Italy Greatest Hits: Rome, Florence & Venice

Italian Breakfast at Sant'Eustachio

📍 Piazza Sant'Eustachio 82

Start your Roman adventure with a cornetto and the famous Gran Caffe at one of Rome's most beloved coffee bars, operating since 1938.

Colosseum Tour

📍 Piazza del Colosseo

Step into the ancient amphitheater where gladiators once battled before 50,000 spectators. Imagine the roar of the crowd as you explore the arena floor and underground chambers.

Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

📍 Via della Salara Vecchia

Walk through the heart of ancient Rome where Julius Caesar addressed crowds and emperors built palaces. The ruins tell stories of power, politics, and everyday Roman life.

Lunch at Luzzi

📍 Via San Giovanni in Laterano 88

Refuel at this beloved local trattoria near the Colosseum, famous for generous portions of classic Roman pasta dishes at honest prices.

Pantheon Visit

📍 Piazza della Rotonda

Enter the best-preserved ancient Roman building, marveling at the perfect dome with its oculus open to the sky. Nearly 2,000 years old and still awe-inspiring.

Piazza Navona Stroll

📍 Piazza Navona

Admire Bernini's stunning Fountain of the Four Rivers in this elegant baroque square, once a Roman stadium. Watch street artists and enjoy the lively atmosphere.

Aperitivo Hour

📍 Campo de' Fiori

Join Romans for the sacred ritual of pre-dinner drinks. A spritz or Negroni comes with complimentary snacks at most bars during aperitivo hour.

Dinner in Trastevere

📍 Trastevere

Cross the Tiber to Rome's most charming neighborhood for an authentic Roman dinner. Cobblestone streets, ivy-covered trattorias, and wonderful people-watching.

Early Breakfast

📍 Near accommodation

Grab a quick cornetto and cappuccino near your hotel before heading to the Vatican for an early start.

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

📍 Viale Vaticano

Arrive early to experience Michelangelo's breathtaking Sistine Chapel ceiling before the crowds. Wind through galleries of ancient sculptures, Raphael's frescoes, and priceless art.

St. Peter's Basilica

📍 Piazza San Pietro

Enter the world's largest church and gaze upon Michelangelo's Pietà, Bernini's bronze canopy, and the stunning dome. The sheer scale takes your breath away.

Lunch near Castel Sant'Angelo

📍 Prati neighborhood

Escape the Vatican crowds for a relaxed lunch in the quieter Prati neighborhood, where locals outnumber tourists.

Spanish Steps & Via Condotti

📍 Piazza di Spagna

Climb the iconic 135 steps connecting Piazza di Spagna to the Trinità dei Monti church. Window shop along Via Condotti's designer boutiques.

Trevi Fountain

📍 Piazza di Trevi

Toss a coin over your shoulder into Rome's most famous fountain to ensure your return to the Eternal City. The baroque masterpiece is especially magical as evening approaches.

Gelato at Giolitti

📍 Via degli Uffici del Vicario 40

Treat yourself to artisanal gelato at this historic gelateria serving Rome since 1900. Choose from dozens of authentic flavors.

Dinner in the Jewish Ghetto

📍 Portico d'Ottavia

Explore Rome's historic Jewish quarter and enjoy unique Roman-Jewish cuisine including fried artichokes and traditional dishes you won't find elsewhere.

Breakfast & Hotel Checkout

📍 Near accommodation

Enjoy a final Roman breakfast before checking out and heading to the train station with your luggage.

Frecciarossa to Florence

📍 Roma Termini

Board Italy's sleek high-speed train for a comfortable journey through the Italian countryside to Florence Santa Maria Novella station.

Arrive Florence & Drop Bags

📍 Florence Santa Maria Novella

Arrive at Florence's central station and walk to your hotel to drop off luggage before exploring the compact historic center.

Mercato Centrale Lunch

📍 Piazza del Mercato Centrale

Dive into Florence's magnificent 19th-century food hall for your first Tuscan meal. Sample fresh pasta, lampredotto (local street food), cheeses, and wine.

Florence Duomo Exterior

📍 Piazza del Duomo

Stand before Brunelleschi's magnificent dome, the defining symbol of the Renaissance. The cathedral's marble facade in pink, white, and green is stunning.

Climb Giotto's Bell Tower

📍 Piazza del Duomo

Ascend 414 steps of Giotto's campanile for panoramic views of the Duomo dome, terracotta rooftops, and surrounding Tuscan hills.

Ponte Vecchio & Oltrarno

📍 Ponte Vecchio

Cross Florence's iconic medieval bridge lined with gold and jewelry shops, then wander the artisan workshops of the Oltrarno neighborhood.

Aperitivo on Piazza Santo Spirito

📍 Piazza Santo Spirito

Join Florentine locals for sunset drinks on this authentic neighborhood square, surrounded by Renaissance architecture and buzzing with energy.

Dinner in Oltrarno

📍 Santo Spirito area

Enjoy traditional Tuscan cuisine in the authentic neighborhood across the river, away from the most touristy restaurants.

Florentine Breakfast

📍 Near Piazza della Signoria

Start with a cappuccino and schiacciata (Florentine flatbread) at a local bar before the museums open.

Uffizi Gallery

📍 Piazzale degli Uffizi

Enter at opening time to experience the world's greatest collection of Renaissance art. Botticelli's Birth of Venus, works by Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Caravaggio await.

Piazza della Signoria

📍 Piazza della Signoria

Explore Florence's political heart with its open-air sculpture gallery including a replica of Michelangelo's David and Cellini's Perseus.

Panino at All'Antico Vinaio

📍 Via dei Neri 74

Join the line at Florence's most famous sandwich shop for an incredible panino stuffed with Tuscan meats, cheeses, and truffle cream.

