View of the famous Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy

Grandeur of Veneto & Emilia Romagna Tour

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

Venice, Bologna, Florence, Verona

Suggested Duration

8 Days

Italy is meant to be experienced as you savor the layered flavors of a perfected regional dish and bask in the charming glow of the marbled villas that overlook the quiet canals. Your custom tailored tour will take you on an engaging cultural excursion from Venice to Bologna and back again as you are immersed in the art and architecture of the past, along with the cuisine and daily life of contemporary towns and cities. Witness the frescoes that first humanized biblical figures, and then indulge...

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Witness the delicate artwork of the glassblowers on the historical island of Murano in the Venetian lagoon
  • Cruise the Grand Canal with an introductory tour of Venice, which takes you to the palaces, museums, and monuments that overlook the waterway
  • Bask in the golden glow of St. Mark’s Basilica during a private tour of St. Mark’s Square and the Doge’s Palace
  • Indulge in the essence of Italian cuisine in the foodie capital of the country referred to by locals as the “Fat One,” in medieval Bologna
  • Visit an artisan jewelry maker in Florence who uses traditional techniques to craft masterful, contemporary designs
  • Stroll through the historical grounds of a medieval castle that guard the borders of Verona, a city famous for its charm based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
  • Wander through the enchanting cobbled street of Padua to experience the history of the University where Galileo once taught science
  • Delight in the unique artistic experience of witnessing the masterworks of Giotto in the Chapel of the Madonna dell'Arena

Detailed Description

Savor the culture of Italy on an in-depth tour of the north that takes you from Venice to Bologna and back again. Your 8-day excursion will combine luxury with culture and highlight the magnificence of the artisanal crafts passed down through generations, whether in the art of cooking, jewelry making, or glassblowing. The regions of Veneto and Emilia Romagna embody the splendor of Italy with Renaissance palaces that exhibit preserved works of master painters with medieval walls and gondolas that sweep beneath the soaring church spires. Your exciting adventure will begin with your arrival at Marco Polo Airport in Venice. Your private transfer will escort you to the edge of the Grand Canal for a tour of the waterway that traverses the city’s island design and offers you your first view of the city’s grandeur.

Wake the next day for your private half-day tour of the majestic ambiance of St. Mark’s Square that begins with the gilded frame of St. Mark’s Basilica and the lavish décor of the Doge’s Palace. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to wander the maze-like streets of the city. Travel next to Bologna by private transfer the next day to discover the blend of cultural heritage and cuisine. The medieval architecture and streets give way to a food-centric philosophy, and you will stroll through the historical lanes before you enjoy an unforgettable meal at the center of Italy’s vibrant food scene.

Move next to the Renaissance city of Florence for an excursion into living history. Wander amongst palaces, castles, and artwork as you visit the museums of your choice before you explore the artisan craft shops in the historical artistic district of the Oltrarno. Your private transfer will then leads you back into the Veneto region at Verona where you will explore the splendid city and enjoy the rich culture that dates back to the Roman Empire. Tour the castles, bridges, and ruins, along with the letter-lined archway of the home of Shakespeare’s Juliet Capulet. In the evening, bask in the traditional passeggiata, your after dinner stroll, where you can connect with the locals and other travelers alike.

Venture next to Padua for an immersive look at the architecture and art of a city that once went against Venice for power in the region. You will see Giotto’s stunning work in the Chapel of the Madonna dell'Arena before you return to Venice for the night. The next day takes you to the celebrated islands around the Venetian lagoon, including the glassblowing island of Murano. Stroll along the quiet streets for an introduction to the glorious mosaics and the tradition of glassblowing. Conclude as your private transfer will escort you from your hotel to Marco Polo Airport for your flight home. 

Starting Price

$3,600 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 5952 reviews.

Italy Tour Review: Wine Tour, Cooking Classes, Local Cuisine,...

Zicasso’s travel company was wonderful in planning our trip on short notice and in line with our requests and preferences. Their suggestions of what to do and where to stay were perfect. And when we accidentally got off on the wrong island, the travel company quickly got us new ferry tickets to get to the right place. It was all seamless.

Reviewed By Sherry G.

Italy Honeymoon Review: Rome, Sorrento, Cooking Class, Private...

This trip was the greatest week of our lives! Everything planned was better than I could have imagined. The private drivers being coordinated behind the scenes made the trip so easy and removed all the stress of trying to navigate a new country. Every driver and our tour guide was so nice and I feel like we made friends with all of them.

My favorite part of the trip was definitely the cooking classes and that every tour was private and intimate for my wife and I. The connections Zicasso’s travel agent hooked us up with made the trip the most memorable experience. Our travel agent and the travel company took special care of all the tiny details of the trip; our hotel knew it was my birthday and had a special surprise for me! I’m beyond thankful for the perfect honeymoon they provided my wife and I.

Reviewed By Branson S.

Italy Trip Review: Sorrento, Cooking Class, Local Cuisine,...

The accommodations and private tours were worth the extra money. Our drivers were professional and helpful.

Reviewed By Claudia R.

Italy, Greece Travel Review: Como, Bellagio, Wine Tour,...

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.

Italy 25th Anniversary Travel Review: Positano, Sorrento,...

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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