Italy Culture & Gastronomy Itinerary: Rome, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast

Cooking class (Margherita style pizza) in Italy

What to expect on this itinerary

Italy’s rich culture and world-renowned gastronomy are exquisitely combined on this adventure-filled, 8-day excursion through the heartland of Italy. Stand in the streets of Rome where Julius Caesar gave riveting speeches, climb the steps of the Colosseum, indulge in delicious Roman cuisine, and gaze at the spectacular ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. From the ancient streets of Rome to the glistening Tyrrhenian Sea, you will be immersed in most of the best that Italy has to offer.

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Rome, Vatican City, Montepulciano, Florence, Positano, Sorrento, Pompeii

Suggested Duration

8 Days

Customizable Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1

Rome – Stroll through Rome’s Iconic City Center

After your flight arrives at Fiumicino Airport, your private driver will collect you outside of customs and transfer you to your luxurious accommodation nestled in the center of the city. A local guide will meet you in the lobby to commence your afternoon’s walking tour of the cultural gems that decorate some of Rome’s most lovely neighborhoods. You will visit the 1,900-year-old Pantheon that sits elegantly in an old-world piazza. Afterward, you can weave through cafes and pizzerias to admire the iconic Trevi Fountain. You can take part in the tradition of throwing a penny in the fountain to guarantee your return to Rome.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Day 2

Rome – Exclusive Walking Tour of Vatican City

Day 3

Rome – Walk in the Footsteps of Julius Caesar

Day 4

Florence – Discover Boutique Vineyards and Delicious Wine

Day 5

Florence – Explore the Birthplace of the Renaissance

Day 6

Positano – Indulge in the Tradition of Making Limoncello

Day 7

Positano – Create Your Own Neapolitan Pizza

Day 8

Positano – Depart for Home

Trip Highlights

  • Leisurely stroll through Rome’s iconic city center on a private tour to learn about the significance of the Pantheon and the roots of Roman civilization
  • Venture to the epicenter of Catholicism on your tour of Vatican City and admire St. Peter’s Basilica and the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel
  • Indulge in an in-depth tour through the heart of the Roman Empire as you explore the Forum and the Colosseum and finish with a culinary tour of Roman Cuisine
  • Savor exceptional wine from local Tuscan vineyards while learning about the intricate process that makes Italian wines so superior
  • Meander through the ancient streets of the Renaissance while encountering classic works of art and exquisite cathedrals in Florence
  • Travel by high-speed train to Southern Italy, where you can amble through the beautiful streets of Positano and take part in a Limoncello making demonstration
  • Journey through the streets of ancient Pompeii and learn about the once-thriving civilization that was destroyed by Mt. Vesuvius
  • Toss dough in the air with local pizza makers as you learn the ornate craft of creating a delicious Neapolitan-style pizza

Detailed Description

Discover the elusive mysteries of ancient Rome, traverse the streets of the Renaissance, and savor mouth-watering dishes of the Amalfi Coast on this luxurious, 8-day journey. You will begin your adventure by ambling through the cobbled alleyways of Rome, where you will uncover the mysteries of the Pantheon, witness the Trevi fountain, and allow yourself to bask in the bustling excitement of Rome. You will then climb the steps of the Victor Emmanuel Monument that sits in the center of Rome and observe the glorious ruins that spread out in front of you. In the shadow of this monument, Julius Cesar addressed the Roman citizens who emphatically cheered for him and revered him as a god. Sitting in the distance will be the Colosseum. You can venture beneath the 2,000-year-old amphitheater to see where gladiators paced in the hallways as they awaited their fights. Open-air markets abound in Rome, where the scent of fresh ingredients waft in the air and local women purchase the delicacies for their evening meal. You will be provided with an expert guide who will lead you through these markets and educate you on all of the finest foods in addition to providing you with tasty samples. Before you leave Rome, you will partake in an exquisite dinner tour that will introduce you to all of the celebrated dishes for which Rome is revered.

