Explore the incomparable cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice on an 8-day family vacation to Italy. Ancient gladiators come to life in Rome as you tour the Colosseum and experience Roman gladiator school. Be transported back to the Renaissance as you witness art masterpieces in Florence and become immersed in the delicious cuisine with an exclusive pizza making class. Feel the magic of Venice as you ride a gondola around the famous canals. Stops in the enchanting Orvieto and the quintessential...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Rome – Arrive in Rome and Tour of Villa Borghese and Borghese Gallery
You and your family will arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino airport to begin an exciting and immersive vacation in some of Italy’s most treasured cities. A private transfer will lead you from the airport to your lavish hotel that will be located in the heart of the eternal city. Your first afternoon in Rome will be highlighted with a private tour of Villa Borghese and Borghese Gallery. The main villa and land were once owned by the noble and famous Borghese Family, but today it is the site of multiple museums, attractions, and one of the most beautiful parks in Italy. First, you will tour the Borghese Gallery, which is located inside the main villa and is widely considered to be one of the best museums in the world. Here, you will see works by great Italian artists such as Bernini and Caravaggio. You will be fascinated by the well-preserved mosaics and detailed statues as you tour the gallery. Your guide will then lead you outside into the warm sun and endless acres of scenic gardens. Here, you and your family can unwind and enjoy the park for the rest of the afternoon. With additional museums, a lake, and even a zoo, there will be something for everyone to see and enjoy.
On your first night in Rome, you can feast on a delicious Roman meal that will be served family-style, as young and old alike will continue to become enthralled with the sights and sounds of Italy’s capital city.
What's Included:
Day 2
Rome – Tour of Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with Gladiator School Experience
Day 3
Rome – Full Day Tour Including Vatican City
Day 4
Florence – Tour Orvieto En Route to Florence
Day 5
Florence – Tour of Main Attractions and Pizza Making Class
Day 6
Venice – Explore Pisa and Arrive in Venice
Day 7
Venice – Tour of Top Sites and Mask Making Experience
Day 8
Venice – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Explore the museums and gardens of Villa Borghese
- Attend a gladiator school experience in Rome
- Tour Vatican City and view the Sistine Chapel
- Visit the undergrounds tunnels of the city of Orvieto
- View the stunning artwork of master artists in the Uffizi Gallery
- Take a pizza making class at an authentic restaurant in Florence
- Climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Enjoy a gondola ride around Venice
- Make your own Venetian mask during a private hands-on class
Detailed Description
You will arrive in Rome on day one to begin a wonderful family vacation in Italy. After checking into your first grand hotel, a local guide will lead you on a private afternoon tour of the gorgeous Villa Borghese and Borghese Gallery. The gallery, which is located inside the magnificent mansion, is where you will get the opportunity to see the works of many famed artists. You will then have several hours in the park to enjoy more of its attractions. You can choose to tour another museum or simply relax in the lush gardens. As the day concludes, you will indulge in your first delicious meal in Italy, and on the second day of the trip, a local guide will provide a tour of some of Rome’s landmark sites. You will visit the monumental Colosseum before partaking in an exclusive Roman gladiator school experience. You and your family will get the chance to learn the techniques of these ancient warriors as you choose your sword and prepare for the arena. A visit to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill will round out your tour for the day. Day three will be your last day in Rome but will be filled with exciting destinations. You will see the glorious Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps before heading to Vatican City. From St. Peter’s Basilica to the unrivaled Sistine Chapel, your visit will be unforgettable.
