Best of Italy for First Timers

Rome is the eternal city, and there is no better start to your highlights of Italy tour than the country’s famed capital. Here, you will stroll the cobblestone streets, visit the numerous cathedrals that dot the many historic squares, marvel at hidden art masterpieces by artists like Caravaggio, and have your wishes come true by tossing a coin into the Trevi fountain.

You will arrive at Fiumicino International Airport, where your private transfer will greet you in the arrivals area and transport you to your centrally located and luxurious accommodation. Once you have checked in, you can relax into the slower Italian daily rhythm as you take your time to explore some charming neighborhoods on your first day in Rome. You will begin along Rome’s main shopping avenue, the Via del Corso, where you can explore designer boutiques and relax with an aperitivo, which is sort of an Italian version of Happy Hour, which allows you to sip on cool cocktails and nibble on traditional Italian appetizers.

After some window-shopping, it will be time to cross the Tiber River to the Trastevere district, which is one of Rome’s medieval neighborhoods. Trastevere will come alive at night with Roman locals and with no shortage of bars, cafes, and restaurants to enjoy. You can savor the authentic, Roman cuisine and enjoy a pre or post-dinner stroll in the cool evening around the palaces that dot the neighborhood, taking in the sounds of lively conversation, clinking wine glasses, and the melodies of live music. Lastly for today, you can admire the skyline views of Rome with its glittering city lights from Janiculum Hill.

Today, you will visit many of Rome’s most famous landmarks and be primarily centered in the ancient part of the city. Beginning at the Colosseum, you will breeze past the waiting tourists and venture inside with your private guide who will explain the historical significance of this site, which belonged to the Ancient Romans. You can walk alongside your guide to explore the arena floor, where you can imagine yourself as a member of the boisterous crowd during one of the gladiator fights. Together, you will delve further into the Colosseum on a VIP and restricted access, underground tour that traces the steps of these ancient fighters through the maze of passageways beneath the arena floor, which is a place that very few tourists get to explore.

You will continue your tour of Ancient Rome by skipping the line with your private tour of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Impressive and intact ruins will be scattered across the zone. Complete with commentary from your guide, this will give you an idea of life in Ancient Rome. Afterward, you will traverse the same cobblestone avenues as Julius Caesar before climbing the hill for a dramatic view of both the ancient city and greater Rome.

Diving back into the quaint neighborhoods of Rome, it will be time to witness the Pantheon, which is an ancient Roman temple. You will enter inside this well-preserved, architectural site that was built thousands of years ago, where you will notice that the city sounds subside in the rotunda where a singular shaft of light beams down through the oculus to illuminate the space. In the neighborhood are several other not-to-miss sights. After your guide has shown you everything that you desire to see, it will be time for your daily aperitivo. You will indulge in your daily aperitivo from across from the Trevi Fountain or in the Piazza Navona. You will then take an after-dinner stroll along the cobblestone, where you will be provided with the opportunity to delight in a refreshing, homemade gelato on the Spanish Steps before concluding your evening at your hotel.

Nestled inside the confines of downtown Rome, there is an independent city-state that is known as The Vatican City, which is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. While there is no border control here, you can purchase Vatican City stamps and mail home postcards from their tiny post office that is adjacent to the City’s landmark basilica. Your expert guide will know of the best way to visit these important sights to skip the lines and witness some hidden gems.

You will want to begin at the Sistine Chapel because you can arrive early in the day and take your time to enjoy the room in a calm and contemplative state. You will spend your time in this room by marveling at the impressive ceiling frescos that were painted by Michelangelo. Your guide will then explain the stories that are depicted in these paintings so you can leave with a greater understanding of the works.

You will then continue into the attached Vatican Museum galleries, which are complete with an impressive collection of statues and ancient art on display. These vast and numerous galleries would take days to explore in their entirety, but your private guide will select what to see according to your desires and interests, in addition to pointing out highlights and other more relatively unknown treasures. A tour of St. Peter’s Basilica will end your visit of this papal state. This cathedral is arguably the most impressive Catholic Cathedral in both Italy and the world and is impressive in both its size and design. You can amble around the church and absorb the melodies of the organ and the smell of the burning wax candles that have been lit by faithful pilgrims. Finally, you can admire art masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Pieta before being provided with one of the best views in Rome by climbing the or dome of the basilica.

