Exploring Two Great Italian Cities: Rome to Florence Itinerary

You will begin your first full day in Rome early with the quintessential espresso and a freshly prepared breakfast. From your hotel, your personal driver will drive you to the helipad for your private helicopter tour. You will meet your two pilots and be welcomed aboard with a light aperitif. Strap yourself into the leather, VIP seating and choose the perfect soundtrack to play over the Bose sound system to accompany your trip. Soon, you will take off for your scenic tour that is complete with an aerial view of the hills and history of Rome. You will be expertly flown over the best areas to view your upcoming tours from a unique angle, seeing St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, and the Roman villas among other incredible sights.

Your piloted tour of Rome will end with a late lunch on the sea where you will indulge in a true Italian meal that will be flavored with locally grown herbs. Your delectable meal will be prepared for you while you take in the sparkling blue expanse of the Mediterranean Sea. The unique flavors will absolutely tantalize your palate before your experienced pilots return you safely to your private car, which will whisk you to your next stop on today’s tour.

You will end your day in the world’s smallest country with a private tour of the wonders of the Vatican, taking it all in from the ground level. You will soak in the colors of the Sistine Chapel and the incredible detail of ‘Transfiguration’ after-hours, spending as long as you like to breathe in the ineffable atmosphere that is offered at this location. As if this could not get any better, this tour is private, so you will not have to deal with the hassle of navigating through the annoying crowds. Your tour guide will have prepared a tempting array of aperitivo, which is a table of small, fresh plates that will be prepared and customized for you. This will all be done by a local, gourmet chef for you to enjoy before your driver returns you to the front door of your hotel.

Day three will be all about leisure, Italian food, and art. You will begin today with a visit to the world-famous Trevi Fountain. This iconic feature boasts a long and culturally important history for Rome and cannot be missed on your highlight tour of the best that Rome and Florence have to offer. If you are a fan, you can take a moment to recreate the Audrey Hepburn scene from Roman Holiday. Do not forget to throw a coin into the clear blue waters of the fountain before leaving because legend says that doing so will ensure your future return to the Eternal City.

Right behind the Trevi Fountain and across the Piazza di Spagna is where you will find the Spanish Steps. You will be stunned in admiration when you catch the view of the Fontana della Barcaccia. Then, as you climb these steps with the Santissima Trinita dei Monti rising above you, you will marvel in amazement. You will pass the former home of John Keats, and with the smell of roasting garlic and the sound of different languages around you, you will understand why so many painters, poets, and models have been drawn to this area. Stop by one of the quality restaurants near the steps where everything is made from scratch with locally grown ingredients to pick up a gourmet picnic basket. You can take your basket to the park beyond the steps and enjoy the sunshine and indefinable atmosphere of this part of Rome. If you are in the mood for a little live music, then you can eat inside and experience the pinnacle of Italian music.

Continue with your private guide to the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, which is a landmark art gallery that has housed masterpieces for centuries. You can walk through the halls that carry work by artists such as Caravaggio, Tiziano, and Raffaello. As you take in the view of Flemish Old Masters from the Baroque period, you can soak in the kind of awe that only true masterpieces can inspire. As you continue, your guide will describe the circumstances of each piece of art so that you are able to leave this Palazzo, knowing that you have experienced all that it has to offer. You will finish your tour at the terrace restaurant of this gallery, which is famous for providing striking views and gourmet dining. You will delight in a dinner that overlooks the rooftops of Rome, which is complete with a view of the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi that is so exclusive, it is often called “the secret view of the fountain.” Each meal that is served here has been inspired by Roman tradition and crafted with materials across the Italian regions.

You will begin day four early with a VIP tour of the Colosseum. No trip to Rome is complete without a walkthrough of this massive and ancient structure. You will walk right past the long lines and be led through the back door entrance where you will follow in the footsteps of the ancient gladiators. Stand where they stood on the Arena Floor, step out onto the famous stage, and explore where the Emperor once sat. As you experience the grandiosity of the Colosseum, you will almost be able to hear the echo of 80,000 spectators as they cheer for the gladiatorial combats that were once held here. You will be able to feel 3,000 years of history under your feet as your guide details all of the culturally significant events that were once held here.

Lunch will be served on a terrace within the Colosseum and will overlook the Roman Forum, which will be your next stop. Enjoy the antipasti and the view that is offered here. Afterward, you will descend from the restaurant and head through the Forum, which is a government building that was very critical to ancient Rome. Your priority access will bypass you through the crowds, allowing you the peace and space to take in the momentous history of the ancient Forum.

You will delight in dinner just a few steps away from the Colosseum and Roman Forum at one of Rome’s top, gourmet eateries. Unwind from your day of taking in the incredible sights of the Eternal City at a cozy table that overlooks the sites that you just walked through. This Michelin-starred restaurant boasts attentive service, breathtaking views, and traditional Italian meals that are crafted for the foodies of the world. Your palate will linger over the courses of your meal as long as you will allow. Once all of your senses are truly satisfied, your private driver will be ready to return you to your luxurious accommodation at your convenience.

