St. Peter's Square at Christmas, Vatican City

Exclusive Christmas in Italy Tour: Rome, Florence, Milan

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Customizable Itinerary

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

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Rome, Florence, Milan

Suggested Duration

10 Days

From a graceful Christmas tree contrasting the powerful Colosseum walls to the vibrant display of lights accentuating Nativity scenes decorating the streets of Florence, Italy provides a holiday season brimming with welcoming, cheerful ambiance for all to enjoy. Discover the beauty of Pisa in December as seen from the top of the Leaning Tower and absorb the splendor of a New Year’s Eve performance at the famous La Scala Theater in Milan. Your customizable tour immerses you in Italian culture and...

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Experience the unique pleasure of attending midnight mass in St. Peter’s Square, as presided over by Pope Francis
  • Discover the joyful holiday season embodied in the thriving Christmas markets of Rome and Florence
  • Relish the country charm and splendid history of the medieval Siena, located in the southern hills of Tuscany
  • Explore the unique connection between the Roman Empire’s traditions and the heritage of Christianity on a private tour of Rome
  • Immerse yourself in the Christmas culture of Florence with a tour of the Renaissance city’s historic and lavish churches
  • Delight in a distinctive New Year’s Eve celebration with a remarkable dinner followed by a celebratory evening in Milan’s elegant La Scala Theater
  • Traverse the grounds of the Sacred Field in Pisa, where soil from Calvary (where Christ was crucified) was brought back during the Crusades
  • Stroll the hillside trail of Manarola alongside the extravagant Nativity scene of 250 characters cloaked in lights, which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea

Detailed Description

Discover the cheers and traditions of Italy in December during your 10-day tour of encompassing Christmas and New Years in the cities of Rome, Florence, and Milan. The remarkable journey begins with your arrival in Rome. Your private transfer meets you at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport and escorts you to a luxurious hotel in the city center. Your private guide leads you on an introductory tour through Ancient Rome, which includes the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, and Palatine Hill. Learn about the ways the past has influenced the present through customs and traditions. The next day is Christmas Eve and Rome buzzes with excitement. Wander through the Christmas markets and see the detailed Nativity scenes in Piazza del Popolo. In the evening, you venture to St. Peter’ s Square to attend midnight mass led by his Holiness, Pope Francis.

On Christmas Day, you have a private tour of the city’s connection to Christmas, walking through the history and tradition along the cobblestone alleyways and open piazzas. In the evening, you partake in a superb Italian Christmas dinner. You have a first-class seat on the train north to Florence the next day. Your private transfer escorts you to a luxurious hotel in the historic city center surrounded by Renaissance palaces and glowing holiday lights. Explore the distinct churches filled with unforgettable art and unique stories as shared by your private guide. The following day, enjoy a full day tour of Siena; wander along the festive atmosphere inside the medieval city walls. Visit one of the oldest hospitals in Europe at the Santa Maria della Scala Museum, which now contains stunning exhibits telling the detailed history of Siena through its art.

Next, you explore the art of Florence, beginning with the Uffizi Gallery, for a better understanding of how classics and early Christian allegory inspired the works of master Italian artists through history. The following day takes you into western Tuscany to discover the holiday spirit in the cities of Pisa and Lucca. Visit the Sacred Field and gothic churches of Pisa before climbing to the top of the Leaning Tower. Enjoy the holiday ambiance of Lucca inside the medieval city walls encircling the city before returning to Florence. Then you travel north to Milan, the capital of the Lombardy region. You have the option of visiting the coastal villages collectively known as Cinque Terre. The town of Manarola contains a stunning Nativity scene with 250 characters radiating with light against the hillsides in the evening.

Then it’s New Year’s Eve. The day is yours to explore the fashionable and industrious city of Milan at your leisure. Visit the La Scala Opera Museum or tour the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie to see da Vinci’s Last Supper. In the evening, you can bask in a delectable meal before embarking on a thrilling night at Milan’s famous La Scala Opera House. On the final day, you can unwind and bask in the serene quiet of New Year’s morning. Extend your stay in Italy for a magnificent time in the Dolomite villages or a sun-drenched start to the year in the Sicilian resort town of Tamarindo. Your private transfer meets you at the hotel in Milan when you are ready and escorts you to Malpensa Airport for your flight home.

Starting Price

$7,795 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

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

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