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

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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 6212 reviews

Tracy S.
Italy Trip Review: Bike Tour, 5 Nights

It was a great experience! Every activity was fun and interesting. The guides and drivers were wonderful. You made our trip so easy.

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Judy B.
Italy Trip Review: Rome, Milan, Venice, Lake Como, 1 Week

Everything went perfectly. We had such a good time. All our tour guides were expert historians. All the car pick-ups and trains went smoothly. We added a last-minute tour in another city and Zicasso's travel specialists were so accommodating. I highly recommend them.

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Michael W.
Italy Vacation Review: Florence, Tuscany, Umbria, Local Cuisine, Museums, 14-Day Trip

My wife and I recently returned from our first trip to Italy and want to highly recommend Zicasso's travel specialist and her company for creating the perfect vacation for us. It was a two-month process of back and forth, but no matter what we asked of her, she delivered several options.

We had a perfect mix of historical Florence and its museums, and wonderful restaurants, and the Tuscany and Umbria countryside experience. And on our first day, when our flight into Florence got diverted to Milan, we had the peace of mind that our travel specialist was there to help with her much appreciated support.

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Jess G.
Italy Tour Review: Mount Etna, Ravello, Wine Tasting, ATV Tour, Local Cuisine, 1 Week

Working with Zicasso’s travel specialist and the team was easy and wonderful. Our group enjoyed all of our excursions and tours. The drivers and guides were all wonderful, kind, and informative. Our arrangements for staying were clean, accessible, in great locations, and with incredibly friendly staff. The daily reminders were perfect and the few times we had questions, the response was timely and helpful.

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Richard S.
Italy Tour Review: Florence, Montepulciano, Tuscany, Pompeii, Cooking Class, Wine Tasting, Olive Oil Experience, 11 Nights

From start to finish, this was an amazing trip! All the accommodations were excellent, the tour guides were knowledgeable and engaging, our drivers were friendly and helpful, and the experiences (walking food tours, cooking class, wine tastings) were just what we wanted! We are extremely happy with the help we received from Zicasso's travel specialists, all the arrangements that were made, the communication throughout our stay—the entire trip!

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Sarah K.
Italy Travel Review: Local Cuisine, 3 Weeks

We loved our itinerary! We gave the locations we wanted to visit to Zicasso’s tour operator and they fit everything in. They were with us every step of the way and listened to feedback about any adjustments, and stayed within budget.

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Customizable Itinerary

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

29,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews