Imagine touring the Vatican’s hallways with a seminarian and by happenstance meeting the Pope; attending a private party for Il Ballo del Doge, the Venetian masquerade ball during Carnival, or watching Siena’s famous Palio horse race from the balcony of a princess’s private apartment. This is the type of exclusive experience Dream Italy affords its guests.

Giorgio Dell’Artino, owner of Dream Italy, has made a career of pairing his country’s visitors with their dreams. High-profile examples include Bob Dole’s tour of World War II sites, Rick Steves’ research visit and comedian Jeff Foxworthy and his wife’s hot air balloon ride over Tuscany, before landing in a sunflower-blanketed field for a picnic. On our trip, we traveled north from Rome to Tuscany in route to a small, family-owned winery and olive farm in Montenero renowned as Italy’s most-awarded olive oil producer (more than 300 awards) since its 1996 debut on the commercial market.

Cynthia Dial

Cynthia Dial is an admitted travel writing addict, and shares that she pinches herself each time she steps onto the promenade deck of a cruise ship, boards a train or settles into a plane seat to go to work. She's taken a city tour of Melbourne, Australia, from the back of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, hiked the Austrian Alps and learned to surf in Waikiki -- all for a good story. A special corres...(Read More)