St. Peter's Square at Christmas, Vatican City

Exclusive Christmas in Italy Tour: Rome, Florence, Milan

Ratings of Zicasso's Service
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

$9,800 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.

Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

4.9 stars based on 5894 reviews.

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The overall trip was great. The weather was terrific and the countries we visited had so much to see. Zicasso's tour company did a good job of balancing relaxation with fun. Each of the guides we had was so pleasant and shared so much information with us. They were very attentive to our needs.

Reviewed By Nisha V.

Italy Vacation Review: Florence, Rome, Truffle Hunt, Cooking...

Wow, where to begin. This trip was an absolute dream.

When I first spoke to Zicasso’s travel consultant, I told her my main travel concern: traveling with nine- and 15-year-old boys as a single mom in Italy. I was excited to take the trip with them, but I really needed something that was meticulously planned to take away the nerves of having to navigate alone with two kids. She listened and executed the most beautiful trip.

She planned activities that captured the attention and imagination of a fourth grader and a teenager. And the experiences were unique. Probably the highlight of the trip was a truffle hunt with the hunter and his dog in the countryside outside of Florence. My oldest wants to move to Florence and start hunting! We had a personalized cooking class, a private Vespa tour of Rome, and a delicious and informative art and food tour, among other amazing experiences. As we were sending photos back home, I got so many requests for our itinerary because it was so special and unique. Both boys were hard-pressed to choose which part they liked best.

The hotels she selected were beautiful, comfortable, and right in the heart of the cities and attractions we wanted to see. When we encountered a small hiccup (by our hotel, not our travel agent), I contacted her and she responded right away, getting us a free room upgrade and free dinner! We felt very taken care of.

Aside from the amazing activities and locations we saw, the trip was fantastic because everything was so seamless. We always had a private driver arranged, pre-booked train tickets, and even someone to make sure we made it on time for our flight home. I never had to worry about a thing. It was also telling that every tour guide we interacted with had only glowing things to say about our travel agent and her keen attention to detail and organization.

If you're planning on visiting Italy, this travel company is the travel agency you need to select. It takes any of the stress and guesswork out of the travel process, and all you have to do is show up and enjoy.

Thank you so much! You helped us make some amazing memories!

Stephanie

Reviewed By Stephanie S.

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This was possibly the best vacation we have ever taken. A fitting trip to mark our 25th anniversary, we will remember our days in Positano and Sorrento forever. Everything was perfect and the service and support were extraordinary.

Zicasso's travel specialist and the other people were always super-helpful and friendly. The hotels they chose for us in particular were exactly what we wanted. I can’t think of a single issue. Transport, transfers, etc., were perfect. The only bad part was that we had to return to normal life afterwards! We highly recommend our travel company to anyone! Grazie mille!

Reviewed By Mauro A.

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We had a fantastic time and Zicasso's tour operator did an excellent job organizing every detail of our trip. Drivers and guides were always punctual, and the itinerary was perfectly balanced—full days, without ever feeling rushed.

Some real highlights for us were Herculaneum, the Pantheon, the Vatican, and our unforgettable Capri boat tour. Our guide brought Pompeii's history to life in a way that made it feel like stepping back in time and the Naples street food tour was delicious and nostalgic—her pizza fritta instantly took me back to the calzones I grew up with in Niles, Ohio. Our driver was with us for several days and made every transfer feel effortless.

There was a small hiccup at the very end with a trip planner, but it was minor compared to the overall quality of the trip. The organization, communication, and attention to detail throughout made this a truly memorable experience and we wouldn’t hesitate to book with this tour agency again. We had a fantastic time and the tour company did an excellent job organizing every detail of our trip.

Reviewed By James T.

Italy Vacation Review: Positano, Boat Tour, History, 16-Day...

I want to give a huge shoutout to Zicasso's trip coordinator. She was our coordinator through WhatsApp. She was always available, provided quick solutions and documents whenever we needed them. Given a few airline delays, we needed to adapt our itinerary rapidly and she always came in clutch.The itinerary was put together very fast, as we approached this travel company six weeks before our desired travel dates. We had an amazing time and all the activities were tailored to our interests. We would highly recommend them for any Italy travel.

Reviewed By Brad B.

Italy Tour Review: 9 Nights

It was very good and lived up to our expectations.

Reviewed By Sarpreet B.

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