Patrons, Artists, and Private Palazzi: an on-site art and culture experience in Rome, Italy, with Giulia Bernardini, April 10-17

Take in exuberant fountains, elegant renaissance palazzi, winding cobblestoned alleys, and mouth-watering meals with art historian and Wonderfeast founder, Giulia Bernardini, in her beloved home town.

The Eternal City has beckoned visitors for millennia, from pharaohs and queens to pilgrims, merchants, diplomats, Grand Tourists, and modern-day travelers. A city filled with wonder at every turn and Giulia’s favorite city and home. Let her guide you through it, from famous sites to hidden gems, and lose yourself in its fascinating past and vibrant present.

• Stay in comfort at the centrally-located, rave-reviewed Hotel Damaso in the heart of Rome’s famed centro storico.
• Indulge in delicious food at carefully selected modest trattorie and upscale ristoranti. And get tips on where to find the best gelato and caffé. Learn what it means to be a real buona forchetta, a “good fork,” Roman style!
• Soak up world-renowned sites such as the Vatican Museums, Galleria Borghese, Pantheon, and iconic piazze, or squares, like Piazza Navona, Piazza del Popolo, and bustling Campo de’ Fiori, as well as less-known jewels like Palazzo Massimo with its vast collection of roman sculptures, jewelry, and Roman frescoes, or the delightfully beautiful Non-Catholic Cemetery. Enjoy seeing these and other marvels come alive thanks to Giulia’s great knowledge of and passion for the history of the Eternal City. View the full itinerary here.

Meet Your Host

Giulia Bernardini is an Italian-American actor, art historian, and art educator. Multi-cultural and multi-lingual, her passion for the art, architecture, and literature that she taught for decades – and for travel and gastronomy – comes from an early desire to understand the cultures she encountered growing up in Europe. Giulia studied art history at Mount Holyoke College, the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, and received two master’s degrees in art history and in museum studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she was a senior instructor in the Humanities Program until 2023. In addition, Giulia is a regular guest lecturer at the Denver Art Museum and MCA Denver on Italian, French, and early 20th century modern art. She has recently returned to Boulder from a year in her native Rome with her family. Her hope is that this experience can satisfy your appetite for art history, travel, food, and friendship – the most delicious things in life.

Itinerary Highlights 

• Daily art presentations by Giulia and local guides as we explore Rome
• A local market visit, followed by a cooking class and lunch
• A day trip to a medieval castle and renaissance villa in the Roman countryside aboard private minibus
• An evening of aperitivi in a befrescoed private palazzo
• Iconic works by Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Bernini and many more

See the full, day-by-day itinerary here.

Trip price includes 7 nights of accommodations in a centrally-located privately owned hotel in the centro storico (historic center) of Rome; 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and e dinners; private transfer from Fiumicino airport or Termini station to hotel; welcome reception; admission to all museums and attractions listed in itinerary; tips and gratuities; transportation to and between scheduled activities, including a minibus for our day trip; 7 days of art history tuition by Giulia and local guides; an insider list of recommendations for time spent on your own or on future trips; a Recommended Reading List by Giulia. Trip price does not include flights; meals not mentioned in the itinerary; alcohol beyond what is served at included events; airport transfer at the end of trip (Giulia will assist everyone to get a taxi or Uber); medical & cancellation insurance (required).

Prices per person **$200 discount when you register by Sunday, January 4th**

• In single Classic room (150 sq ft): $6839 $6639 if booked by January 4th
• In double occupancy Classic room: $5365 $5165 if booked by January 4th
• In single occupancy Tripla room (226 sq ft): $7305 $7105 if booked by January 4th
• In double occupancy Tripla room: $5679 $5479 if booked by January 4th

Important Details

• The trip will have a maximum of 12 guests (plus Giulia).
• The itinerary will involve significant daily walking, including stairs and along uneven cobblestone streets. It is necessary that guests are physically fit so they are comfortable with the pace. 
• While the itinerary is designed to maximize what you experience during 7 days in Rome, there will be some free time. And you are welcome to skip a scheduled event or meal if you wish to rest or do something on your own. 
• If you plan to come as a solo guest but would like to share a room to secure the double room rate, let us know. I will do my best to accommodate you, as interest from other guests allows. 
• Flights should not be booked until you hear from me that the trip is confirmed. We will do this as soon as we have a minimum of 8 participants registered.

Frequently Asked Questions 

• Is this trip suited to me as a solo traveler? Absolutely, yes. The small group size guarantees that we’ll get to know one another as we share our adventure. Giulia is always very proud of the camaraderie and, often, lovely friendships that are formed on her trips. In addition, during unscheduled time, she will take interested travelers to visit unscheduled sites, go shopping, or have an apéritif at one of Paris’ many cafés.
• I like time to myself. Will there be downtime or is every day fully booked? While we do have a couple of full days, most are planned so that you will have time to relax and digest all the wonders we’ll have seen. Also, keep in mind that this is your trip so you can elect to take a break from the planned activities whenever you like.
• I have dietary restrictions or allergies. Might this be a problem at meals? Not at all. Just let us know of any intolerance, allergies, or dietary restrictions so that we can accommodate you seamlessly throughout the trip.
• Will not knowing much about art and history make me feel lost or out of place? You needn’t worry! Giulia is passionate about ensuring that you’ll have a meaningful, enriching experience no matter how much exposure you’ve had to the history, art, and architecture of Paris.
• What if something comes up and I have to cancel? Can I get my money back? Per the Cancellation Policy below, you have 90 days before the trip start date to receive a full refund of any payment made.

Wonderfeast Rome Testimonials

“I give this experience an A+. I had a great time, learned a lot, and enjoyed myself. The jetlag coming back was hard, but everything about the trip was first class.”

“I think this may be one of the best “organized” trips I’ve ever been on. Everything was easy and you were very responsive to any questions we had. And your travel hints were great – extremely helpful.”

“Giulia, the opportunity to travel and hang out with you was an incredible experience – your knowledge of the history, culture and art is just what I always want when I travel. Plus, you’re fun!”

Patrons, Artists, and Private Palazzi

For one indulgent week, we will feast on the art, architecture, food, and dolce vita (sweet life) of my enchanting native city and beyond. We’ll begin our exploration by considering the impact Rome’s imperial past had on the papal power brokers of central Italy from the fifteenth through the seventeenth centuries. As we discover palaces and squares, churches and monuments, we’ll see how Rome’s Renaissance and Baroque rulers harkened back to the glory of the ancient Roman empire to consolidate their dominion over one another, the city, the region, and all of Europe.

We’ll learn about the famous – and infamous – papal families of Rome as we take in ceiling frescoes and private collections in opulent, sprawling palazzi in the city proper and in picturesque country towns. We will gain an invaluable understanding of these vibrant periods of art patronage and architectural expansion all while exploring the roles played by artists such as Raphael, Michelangelo, Annibale Carracci, Bernini, and Caravaggio, among countless others, as we stand before their breath-taking works. All this will take place not only in the city’s numerous world-class museums but also in the many churches, private galleries, and elegant suburban villas where the works of art have stood since their creation.

Following the sound advice to “do as the Romans do,” we will punctuate our fascinating art historical explorations with leisurely walks through lively piazze, drinks in cafés on Rome’s most delightful streets, dinners in local osterie, and a leisurely full-day outing to two blissfully under-explored countryside palaces.

Join us for this unmissable experience. Contact Giulia to book your place and for more information at giulia@wonderfeast.com or click ‘Contact Us’ below.

I look forward to seeing you at the banquet!

Giulia