The Essence of Rome & Florence: A Golden Age Tour
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.
Customizable Itinerary
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:
Rome – An Open-Air Excursion through the Highlights of Rome
Rome – Visit a World-Class Golf Course and Spa
Rome – Tour of the Vatican and Sunset Cruise
Florence – Vinotherapy and Hot Springs of Tuscany
Florence – Experience the Accademia Gallery
Florence – Explore the Mediterranean Sea on a Yacht
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
$7,800 per person (excluding international flights)
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 6971 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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