Luxury Italian Highlights: Venice, Florence & Rome - 7 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Venice, Guided City Tour

Benvenuti in Venezia! Enchanting visitors for centuries, Italy's "Floating City" is located in the country's northeast and comprises a unique network of ornate bridges and canals that form the elegant palazzo-lined Venetian Lagoon. Arrive in style at your centrally located hotel by private vaporetto (water taxi), where you can unwind and relax before heading out to uncover the city's landmarks with a private tour of the city.

You'll start in Piazza San Marco, the heart of the city's cultural and administrative district and flanked by two Venice institutions, Caffè Florian and Gran Caffè Quadri, splendid neo-Baroque 18th-century coffee houses that have attracted the city's writers and artists for 300 years. It's a fitting setting for the San Marco Basilica, one of the best-surviving examples of Italo Byzantine architecture, that features exquisite art, gold, mosaics, and marble floors.

You'll skip the queues and venture inside the adjacent Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace), built in 1340 for the Doge of Venice, where your guide will reveal the history behind Titian's splendid frescoes and masterpieces. Continue weaving your way through the atmospheric streets and glimmering architecture to the Ponte dell'Accademia, one of the best spots to grab a picture-perfect view of Venice and the Grand Canal as the sun sets. Part ways with your guide and spend the evening dining on delicious seafood or pasta with fresh truffles at one of the city's renowned restaurants. 

Day 2: Explore Venice's Art & Culture, Venetian Boatyard Tour 

Spend a relaxed morning at leisure in Venice. While the city is a haven for art enthusiasts with world-class collections at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum and La Biennale di Venezia Art Museum, there's much to be said for simply strolling the evocative calli (narrow streets) and stumbling across tiny bacari (wine bars), stopping to enjoy a glass of prosecco and cicchetti (Venetian tapas). After lunch, stroll Venice's boutiques and galleries in the San Samuele district, while Le Mercerie and Salizada San Moisè should be your go-to for luxury items. 

The beautiful gondole that can be found gliding through Venice's waterways have been used by locals for hundreds of years as the main form of transport throughout the city. This afternoon you'll visit a squero (boatyard) for a private guided tour of one of Venice's most famous boatyards, where you'll learn how the design of these narrow boats has evolved over the centuries. Afterward, head to the inimitable Harry's Bar for a bellini before spending your final night in Venice sampling regional specialties at one of the San Polo neighborhood's time-honored restaurants.

Day 3: First Class Train to Florence, Guided City Tour

Enjoy one last lingering look across the Grand Canal as you take a private vaporetto to the station, ready for a 2.5-hour direct train to Florence, traveling first class. Tuscany's regional capital is famed for its richness of art and culture, and its magnificent terracotta-tiled Il Duomo is a testament to the city's incredible Renaissance architecture. You'll get to experience the masterpieces and more upon arrival with a private walking tour accompanied by a local art historian. 

Start in the Piazza della Republica, once the city's ancient Roman Forum and more recently a hub for Florence's literati. Admire the jewelry shops that stretch across the Ponte Vecchio, a medieval bridge with wonderful views over the River Arno, and continue to the Piazza della Signoria. Here, you'll find several Florentine landmarks, Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery, with renowned works by Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.

The highlight of your tour is Brunelleschi's masterpiece, La Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, known to locals simply as Il Duomo. You'll enjoy a private visit to the exclusive Cathedral Terraces, perched high above the city and normally closed to the public; it's the perfect spot to admire the city's panoramic vista without the crowds. Tuscan cuisine is famous for the quality of its fresh produce, steak, and its exceptional red wines. You'll enjoy both this evening with a dinner at Enoteca Pinchiorri, the city's acclaimed 3-star Michelin restaurant.

Day 4: Accademia Gallery Visit & Sunset Boat Tour

Florence's Galleria dell'Accademia, founded by the Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo in 1784, is home to many famous works, none more so than Michelangelo's "David." Created between 1501 and 1504, the 14-foot-high (4 m) marble sculpture became a symbol of the Florentine republic's strength during a time of great political upheaval. Discover the fascinating stories behind the statue's creation and pieces by Botticelli and Tintoretto with a private, guided tour of the gallery.

