Masterpieces of Italy Tour: From David to The Last Supper

What to expect on this itinerary
Italy is like a treasure chest brimming with art, architecture, and innovation. Experience artistic brilliance with insightful guides accompanying you on an Italy tour personalized to your favorite inspirational masterpieces. Medieval villages overtake hillsides. Ancient arenas continue to permeate the skyline. Frescoes and mosaics retain their bright colors and continue to tell stories through the ages. From Rome to Milan, Florence to Venice, the masters of Italy crafted detailed works that have withstood the tests of time, filling every moment of your luxury Italian tour with a wealth of excellence, wonder, charm, and prestige.
Customizable Itinerary
Rome – Arrive the Eternal City with a Fascinating Walking Tour and Dinner
Rome represents the brilliance of the classical era and the importance of artistry to daily life beyond the emperors and senators of the empire. Delicate and dramatic frescoes decorate churches. The Spanish Steps shimmer with opulent marble and elegant design. The dome of the Pantheon has inspired architects and artists for two millennia, including the legendary Michelangelo and Brunelleschi. Your flight lands at Rome Fiumicino Airport. Your private transfer greets you upon your arrival and escorts you to a gorgeous hotel in the historical city center. Locals and visitors wander along the designer shops along Via del Corso.
The scent of strawberries drifts out of a gelaterie, emanating from the fruity gelato. You take a moment to settle into the comforts of your luxury hotel set inside a former magnificent palace. Your guide greets you in the lobby, eager to introduce you to the masterful works of Rome on a walking tour through the city center. Consider learning more about the top Italy travel agents who will help design, create, and guide your dream Italy vacation. You can see the golden façade of Castel Sant’Angelo across the bridge over the Tiber River. The structure began as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian and was converted into a papal fortress centuries later. The 10 angelic statues line the cobblestone bridge, each designed with a careful eye to detail by master sculptor Bernini. His work guides your exploration of the city center, as you make your way to Piazza Navona to view the elaborate Fountain of the Four Rivers, which Bernini also designed.
What's Included:
Rome – Enjoy the Rich History of Rome on a Private Guided Full Day Tour
Rome – Visit Vatican City and the Remarkable Churches Decorating Rome
Florence – Wander Historic of Assisi and Enjoy a Fabulous Tour of Florence
Florence – Explore the Uffizi, Pitti Palace, and Hidden Artisan Workshops
Florence – Discover the Accademia, San Marco Church, and Central Market
Venice – Relish the Churches and Cuisine of Bologna and Art of Padua
Venice – Absorb the Art and Architecture on a Full Day Tour of Venice
Milan – Venture to Milan to View the Duomo and Santa Maria delle Grazie
Milan – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Discover the brilliance of Italian masters up-close and in person under the instruction of expert guides in art history, culture, and style
- Visit the Vatican Museum to stand beneath the iconic images draping over the walls and ceiling as painted by Michelangelo in the 16th century
- Trace the evolution of sculpture in Florence to enjoy the masterful works carved out of marble, including standing beneath Michelangelo’s David
- Revel in the feeling of grandeur and amazement as you stand in front of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece The Last Supper in Santa Maria delle Grazie
- Witness the beginnings of the Renaissance while visiting the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, where Giotto first applied human characteristics upon divine figures
- Wander the galleries of Villa Borghese, home to one of the greatest private collections of art
- Traverse the fabulous halls of the Accademia in Venice in search of the fabled Venetian masters inside the galleries in which they studied
- Relish the unique ambiance of great Italian cities whose architecture is as masterful as the artwork which they contain
Detailed Description
The masters of Italian art have shaped history through the way they captured allegories, biblical tales, and daily life. Your personalized Italy tour immerses you in the artworks of the past on a 10-day tour highlighting masterpieces, from the Colosseum to the Trevi Fountain, David to the frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel. The thrilling exploration begins with your arrival in Rome. Your private transfer greets you at Fiumicino Airport and escorts you to a gorgeous hotel within the historical city center. Discover the iconic fountains and piazzas of the city with a private guide and explore the ancient architecture and preserved walkways winding between the Forum and Palatine Hill. Witness the elaborate collection of works inside the Vatican Museum, including works of Raphael and Michelangelo. Stroll through the elaborate galleries of the Borghese Villa to view one of the world’s most elaborate private art collections.