Today, you will board an early, first-class train to Florence. Here, you can sink into your seat and luxuriate in the view of the countryside as you pass. Later, you will see some of the best that this breathtaking city has to offer.

Upon your arrival in Florence, a private car will take you to your new accommodation. Get settled, but do not linger because Florence will be waiting for you. You will be led privately to the Accademia Gallery to see the Statue of David firsthand, and you will walk straight past the line of visitors to view this unique piece of art. Your guide will lead you past the striking red dome of Il Duomo to the Uffizi Gallery where you will again skip the line for exclusive access to the rich collection of art and sculptures that are housed here.

After your tour, you will indulge in a private walk through one of Florence’s top chocolate boutiques. Stroll through the shop and laboratory, taste teste new recipe experiments, and choose among their tailored chocolate creation courses to try to craft for yourself. There is nothing like the smell of a chocolate boutique, and your guide will show you how to discern the best cocoa beans, ensuring that your taste buds will be singing. You will create your ideal dessert, but make sure to save room for a scoop of famous gelato before you leave as the silky-smooth desserts that are offered here are like none other in the world.

Dine alfresco this evening at one of Florence’s top restaurants, which is known for its farm to table servings and meals that are centered around the local Amberfish in an elegant, private dining experience. You will return to your hotel with wine and chocolate that have been perfectly paired for a peaceful evening in Florence.

You have now had a full week of tours and incredible experiences, so today it will be time to relax and sink into a wild, natural hot spring. You will follow the panoramic vista to the exclusive spa entrance where you will soak in the perfectly heated waters that are said to treat your physical and mental wellbeing with therapeutic properties. While you are here, you will commune with nature while remaining in a luxurious setting. Today, you will take in the sweet smell of the earth along with the unique scent of the warm, bubbling, clear-blue water of the springs. As you relax and breathe in the crisp air, you can look out at the Tuscan vista, which will make you realize that there can be no more of a relaxing experience than this.

As you emerge from the heat of the springs, you will round out your day of utter bliss with a peaceful massage. Your massage therapist will ease your muscles until you are fully refreshed. You can even customize this experience to make it perfectly suit your body, and you will leave, knowing that no other massage and soaking experience could possibly compare with today’s.

Your body will be treated to a full refreshment in the beautiful hills of Tuscany, and you will end your day in this relaxing place with dinner that overlooks the world-renowned beauty of this region, which would not be complete without a glass of fragrant, local Chianti in hand. Once you are ready, your driver will return you to your hotel in the heart of Florence so that you are ready for an early start tomorrow.

Tuscany is known around the world as one of the most spectacularly beautiful regions of the world. Take in the view of the rolling hills, the luscious green of the land, and the acreage of vineyards from the sky on today’s hot air balloon tour of Tuscany. Your pilot will expertly guide you over the famous vineyards and villas of the Chianti region so that you can see exactly where the grapes came from that went into your rich wine from the previous evening. You will bask in an aerial view of olive groves, cypress trees, and wineries alike, and then you will be shown a bird’s eye view of Florence itself.

Once you have returned to the ground, you will be taken to a local vineyard in the Tuscan countryside where you will experience a private tour of the vineyard. Here you will learn about the workings of the farm and its estate, and afterward, you will be served a wine tasting menu that has been perfectly paired with Tuscan specialties like freshly made bruschetta, locally cured meats, and delicious cheeses. You will then pleasure your palate with the red wines that are unique to this region as you breathe in the sweet fragrance of the lemon trees around you.

You will end this evening with dinner at a restaurant of your choice and will be provided with a guide of top local eateries that will be customized for your needs and preferences. You can indulge in whatever strikes your fancy this evening. You can try Florence’s only three Michelin-starred restaurant, which is famous for the depth and variety of its wine cellar and French-Italian fusion or delight in the Renaissance Palazzo restaurant, which offers small, delectable dishes that have been created to pair perfectly with exquisite vintages.

The last day of your unforgettable trip will start slowly with a  freshly prepared breakfast. You will have had a long week and made a lot of incredible memories, but do not take the little things for granted on your last day. Have another espresso, take a long stroll on the cobblestone streets of Florence, and stop by any sights that you may have missed. You should check out the designer shopping that is available in this unmatched city because you will be leaving this evening. This will be the perfect opportunity to pick up gifts for your loved ones back home. Choose a hand-painted ceramic souvenir, artisan chocolate, or designer jewelry to bring a taste of Italy home with you.

This afternoon, you will have an early dinner and go to a show. Florence is the historic birthplace of opera with some of the first surviving pieces from the 16th century being used for the court of Florence at that time. Before you experience the beauty of the local opera, you will sit down to eat in the old city center where you will delight in a three-course, gourmet Tuscan dinner that will be paired with the perfect vintage of a Chianti wine. All you have to do is cross the street to enter the theater and take your place in your box seats to the opera of your choice. The harmonic and resounding melodies of the infamous Italian opera will be sure to end your trip on a truly magical note.

Your private driver will be waiting outside of the theater, waiting to transport you directly to the airport in Rome. By flying out later in the day, this allows you to fully enjoy your final day in Italy.