Afterward, pause for a leisurely lunch in one of the city's neighborhood eateries. Alongside plates of delicious cured prosciutto crudo and formaggi, you'll find flame-grilled bistecca alla Fiorentina, delicious homemade tagliatelle fragrant with porcini mushrooms and freshly shaved tartufo (truffles). Savor a glass or two of Brunello di Montalcino, an exceptional local red, and try one of the various riffs on a classic tiramisu. In the summer months, you'll find pistachio and fragole (strawberry) twists to the classic Italian dessert instead of the usual coffee and chocolate. 

Spend the afternoon strolling the elegant cobbled streets, and as golden hour approaches, board a private boat steered by a renaiolo (traditional boatman) for a sunset ride along the River Arno. It's the perfect way to admire the ebb and flow of post-work city life and Florence's landmarks, such as the Uffizi Gallery, Vasari Corridor, and the Palazzo Corsini, which twinkle in the darkness as you cruise under the Ponte Vecchio and Ponte Santa Trinità. 

Day 5: First Class Train to Rome, Guided City Tour

Your Italian trip continues apace this morning with a high-speed train to Rome. Travel first class, and in less than 1.5 hours, you'll leave behind the Tuscan countryside for the "Eternal City" and its enticing mix of ancient history, art, culture, and la dolce vita lifestyle. Upon arrival at Termini station, a driver will whisk you to your central hotel, where you can savor a drink on the terrace before meeting your guide for a private tour of the capital. 

One of the city's most beautiful panoramas can be found at the top of the Spanish Steps, Europe's longest and widest staircase. As you gaze out over Rome, hear from your guide how the steps feature in religious processions and city traditions throughout the year. Wander down to Piazza di Spagna, where you'll find the Baroque Fontana della Barcaccia and hear tales of popes, emperors, and Ancient Rome as your guide leads you through the maze of alleyways and cobblestone streets toward the dramatic silhouette of the 2,000-year-old Pantheon.

Stop for creamy gelato and continue to Bernini's Trevi Fountain, another Baroque masterpiece where a coin tossed inside is said to seal your return to Rome. Your tour concludes in Piazza Navona, a grand square famous for its Fountain of the Four Rivers and abuzz with sidewalk artists and musicians. Soak up the atmosphere with aperitivo at one of the bars that line the piazza, and as dusk falls, head to dinner in the elegant Jewish Quarter, established in 1555 CE and famed for its leafy cobbled streets and terrific gastronomy. 

Day 6: VIP Tour of the Vatican

See Roman life unfold this morning with a relaxed walk over to the Vatican City Museums: founded by Pope Julius in the early 16th century, the museums are brimming with classical statues and Renaissance gems that continue to fascinate. It's an arresting sight strolling through Bernini's Piazza San Pietro ahead of the crowds, and your 8:00 am start gives you a serene hour to tour the museums and the Sistine Chapel with your guide in private before they open to the public. 

You'll pass through 45 galleries, including the famous Gallery of Tapestries and Gallery of the Geographical Maps, while your guide shares the stories behind the masterpieces before arriving at the magnificent Raphael Rooms and finishing in the Sistine Chapel. Take a moment or two to appreciate Michelangelo's breathtaking frescoed ceiling and "Last Judgement," then view the Papal Tombs and climb the steps to the top of the Basilica. 

As dusk falls, go for a stroll in the buzzy Monti neighborhood, an eclectic area not far from the Colosseum, full of charming enotece (wine bars) and trendy boutiques. Sip prosecco in the piazza, then find the perfect rooftop restaurant for dinner with sunset views over the city's silhouetted umbrella pines.

Day 7: Depart Rome

After one last cappuccino and pastry at breakfast, it's time to meet your driver and head to the airport for your flight home. Safe travels! 

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