5 days, 4 nights · Best for First-time visitors seeking Italy's essential Renaissance and medieval art capitals
Italy Art Cities Rome Florence Venice Padua
Experience Rome, Florence, Padua and Venice as Renaissance art, medieval towns and canals create a classic Italian journey.
Your Adventure Starts Here
This is a starting point. Change the nights, choose the style of hotel, add the experiences you want. Your planner takes it from there.
Stop 1Florence, Tuscany
Florence
Renaissance capital via Assisi and Siena
Your base sits in or near Florence's historic center, but the journey begins with a dawn departure from Rome. The coach climbs into Umbria to reach Assisi, birthplace of Saint Francis and a walled medieval city that has stood since the dark ages. You tour the Basilica of Saint Francis, where Giotto's frescoes cover the walls in scenes from the saint's life. The route continues through Siena before arriving in Florence by evening.
The second day belongs entirely to Florence. We arrange a guided walk through the Piazza del Duomo, past Giotto's Bell Tower and the octagonal Baptistery. The architecture spans Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance periods, each layer visible in the stone. Markets, leather workshops and trattorie fill the streets between monuments. Your guide navigates the crowds and explains what made this city the engine of the Renaissance.
Arranged for you: Coach transfer from Rome with stops in Assisi and Siena, guided tour of the Basilica of Saint Francis, two nights' accommodation in Florence, buffet breakfast daily, guided walking tour of Florence's historic center including Piazza del Duomo and Giotto's Bell Tower.
Your hotel
Styles, not names. We name the property once we know your dates and your party.
Interests in Florence
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Skip-the-line Uffizi Gallery tour with art historian Day Trips · Half day
Guided visit to Botticelli's Birth of Venus, works by Leonardo and Michelangelo, and the Medici collection.
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Private pasta-making class in an Oltrarno kitchen Day Trips · Half day
Learn to roll pici and shape tortelli with a home cook, then sit down to the lunch you made.
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Chianti wine estate tour and tasting Day Trips · Half day
Private transfer to a family vineyard for cellar tour, Sangiovese tasting and Tuscan lunch on the terrace.
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Accademia Gallery visit to see Michelangelo's David Day Trips · Half day
Reserved entrance and guided tour of the marble giant and unfinished Prisoners series.
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Accademia Gallery Guided Tour, Skip the Line with Advanced Reservation & Tickets Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a DayVisit one of the most important collections of art, including Michelangelo’s David, while skipping the long lines!
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Discovering Florence Walking Tour Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a DayDiscover the highlights of Florence on a guided walking tour that showcases the city’s most iconic sites and artistic treasures.
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Florence and Fiesole Hills Small Group Guided Sightseeing Tour Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a DayFlorence’s Renaissance icons, then a breath of Tuscan air, small-group sightseeing with panoramic Fiesole views and zero big-bus chaos.
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Florence Historical Center Walking Tour Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a DayMeet Florence in a single stroll. Renaissance palazzos, landmark churches, and UNESCO beauty with stories that make it all click.
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Florence Morning Guided Walking Tour Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a DaySee Florence’s greatest hits, Renaissance stories, iconic sights, and a surprise tasting that adds a delicious twist.
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Florence Tour Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a DayFall in love with Florence in a single day. Renaissance streets and churches, Uffizi masterpieces, and a Tuscan lunch to top it off.
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Florence, Tuscany, Cooking Class package with Typical Dinner Food and Wine · Tour in a DayImmerse yourself in the flavors of Tuscany with a hands-on cooking class at a top culinary school, where expert chefs will guide you in creating an authentic Tuscan dinner.
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Florence: Handmade Pasta Cooking Course with Lunch Food and Wine · Tour in a Day
Roll, cut, and taste Tuscany, make fresh pasta from scratch in Florence with local experts.
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Florence’s Art & Gourmet Private Walking Tour Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a Day
Taste and explore Florence like a local. Markets, secret bakeries, historic churches, and hidden corners on a private walk through the city’s heart.
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Guided Visit of Accademia & Uffizi Gallery Skip the Line with Advanced reservation & tickets included Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a Day
Two legendary museums, one seamless day. Skip the lines for Michelangelo’s David and Botticelli’s Birth of Venus with an expert guide.
