East of the Republic of Venice Tour: Italy & Slovenia

We had an absolute dream trip to Italy with the help of Zicasso's travel specialist! Traveling as a family of five, we visited Rome, Florence, San Gimignano, Greve, Siena, Cinque Terre, and Venice, along with many beautiful towns and smaller areas throughout the country.

The wonderful vacation rental accommodations were thoughtfully chosen and every detail of our trip was carefully planned. The local tour guides were incredibly knowledgeable and gave us a truly authentic experience. Our private transfers, train transfer, and private tours were efficient, informative, and made traveling from place to place seamless and stress-free.

The communication between all tour guides and transportation providers was great, as was that of each vacation rental host, who contacted us in advance to prepare us for our arrival.

One of our favorite parts of the trip was discovering the smaller, less-touristy areas within the larger cities, places we likely never would have found on our own. We enjoyed exploring Tridente for shopping and Trastevere in Rome for a private pizza-making class (highly recommended), artisan shops, excellent restaurants, and a vibrant nightlife.

Florence was wonderful, but we had the opportunity to travel to a few other areas, such as Siena, Greve, and San Gimignano. We even had a private vineyard tour and chef's meal while in Chianti. A must-see is the walk to the Boboli Gardens across Ponte Vecchio and, on the way back to our apartment, a stop at Piazzale Michelangelo.

While staying in Cinque Terre (Monterosso al Mare), be sure to take a private boat to visit all of the other villages and maybe even snorkel. The water is so clear!

Venice had great history, but we also enjoyed our boat tour to Murano to watch the glassmaking process and Burano, filled with gorgeous multicolored homes and artisan shops.

Every experience felt personal, meaningful, and special.

This trip was truly an absolute dream and we are so grateful to him for helping make our family vacation to Italy unforgettable. We highly recommend him to anyone looking to plan an incredible, seamless, and memorable trip!

Slovenia is a beautiful country and the capital, Ljubljana, is picturesque. The old town was the cleanest European city we have ever visited. The hotel there was hands down our favorite hotel of the trip. The building was so unique and the renovation was very well done. The staff was exemplary and the breakfast was delicious. But it was Croatia (again) that was the most interesting and intriguing country to tour.

From our first conversation and his initial draft itinerary, Zicasso’s travel specialist understood exactly what I wanted (I was planning this trip as a surprise for my wife). As someone who lives in Slovenia, he was able to suggest activities and hotels he knew we would enjoy. We made very few changes to the itinerary based on our subsequent conversations. He stayed in touch over the following months (I booked a late-July 2026 trip in November 2025) and answered the few questions I had.

The trip exceeded my already high expectations. To begin with, we missed a connecting flight so we had to fly to Venice instead of Trieste and he had our guide pick us up in Venice with no extra charge or complaint. Our guide was also a native Slovenian and he provided us with rich local history, culture, and suggestions of places and restaurants to visit not on the itinerary. We were with our guide every day and we really enjoyed his company and spontaneity. Our guide was an avid outdoors person and so are we, so it worked out very well. Our guide always solicited our input and made suggestions for new adventures.

Zicasso’s travel specialist organized our stay in Slovenia beautifully. Her idea to stay the entire time in Bled worked out wonderfully, although the travel time to sites in the south was longer than anticipated due to road construction.

We saw really spectacular scenery and had a very informative driver and tour guide. He taught us a lot about the history, culture, and geography of Slovenia. We also really enjoyed having the last day in Bled with no preplanned activities — a beautiful day to just stroll around the lake and relax.

My trip was fantastic! Every single minute of it! I was in Europe city-hopping for 16 days and every aspect of the trip was perfect! My travel specialist and her team, who planned my trip and gave me support throughout it, couldn't have done a better job - it truly was the trip of a lifetime!

We started out planning it about a year ago. I contacted Zicasso about planning a multi-city trip and I listed the places that I wanted to visit. I am a woman traveling solo, so I asked for guides for many places that I wanted to visit - people who knew the cities and the best way to get around, great places to eat, etc. The guides were awesome - I had four of them and they each had a background in history or art history, so they were perfect companions to visit museums and palaces with.

I also had a somewhat unusual request - I wanted to go to thrift shops in three cities. I strongly believe in recycling and finding a new home for pre-loved items. I did end up going to thrift stores and some shops featuring local designers and artisans, and found some absolute treasures to take home with me! And I spent one wonderful morning at a Paris flea market with my Parisian guide, and we had a grand time! I found some jewelry and a small piece of art to take home with me. She had me try my first crepe (I've never had one before) and also something that I'm going to misspell that, when pronounced, sounds like "shoe" - yummy!

I wanted to see a show at the Moulin Rouge, but did not want to go to a club at night by myself, so my guide escorted me and we had a wonderful time! Similarly, I wanted to go to a jazz club one evening and my guide escorted me there, where we had a blast! She accompanied me to the Louvre and made sure I got to see all the pieces I was interested in seeing. She also took very good pictures of me at all the spots we visited so I could send them back home. I'll give her a 5+ star rating as a guide! She was just lovely!

