Quintessential Tour of Italian Highlights

Our 16-day trip through Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, and Rome was outstanding in every detail. Every transfer ran on time, every guide was knowledgeable and warm, and every hotel was a great choice.

Our favorites were the private lagoon boat trip in Venice, the Brunello wine and cheese tour, the pasta class at a Tuscan farm, Pompeii, the Capri cruise, and the Vatican tour. We couldn’t have asked for better planning or support. We highly recommend Zicasso's travel company.

Overall, the trip was perfect! The hotels were really nice and the itinerary was great.

A few things I would have changed. First, the Amalfi tour day. There was not enough time in Ravello or Positano. We needed more time to relax and shop.

The class of train could have been nicer for the Florence-to-Rome portion of the trip.

We've been to many wineries throughout Europe and the one we went to on our way to Siena was okay, but we have been to much nicer wineries, with better wine and food tastings. It was not a great wine tour experience.

Everything else was wonderful and we really enjoyed the trip with our sons!!!

Thank you!

We had a fantastic trip, all thanks to our travel specialist. We spent a few days in Siena, touring different Tuscan towns like Montepulciano, Pienza, and San Gimignano, and then we spent a couple of nights in Florence. All of our drivers and guides were very thoughtful that we had my two-year-old nephew with us.

Our first trip to Italy was a romantic anniversary celebration, and thanks to Zicasso’s travel specialist and our travel company, it became one of the most extraordinary and meaningful travel experiences of our lives. It was everything we had dreamed of, and so much more!

From our very first conversations, she took the time to understand who we are as travelers: our love of art, architecture, history, culture, food, wine, and lifelong learning. She translated those passions into an imaginative, beautifully personalized journey through Rome, Tuscany, Florence, and Venice.

One of her greatest gifts is her intuitive understanding of the rhythm of travel. We wanted days filled with discovery, learning, and new experiences, but also leisurely afternoons and evenings to wander cobblestone streets, linger over wonderful meals, and simply absorb the atmosphere of Italian life. She struck that balance perfectly. Our itinerary was wonderfully rich, yet never rushed or overscheduled.

The private guides she selected were exceptional: not simply knowledgeable, but gifted teachers and storytellers who brought centuries of Italian history, art, architecture, and culture vividly to life. In Florence, for example, our guide helped us explore the Renaissance through fascinating stories of the Medici family, Michelangelo’s creative process, and the philosophy of Humanism. Our visits to the great museums and historic landmarks became intellectually stimulating and deeply engaging experiences.

She also introduced us to Italy’s living traditions: a fabulous food tour in Rome, wine tasting in Tuscany, explorations of enchanting medieval towns and villages, and boat excursions to Murano and Burano, where we discovered the centuries-old artistry of glassblowing and lacemaking. These experiences gave us a wonderful sense of the richness and continuity of Italian culture.

Her choices of accommodations were equally inspired. Each was distinctive, beautifully located, and full of character, from a charming, peaceful boutique hotel near the Pantheon in Rome, to a magical stay in a medieval Tuscan village, an elegant Art Deco hotel in Florence, and a fairytale suite in Venice. Every setting added another layer of romance and delight to our anniversary celebration. And the cuisine was heavenly! Every meal was memorable, culminating in a dreamy farewell dinner beside a Venetian canal.

Behind all this magic was the travel specialist’s impeccable planning, extraordinary attention to detail, and genuinely proactive care. Every transition, from airports and private transfers to trains and boats, was seamlessly coordinated.

One small example perfectly captures her approach. When our train from Florence to Venice was delayed, we contacted the travel specialist to let her know. She immediately reassured us that she was already monitoring our train and had informed our guide in Venice of the delay. There was nothing for us to do but relax, enjoy the ride, and look forward to the magnificence of Venice! That kind of thoughtful anticipation gave us complete peace of mind throughout our travels.

Equally special was her warmth and genuine personal connection. She was always accessible, and we found ourselves exchanging messages most days, not because anything needed fixing, but simply because it was such a pleasure sharing our experiences with her. She combines exceptional professionalism, creativity, and meticulous organization with kindness, generosity of spirit, and a contagious passion for sharing the beauty of her country. By the end of our journey, we felt we had gained not only an extraordinary travel advisor, but also a wonderful new friend.

Italy opened our minds, elevated our souls, and deeply touched our hearts. Our travel specialist didn’t simply organize a magnificent vacation; she opened the door to a country and culture we have now fallen completely in love with.

We cannot recommend our travel specialist and travel company highly enough. For anyone seeking a thoughtfully curated, culturally immersive, deeply personal, and truly unforgettable Italian journey, she is an exceptional choice.

We are already dreaming of returning to explore Sicily and Sardinia with our family, and there is absolutely no question who we will call!

Thank you for giving us far more than a beautiful vacation. You gave us an extraordinary gift: memories, discoveries, and connections we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

Zicasso’s travel company and every single guide and driver were stellar. All four hotels were good or excellent. There was one error on the schedule for the day outside of Florence when we had a driver to take us to the Siena region. The schedule stated three hours, so we paid for tickets to the Pitti Palace/garden, which turned out to be wasted money as the driving tour was actually nine hours. It was a beautiful day, though.

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.