Best of Italy in a Week: Venice, Florence, Tuscany and Rome Tour

Lavish palaces and marvelous churches tower above the narrow canals and rippling waters of the Venetian Lagoon. You arrive at the hotel along a private dock and take a moment to settle into the comforts of your luxurious hotel. Your guide will greet you in the lobby, eager to take you through the marvels at the heart of the city. Cross over the splendor of the Rialto Bridge. Stone arches support the covering around an opening offering views to the canal. You will reach St. Mark’s Square to find the eponymous basilica shimmering with golden hues beneath the Byzantine domes.

After breakfast, you step aboard a boat on your hotel’s private dock for a day of touring the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello. You may begin on the quiet, colorful fishing island of Burano. You walk into a boutique shop to find the room draped in the graceful stitching of elaborate lace. You continue to the island of Murano, which is known for the colorful history and craftsmanship of glassblowing. The furnaces blast in the artist studios around the island. The artisans grew to prominence due to the majesty of their craft, which remains coveted throughout the world.

After breakfast, you will have a private boat to meet the train bound south. The scenic ride will give way to the idyllic rolling hills and cypress trees of Tuscany before you reach the cradle of the Renaissance. Your guide will greet you in the lobby of the hotel, keen on introducing you to the splendid neighborhoods and remarkable architecture on a private walking tour. Florence may feel like an open-air museum. The cathedral at the heart of the city will soar above the cobblestones with a brick dome reaching more than 375 feet tall.

The jewelers along the historic bridge of the Ponte Vecchio open their doors to showcase the solid silver and gold ornaments decorating their shops. Your guide will lead you along the wide boulevards at the heart of the historic center to reach the renowned galleries of the Uffizi. The museum contains a breathtaking collection of artwork bequeathed to the city by the last heiress of the Medici, who died in the mid-18th century. The galleries display works focused on the Renaissance but range from the 13th century to the 17th century.

After breakfast, you begin the scenic drive south to Rome, taking your time to traverse the beauty of Tuscany along the way. You can stop in the quiet cobbled lanes of Montalcino, a fairytale hilltop town emblematic of the Italian countryside. Small cafes may set tables and chairs along the narrow lanes and offer gorgeous wines for which the region is famous. Locals often bask in the bold flavors of Brunello and enjoy the relaxing ambiance of the town. In Pienza, you may find a renaissance experience preserved from the 15th century with travertine stone shimmering with pink and gold.

Your guide will take you on a whirlwind tour of Rome’s magnificent history and masterful creations. Visitors may take to the Trevi Fountain to watch the water cascade down the magnificent stones beneath the rugged, classical figure of Oceanus. After discovering the ancient wonders of the city around the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, your guide can take you to the heart of St. Peter’s Square. An Egyptian obelisk rises out of the center of the oval piazza. Large, thick columns wrap around the plaza and frame the gorgeous basilica, crowned by the dome crafted by Michelangelo.

Artists may return to Piazza Navona to capture the way the sunlight washes over the baroque palaces and marble fountains. The aromas of flour and egg drift out of cafes crafting handmade pasta for the lunch menu. After a breakfast balancing the sweetness of a caramelized crust of a brioche with the decadence of a fresh espresso, your private transfer escorts you to Rome Fiumicino Airport for your flight home.