You will continue to journey through the gorgeous Tuscan countryside toward Florence. You will be stopping in the lovely hill-top town of Montepulciano, which delights its visitors with incredible views and delicious wines. Here, you can meander through sunny piazzas, visit Renaissance palaces, and be astounded by the beautiful architecture of the 16th-century cathedrals. After you finish walking through the village, you will partake in a exclusive wine tour that will introduce you to some of the most succulent wines in the region. Local vineyards will happily invite you in to learn the intricate process of cultivating the grapes to create flavorful wine. The rolling green landscape and fresh air will allow you to breathe in the aromatic flavors in their natural element. You will spend the following day in Florence, which is known as the birthplace of the Renaissance. Here, you can climb the Campanile Tower and look out over the labyrinth of streets that make up the city. The Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia display their magnificent pieces of art, and you will visit both to further delve into the culture and the spirit of the Italian Renaissance. In the midst of all this site-seeing, you will stop and indulge in a refreshing gelato break on the Ponte Vecchio, which is the beautiful bridge that crosses the Arno River.

Following a riveting day in Florence, you will then take a high-speed train to the village of Positano. The sun shines brightly on the Amalfi Coast, and the scent of lemons tends to linger in the air. The gentle breeze will refresh you as you wander through the town and navigate the steep lanes. In the evening, you will participate in a limoncello-making demonstration that will be followed by the opportunity to enjoy the freshly made cocktail that is paired with local seafood dishes. The following day, you will be led on a private tour to the ruins of Pompeii to learn all about the ancient civilization that once thrived in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius. Here, you can stroll through the streets that were once-covered with volcanic ash and observe the immaculately preserved ruins that are imbued with a unique and interesting story. After your tour, you will continue to Sorrento, where you will partake in making traditional Neapolitan pizza and savoring your delightful creation. On your final day, your driver will escort you to Naples International Airport, where you will catch your return 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

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.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 918 reviews

Italy Travel Review: Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Cortona, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Capri, Pompeii, Rome, Vatican, Lagoon Boat Trip, Wine Tasting, Cooking Class, 2 Weeks

Our 16-day trip through Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, and Rome was outstanding in every detail. Every transfer ran on time, every guide was knowledgeable and warm, and every hotel was a great choice.

Our favorites were the private lagoon boat trip in Venice, the Brunello wine and cheese tour, the pasta class at a Tuscan farm, Pompeii, the Capri cruise, and the Vatican tour. We couldn’t have asked for better planning or support. We highly recommend Zicasso's travel company.

See more

Italy Birthday Travel Review: Amalfi Coast, Rome, Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, Capri, Ischia, Sorrento, Minori, Cooking Class, Winery, 10 Nights

Our trip to the Amalfi Coast, arranged by Zicasso's travel specialist, could not have been more perfect! All our travel ran so smoothly. It was so nice not to worry about arranging pick-up and transportation. We were even met right as we got off the plane in Rome! All the drivers and guides were excellent, sharing helpful tips that ensured we used our time wisely to see the most interesting sites.

The hotels were all wonderful, with perfect locations, beautiful and spacious rooms, and breathtaking views. Our food journey was inspiring, with lots of fish, buffalo mozzarella cheese, pasta, and even a wonderful cooking class at an organic farm for my birthday! A team member made sure all our restaurant reservations were secured and even tipped us off to a transit strike in Italy so we could arrive early at the airport.

The travel specialist's suggestion that we visit a winery on Mount Vesuvius and visit Pompeii was excellent, so fascinating! The travel specialist and her team also arranged boat rides for us in Capri and in Sorrento to Ischia, which were extra-special. Our Sorrento boat captain even brought a delicious chocolate cake to celebrate my birthday!

Thank you so much for arranging such a special birthday trip and for making our travel so effortless, a truly relaxing retreat!

See more

Italy Tour Review: Amalfi Coast, Ravello, Positano, Florence, Rome, Siena, Winery Visit, 11 Nights

Overall, the trip was perfect! The hotels were really nice and the itinerary was great.

A few things I would have changed. First, the Amalfi tour day. There was not enough time in Ravello or Positano. We needed more time to relax and shop.

The class of train could have been nicer for the Florence-to-Rome portion of the trip.

We've been to many wineries throughout Europe and the one we went to on our way to Siena was okay, but we have been to much nicer wineries, with better wine and food tastings. It was not a great wine tour experience.

Everything else was wonderful and we really enjoyed the trip with our sons!!!

Thank you!

See more

Italy Trip Review: Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Naples, 5 Days

Zicasso’s travel company helped us plan and execute a vacation to the Amalfi Coast. The travel specialists suggested sites and arranged hotels, ground transport, and guides. It was all accomplished flawlessly; we had a perfectly paced itinerary.