The smell of freshly roasted espresso beans will greet you each morning, and after a traditional Italian breakfast of espresso and cornetto, you will board a high-speed, first-class train that is destined for the Tuscan capital of Florence. Onboard, you can watch the countryside roll by your window on this quick journey to your next destination. Once you arrive, you will enjoy the smaller and more compact feel of this Tuscan treasure with its cobblestone streets and impressive architecture around every corner. After checking into your luxurious accommodation, you will venture out to explore Florence’s central sight of il Duomo, which is the city’s main cathedral. This church is strikingly different than the ones you have experienced thus far with its candy-colored, white, pink, and green marble facade and burnt orange dome, containing a gothic interior.

Florence is Italy’s art capital and the perfect destination for those that enjoy Renaissance art. After getting your fill of the cathedral, you can skip the line at the Uffizi Gallery and see some world-famous works like Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus and Caravaggio’s Medusa. You can certainly take your time to explore the masterpieces at this acclaimed museum.

No visit to Florence would be complete without seeing Michelangelo’s David, which is found at another world-renowned museum: Galleria dell’Accademia. After skipping the line, you will be blown away by your first view into the domed gallery where this impressive statue stands. Here you will marvel at the detail and precision that was used to carve into this pristine white marble. You will then continue your tour through the galleries where there are other impressive sculptures and paintings on display.

You will finish your day in Italy’s art capital in the Piazza della Signoria, which is Florence’s main square that is complete with a familiar David replica. Your guide will give you recommendations for choosing a sidewalk restaurant to enjoy people-watching in this bustling area. Afterward, you can amble along the Arno River that cuts through the center to see the city lights as they are reflected in the calm water.

No visit to the region of Tuscany would be complete without visiting one of the small towns that line the rolling green hills of Tuscany. Your private driver will meet you at your hotel to whisk you away through the countryside to Lucca, which is only a short drive away from Florence. Lucca is best-known for its well-preserved, Renaissance-era walls that surround the city. You can navigate through Lucca either on foot or a bicycle, stopping as often as you wish to admire the views of small-town Italy. Once you have become acquainted with the city, you can venture into its cobblestoned center that is filled with many squares and cathedrals. The Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is impressive with its unique oval shape and many bars and restaurants that create wafting scents of crusty homemade breads, freshly wood-fired pizzas, and roasting espresso beans.

You will return to Florence with your private driver in time for sunset, so they can drop you off at Florence’s most famous overlook of Piazzale Michelangelo. You should have your camera ready to capture this iconic view at dusk when the lights of the city are illuminated and the pink skies are reflected in the Arno River. You will enjoy a perfect last night in Florence with a chilled glass of bubbly prosecco at the nearby bar while you watch the scenery change in front of your eyes.

On the last stop of your highlights of Italy adventure, you will visit a unique city that is set on water and one that is unlike any other found in the world: Venice. A car-free center allows for endless wandering through this city’s labyrinthine streets, which will allow you to discover off-the-beaten-path jewels in addition to witnessing how the Venetians truly live. Around Venice lies a lesser-visited collection of islands that are waiting to be uncovered. After arriving on your high-speed, first-class train from Florence, a private boat will transfer you to your hotel that will be centrally located on Venice’s main island. Another private speedboat will then whisk you away to two of these smaller islands: Murano and Burano.

Murano is famous for its glass production, and you can explore many artisan glass shops here. You can even stroll the quiet streets away from the bustle of the busier main island of Venice and see how the locals live. You will join a private, glass blowing class to learn the basics of this venerable art before perusing the many shops to bring back souvenirs to adorn the walls of your own home. You will then sail away with your private boat transfer to the other nearby island of Burano. Burano is one of the most photographed islands of Venice, and it is famous for its multicolored houses that line the canals. This small island is best explored by wandering the alleyways and enjoying the vibrantly painted facades. Burano also has a history of lace-making, so it is the perfect place to pick up a few handcrafted mementos.

Heading back to the main island of Venice in your private boat, you will switch vessels to a romantic Venetian Gondola to enjoy a sunset cruise along Venice’s main canal. Drifting under the Rialto Bridge, you will snap postcard-worthy photos as wafts of briny, sea air and the tunes of the crooning Gondolier swirl around you. Back on land, you will dine on the freshly-caught, local seafood specialties at a waterfront restaurant along the canal.

On your last day in Italy, you will spend the morning exploring the most famous piazza in Venice: St. Mark’s Square. On one side of the square sits St. Mark’s Basilica with its golden domes and glittering mosaics that have been tucked inside. Also available for your enjoyment is the Doge’s Palace, where you will skip the line and venture straight inside to enjoy this palazzo that was built in the Gothic style. Just around the corner will be the Bridge of Sighs, which is one of Venice’s most famous landmarks, which was so influential that it has been replicated in numerous cities worldwide.

You will then return to your hotel, where you will enjoy a late checkout and time to freshen up before your flight. A private boat transfer will escort you to the airport for your departure.