelagie and Aeolian Islands, the "daughters of fire and sea". Some of these small islands of volcanic origin, such as Stromboli, still have active craters which offer spectacular night shows with their lava streams and fire activity.

The Gargano’s grottoes can only be accessed by boat

Or experience the magnificent sea of the Amalfi Coast, UNESCO World Heritage site, and the folklore of its inland. The coastline is skirted by a narrow road revealing a string of precious small towns and ancient fishing villages. Among them, towns of world wide fame and magic such as Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. If you want to add little bit of hiking, sail along the stunning coastline of the Gargano (recently cited in the New York Times' “31 Places to Visit in 2010”. You'll discover there the rare beauty of the mysterious caves which will inebriate you with their orange-blossom and pine perfume, while its unspoiled bays provide perfect frames for your unforgettable moments. If you're up for hiking, a great option is offered by an excursion through the Gargano National Park which, at more than 1,000 square kilometers, is the only surviving section of what once was the ancient oak and beech forest covering much of Central Europe.

If you prefer a more remote destination, then sail to the center of the Mediterranean to discover the many faces of Sardinia. You'll be amazed at the variety of breathtaking scenery, translucent blue seas and white sandy beaches. Its charm and elegance is unique in the world and attracts Italian as well as international celebrities. But even if you'll have the possibility to spruce up your trip with a touch of sophistication at Porto Cervo's restaurants, cafés, clubs and boutiques, there is much more to discover in Sardinia than the world-famous Emerald Coast.

Waters off Lampedusa in Sicily

These destinations can be sailed with sailboats and motor yachts. Of the two, sailboats offer a "greener" approach to the sea and manage to combine romanticism with a more moderate price. Motor yachts can be faster and more luxurious but end up being more budget-demanding. Whatever your choice is, Select Italy offers a diversified range of sail boats and motor yachts. Have a look at our dedicated yacht section. Rates are available on request and quotations normally include skipper and on-board hostess. Alternately, select one of our day cruise packages for a one-day escape. Opt, for instance, for our best-seller day cruise to Capri’s corners or choose to visit the intimate and mysterious grottoes of the Amalfi Coast.

"David" poses for his head shot

Everybody wants to get most out of the cities they visit and everybody is looking for a deal! So here's Select Italy's 'MADE EASY' series: three of our favorite activities combined to provide just the right introduction to the city – you get intriguing content and loads of fun at a great price. Organized with either morning or afternoon options, these packages ensure enough flexibility to make the best of a one to three-day stay in the city of your choice.

Available now in Florence and Rome and with more cities coming soon, Florence 'MADE EASY' includes reserved tickets to see Michelangelo's "David" at the Accademia Gallery with guaranteed entrance at a set time so that you don't have to stand in line; a two-hour Bike Tour of Florence's centro storico, led by an expert English-speaking guide (plus, you stop for a free gelato in the Oltrarno artisan's neighborhood); and the whaiwhai Game Tour Book - Florence, 2054, an exciting interactive experience that the New York Times calls "a high-tech Italian touring game that is part 'Amazing Race' and part treasure hunt, with a bit of 'Da Vinci Code'-style storytelling mixed in." Using the whaiwhai book and the SMS texting feature of your cell phone, you'll enter into an enticing treasure hunt that will introduce you to the city's most secret history.

One of the world's most recognizable monuments

In the Rome 'MADE EASY' package you'll find the Colosseum and Forum Pass, a single ticket that gives you access to the best of classical Rome: the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill; a pre-paid entrance ticket to 3D-Rewind, an extraordinary 30-minute adventure that will catapult you into Rome's magnificent past and let you live as the Romans did over 2,000 years ago; and the whaiwhai Game Tour Book - The Ruyi, an interactive adventure that will completely change the way you discover the Eternal City.

The iconic Fontana di Trevi

One of the most enduring – and maybe the quirkiest – legends about Rome is that throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain will ensure your return to Italy’s capital. Scores of people must be longing to see the Eternal City again, because an estimated 3,000 euro (roughly $4,000) are tossed into the fountain’s waters each day.

Whether or not you believe in Trevi’s magic powers, the fact is that Rome owes much of its unique charm to some 280 fontane erected in many of the city’s piazzas, courtyards and parks. With this universal display of falling and spurting waters, Rome is an undisputed capital of fountains both large and small, each of them a unique creation of the greatest artists of their time.

But beyond being architectural marvels, fountains have had a more prosaic purpose. In Roman times, when 11 aqueducts supplied a flow of fresh water to the city, decorative fountains were constructed to mark the site where the water was collected. The aqueducts fell into disrepair after the fall of the Roman Empire but during the Renaissance the custom of building ornate fountains at aqueducts' endpoints was revived. Throughout the ages, these fountains have given refreshment to Rome’s popes, poets, artists, paupers and beggars, as well as to ordinary citizens who quenched their thirst and splashed in cool waters during hot summers.

La Fontana del Moro, Piazza Navona

The most famous of all is, of course, the Fontana di Trevi , and not just because it was featured in several popular movies: "Three Coins in the Fountain," "Roman Holiday" and "La Dolce Vita" among them. The magnificent 18th century Baroque marble structure – which took 300 years to build – is a grandiose representation of Roman and Greek mythology with Neptune (the Roman god of the sea) and Triton (son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea) depicted side by side.

In fact, this fountain had been one of Rome’s most striking sights long before its cinematic fame. This is how American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne described his impressions of the fountain, more than a century ago: “…the water tumbling, sparkling, and dashing with joyous haste and never-ceasing murmur, poured itself into a great marble-brimmed reservoir, and filled it with a quivering tide.” Some things never change. To this day, Trevi’s waters gush and tumble, linking past with present and future because both water and art are truly timeless.

Fountain of the Four Rivers, Piazza Navona

Another fountain that is rich in history is the Fountain of the Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi) erected in the 17th century in Piazza Navona. Designed by renowned artist of the day, Gianlorenzo Bernini, it depicts four gods on the corners of the fountain, representing the four major rivers of the world known at the time – the Danube, Ganges, Nile and Plata.

Piazza Navona is an interesting site in its own right because it used to be the Emperor Domitian's Stadium, where 30,000 Romans gathered to watch chariot races and bullfights. In addition to the celebrated Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, there are two other Baroque fountains in the piazza: the Fontana del Moro and the Fontana del Nettuno. The former, at the piazza’s southern end, shows a Moor standing in a conch shell, wrestling with a dolphin and surrounded by four tritons. On the northern extremity, the Neptune fountain depicts the Roman god of the sea struggling with an octopus.

Our brand new private walking tour, the Fountains of Rome, is a great way to discover all these unique treasures that so beautifully combine functionality with art. Because each fountain tells a fascinating story of Rome’s past and invites us, at the drop of a coin, to come back to the Eternal City again and again!