You will depart Rome after breakfast on day four to begin the scenic ride to Orvieto. Here, you will be greeted upon arrival by a local guide who will lead you on a tour of the city’s historical landmarks. Your visit to Orvieto will be highlighted with an underground tour where you will explore a maze of tunnels and caves that are hundreds of years old. Your charming ride will then continue, and by evening, you will arrive in Florence. You can enjoy a typical Florentine dinner as you begin to take in the sights of this renowned city. A private tour of Florence’s top destinations will await you on day five. You will see the best of Renaissance art and architecture during your visits to the Florence Cathedral, Uffizi, and Accademia Galleries. From the cathedral’s phenomenal dome to Michelangelo’s David, you will truly be brought back in time to the Renaissance as you view these treasured masterpieces. You and your family will then get the chance to attend a fun pizza making class at an authentic, local restaurant. You will make the perfect dough and pick all the best toppings before savoring your homemade pizza for dinner.
After breakfast on day six, you will embark via private transfer for the Tuscan city of Pisa. Here, you will tour Pisa’s most memorable attractions, including the Cathedral, Baptistery, and of course Leaning Tower. You will appreciate the amazing view of the city from the top of this famous landmark. Your ride will then continue, and you will arrive in stunning Venice by early evening. After checking into your waterfront hotel, you will delight in a private family gondola ride around Venice’s world-renowned canals. Day seven will feature a tour of the essential sites of the city. You will visit the sensational St. Mark’s Square where you will tour St. Mark’s Cathedral and its impressive bell tower, in addition to the nearby Doge’s Palace. After a savory lunch at one of the many outdoor restaurants, you will engage in a hands-on mask-making class. Here, you will learn about the history of the colorful and ornate Venetian masks as you design one for yourself.
You will have time for one last breakfast and saunter around Venice on day eight before your private transfer leads you back to the mainland and then Marco Polo Airport for your return flight home. This incredible family journey to Italy’s premier cities will be a trip that is treasured by all the members of your family. Looking for the best Italy travel experiences? Consider browsing our Italy travel reviews page.
Starting Price
$3,600 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.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.9 stars based on 5914 reviews.
Zicasso's travel agent created an itinerary and experience that was simply perfect. Every hotel experience, guide, and driver was excellent. She was kind, patient, knowledgeable, and made the perfect suggestions. I loved working with her! Thank you to our agent, the tour operator, and Zicasso for a wonderful trip!
Reviewed By Anita L.
The trip was wonderful. Zicasso's travel agent and her staff planned the perfect 10-day trip. The accommodations, the drivers, the guides, and the restaurant recommendations were perfect. The communication was excellent and timely. They went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and happy. The staff were very attentive and flexible, even when we wanted some small changes, such as pick-up times for the drivers. They adapted and made it all work. This travel agent is absolutely terrific.
Reviewed By Marci M.
Our Italy trip with Zicasso’s travel partner was nothing short of spectacular! Referred by a friend who had an amazing experience, we decided to give it a try and were not disappointed. Our agent was fantastic, always ready with answers to our questions and providing excellent support throughout our journey.
In Tuscany, we visited beautiful wineries and enjoyed a delightful lunch with the vintners, who were incredibly warm and welcoming. Her attention to detail was evident when she adjusted our plans due to weather changes and even checked in on us when we were slightly delayed for a tour.
Siena was breathtaking and our hotel in Rome was perfectly located, allowing us to walk to all the major sites. One of the highlights was a small boat tour around Capri from Amalfi—perfect weather and stunning waters made it unforgettable. The cooking class on the Amalfi Coast, set on the side of a cliff, was exceptional and having personal tours just for the two of us was an unexpected and delightful bonus.
We can't express enough how much we enjoyed our Italy trip. The travel partner exceeded our expectations and we highly recommend them for a truly memorable experience!
Reviewed By Kent S.
Zicasso’s trip coordinator and her team did a fantastic job, not only in planning the trip to meet our needs and wants, but also in personalizing it as needed. They were also available as we needed them to adjust things, such as pickups, and even made some dinner reservations for us. With our budget, they set us up in excellent hotels that fit our desire for the trip to be a wonderful anniversary getaway. Her staff were also very helpful. We would strongly recommend them for a trip to Italy!
Reviewed By Rajesh J.
