The Perfect Highlights Tour of Venice, Florence, Rome, and Amalfi

Sun rising on San Marco Square in Venice, Italy.

What to expect on this itinerary

Unspoiled adventure awaits those who travel to Italy, and this 12-day tour of Venice, Florence, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast was handcrafted to include the essential experiences that immerse you in the culture of this magical country. Explore the amphibious history of a once-thriving maritime republic in Venice, marvel at Renaissance artifacts in Florence, encounter the seat of political and spiritual power in Rome,  and relax in Mediterranean splendor on the Amalfi Coast.

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Venice, Florence, Rome, Amalfi Coast, Vatican City

Suggested Duration

12 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Venice – Through the City of Canals

By the time you cross the threshold into your comfortable accommodations, you will be ready to immerse yourself into this vibrant and timeless land. After you have had the chance to dust yourself off from your travels, you will step into a self-guided tour of the city. A few steps from your hotel, you can find the Piazza di San Marco or St. Mark’s Square, which is one of the few open spaces of the city. Adjacent to the square is the Basilica of the same name, which boasts an impressive array of domes, arches, and mosaics.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Venice – Private Boat Tour

Day 3

Florence – The Jewel of Tuscany

Day 4

Florence – Renaissance Tour

Day 5

Florence – Cooking Course

Day 6

Rome – Tour of Vatican City

Day 7

Rome – Turn Back Time

Day 8

Rome – All Things Ancient

Day 9

Rome – A Historic Roman Spa

Day 10

Amalfi – The Local Wine of Southern Italy

Day 11

Amalfi – The Coast on Horseback

Day 12

Amalfi – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Turn back the pages of time on a self-guided tour of Venice that will allow you to take in the city’s major attractions and ponder its tumultuous past
  • Delight in the musical genius of Vivaldi with a quartet performance of his compositions and legacy in Venice
  • Plunge into the artistic heritage of the Renaissance by visiting the world-class museums and galleries of Florence
  • Create your own art during a cooking course that will teach you the secrets of pasta or the precise balance of sauce and dough that makes Italian pizza the best in the world
  • Visit the regal magnificence of the Vatican and ramble through the stunning gardens, galleries, and chapels that adorn this sovereign state
  • Recline in thermal comfort at a historic spa that features all that is best of Roman baths
  • Survey the stunning vistas and trails of the Amalfi Coast on a tour of this charming countryside by horseback

Detailed Description

This 12-day itinerary is designed to focus on some of Italy’s greatest experiences and locations. You will make your way from the floating neighborhoods of Venice to the rugged riviera of Amalfi and experience everything in between.

Your tour will begin in Venice. Here, you will enjoy views of the Grand Canal and St. Mark’s historic square in addition to a performance that demonstrates the musical brilliance of Antonio Vivaldi. Next, you will make your way to the sea and the region of Tuscany. Its capital of Florence will be your home for the next three nights. Here, you will visit world-class art galleries and partake in the illustrious traditions of Italian cooking.

In this atmosphere of cobblestone alleys that lead past magnificent palaces, you will explore the origins of the Renaissance and the unique blend of wealth and genius that was required to produce artwork like Michelangelo’s David. The following day, you will transfer to the Italian capital of Rome, where you will enjoy four days of the ancient world and a visit to the Vatican before finding indulgence in some Roman baths. Your series of landlocked destinations will end at the Amalfi coast, where you will visit one of the premier coastlines in the Mediterranean.

Starting Price

$5,400 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.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 761 reviews

Italy Tour Review: Venice, Tuscany, Rome, Amalfi Coast, Capri, Cooking Class, Ferrari Experience, 2-Week Vacation

We had the best time during our wonder trip to Italy. We explored Venice, Tuscany, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast. Zicasso's travel agency arranged the most beautiful hotels, with exceptional service, and fun and exciting tours in each location.

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Italy Trip Review: Naples, Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, Capri, Positano, Rome, Boat Ride, Cooking Class, Wine Tasting, Colosseum, 12 Days

I recently completed an incredible 12-day vacation in Italy, arranged by Zicasso’s travel company, and it was one of the best vacations I have ever had. From the initial planning with the travel specialist and her team to the seamless execution on the ground, everything exceeded my expectations for a luxury custom trip.