Not only were the drivers well experienced with the incredible labyrinth of roads along the coast and in Sorrento and Positano, where we stayed, but they were also great sources of local colorhighly experienced with the incredible labyrinth of roads along the coast and in Sorrento and Positano, where we stayed, but they were also great sources of local color and conversation, and, above all, they conversation, and, above all, showed their love for the country and region.

We had several guides who were spot-on, including an archaeology graduate for Pompeii and Herculaneum, and an incredible historian on a walking tour of Naples.

The hotels were wonderful, with experience and professionalism throughout.

The drive along the coast to Amalfi and Ravello was spectacular!

See more

Italy Honeymoon Travel Review: Florence, Rome, Amalfi Coast, 8 Nights

Our honeymoon in Italy was absolutely magical and so much of that is thanks to our travel company. From our very first call, they took the time to understand what we wanted and crafted an itinerary through Florence, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast that felt personal rather than cookie-cutter. Every detail was handled: hotels, transfers, and tours all ran seamlessly, so we could simply relax and enjoy being newlyweds.

Florence stole our hearts with its art and charm, Rome was awe-inspiring at every turn, and ending the trip on the Amalfi Coast, with those breathtaking sea views, was the perfect romantic finale. The guides were knowledgeable and genuinely passionate, bringing each city to life in a way we never could have experienced on our own.

Communication before and during the trip was prompt and reassuring, and it was clear the team truly cared about making our honeymoon special.

We came home with memories we'll treasure forever. We can't recommend this travel company and Zicasso highly enough. We're already dreaming about our next trip with them!

See more

Italy Vacation Review: Sorrento, Rome, Capri, Amalfi Coast, Positano, Ravello, Schiazzano, Pompeii, Vatican, Colosseum, Forum, Boat Ride, Limoncello Tasting, Pizza Making, 1 Week

We had an incredible time in Italy! Thank you to Zicasso’s travel company! You thoughtfully planned our time in Sorrento and Rome to ensure we had the best experiences, while allowing for some free time to explore.

Our day-trip boat ride around Capri was beyond perfect. The boat captain and guide were very professional and truly charming. He gave us options on how to take in the sights and provided great commentary about the history and culture of the island. We selected to go to Marina Piccola for lunch, which was a great experience. The view from the restaurant was enchanting and the food was delicious. The grottos, Faraglioni rocks, and swimming in the Mediterranean were experiences of a lifetime.

We spent a day driving along the Amalfi Coast. We had a great driver on the mountainous winding roads. We visited charming Positano and beautiful Ravello. Our driver had great advice about where to visit and what to see. We enjoyed an amazing lunch, with a beautiful view, in Ravello.

On day three we enjoyed free time on the beach in the morning. Then we headed out for our limoncello experience! And it was a wonderful experience. The people we met in Schiazzano were very special. We loved the goal of the family businesses to keep and honor their traditions. Our pickup was prompt and we were served a drink at their general store. It is very touching that they began the tour in their church and shared the pride in their community. Then we were off up the hill, along narrow streets to the lemon groves. We learned about farming lemons from two enthusiastic young farmers, we smelled the lemon zest, and they served us fresh lemonade. Then we all got an exciting tuk-tuk ride up and down the very narrow streets to the hilltop farm, where we tasted olive oils, had a cheese-making demonstration, and tasted all the phases of cheese. Then we tasted the limoncello! We really enjoyed the spectacular view. Last, but certainly not least, we enjoyed making our own pizza using tomato sauce that was prepared by grandma that morning using freshly picked tomatoes. We tossed our pizza dough and used fresh mozzarella. The wood-fired oven cooked the pizzas perfectly. We enjoyed eating every bite. When we were planning our trip, I asked for limoncello tasting, but this experience was so much more!

We also had a wonderful time in Pompeii and at the Vatican, Colosseum, and Forum in Rome. All the history is so fascinating. There were many tourists in Pompeii and Rome, and all of our guides were terrific, energetic, and skilled at navigating the crowds.

All of the private transfers, train travel, and hotels were perfect. Thank you for your help and expertise with planning this once-in-a-lifetime trip!

We hope to travel to Italy in the future and would love to work with this travel company again to help us plan that next trip.

See more

Customizable Itinerary

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

37,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews