Inspiring art and mouthwatering cuisine offer a glimpse of the cultural majesty that you will experience during your custom-tailored, best of Italy tour that immerses you in the splendor of bustling Rome, Florence, and Venice. You marvel at these breathtaking cityscapes while also indulging in the majesty of the Tuscan countryside. You will wander beneath the gilded mosaics of St. Mark’s Cathedral, sample the bold and layered flavors of the celebrated Brunello di Montalcino wine, and gaze up at...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Rome – Arrive in Rome with a Stunning Introductory Tour
The city of Rome will take you on a journey into the past, celebrating the ever-changing landscape of the Eternal City that leads from the Roman ruins to Renaissance designs. Your private transfer will greet you at Fiumicino Airport upon your arrival in Rome and escort you into the heart of the beautiful city center where you can relax in the comforts of your luxurious accommodations. The streets of Rome bustle with locals and visitors that wander over the cobblestone streets and peer into the windows of boutique shops that showcase elaborate displays of clothing, shoes, and coasts.
The scent of espresso will fade beneath the aromas of melted pecorino cheese as it drifts out of the nearby restaurants where tables and chairs sit beneath shading umbrellas. Eager to introduce you to the stunning highlights of Rome, your guide will greet you in the hotel, taking you from the incredible features of the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, and the Pantheon. As the oldest complete structure in Rome, the Pantheon soars above the city with a concrete dome that stands 142 feet tall.
The foundations of the structure date back to the 2nd century AD with a porch that consists of 16 massive, granite columns, which were topped with Corinthian capitals. When you enter the structure, your guide will provide cultural, historical, and architectural details that relate to the harmonious ambiance of the former Roman temple and Christian church. You will also have the opportunity to see the tombs that hold the remains of famous Romans such as the first king of united Italy: Vittorio Emanuele II.
What's Included:
Day 2
Rome – Explore the Ancient History and Cuisine of Rome
Day 3
Rome – Discover the Remarkable Artistry of the Vatican City
Day 4
Tuscany – Visit Charming Assisi en route to Tuscany’s Rolling Hills
Day 5
Tuscany – Enjoy the Flavors of Tuscany with a Wine and Food Tour
Day 6
Florence – Delight in the City of Siena and Beauty of Florence
Day 7
Florence – Traverse Renaissance Art, Culture, and History in Florence
Day 8
Venice – Transfer to Venice for an In-Depth Tour of the Republic
Day 9
Venice – Cruise the Venetian Lagoon for Insight into Famous Islands
Day 10
Venice – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Discover the majesty of artwork and history that is on display in St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museum
- Explore the sensational evolution of art in Italy with a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery, showcasing centuries of ways that artists have shared beauty
- Wander the open halls and grand galleries of the Doge’s Palace in Venice, unveiling the hidden history of the Republic in the Sala del Consiglio dei Dieci
- Experience the engineering ingenuity, prestige, and power of the Roman Empire on a guided tour of the Colosseum
- Indulge in the passion and celebrated flavors of traditional Tuscan cuisine during a wine and food tour of Montalcino, which is home of Brunello di Montalcino
- Delight in a private glassblowing demonstration from an artisan craftsman who continues the proud traditions of Murano in the Venetian Lagoon
- Marvel at the extravagant detail of Michelangelo’s David when visiting the Accademia Gallery in Florence
- Revel in the deceptively simple and layered flavors of Roman cuisine during a private cooking lesson that will teach you how to prepare a delicious, multi-course meal
Detailed Description
Your 10-day, best of Italy tour reveals the intersection of highlights and overlooked charms of Rome, Florence, and Venice, immersing you in urban sophistication and natural grandeur for a glimpse of history, artistry, and heritage. Your time will encapsulate luxury and discovery with fantastic private tours that lead you through impressive museums, preserved, medieval towns, and private kitchens that highlight special, regional cuisines. The highlights of Italy will become a gateway into enchanting traditions and unforgettable masterworks from Michelangelo to glassblowers on the Venetian island of Murano.
Your highlights of Italy tour will begin with your arrival in Rome, which is where you will stay for three nights. Your privately guided tours will introduce the marvels of the city, ranging from the ancient Pantheon to the Baroque Trevi Fountain and the classic Colosseum to the treasures that are on display in the Vatican Museum. You will enjoy the combination of ancient, medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture as they are filled with a modern ambiance of a major cosmopolitan and capital city. Explore the Roman Forum, wander through St. Peter’s Basilica, and learn the craft of customary Roman cuisine.
You will transfer to Tuscany for two nights, which is where you will visit the enchanting hillside town of Assisi. Once here, you will spend time exploring the cobblestone streets that ascend to the entrance of Rocco Maggiore fortress in addition to visiting the two chapels of St. Francis of Assis Basilica. Enjoy an entire day traversing the Tuscan countryside with a private guide who will show you small towns and hilltop villages that have been preserved for centuries. You will sample traditional, local cuisine in Sorano and delight in a tasting of Brunello di Montalcino in the charming town of Montalcino.
Before arriving in Florence for two nights, you will have some time to visit the fascinating city of Siena, which is a town that once rivaled Florence in power and prestige. Once in Tuscany’s impressive capital city, you will spend the remainder of the day touring the Renaissance landscape at the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, and San Lorenzo. An entire day will be devoted to the arts of Florence with a tour of the Uffizi Gallery and the Academia Gallery. Your final two nights on your best of Italy tour occur in Venice, which is an enchanting city on the lagoon. Two private tours will take you through the waterways from delving into the secret histories and breathtaking artistry of the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica to discovering a history of the arts in the tranquil ambiance of the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello. Consider reading some of our travelers’ Italy tour reviews for more ideas to perfect your dream Italy vacation.
Starting Price
$4,500 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 5972 reviews.
The trip Zicasso's travel specialist arranged for us exceeded all our expectations. It was absolutely wonderful; not a single detail was overlooked. The hotels were excellent, the tours were great, and the drivers were always on time. I totally recommend Zicasso and the agency, and will undoubtedly use them for future travel plans.
Reviewed By Philip S.
Zicasso's travel designer did a terrific job. We had the initial phone consult, after which she delivered a first draft of the itinerary. From there, she helped guide us through a few revisions until we got the details smoothed out. We are experienced travelers and can appreciate a well-constructed trip, and that's what our experience with our agent reflected.
One crucial thing is that all the drivers who are engaged to move you around are prompt. Every one of them was right on time and friendly and helpful to boot. It was much appreciated.
To sum up our experience, I would do it all again with Zicasso and the agency and our agent. Our trip to Italy in the late summer of 2025 was something we will not soon forget!
Reviewed By tony B.
Zicasso's travel partner is very thorough and makes sure the trip is tailored to your vision. They are flexible and very responsive. We would recommend them to anyone traveling.
Reviewed By Evan C.
Zicasso's travel agency far exceeded our expectations. We had our five-year-old and 11-year-old children with us, so the tour guides and walking needed to be kid-friendly.
Our hotel in Rome was wonderful, the location was perfect, and they had good A/C and a breakfast buffet. There were plenty of great restaurants within easy walking distance, as well as the Vatican.
Our tour guide for the Colosseum and Roman Forum was great. Pompeii was amazing. Our tour guide was basically a celebrity down there and knew exactly how to take us around the ruins without ever waiting.
Tuscany was our favorite by far. We did a cheese-making experience and lunch that was super-cool. The kids got to play with the farm animals and the owners were so attentive and interesting. We did a cooking class with a chef that was the kids' favorite thing on the entire trip. I would make a point to book this experience; the kids still talk about it and wear the aprons around the house. The resort in Tuscany was nice. We had our own private pool, plus the resort pool, and could easily walk to a small local town with some great food.
Venice was good, but probably our least favorite on the trip. You have to walk a ton, which was difficult for the kids, but it's still worth experiencing.
We travel a bunch and I would highly recommend using Zicasso's travel partner.
Reviewed By Kevin S.
Zicasso's travel designer made the whole trip run very smoothly. It was a pleasure working with her.
Reviewed By Joseph B.
This was the best trip ever!!! I am so grateful Zicasso introduced us to our tour operator. This team was amazing! They set up a call to learn more about us and jumped into action. Within a short time, they came back to us with a presentation on ideas, with recommendations. There is no chance our trip would have been half as good without them. They even had a text group on standby while we were here in case we needed anything.
Reviewed By Linda C.