Rome, Florence, and Venice: Highlights and Hidden Treasures of Italy Tour

Rome is a city full of wonder, from ancient architecture to priceless artwork decorating historic palaces. Your guide will lead you on a morning walking tour from the massive concrete dome of the Pantheon to the elegant marbled piazza around the Spanish Steps. In the afternoon, you make your way to the Vatican Museum for a self-guided exploration of the majestic gilded hallways.

In the morning, your guide will meet you at your hotel and escort you 18 miles east of the city to the exceptional splendor of Tivoli. Step into a perfect example of ornate Italian gardens in Villa d’Este, which countless European gardens have emulated over the years. The terraced grounds were converted into a luxurious retreat in the 16th century. You can take your time along the 426-foot Avenue of the Hundred Fountains, basking in the magnificent artistry in every luxuriant detail.

In the morning, you make your way to Roma Termini Station. After your board your first-class car, enjoy your view as the golden hills around the city turn into the lush, rolling greenery of Tuscany. Your train will stop at Santa Maria Novella Station in Florence, and your hotel will be nestled in the historic center of the sensational city. Enjoy your first glance at the city as chic cafes offer tables outside where you can watch the world go by. See the Florence Cathedral's dome, known as the Duomo, peeking its head over the buildings from almost anywhere in the city.

Enjoy a slow morning and a leisurely breakfast, and then meet your guide for your Tuscan food tour. Spend a perfect morning strolling through the streets of Florence, discussing classic Tuscan dishes, olive oil, and wine. Stop at several of the best markets Florence has to offer, sampling Tuscany's most prized possession of flavors. Cross paths with your second guide who will bring you to the Duomo and the Uffizi Gallery. From the outside of the Gallery, notice the small archway connecting Palazzo Vecchio to the Uffizi. From the outside, the archway is unassuming, but it is the beginning of the Vasari Corridor. The corridor provided safe and easy access for the Medici's to move between the governor's palace and their residence.

After breakfast, you will make your way into the famous Tuscan hills, where the rolling countryside blossoms with cypress trees, verdant grass, and endless rows of grapevines. Your exclusive tour of a private Renaissance villa takes you into the heart of Chianti, and the slower pace and tranquil atmosphere is immediately apparent. Your host will lead you to a large wooden table on a terrace overlooking the garden with a traditional Tuscan spread of simple meats and cheeses. Enjoy a sample of the Badia a Passignano Chianti Classico, and the pleasures of the wine embody the majesty of the day.

In the morning, sip your espresso and think about the endless marvels of the city as you prepare to depart. Make your way to the Santa Maria Novella Station and board your first-class compartment on the way to the magnificent city of Venice. When you arrive, a water taxi will take you to your lavish accommodations in the heart of the city. The labyrinthine cobbled streets hide historic gems as carnival masks decorate shop windows adding to the luster of the city’s antique wealth and legendary nobility. Upon arrival, settle in and enjoy your first views of the city.

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel ready to lead you on a half-day private tour of Venice’s marvels. Wander the maze-like alleyways leading back to St. Mark’s Square. Explore the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, which was erected in the 16th century and covered with lavish marble. The lower hall has a nave and two aisles leading in from the plaza. The painter, Tintoretto, decorated the interior. On the upper floor, you find a magnificent telling of the Old Testament draping the ceiling and the New Testament carpeting the walls. The sensational contrast of colors and shading enhance the emotions of the tales told through the artwork. Although the Scuola is not hiding, it feels like a hidden gem.

Waking up in Venice feels like waking up in a painting, where you can watch the sunlight wash over the golden weathervane of Archangel Gabriel topping St. Mark’s Campanile, the bell tower. After breakfast, the day is yours to discover the splendor of the city with your private guide. Whether you want to venture to the island of Murano to watch the glass blowing or meander around the countless arching bridges that connect the many islands of the city, every moment will be special.

In the morning, you can sit at a café on the banks of the Grand Canal and watch the city come to life. Children marvel at the Carnival masks and wonder what it was like to have attended a grand gala in the height of Venice’s power. You sip your espresso and enjoy the cool breeze sweeping off of the water. Soon your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport for your flight home, but for now, you can bask in the grandeur of the city and treasure the moment.