Modena surprised us more than Rome honestly, the Ferrari Museum and the balsamic vinegar cellar visit made for such a fun contrast to two straight days of Vatican history. Sistine Chapel was the emotional peak of the trip for sure. Venice came in right after with that first gondola glide along the Grand Canal. Fourteen nights felt exactly right to breathe between all three cities.

Everything about this route works well for a couple who want history, romance and food in equal measure. Rome gives you the weight of history, Venice gives you the romance, and Modena gives you the food and a bit of adrenaline at the Ferrari Museum. We would have liked one extra night in Venice instead of Modena getting three full days. Still, a genuinely well balanced itinerary for a first big trip together.

Honeymoon planning had been on our to do list for two years, and this itinerary through Rome, Venice and Modena finally made it happen properly. Colosseum by morning light before the crowds arrive is a must, we went twice actually because the first visit felt rushed. Modena's balsamic tasting was an unexpected highlight, four generations of the same family running the tour and clearly loving their work. Ferrari Museum gave my husband his own moment of joy after days of art and history that were admittedly more my thing.

Premium tier delivered on the big three cities but our Rome hotel was a fifteen minute walk further from the centre than we expected for the price bracket.

Gondola ride at sunset in Venice, my wife cried, in the good way.

The Vatican and canal-side Venice were everything we hoped, but any restaurant within five minutes of the Colosseum was wildly overpriced, and by day three we'd learned to walk further out for dinner.