We started in Italy, where we were immediately met at the airport by a hostess who got us through all the lines in record time and into a Mercedes Sprinter van that took us to Naples. Naples offered us a really vibrant, authentic Italian feel, and the incredible food that the travel specialist recommended from the movie "Eat Pray Love" was the best pizza I’ve ever eaten in my life. I don’t think I can eat pizza in the United States anymore. The private drivers and guides made this whole trip stress-free.

Our next incredible experience was the dream-like Amalfi, Sorrento, and the Isle of Capri. The hotel in Positano was beautiful. We were enchanted with all the colorful cliffs, the boutique shopping, and the stunning view from our balcony room. Sorrento was my favorite city of all. It was very relaxed, with lemon groves everywhere and beautiful sunsets, and our hotel had balconies that opened up on the Mediterranean. The highlight of our trip was the island of Capri. The boat ride was just fantastic and we started at the top of the mountain and did the chairlift so we had a whole view of the city.

The highlights of the trip for me were the boat ride along the Amalfi Coast, the cooking class and wine experience at the female venture, and the wine by Mount Vesuvius.

Our last two nights were back in Rome and it was kind of hard to go from the low-key vibes of Sorrento to the action-packed atmosphere of Rome, but the hotel the travel specialist picked was just perfect. It was 10 minutes from the Spanish Steps and she arranged a tour of the underground Colosseum. I learned so much about everything in that area. All the guides, the drivers, everything was magical. I would highly recommend this travel specialist and the travel company.

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Italy Honeymoon Trip Review: Tuscany, Venice, Sorrento, Rome, Amalfi Coast, Pasta Cooking Class, Wine Tasting, Limoncello Tour, Local Cuisine, 10 Nights

My wife and I consulted with a handful of travel agencies in order to pick the right one for us to curate our dream honeymoon, and I could not be happier with our final decision to trust Zicasso’s tour company with this task.

Our travel agent was amazing throughout the process of building our itinerary, choosing experiences that fit exactly what we were looking for in an Italy honeymoon.

Start to finish, our overall experience was seamless. We decided to pack a lot into 10 nights, visiting Tuscany, Venice, Sorrento, and finishing the trip with one night in Rome. The tour company perfectly constructed our itinerary in a way that did not make our experience feel rushed in any of these locations. We had ample time to relax and explore these beautiful places on our own, while also fitting in world-class experiences specific to the region in which we were staying, all hand-selected by the tour company and their local expertise.

Every experience we had was incredible. From a private pasta cooking class and wine tasting in Tuscany to a limoncello tour in a quiet, picturesque village along the Amalfi Coast, each will be an experience my wife and I will never forget.

I would recommend this travel company to anyone visiting Italy for the first time or even those who have been to Italy, but want to experience breathtaking excursions curated by a local team of experts.

Our honeymoon was all we dreamed of and more, and I look forward to having the opportunity to use them for our next adventure.

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Italy Vacation Review: Venice, Florence, Tuscan Hills, Pompeii, Rome, Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, Capri, Cooking Class, Lemon Farm, Wine Tasting, Olive Oil Tasting, 2 Weeks

We had the pleasure of working with Zicasso’s travel agents to create the perfect Italian adventure. I had quite a few specific requests, from travel logistics to hotel preferences, and they were incredibly patient and collaborative, offering multiple variations of the itinerary until it matched exactly what we envisioned.

Our journey began in Venice, where we were seamlessly picked up by a private driver, transferred to a water taxi, and dropped directly at our hotel. After a wonderful stay, we were taken by private driver to the train station for our ride from Venice to Florence, our one and only train trip, as we opted (based on their smart recommendation) for private transportation for the rest of our travels to avoid potential delays and enjoy added convenience.

From Florence, we were driven into the Tuscan hills, where we experienced magical wine tastings, vineyard tours, olive oil tastings, and unforgettable meals with wine pairings. 

Next, our private driver brought us to Pompeii, where we enjoyed a fascinating tour with our private guide, and then continued on to Rome. In Rome, we loved the private golf cart tour of the city’s major landmarks, as well as a delightful cooking class that was arranged for us; it was a real highlight!

Finally, we traveled by private driver to Sorrento. From there, we had a breathtaking driving tour of the Amalfi Coast, a lemon farm tour, and an amazing day trip to Capri. Every detail was thoughtfully planned and executed.

Summary:

Planning and Itinerary Creation: Zicasso’s consultants made the entire process easy and stress-free. They worked closely with us to perfect the itinerary and were always receptive to changes and feedback.

Hotels: My sister and I requested adjoining rooms and were provided with beautiful family suites throughout the trip. Each hotel was ideally located, comfortable, and well-appointed, with all the amenities we needed.