My next stop was Prague and my guide was just as superb! She introduced me to espresso tonics (I'm sipping one right now as I've been making them at home - I love them!) and she gave me a wonderful guided tour of the city. The next day we did some thrifting and visited stores featuring local designers. Again, I found some treasures. Another 5+ star guide!

From there I took the train to Vienna, where my guide brought me on an amazing walking tour of the city. She was so knowledgeable about the city and its history - you could tell it is her passion. She also brought me to thrift stores and local artisan shops and again I found even more treasures! We visited museums and enjoyed lunch and coffees together. And she escorted me to a blues club one evening where we had a blast listening to live classic American blues (my real love, along with jazz). My guide is just so delightful! Highly recommended if you are interested in visiting Vienna.

From there I flew to Venice - my final destination. My guide was so knowledgeable about the artwork that we saw at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection - it felt as if by seeing the paintings we were visiting old friends of his! And he also took me to see Doge's Palace and on a gondola ride.

On day two in Venice, we went by boat to Murano, where we visited the glass factory and saw the glassblowers working. I had done very well at sticking to my budget for the trip until I got to the Murano factory showroom. I love glass and the pieces they were selling were all sublime! So much work went into them. I ended up buying two pieces that are being shipped to me so I did not have to worry about transporting them on the plane. And our tour guide at the factory even gifted me a necklace that I'm wild about after serving me prosecco in a handblown glass.

From there, we headed to the island of Burano and had lunch. I've got wonderful pictures of the colorful houses there. As I said, the trip could not have been better. The hotels were all fabulous in each city - centrally located and an easy walk to restaurants and shops. The beds were super-comfortable and each room was very quiet - I slept like a log from all the walking that I did every day.

I even managed to send postcards to friends and family from each city - not an easy task since not many people use snail mail anymore! But my guides were all determined to help me find postage and they did - every one of them!

Each hotel offered breakfast and the food was delicious. I'm on a keto diet but came off of it for this trip so I could enjoy the local specialties. The breakfasts were all buffet-style and offered everything you could imagine - eggs, bacon, sausage, all kinds of breads and rolls, pastries, fresh fruit and juice, yogurt, and the best coffee! Every hotel had an excellent buffet. They were all 4-star hotels and each room was charming. The staff at each hotel were also very accommodating, wanting to ensure that I had everything I needed.

There is nothing that the travel specialist and her team left out. Her team even arranged for a last-minute guide to help me get from my hotel to the airport in Venice and make sure I was at the right ticket counter (I was a little concerned about finding the water taxi and then finding the right place to go at the airport). He wheeled and carried my luggage, which by this time was heavy!

The whole trip was perfect and I'm hoping to return in a couple of years. I'd like to make a trip to the Christmas markets in Europe - especially Prague and Vienna - and you know which guides I'm going to be requesting! The whole experience was top-notch! Have no concerns at all about working with this company - they're the best! I thank each and every one who was involved in my trip. It really was perfect!

We had an absolutely incredible European adventure! 

If you are dreaming of a seamless and spectacular European getaway like we were, look no further than Zicasso's travel company! Our recent trip for seven siblings across Vienna, Slovenia, Croatia, and Venice was nothing short of magical, all thanks to the incredible expertise of our travel specialist.

From the get-go, our travel specialist listened intently as I described our group's preferences, travel styles, and bucket-list wishes. He didn't just meet our expectations, he soared right past them, crafting an itinerary that felt tailor-made for pure joy and connection. This trip wasn't just a vacation; it was a precious opportunity for us grown-up siblings to laugh, explore, and feel like carefree kids again–truly amazing!

Our phenomenal main guide was the glue that held our adventure together. From our Vienna airport pickup all the way through to our Venice water-taxi send-off, he was a superstar! Always punctual, incredibly knowledgeable about each destination, and a fantastic organizer, he made every day flow effortlessly.

What truly set this experience apart was our guide's amazing flexibility. Whether it was one of many last-minute comfort breaks (much appreciated!), a tweak to the schedule, or an impromptu adventure like an exhilarating toboggan run down Straza hill in Slovenia (epic memories!), he handled it all with a smile. Exploring the breathtaking Postojna Cave and soaring above Lake Bohinj on the Vogel Cable Car were just a couple of the many highlights he helped make happen.

The local city guides were also fantastic, bringing each location to life with engaging stories and a perfect blend of fun activities and fascinating insights. From stunning wineries and delicious culinary tastings to chocolate making, truffle hunting, ancient arenas, and breathtaking historical sites, every day was a delightful discovery.

Thank you! You turned our European dream into a vibrant, unforgettable reality. If anyone is looking for a tour company that truly listens, expertly plans, and delivers an exceptional travel experience, this is the answer. Don't just dream it – book it!