10-Day Spain and Italy Cultural Cornucopia Tour

The Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain.

What to expect on this itinerary

The cultures and histories of antique worlds come to life within the comforts of contemporary luxuries during your personalized Spain and Italy tour. The enchanting cities of Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, and Florence conserve the essence of ancient life, medieval charm, and renaissance beauty. From the Prado to the Pantheon and from Gaudi to Michelangelo, Spain and Italy are masterpieces of cultural heritage that are brimming with exclusive experiences.

Countries Visited

Italy, Spain

Places Visited

Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Florence

Suggested Duration

10 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Madrid – Fascinating Introductory Tour

Madrid is a city known for its vividness. The city combines art, cuisine, and architecture along streets that are lined with medieval mansions, royal palaces, and extravagant confections. Your flight will land at Madrid Barajas International Airport, where your private transfer will greet you upon your arrival. After settling into the comforts of your hotel, your guide will lead you through the fascinating city on an introductory of Plaza Mayor. What once held lavish events like bullfights and parades continues to act as a center for life in Madrid.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Madrid – Royal Palace and Prado Art Museum

Day 3

Madrid – The Medieval Town of Toledo

Day 4

Barcelona – Travel by High-Speed Train

Day 5

Barcelona – The Wonders of Barcelona

Day 6

Rome – The Ancient Wonders of Rome

Day 7

Rome – Vatican City and Masterful Artwork

Day 8

Florence – Art and Historic City Streets

Day 9

Florence – The Tuscan Cities of Pisa and Lucca

Day 10

Florence – Depart for Home

Trip Highlights

  • Wander the opulent grounds of Madrid’s Royal Palace, which is one of the largest palace complexes in Europe
  • Witness the delicate features of Michelangelo’s David in the Galleria Accademia dell’Arte in Florence
  • Explore the sensational beauty, intricate architecture, and fascinating design of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
  • Discover the depths of ancient history in Rome when visiting the preserved ruins of the famous and infamous Colosseum
  • Find breathtaking beauty and intimate stonework in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City
  • See the fascinating list of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which tilts nearly four degrees
  • Traverse the grand galleries in the Prado Museum and search for Spanish and Renaissance masters
  • Embrace the fascinating medieval history of Italy by strolling the serene streets of Lucca, which is a Tuscan city that is known for its charming location and preserved defensive walls

Detailed Description

Your 10-day Spain and Italy tour embraces the passion, sophistication, and celebration of life for which both countries are known. Whether indulging in Spain’s Buena Onda or settling into the sweet life of Italy’s La Dolce Vita, you will find inspiration and elation in cities and towns that are unlike any other in the world. You can enrich your life by wandering the unspoiled medieval streets of Toledo or by exploring the maintained antique walls of Lucca. You can touch your palm to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and wander the winding cobblestone alleyways of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. Spain and Italy practically overflow with cultural riches and fascinating heritage.

Spain is a country that is full of dramatic fortifications, captivating artwork, and a consistent setting for a passionate lifestyle. Art imitates life amid the fascinating cathedrals and elegant palaces. The capital city of Madrid enraptures visitors with its sophisticated highlights, such as the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum. The town of Toledo retains its medieval charms, which are accentuated by the mixture of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian heritage. Barcelona is a city of imagination and seaside charms.

Italy has an ineffable style and endless allure, both of which derive from fascinating cultures, regions, towns, and neighborhoods. The riches of Italy represent the cultural cache of architecture and art that was crafted by famous Renaissance masters and ancient emperors. Rome effortlessly blends modern life with historic structures and beguiling artifacts. The Colosseum, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps capture the imagination, and the pristine design of St. Peter’s Basilica adds to the splendors of Rome inside Vatican City. Florence retains its title as the Cradle of the Renaissance with works from Botticelli, Donatello, and Michelangelo. Pisa adds a sense of drama to its former glory with the Leaning Tower, and Lucca offers a peaceful respite in the Tuscan hills away from the decorative sumptuousness of Florence.

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

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 1015 reviews

Italy Tour Review: Amalfi Coast, Ravello, Positano, Florence, Rome, Siena, Winery Visit, 11 Nights

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!

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Italy Birthday Trip Review: Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Florence, Monterosso al Mare, Boat Ride, Wine Tasting, Cooking Class, Paper-Making Class, 10 Days

Zicasso’s travel specialist and her team crafted a wonderful 10-day trip to Tuscany, Cinque Terre, and Florence for my husband's 60th birthday. All the hotels were beautiful boutique hotels that we probably would not have found if we were planning it ourselves. The same was true with the experiences they booked for us. They have the local connections and can provide experiences you may not easily find by searching the internet.

We loved that our wine tastings were at smaller local wineries. All our guides were very friendly and very knowledgeable. All our drivers were always on time. They took care of reserving our train tickets, as well as dinner reservations. We felt very well taken care of throughout the entire trip.

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Spain Travel Review: Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Alhambra, Flamenco Show, 10-Day Trip

Our group of five ladies recently returned from a wonderful 10-day trip to Spain, visiting Madrid, Seville, and Málaga. From the very beginning, working with Zicasso’s travel specialists made the entire experience seamless and enjoyable.

During the planning stages, our travel specialist was outstanding. We had several phone calls and exchanged numerous emails, and he always listened carefully to my suggestions, while offering thoughtful recommendations of his own. Together, we created a customized itinerary that perfectly suited our group. Highlights included the flamenco show, guided tours of Madrid, Triana, Málaga, the Alhambra, and the Real Alcazar in Seville.

All of our tour guides were local, knowledgeable, and passionate about sharing the history, culture, and culinary traditions of their cities. We particularly enjoyed our time in Triana with a local guide and our tour in Madrid with another local guide. Their insights and enthusiasm made our experiences even more memorable.

The logistics throughout the trip were excellent. Every transfer between airports, hotels, and train stations was punctual and professionally handled. Our drivers were always on time, courteous, and reliable.

The hotels selected for us were beautiful, comfortable, and conveniently located. The standout was our hotel in Málaga, which was absolutely stunning. We also appreciated the excellent breakfast options at each property. An added convenience was that every hotel allowed us to check in early, something our group greatly appreciated after traveling.

Throughout the trip, our travel specialists remained in close communication with us and were always responsive to any questions or requests. Our specialist consistently provided advance information regarding our guides and meeting locations, which made everything easy and stress-free. When our train from Málaga to Madrid was rescheduled to an earlier departure time, she promptly notified us, sent updated tickets, and arranged an earlier hotel pick-up, ensuring that everything went smoothly.

The level of stress that often accompanies international travel was significantly reduced thanks to the professionalism, organization, and attention to detail provided by the travel specialists. It was truly a pleasure working with them and their dedication ensured that every aspect of our trip ran smoothly.

We would not hesitate to recommend their services to anyone planning a trip to Spain. They helped create a memorable experience that our group will cherish for years to come.

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Italy Tour Review: Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, Florence, 12 Nights

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.

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Italy Vacation Review: Le Marne, Art Tour, Museums, 9 Days

It was well organized and met my needs completely. The guides and drivers (except for the one to the airport on 6/23) were great. I was particularly surprised and pleased by the art tour on 6/22.

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Italy Travel Review: Rome, Positano Capri, Private Boat, Cooking Class, Colosseum, Vatican, 11 Nights

The trip was smartly planned by Zicasso's travel company, with a good balance between sightseeing and dow time, especially with three teenage boys. Overall, it was truly excellent, from the skip-the-line tickets to the quality of the transfers, drivers, and tour guides, the spacing of all we did and saw, and the quick responsiveness when questions or small curveballs came up.

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Customizable Itinerary

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

31,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews