Best of Italy in Autumn: 14-Day Romantic Tour

Trod the paths that were once walked by Cicero and Caesar during a visit to the Roman Forum

What to expect on this itinerary

This 14-day tour of Italy is designed to reacquaint you with the benefits of journeying at this time of year. Enjoy the November light as it reflects off the mirror of Lago Maggiore, truffle hunt through the changing colors of the Piedmont countryside, and indulge in a multitude of other adventures designed to capitalize on this bracing time of year. Autumn in Italy creates the perfect setting to enjoy the quieter and cozier side of this storied country.

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Turin, Florence, Rome, Stresa, Vatican City

Suggested Duration

14 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Stresa – An Alpine Initiation

After arriving at Milan’s international airport, you will exchange the urban crowds for the rural spaciousness of the alpine foothills. Waiting curbside, a private driver will transfer you beyond the sprawl and congestion of Milan. Your destination is the Lake District of the Italian Alps, which is where many James Bond films have been made. Soon, you will arrive at the lakeside community of Stresa in style, and the splendor of the natural world around you will only add to the brilliance of your first-class accommodation.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Stresa – In the Footsteps of Napoleon

Day 3

Turin – Rendezvous in Northern Italy

Day 4

Turin – Hunting Truffles in Piedmont

Day 5

Turin – The City’s Royal Past

Day 6

Florence – The Jewel of Tuscany

Day 7

Florence – Exclusive Duomo Tour

Day 8

Florence – Tuscany’s Finest Export

Day 9

Florence – A Walk through the Renaissance

Day 10

Rome – Immersion in the Eternal City

Day 11

Rome – Italian Jazz

Day 12

Rome – St. Peter’s and the Vatican Museums

Day 13

Rome – Rome’s Republican Origins

Day 14

Rome – Departure

Trip Highlights

Detailed Description

Autumn in Italy could very well be its own country. Gone are the hordes of August, and what remains is a distillation of all the cultural, historical, and artistic artifacts that drew you to this brilliant nation in the first place. This a 14-day tour of Italy has been tailored to the bold traveler who wishes to acquaint themselves with what many would describe as the real Italy.

After arriving in Milan, the Lake District in the Italian Alps will provide a picturesque introduction to this season of change. The stunning peaks and glacial valleys that typify this region contain stories and secrets that are waiting to reveal themselves to you. After a brief detour to the region of Piedmont to participate in an annual truffle festival, you will make your way further to lower elevations and the birthplace of the Renaissance. In Florence, you will enjoy a crash course in Tuscan winemaking and the breathtaking artwork of masters, such as Michelangelo and Caravaggio. Your tour will conclude in the Italian capital of Rome. Whether walking the steps of Vatican City or contemplating the lives of gladiators at the Coliseum, your November arrival will ensure shorter lines and a quieter setting.

With peak season long gone, a November tour of Italy will reveal a side of the country that is seldom seen by tourists but is still very much a part of Italian life. Much of this itinerary includes seasonal festivities, and this should not discourage you from participating in additional activities that you want to experience or sites that you wish to visit.

Starting Price

$6,300 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

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Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 813 reviews

Italy Trip Review: Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Amalfi Coast, Pope Francis’ Funeral, Wine, Cuisine, Culture, Museums, Relaxation, 10 Nights

Zicasso’s tour operator planned the most amazing trip to Italy for us! My requirements were culture, romance, and relaxation. She delivered on every aspect. Although we missed our tour of the Vatican due to the Pope's funeral, my husband and I actually attended his funeral!! Our hotel, though planned many months before, was next to the basilica where Pope Francis was laid to rest. Talk about being a part of history!

We stayed in a beautiful converted villa to boutique hotel in Florence; got whisked away through the Tuscan countryside in a vintage Fiat 500; took cooking classes; sipped lovely wine, accompanied by excellent lunches on our winery tours; soaked in Italy's rich culture and museum scene; and even ticked the relaxation box by spending time by the pool, in the spa, and resting on our large deck overlooking the Amalfi coastline.

Every tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and personable, and it was evident they loved their jobs. Between memories of the boat ride along the Amalfi Coast, tips from the cooking classes I have already started using at home, and the cases of wine we are eagerly awaiting delivery of, my husband and I will forever hold Italy in our hearts and la dolce vita it provided us. 

Talk with our tour operator; you will be glad you did!

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Italy Tour Review: Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, Florence, 12 Nights

Zicasso’s travel company and every single guide and driver were stellar. All four hotels were good or excellent. There was one error on the schedule for the day outside of Florence when we had a driver to take us to the Siena region. The schedule stated three hours, so we paid for tickets to the Pitti Palace/garden, which turned out to be wasted money as the driving tour was actually nine hours. It was a beautiful day, though.

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Italy Trip Review: Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Vatican, Colosseum, Cooking Class, Food Tour, Cheese Sampling, Wine Tasting, 10 Nights

We've taken many family vacations over the years, but we all agreed this was the best one yet!