Zicasso's travel planner and her staff did a perfect job for our family of six. She made our trip seamless!
Everything she planned was perfect and no detail was left out. I would use them again and again for my travels to Italy.
Reviewed By Sally F.
My first solo trip was something I had dreamed about for years. I wanted it to be more than sightseeing. I wanted adventure, comfort, safety, and freedom without the stress of planning it all alone. Through Zicasso, I was connected to two specialists and Zicasso's travel consultant stood out immediately. She delivered an itinerary that gave me everything I asked for and more: maximum cities, maximum fun, and maximum value, all without compromise.
Before deciding, I researched and compared tours, packages, and individual prices online. The travel consultant’s proposal came out on top for value and content. While the other agent offered fewer cities and activities at a higher price, her plan was ambitious without being overwhelming. She booked my trains, arranged private transfers where needed, and selected boutique-style hotels that exceeded expectations. I was honestly surprised at how good they were. I stayed at hotels in Interlaken, Florence, and Sorrento. Each was clean, comfortable, and perfectly located for exploring. I had prepared myself for budget trade-offs, but instead, I found thoughtfully chosen hotels that balanced affordability with real quality.
Every document, train ticket, and activity confirmation was uploaded into the app. It became my lifeline throughout the trip, with every detail at my fingertips. The structure gave me confidence, while still leaving me free to explore.
Switzerland came first: Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, and Zermatt. Each city felt like stepping into a postcard. Interlaken gave me the adrenaline rush of skydiving, while Zermatt charmed me with its close-knit magic and alpine beauty. Italy unfolded with equal ease: Lake Como, Venice, Florence, Sorrento, Amalfi, and Rome. Every destination felt curated, yet natural, from gondola rides in Venice to boat tours on the Amalfi Coast.
What I loved most was the balance between structure and freedom. Pre-booked activities and restaurant reservations gave me a strong framework, but I could just as easily decide to spend an afternoon wandering Florence, eating gelato, or sitting in a piazza. The rhythm of the trip was perfect, structured enough to tick off bucket-list highlights, yet relaxed enough to feel like a real vacation.
Food was freestyle, but memorable. Highlights included a Japanese-Peruvian restaurant in Zurich with its elegant Japanese-Peruvian flavors, a different Japanese restaurant, a restaurant in Como with its modern fusion menu, an Indian restaurant for comforting classics, and international favorites like those in one of the restaurants in Rome. Between those meals and plenty of gelato and crepes, every stop added its own flavor to the journey.
As a solo traveler, safety mattered. I felt comfortable walking around in the evenings and was usually back in my hotel by 1am to stay rested for the next day. What really gave me peace of mind was the travel consultant’s constant support. Communication was fast and responsive. I never had to wait long for answers, whether through the app or email. There was a moment when I made a mistake with the trains and missed an activity. She immediately stepped in and worked to reschedule it or secure a refund that same day.
Earlier in the planning process, I also had a card issue due to an address error. Even though policy would not normally allow it, she and her team patiently waited until I received the refund before finalizing the booking, just weeks before my trip. That flexibility and care spoke volumes.
The difference was clear. She used my budget to its fullest potential, giving me more destinations, more experiences, and better hotels than the alternative option. She managed to combine the efficiency of a fully organized tour with the freedom of independent travel. Everything was planned, yet everything was still mine to shape.
This trip was everything I wanted: good food, beautiful views, safety, and absolute reliability. It was an organized journey with freestyle flexibility, which is exactly what solo travelers dream of. The travel consultant’s planning let me chase adventure while always knowing I had a safety net. Switzerland and Italy gave me memories I will never forget, but it was the behind-the-scenes planning that made it possible. If you want a trip that is your way, your budget, your pace, but without the endless hassle of managing it yourself, the travel consultant at this agency is the person who can make it happen. My first solo trip became my dream trip and that is the highest praise I can give.
Reviewed By tasmia S.