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Guided Visit of Uffizi Gallery, Skip the Line with Advanced Reservation & Tickets Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a Day
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Horse Riding through the Tuscany Countryside guided Tour Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a DaySaddle up for an unforgettable Tuscan adventure as you spend the morning horseback riding through picturesque vineyards and olive groves surrounding a charming villa.
Day by day in Florence
Depending on the hotel’s location, you will either gather at a designated meeting point within the city center at 7:30 a.m. or prepare to be shuttled from the hotel between 6:45 and 7:15 in the morning. Leave via coach to Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis, the patron saint of animals. Assisi is an old city, kept safe in more dangerous times by a sturdy wall that still stands. During your stay here, you will stop by the Basilica of Saint Francis, home to masterful pieces of art by Giotto and Cimabue, both famous Renaissance painters. After the stop in Assisi, depart for Siena, a small Tuscan city built in medieval times. Siena is most famous for the Palio, a horserace organized in the famous Piazza del Campo. Following the conclusion of the Siena tour, head to Florence and sit down for a pleasant dinner before turning in for the night.
Begin the day with a buffet breakfast, then depart for a thorough exploration of Florence, a city of astounding beauty and culture. Florence was one of the focal points of the Renaissance movement, and as a result, it contains a wealth of historical artifacts from that time. The city is also loved for its variety of architecture, which spans several periods in history. During your time in Florence, you will see the beautiful green expanse of the Piazza del Duomo, the majestic Giotto’s Bell Tower, standing 277’ tall, the Baptistery of St. John with its gold-adorned carved doors, the pristine marble accents of pink, green and white adorning the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and Santa Croce, a stunning Franciscan church built in the 13th century. Spend the rest of the day exploring the city on your own. You may wish to visit Michelangelo’s famous statue of David at the Accademia Gallery or visit the Uffizi Gallery, one of the world’s most important museums. Your tour leader can also suggest activities and other places to see. Perhaps you may wish to visit Pisa and its famous Leaning Tower.
In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner and retire for the night.
Stop 2Venice, Veneto
Venice
Lagoon city and islands via Padua
The coach departs Florence after breakfast and crosses the Apennines into the Veneto plain. In Padua, you stop at the Cathedral of St. Anthony, where Donatello's bronze equestrian statue of the condottiere Erasmo da Narni stands guard outside. The drive continues to the edge of the lagoon, where the coach ends and Venice begins. Your guide meets you for a walking tour through the City of Bridges, navigating the calli and crossing the canals on foot.
The second morning brings a boat tour across open water to Murano, an island of five thousand residents and centuries of glassblowing tradition. We arrange a visit to a working furnace where craftsmen shape molten silica into vases, chandeliers and the intricate lamps that made Murano famous. The techniques are medieval, the heat is real, and the finished pieces are sold nowhere else. You return to Venice by private boat, with the rest of the day at your own pace.
Arranged for you: Coach transfer from Florence with stop in Padua, guided tour of the Cathedral of St. Anthony, two nights' accommodation in Venice, buffet breakfast daily, comprehensive walking tour of Venice's historic center, private boat tour to Murano with glassblowing demonstration.
Your hotel
Styles, not names. We name the property once we know your dates and your party.
Interests in Venice
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Skip-the-line Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs tour Day Trips · Half day
Guided visit through the gilded chambers, Tintoretto's Paradise, and the prison cells across the canal.
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Private gondola ride through quiet canals Day Trips · Half day
Thirty-minute float through residential sestieri and under arched bridges away from the Grand Canal crowds.
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Cicchetti tasting walk with a local guide Day Trips · Half day
Stand-up bites at three bacari, paired with Veneto wines and Prosecco, in the Cannaregio neighborhood.
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Burano and Torcello island tour by private boat Day Trips · Half day
Visit the lace-making island of Burano and the Byzantine mosaics of Torcello's basilica, with lagoon crossing.
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Ca’ Rezonico, the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica Shore Excursions · Tour in a DayImmerse yourself in the rich history and breathtaking beauty of Venice on this 5-hour tour, where you’ll explore iconic landmarks such as the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica, and Ca’ Rezzonico.
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Doge’s Palace and Gondola Ride Shore Excursions · Tour in a Day -
Murano and Burano Shore Excursions · Tour in a DayThis 4-hour tour gives you an up close and personal look at the stunning glass factories of Murano Island, as well as a tour of the brightly painted houses on Burano Island.
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San Giorgio, Murano Glass Factory and Gondola Ride Shore Excursions · Tour in a DayThis 5-hour tour allows you to explore a working Murano glass factory, takes you through stunning San Giorgio and lets you relax and unwind with a magical gondola ride through the canals of Venice.
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Tour Venice by Gondola Shore Excursions · Tour in a DayExperience Venice in the most iconic way, gliding through its enchanting canals aboard a traditional gondola.
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Venetian Costumes Tour Shore Excursions · Tour in a Day
Uncover Venice’s most elegant legacy, where master tailors, lavish fabrics, and palace-ready fashion shaped centuries of style.
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Venetian Lagoon Cruise Shore Excursions · Tour in a Day
See Venice the way it was meant to be seen, by water, gliding through the lagoon with postcard views at every turn.
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Venice and Jewish Ghetto Shore Excursions · Tour in a DayStep into Venice beyond the postcards. Discover the Jewish Ghetto’s living history, vibrant squares, and authentic neighborhood soul.
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Venice with Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Cathedral Shore Excursions · Tour in a DayFor travelers eager to experience Venice’s top sights, this 6-hour guided tour provides exclusive access to two of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
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Walking Tour of Venice Shore Excursions · Tour in a Day
Wander Venice’s legendary squares and secret lanes on a relaxed 4-hour walk filled with bridges, beauty, and unforgettable stories.
Day by day in Venice
Start with a buffet breakfast before leaving for Venice via coach. During the trip to Venice, you will make a brief stop in Padua, site of the beautiful Cathedral of St. Anthony. Outside, the cathedral is protected by Donatello’s “Gattamelata.” This stoic statue pays homage to Erasmo of Narni, a famous mercenary who fought for several Italian city states before the country was unified. After the stop in Padua, make your way to Venice and immediately embark on a comprehensive walking tour around the City of Bridges. Along the way, St. Mark’s Square beholds the Basilica of St. Mark, where the architectural blending of the East and West meet splendidly. The Doge’s Palace is a spectacular Gothic structure with a heavy Byzantine influence. The Bridge of Sighs was named so because it was the prisoner’s last view of Venice before being locked away. However, as is customary, the architecture is a sight to behold. After the days adventures, relax with a delicious dinner and before settling in for the night.
Begin the day with a buffet breakfast. In the morning, you will embark on a boat tour across the lagoon. You will get a chance to see the mesmerizing Venetian architecture as you depart and watch as the islands flow by. Your destination is the island of Murano, on which a small town of about 5,000 people lies. Some of the world’s best glassblowers work their trade here, producing pieces that are coveted the world over. Murano is particularly known for its intricate lanterns and lamps. You will get to see some of this fine glass being made and will have some time to shop before heading back to Venice. Spend your afternoon strolling the tiny alleys and canals of the city on your own before sitting down for an intimate dinner at the hotel. After dinner, relax in your comfortable accommodations for the night.
Day 5
Venice
Enjoy a final buffet breakfast before the tour concludes.
End of our services..
Why plan with Trips 2 Italy?
Designed around you by Italian-born planners
Guides, drivers and boats for your party alone
Hand-selected hotels in every destination
Local English-speaking guides who know their city
Met at the airport, private transfers throughout
Testimonials
Hear from travelers who have planned Italy with us
They took the time to understand our preferences and designed an itinerary that was comfortable, personalized, and enjoyable. They offered thoughtful recommendations while never being pushy.
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Questions travelers ask
Which places are included in this vacation package?
Over 5 days this journey brings you to Rome, Florence, Pisa, Siena, Assisi, Padua, and Venice. Each stop is woven into the itinerary with time for the landmarks, the views, and the local flavor that make it special.
Is transportation arranged for us?
Transportation is arranged as part of the itinerary, with comfortable train segments between the cities and vehicle transfers where they serve you best. Every connection is planned for you, so you can focus on the scenery instead of the logistics.
Who is this trip designed for?
It suits travelers who enjoy the ease of an escorted experience, with sightseeing arranged and a group to share it with.
Can the itinerary or hotels be adjusted?
Yes. Nothing here is fixed. Your travel consultant can add nights, change hotel categories, or swap experiences so the trip matches your wishes and your budget of time. A minimum of 2 travelers applies.
What time of year should we plan this vacation?
The package is available all year around on request. Spring and fall offer mild walking weather and lighter crowds at the major sights, summer brings long lively evenings, and winter rewards travelers with quieter museums and festive streets.