The team at Zicasso’s travel company did an exceptional job tailoring the perfect trip for our family. Every detail was thoughtfully planned, making the entire experience seamless and truly enjoyable from start to finish.

We had wonderful drives and knowledgeable, engaging tour guides who made each destination come to life. Some of our favorite highlights include a hands-on cooking class in Florence, exploring the beautiful Tuscan countryside, and having effortless access to iconic sites like the Vatican and the Colosseum.

The experiences were unforgettable, from the best food tour in Rome to a fun and unique golf-cart tour through the city. We also loved visiting a Parmigiano-Reggiano factory and a Parma ham producer, along with an extra-special stop at the Ferrari Museum that was such a memorable surprise.

Every moment felt thoughtfully curated and we came home with incredible memories that we will cherish for years to come. We highly recommend the travel company to anyone looking for a truly personalized and exceptional travel experience.

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Italy Tour Review: Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Tuscany, St. Mark's, Food Tour, Vineyard Visit, 2-Week Trip

The travel professionals at Zicasso’s travel company worked with us for over a year to plan the most amazing 14-day tour of Venice, Florence, and Rome. They were beyond patient and kind, fielding my endless questions and providing assurances for every detail. Every day was jam-packed with guides and travel. Well, one really doesn't know until you get to Italy, right?

Upon our late-evening arrival to Venice, we had our personal escort waiting for us at the airport, with private transport to our hotel in Venice. She did not leave until we had our bags in the lobby. I knew right then and there we had made the right choice with the travel company.

We found that everything was taken care of by the travel company, down to the smallest detail. Every guide, and there were many, came to our hotels to greet us and escorted us back to our hotel upon conclusion of our tour. Every single guide was a treasure. We never had to hail a taxi, which to me was the most amazing thing, as the travel company had private drivers picking us up or waiting for us at hotels and train stations.

Upon leaving Venice for Florence, our personal escort from the airport was waiting for us at the hotel, with a water taxi to the train station. She walked us through the train station and showed us how to find our gate for our train to Florence. Upon arrival in Florence, we had a private driver waiting for us for transport to the hotel. Same from Florence to Rome, Rome to Naples (for Pompeii and back to Rome).

We had multiple food tours and they were all amazing. We spent every day with private guides. Believe me, the travel company knows the very best guides in Italy. They are there 24/7 for you if things don't go as planned. Trust me on this.

In Venice, our tickets for St. Mark's Basilica that were reserved for our guide disappeared. There we were, no access. Our guide tried to secure tickets on her own and access was sold out. She called the travel company, which somehow secured access, even to the second level, where we could visit the four bronze horses.

Did I mention our day in Tuscany? The travel company insisted we were spending too much time with tours and insisted we take a day in Tuscany. We visited a vineyard in Tuscany for what turned out to be a private tour and lunch hosted by the vineyard owner. We had a table set up overlooking the vineyard and indulged in what may have been the best food we experienced in all of Italy. Everything was made on-site and perfectly paired with the vineyard wines. We were entertained by her three wonderful dogs, two of which were lovable and goofy Labrador retrievers. What a perfect day!

Without a doubt, the travel company is the finest travel agency we have ever had the privilege to work with. As I said earlier, everything was taken care of, nothing was missed: drivers, trains (business class), guides, food tours. The best vacation we have ever had.

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Italy Vacation Review: Sorrento, Rome, Pompeii, Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica, Amalfi Coast, Capri, Boat Ride, 10 Days

We had the absolute best vacation and loved working with Zicasso’s travel specialist. The trip exceeded our expectations and everything was so easy on our end. Our drivers were fantastic and always on time.

Our guides for private tours of Pompeii and the Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica) were knowledgeable, friendly, spoke excellent English, and we never had to wait in extended queues.

The hotels selected worked perfectly for our family, with wonderful locations in Sorrento and Rome.

Our travel specialist was always quick to reply to our questions and truly planned a vacation we will never forget. We will use this her again when we return!

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Italy Trip Review: Rome, Florence, Vatican, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, 2 Weeks

Zicasso set us up with a wonderful travel agent. The process of choosing and communicating through the Zicasso system was easy and helpful.

The travel specialist and her team planned a wonderful 15-day trip, with nine days in Rome and four days in Florence. She found us great accommodations that included a kitchen, which was a must for us. Other travel agents were not able to provide such accommodations.

The drivers we had were professional and picked us up on time. The guides were experts in their field and generally had taught at universities. The guides were very personable and tailored the tours to our interests.

She arranged all the necessary skip-the-line tours. We went to the Vatican with three different tours: the Sistine Chapel, the Gardens, and the necropolis to see St. Peter's tomb.

There were a couple of hiccups in this perfectly planned itinerary. Each time, the travel specialist and her staff were immediately available and guided us through solutions, such as trying to get to the Colosseum during the Roman Marathon.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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