Transportation: Every transfer was smooth and punctual. The private drivers were professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. (A special shoutout to our driver in Florence/Tuscany – he was the best!)

Communication: Throughout our trip, the travel company’s team was always accessible. Whether we needed to make adjustments or had a question, they handled everything promptly, allowing us to relax and fully enjoy our vacation.

We spent just over two unforgettable weeks in Italy and it was absolutely perfect, all thanks to the hard work, attention to detail, and excellent communication from Zicasso’s travel company! I highly recommend them and would not hesitate to use them again for future adventures.

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Italy Trip Review: Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Amalfi Coast, Pope Francis’ Funeral, Wine, Cuisine, Culture, Museums, Relaxation, 10 Nights

Zicasso’s tour operator planned the most amazing trip to Italy for us! My requirements were culture, romance, and relaxation. She delivered on every aspect. Although we missed our tour of the Vatican due to the Pope's funeral, my husband and I actually attended his funeral!! Our hotel, though planned many months before, was next to the basilica where Pope Francis was laid to rest. Talk about being a part of history!

We stayed in a beautiful converted villa to boutique hotel in Florence; got whisked away through the Tuscan countryside in a vintage Fiat 500; took cooking classes; sipped lovely wine, accompanied by excellent lunches on our winery tours; soaked in Italy's rich culture and museum scene; and even ticked the relaxation box by spending time by the pool, in the spa, and resting on our large deck overlooking the Amalfi coastline.

Every tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and personable, and it was evident they loved their jobs. Between memories of the boat ride along the Amalfi Coast, tips from the cooking classes I have already started using at home, and the cases of wine we are eagerly awaiting delivery of, my husband and I will forever hold Italy in our hearts and la dolce vita it provided us. 

Talk with our tour operator; you will be glad you did!

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Italy Tour Review: Venice, Florence, San Gimignano, Siena, Rome, Vatican, Amalfi Coast, Capri, Sorrento, Positano, Doge's Palace, Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Boat Ride, 12 Days

This was possibly the best trip of my life!

Once I arrived in Venice and put myself in the hands of Zicasso’s tour company, I was supremely well taken care of.

I left my passport on the plane, so I was held up in the airport for probably two hours. This was the first time I used the emergency number (or the chat app). The communication was answered immediately and we were able to let my first guide know I was being held up. I thought the first person who helped me was just someone to get me to the hotel, but she was also a guide in the sense that she described many of the things we saw on the way to the hotel. A very pleasant and gracious guide who made sure also that I was prepared for where to be the next day. It was a very great first experience of the tour company’s service.

Throughout this adventure, the guides were outstanding, the hotels were located practically on top of the interesting sites (especially in Rome) and very pleasant to be in.

Also, I continued to use the emergency number or the chat app multiple times. They were very responsive, very pleasant, and perfectly helpful each time. I don't know if I was high-maintenance compared to other clients the tour company has had, but though I felt like it in my mind, I was treated completely graciously each time.

I loved every destination and I loved having a structured tour, combined with a good portion of free time to explore on my own. Perfect.

I was very well guided on each travel day, being met by drivers to drop me off and to pick me up, and the train travel was very fun.

I think there was only one guide who I thought was just going through the motions, but all the other guides were the height of professionalism. I loved being met by our guides at Doge's Palace, which was absolutely outstanding. Walking around old Florence was great fun! The drive out to San Gimignano and Siena was well-planned and well-guided! In Rome, the guide who took us to the Colosseum and Palatine Hill was outstanding, and it was a great outing. (I had also already pretty much visited all the sights since my hotel was practically in the middle of it all.)

The trip to the Vatican was a whole other story. Unfortunately, I forget that guide's name. This guide was also excellent—entertaining, informative, approachable, and professional. The trip to the Amalfi Coast was a long train ride, followed by a very long car ride, but it was worth it. What a beautiful setting! My trip to Capri was absolutely fulfilling and I was a little sad to say goodbye to the guide—we connected with him so well. The next day was our boat tour from Sorrento to Amalfi and Positano. I absolutely enjoyed being guided by our guides! On the way back after that beautiful excursion, we were just cruising along the water, 1970s music playing, wind rushing by and I had a peak moment of happiness. Truly.

This trip was as if the tour company had read my mind and provided even more than I had imagined. I come away deeply grateful.

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Customizable Itinerary

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

30,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews