The Essence of Rome & Florence: A Golden Age Tour

Palazzo Medici Riccardi interior in Florence, Italy

What to expect on this itinerary

This luxurious, 8-day journey leads you across the wonders of Rome and Florence to experience the magic of Italy. Leave no stone unturned as you taste the culinary delights, marvel at the artistic masterpieces, and dip into the wild hot springs that can be found here. On this trip, you will witness the must-sees of Rome and Florence in addition to partaking in off-the-beaten-path excursions to discover the hidden gems and sites that are missed by the majority of visitors.

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Rome, Florence, Vatican City

Suggested Duration

8 Days

Customizable Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1

Rome – A Backstage Pass to the Teatro dell’Opera

Over the next eight days, you will be led through the many delights that Italy’s largest cities have to offer at a comfortable and customizable pace. Today, a driver will be ready to transfer you from the airport in Rome to your deluxe suite awaiting you in the heart of the city. Once you have had some time to settle in and become acquainted with your luxurious accommodation, your driver will transfer you to Rome’s premier opera house, Teatro dell’Opera, for an exhaustive tour. Once you have indulged in all of the secrets of the complex, you will be seated in a VIP box to enjoy a true Italian opera performance.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Day 2

Rome – An Open-Air Excursion through the Highlights of Rome

Day 3

Rome – Visit a World-Class Golf Course and Spa

Day 4

Rome – Tour of the Vatican and Sunset Cruise

Day 5

Florence – Vinotherapy and Hot Springs of Tuscany

Day 6

Florence – Experience the Accademia Gallery

Day 7

Florence – Explore the Mediterranean Sea on a Yacht

Day 8

Florence – Craft Your Signature Scent with a Master Perfumer

Trip Highlights

  • Discover the backstage workings of the Teatro dell’Opera in a behind-the-scenes tour and al fresco performance
  • Zip through the sites of Rome on a luxury golf cart that will lead you past iconic sites, such as in the Colosseum, Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain
  • Cross the Orbetello Lagoon to a Mediterranean Peninsula with a five-star golf course and spa
  • Open the closed doors of the Vatican on your private tour, including the rarely seen Bramante Staircase
  • Appreciate the sunset on the Tiber River on a peaceful, gourmet dinner cruise
  • Bask in the hot springs of Bagno Vignoni and experiment with vinotherapy
  • Marvel at the works in the Accademia Gallery as you follow your historian guide and Michelangelo expert
  • Set sail on the Mediterranean aboard a luxurious yacht with a customized lunch that will be prepared by a Michelin-starred chef
  • Craft your signature scent with the help of Florence’s Master Perfumer, an ideal souvenir for men and women alike

Detailed Description

A tour of Italy would not be complete without the inclusion of wine tastings, decadent cuisine, and time to marvel at the stunning vistas that this incredible country offers. On this tour, you will sit in the lap of luxury by soaking in a tub of local wine, following an ancient, anti-aging technique before indulging in a tasting at the vineyard. Onboard a yacht, you will sample traditional meals that will be made from fresh, local ingredients against a backdrop of the Mediterranean and the rolling hills of Tuscany. This adventure will send you across Rome, Florence, and the surrounding areas to provide you with the best locations, the most delicious meals, and the most spectacular views.

You will begin your journey in Rome with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a private, backstage tour of the Teatro dell’Opera. Not only will you experience the behind the scenes of putting on a performance on this stage, but you will also leave with a signed playbill of the show by the performers. The following day, you will be picked up in a luxury golf cart for an open-air, fully customizable tour of the highlights of the Eternal City. You will be able to stop and see whatever grabs your attention because the day will be yours to answer to whatever inspires and attracts you. For day three, you will spend a day on Italy’s official PGA Golf Course, where you will be hosted by world-class golfing experts. In the marble halls of the golf course’s on-site spa, you will discover the benefits of the Wellness Method. Day four will find you on a Closed Door Tour of the Vatican with private showings of sites that rarely opened to the public. You will then be provided with a full 30-minute period to spend alone and admire the design of the Sistine Chapel.

On day five, you will set out for Florence, where you will spend the day wine tasting with the option to experience vinotherapy in an ancient village in the heart of Tuscany. The following day, you will meet with a local art historian and certified Michelangelo expert for a private tour of the Accademia Gallery. During your tour, you will learn about the history of this world-famous artist and how his work came to take the world by storm. Day seven will set you out to sea in the sweet fresh air of the Mediterranean aboard a yacht with a Michelin-starred chef and Master Winemaker to keep you company. You will be able to taste the essence of the sea with a seafood lunch and perfectly paired wine for each of the four courses. For your final day, you will meet a Master Perfumer in their shop in Florence to be walked through creating your own signature scent. With their assistance, you will have the opportunity to create a scent that is unique to you. You will get a feel for the beating heart of Florence and its ancient traditions before your private driver arrives to transport you directly to the terminal of your airport in Rome for your flight home.

Each and every day of this trip has been carefully crafted to delight, inspire, and produce an authentically Italian experience. You will have the opportunity to explore Rome, Florence, and the surrounding areas, knowing that every experience is fully customized for you and your group. This luxurious, Italian getaway is completely customizable, so you can adjust anything and everything to better suit your moods and desires once you are in Italy.

Starting Price

$9,800 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.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 6179 reviews

Italy, Switzerland Travel Review: Livigno, St Moritz, Winter Olympics, 11 Nights

First time to the Olympics and an add-on to Switzerland! Zicasso’s travel specialist was great at listening to our needs and putting together an itinerary.

Our trip to Livigno was fantastic! The location to the two Olympic venues was ideal.

All of the details were covered and when we had a change in one of our day tours due to potential avalanches, the team at the travel company was extremely responsive and was able to adjust.

All of our transportation was well organized and on time. We also had to pivot when our flights home to the US were changed due to weather and the team quickly helped with adjustments to our schedule.

We loved the train from Italy to Switzerland.

We highly recommend this travel specialist and the travel company!

See more

Italy Vacation Review: Vatican City, Colosseum, Florence, 1 Week

We had great hotel and tour picks.

See more

Italy, Switzerland Travel Review: Livigno, Milan, St Moritz, Pasta Cooking Class, 'The Last Supper', 14 Days

Our experience with Zicasso’s travel company was simply outstanding! Our travel specialists provided top-notch service, from the initial planning to the entirety of the trip.

They were able to secure housing for us in Livigno during the Olympics when no one else was able to do so. Responsiveness to our inquiries during the planning process was always prompt and thorough. Communication regarding the next day's agenda throughout the trip was excellent, including the contact information for our drivers and tour guides, tickets for events, and links to Google Maps, with directions, when needed. If we could give them more than five stars, we would!

See more

Italy Trip Review: Pisa, Accademia Gallery, 5 Days

We had a great trip. It was logistically perfect. The hotels were great and the guides were exceptional.

See more

Italy Travel Review: Sorrento, Taormina, Rome, Pompeii, Mount Etna, Wine Tasting, 2 Weeks

We had a fabulous trip to Italy, including to Sorrento, Taormina, and Rome. Zicasso’s travel specialist made sure every detail was taken care of, including stays in beautiful, well-located hotels and excursions that were interesting and fun for our family.

For example, she arranged for an airport host to assist us with our arrival to and departure from the Rome airport, and she was simply amazing, whisking us through the airport and eliminating stress for our family.

See more

England, Italy Vacation Review: London, Rome, 3 Weeks

In all respects, a well-planned and well-executed trip to London and Rome. The guides were exceptional in knowledge, kindness, and sense of humor. The best restaurant recommendation was the one in London.

See more

Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

30,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews