The immaculate statues of Michelangelo and the soaring grandeur of the Duomo of Florence. The gorgeous scenery and grand basilica at Assisi and the charming streets of Padua leading to the dramatic memorial to the city’s patron saint. The graceful domes of Saint Mark’s Basilica, the intricate glasswork of Murano and the inestimable beauty of the sunset over the Venetian lagoon. From shore to shore, Italy is a country filled with masterpieces just waiting to be discovered.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1 - 2
Florence - Landing in Rome, Turning to Tuscany
After landing on the outskirts of the Eternal City of Rome, a private driver will take you from the airport and transport you through the verdant undulations of Tuscany until you reach arresting Assisi, the home of one of the Catholicism’s most beloved saints and the birthplace of the Franciscans. The town is dominated by the impressive expanse of the incredible Basilica di San Francesco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000 and one of the key sites for Christian pilgrimage in Europe. Take in the incredible Gothic interior of the Upper Church and the impressive portico before marveling at the simply spectacular nave, whose floods are covered with patterned marble and whose walls and ceilings reflect the brightness of the countryside beyond, shimmering blue and serene green, passionate red and soothing gold. From the incredible art to the unbeatable legacy, this is a church that is not to be missed.
The tour continues to Siena, whose historic city center is a World Heritage Site, riddled with winding cobblestone lanes and fringed with a number of impressive structures, like the Santa Maria Church and the Torre del Mangia that juts dramatically within the city’s skyline. The interior of the Siena Cathedral is breathtaking, gilt with gold and crowned with glory, while the red brick Palazzo Publico is striking and impressive, covered with flags and vivid banners during the twice annual horse race known as the Palio. The Pinacoteca, the city’s painting gallery, is also worth a visit.
The day ends in fantastic Florence, the capital of Tuscany and the center of the most important art movement in the Western world, the home to the Medici and Machiavelli, Leonardo and Michelangelo. Enjoy dinner at one of the city’s famous trattoria’s, where you can feast upon a perfectly prepared bistecca alla fiorentina and enjoy the region’s sumptuous sweets like tiramisu and gelato.
What's Included:
Day 3 - 4
Florence - Hitting the Highlights in the Center of the Renaissance
Day 5 - 6
Venice - Across Northern Italy to the Queen of the Adriatic
Day 7
Venice - The Fine Art and Skilled Artisans of Venice
Day 8
Venice - Ending Your Tour or Continuing On
Trip Highlights
- Immerse yourself in some of the most charming and alluring towns of Tuscany, from the dramatic setting of the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi to the remarkable medieval city center of Siena
- Wind your way through the streets of Florence and marvel at some of the great works of the Italian masters, from the statues of Michelangelo that fills the Accademia to the unforgettable dome that crowns the city’s renowned Duomo
- Visit the oft-overlooked city of Padua, the home to the gorgeous and religiously important Basilica of Saint Anthony, before continuing on to Italy’s eastern shores and the canals of the romantic city of Venice
- Explore the piazzas and stroll along the water ways of the famed Floating City, from the iconic Piazza San Marco to the Rialto Bridge, from the Venetian mainland to the lagoon islands like Murano
Detailed Description
While other countries may certainly compare, no other nation on Earth has an artistic history that surpasses that of incomparable Italy, the home of Leonardo and Michelangelo, of Titian and Palladio, of Dante and Brunelleschi. This five-day trip will give you a glimpse of their greatest works, right in the heart of the cities in which they lived and worked and inspired the world. From the banks of the River Arno to the shores of the Adriatic, this is a vacation for the art lover in all of us.
Experience the quotidian glory of the smaller towns in Italy, from the astounding Basilica of Saint Anthony (Francis) in Assisi to the darling medieval city center of Siena. Marvel in the highpoints of the Italian Renaissance as the landmarks of Florence, like the stirring Santa Maria del Fiore and the impressive collection of the Uffizi. Get inspired yourself as you make your way past the charming villages and scintillating scenery of Northern Italy, before ending your trip along the romantic canals and within the entrancing environs of singular Venice.
This is the trip for those who own their own easels and long to paint for a living, for those who marvel in the accomplishments of some of the world’s greatest minds, for those who wish to experience history in a unique and unimaginable way. Italy has seen some of the most accomplished artists in world history and has been the home to some of history’s best loved thinker and poets: It’s time for you to discover Italy for yourself.
Starting Price
$2,195 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.
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