Accademia Gallery & David

📍 Via Ricasoli 58

Stand before Michelangelo's David, the perfect embodiment of Renaissance ideals. The 17-foot marble masterpiece never fails to astonish visitors.

San Lorenzo Market

📍 Piazza San Lorenzo

Browse the leather goods and souvenirs in the outdoor market surrounding the Medici church, then duck inside the basilica.

Walk to Piazzale Michelangelo

📍 Oltrarno to Piazzale Michelangelo

Take the scenic uphill walk through the Oltrarno and rose gardens to Florence's famous viewpoint high above the city.

Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo

📍 Piazzale Michelangelo

Watch the sun paint Florence's skyline in golden light as the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio glow below. One of Italy's most romantic viewpoints.

Dinner with a View

📍 Piazzale area or city center

End the day with Tuscan cuisine at a restaurant near the piazzale or walk back down to the city center for dinner.

Last Florence Breakfast

📍 Near accommodation

Enjoy a final Tuscan breakfast with fresh pastries before checking out of your hotel.

Duomo Interior & Crypt

📍 Piazza del Duomo

Step inside Florence's cathedral to see the stunning frescoed dome up close and descend to explore the ancient crypt with Roman and medieval remains.

Baptistery & Bronze Doors

📍 Piazza del Duomo

Admire the golden Gates of Paradise (Ghiberti's stunning bronze doors) and the glittering Byzantine mosaics inside the octagonal baptistery.

Frecciarossa to Venice

📍 Florence Santa Maria Novella

Board the high-speed train for a scenic journey through the Po Valley and Veneto region to Venice Santa Lucia station.

Vaporetto to Your Hotel

📍 Venice Santa Lucia Station

Exit the train station and immediately board a vaporetto (water bus) for your first magical ride down the Grand Canal to your hotel area.

Check In & Light Lunch

📍 Near accommodation

Drop your bags at the hotel and grab a quick cicchetti (Venetian tapas) lunch at a local bacaro wine bar.

Get Lost in Venice

📍 Venice streets and canals

Put away the map and simply wander. Venice rewards those who explore without a plan—every corner reveals another beautiful surprise.

Sunset on Fondamenta Zattere

📍 Fondamenta Zattere

Walk along Venice's sunny southern promenade facing Giudecca island, where locals gather to watch spectacular sunsets over the lagoon.

Dinner in Dorsoduro

📍 Dorsoduro

Enjoy fresh seafood and Venetian specialties in the authentic university neighborhood, far from the tourist crowds of San Marco.

Rialto Fish Market

📍 Campo della Pescaria

Experience Venice's bustling fish market where restaurants source the day's catch. Vendors shout as fishermen unload boats at the canal-side stalls.

Coffee & Pastry at Rialto

📍 Near Rialto Bridge

Fuel up with espresso and a fritella (Venetian doughnut) while watching morning activity on the Grand Canal from a bar near the famous bridge.

St. Mark's Basilica

📍 Piazza San Marco

Enter the golden jewel of Venice, its walls covered in Byzantine mosaics depicting biblical scenes. The treasury and Pala d'Oro altarpiece are extraordinary.

St. Mark's Campanile

📍 Piazza San Marco

Take the elevator to the top of Venice's tallest bell tower for sweeping views across the red rooftops, lagoon, and on clear days, the distant Alps.

Lunch at Trattoria alla Madonna

📍 Calle della Madonna

Classic Venetian seafood restaurant near Rialto serving fresh fish and traditional dishes since 1954. A local institution.

Doge's Palace

📍 Piazza San Marco

Explore the seat of Venetian power with its lavish council chambers, Tintoretto's massive Paradise painting, and the infamous Bridge of Sighs connecting to prison cells.

Vaporetto Line 1 Full Journey

📍 San Zaccaria stop

Board the slow vaporetto for the complete Grand Canal experience, passing Renaissance palaces, the Rialto Bridge, and centuries of Venetian grandeur.

Aperitivo in Cannaregio

📍 Cannaregio

Hop off at the Cannaregio stops to explore the authentic neighborhood and enjoy sunset drinks along the Fondamenta della Misericordia.

Dinner in Cannaregio

📍 Cannaregio

Dine in Venice's most livable neighborhood where locals far outnumber tourists and the cicchetti bars stay authentic.

Quiet Morning in San Polo

📍 San Polo neighborhood

Explore the peaceful morning streets of San Polo before the day-trippers arrive. Venice belongs to residents and early risers at this hour.

Breakfast at Pasticceria Tonolo

📍 Calle San Pantalon, Dorsoduro

Join Venetians at their favorite pastry shop for exceptional breakfast treats. The krapfen (filled doughnuts) and croissants are legendary.

Scuola Grande di San Rocco

📍 Campo San Rocco

Discover Tintoretto's masterpiece—over 60 paintings covering the walls and ceilings of this Renaissance confraternity building.

Murano Glass Shopping

📍 Near Rialto or San Marco

Browse authentic Murano glass at shops in Venice before you leave. Look for the Vetro Artistico Murano trademark for genuine pieces.

Final Cicchetti & Spritz

📍 Near Rialto

Toast your Italian adventure with a farewell spritz and cicchetti at a favorite bacaro before heading to the station.

Vaporetto to Station or Airport

📍 Nearest vaporetto stop

Take the vaporetto to Santa Lucia station for trains, or catch the Alilaguna water bus directly to Marco Polo Airport for flights.

Departure

📍 Venice Santa Lucia or Marco Polo Airport

Board your train to Rome Fiumicino or flight from Venice Marco Polo, taking home memories of ancient ruins, Renaissance art, and magical canals.