Venice invokes opulence, Rome conjures grace and grandeur, and Florence embodies artistic refinement during your Italy itinerary tailored to offer the finest of Italian luxuries. Lay your head in historical villas once used by nobles and which now contain contemporary comforts. Discover the secret history of the Venetian Republic from within the Doge’s Palace. Follow the Medici across the secret Vasari Corridor in Florence. Experience the opulent artistic tastes of successive Popes in the Vatican...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Lake Como – Luxury on the Lakes of Italy
The towns around Lake Como look onto the shimmering turquoise water as it reflects the granite mountaintops and jade canopy of the blanketing woodlands. The aroma of pine sweeps over the trails and roads outside of the cobbled lanes of the villages. The scent of espresso drifts out of the cafes along the edges of the lake. Your flight lands at Milan Malpensa Airport, where your private transfer greets you upon your arrival. You ascend into the mountains beneath the soaring peaks of the Italian Alps to reach the shores of Lake Como and a grand villa overlooking the rippling water.
The décor in the lobby accentuate the 16th-century edifice and celebrates the style of the late 19th century when the grounds were transformed into an opulent hotel. The Old World charm offers the delights of modern luxuries and priceless privacy welcoming you to your gorgeous surroundings. After taking the time to explore the lobby and your suite, you venture into the gardens, which represent a portion of the 25-acre park encircling the villa. The scent of blossoming hydrangeas and azaleas linger in the air. Rhododendrons add color to the verdant manicured topiary hedges. The ambiance carries an air of aristocracy, allowing you to indulge in the beauty of the lake and the grandeur of the landscape. Consider reading some of our travelers' Italy trip reviews to see what experiences you could add to your own dream itinerary.
What's Included:
Day 2
Lake Como – Around the Waters of Como
Day 3
Venice – Lakeside to Lagoon Grandeur
Day 4
Venice – Hidden Charms of Venice
Day 5
Venice – Islands of the Venetian Lagoon
Day 6
Florence – Spectacular Bologna and a Wonderful Culinary Bike Tour
Day 7
Florence – The Tangible Renaissance
Day 8
Florence – The Masterpieces of Artisans
Day 9
Rome – Tuscany and Beyond
Day 10
Rome – Glory of the Ancients
Day 11
Rome – A Treasured Past in View
Day 12
Rome – Refreshing Opulence
Trip Highlights
- Explore the secrets of Venice on a private tour offering insight into the hidden history of the powerful republic
- Relish the beauty and rugged elegance of a glassblowing demonstration to view artisan glassblowers continue the traditions of Murano Glass
- Witness artistic masterworks in Florence and Rome, encompassing Michelangelo’s David, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, and Rafael’s School of Athens
- Meet artisan craftsmen of Florence to learn about the traditions carried on through bookbinding, leather works, and intricate mosaics
- Cross the Arno River in the historic hidden passageway of the Vasari Corridor that the Medici would use to escape Florence in case of an uprising
- Enjoy a private tour of the Grand Canal for an introduction to the opulent palaces and unique culture of Venice
- Traverse the stoic waters of Lake Como to visit the radiant town of Bellagio, home to the gardens of Villa Serbelloni
Detailed Description
Enjoy the best of Venice, Florence, and Rome in the comfort of refined luxury during your 12-day Italy itinerary. Your elegant exploration begins with your arrival at Milan Malpensa Airport. Your private transfer greets you at customs and escorts you into the mountains to reach the comforts of your historical villa overlooking the waters of Lake Como. Relax in the charms of the lakeside village or the blossoming gardens for the remainder of the day. The next day, your guide greets you in the lobby and escorts you by private boat across Lake Como to visit the various villages set beneath the mountains and alongside the water, culminating in the beauty of Bellagio.
Then, you venture to the famous city of Venice, located on the eponymous lagoon. Step aboard a private boat to cruise the two-mile stretch of the Grand Canal before reaching the private dock of your grand palazzo accommodation at the heart of the city. Discover the secrets of the Republic on a half-day tour through St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. Experience the delectable flavors of the city with a food and wine tour leading you through the famous Cicchetti, Venetian tapas. Explore the greater lagoon with a tour of the famous islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello.
On Murano, you partake in a glassblowing demonstration and can learn the art of the traditional craftwork in a private lesson. Meet your private transfer in the lobby for a scenic drive to Florence. Stop in Bologna to stroll through the medieval arcades. Sample the legendary cuisine of the city with a private cooking class before continuing to the Renaissance city in Tuscany, Florence. You wander the galleries of the Uffizi Gallery with a guide. Walk through the Vasari Corridor to reach the Pitti Palace and continue your tour through the majestic rooms and gorgeous grounds of the Boboli Gardens.
Next, your guide leads you through the brilliant musical instruments and sculptures of the Accademia leading to Michelangelo’s David. Visit Palazzo Vecchio en route to the artisan shops lining the streets of the Oltrarno. Then, your private transfer collects you at the palazzo in Florence and leads you to the fabulous hilltop town of San Gimignano. Wander the towers and the cobbled lanes before taking an art and history tour of Siena. Reach Rome in the evening and stroll around the baroque piazzas at your leisure.
Dive into the epic stories of Ancient Rome with a guided tour around the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Visit the museums on Capitoline Hill and enjoy a sunset around the Spanish Steps. Afterward, you visit St. Peter’s Basilica for a view of Michelangelo’s Pietà and tour through the treasured galleries of the Vatican Museum. Enjoy the afternoon discovering the neighborhoods of Rome, including the Jewish Quarter and Trastevere. Your private transfer greets you in the lobby of your palazzo on the final day and escorts you to Rome Fiumicino Airport for your flight home.
Click here to see our other Italy itineraries to perfect your own dream Italy vacation.
Starting Price
$11,700 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 5883 reviews.
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.
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.
The accommodations and private tours were worth the extra money. Our drivers were professional and helpful.
Reviewed By Claudia R.
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.
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.
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.