Visit the town of Assisi, in Umbria to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis. The basilica remains a dramatic piece of architecture home to fascinating frescoes and the antique tomb of the eponymous saint. Once in Florence, the images of the Renaissance spring to life. Enjoy a walking tour of the city’s endless wealth of structures designed by master architects, from the Medici chapel at San Lorenzo to the idyllic dome of the cathedral at the heart of the historic center crafted by Brunelleschi. Visit the masterpieces housed in the Uffizi and Pitti Palace before meeting with contemporary artisans preserving the traditions of quality goods handcrafted in Florence. Explore the Central Market for an enriching, flavorful experience and follow the historic evolution of sculpting in Florence, reaching the pinnacle with Michelangelo’s David.
Bologna is a city regarded for its cuisine but retains elements of masterful artwork and architecture on display around the city center. Stop in the quiet city of Padua en route to Venice to see Giotto’s masterworks decorating the Scrovegni Chapel, which various artists attribute bringing in the birth of the Renaissance. Venice is a city of grandeur embodied in the gorgeous palazzos and charming neighborhoods. Enjoy the graceful ambiance with tours of the Accademia Gallery and churches embedded with historical artwork, including St. Mark’s Basilica. You reach the marvels of Milan for a guided tour to take in the magnificent cathedral and The Last Supper by da Vinci. Your private transfer escorts you to Malpensa Airport on the final day of your Italy tour with plenty of time to check into your flight home.
Consider browsing our other Italian tours to gain further inspiration in perfecting your own dream Italy vacation of a lifetime.
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
- 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.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 6931 reviews
Our trip was absolutely amazing and the planning done by Zicasso's travel company surpassed my expectations. The attention to detail was amazing: from excellent and punctual drivers to assistants who helped us with the water taxis in Venice to the lounge access for trains. It was truly white-glove service that made my trip seamless and allowed me to enjoy every moment because every detail was handled.
The excursions were fantastic. I especially enjoyed the cooking class at a farm in Tuscany and the Vespa tours in Rome. There was a nice mix of private excursions for the walking tours and boat rides, to a few shared excursions, such as the cooking class.
The hotels the travel company booked were chic, boutiquey Italian hotels and each had its own charm (from the former palace in Venice to the castle in Chianti), and we loved them. We would absolutely recommend to anyone booking a trip to Italy!
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Zicasso's team was excellent with planning and execution of the itinerary to meet our specific needs.
I was able to add an additional city on short notice!
We had knowledgeable local city guides and all drivers were professional.
We had a wonderful family trip!
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We had an excellent experience with Zicasso's travel company. We are a family of four and spent 18 nights going through Italy and France. We worked with the company to make arrangements to see the cities and sites we wanted to visit. They offered great options for hotels and activities. They stayed in close contact with us during the trip and made additional arrangements upon request. The company provided outstanding service making arrangements and during the trip. We were very satisified and have already recommended them to our friends.
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I can confidently say that Zicasso's travel specialist is truly dedicated to providing her clients a luxury experience. From the outset, we had a 20-minute call where she wanted to learn about our dream vacation and get to know us. She was attentive to every request we made and organized our itinerary accordingly. During the trip, she texted us daily to inform us about our drivers and guides for the next day. Additionally, she checked to ensure our trip was progressing smoothly.
Here are some highlights:
Rome: We were greeted at the airport by our agent, who expedited our passage through passport control. The following day, we started our exploration at the Vatican. Our agent had purchased our tickets in advance, allowing us to skip the line. She also planned the remainder of our self-guided tours of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and other ancient sights. We accomplished so much in just two days!
Florence: We took part in a pasta-making class with a chef who was fantastic! Her husband was also quite charming. Our experience there was truly wonderful. Special thanks to our driver, who was incredibly helpful and informative.
Sorrento (Amalfi Coast): We began with a visit to Pompeii, where our guide, also arranged by our agent, was spectacular! His passion and extensive knowledge made the experience enjoyable. Next, we had a fun blind wine tasting. When we arrived at our amazing hotel, we were greeted with a surprise.
While in Rome, we encountered a minor issue, which our agent resolved quickly. She even went above and beyond by ordering us a bottle of prosecco to celebrate. We also took a car tour of Positano and Ravello, guided by a local from Ravello who was informative, knowledgeable, and delightful. We loved her! Our day ended with a lovely sunset cruise off the coast! Both days had excellent drivers.
This trip was a dream come true for my husband and me. Without a doubt, our agent made it the luxurious experience we desired. I highly recommend her and her team!
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The trip went very well! Our Zicasso travel specialist did a thorough job planning our vacation to Italy. We would definitely use her again.
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Our trip was a 10 out of 10! There is no way it could have been any better. Zicasso's travel expert and the tour company's team were incredibly responsive (not that we had any issues) and the itinerary was so impeccably curated.
Every greeter, driver, and tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and professional, and hotels were immaculate. It was such a relief to know that every last detail was taken care of and we didn't have to worry about anything.
We highly recommend our travel company and would definitely use them again.
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