8-Day Rome, Florence and Cinque Terre Villages

DAY 1 – ARRIVAL

This tour begins in Rome and ends in Florence.

Arrive independently in Rome, or add an optional arrival transfer. Italy’s incredible capital city, and spend the night in a wonderful hotel in the historic city center of Rome.

We can assist you with getting a good airfare quote. The easiest route is to fly into Rome and home from Florence. You can also fly back home from Rome, but it will require some additional logistics to get you back to Rome before your flight. Ask your booking agent for ideas if you want to fly in/out of Rome.

DAY 2 – THE VATICAN AND Ancient Rome

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be met by a private guide and go on a walking tour of Rome’s Baroque Town, including visits to the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, the Italian Parliament, the Pantheon and the Piazza’s Navona and Spagna.

You will have a break for lunch on your own, then you will go to the meeting point and your private guide for a tour of the Vatican. The Vatican City is an independent city-state in the centre of Rome that is home to the famous Vatican Museum and stunning Sistine Chapel.

Your guide will give you unique insight into the collections and masterpieces of the Vatican Museum such as the Raphael Rooms, the Pinecone Courtyard and Michelangelo’s Dome, and lead you through the ornate Sistine Chapel that is home to Michelangelo’s finest frescos.

Your tour will end with the famous St Peter’s Basilica, which is considered by many to be one of the most magnificent churches in the world. After this, you will have the afternoon and evening to yourself to continue exploring Rome, perhaps visiting sites such as the Colosseum and the Parthenon, and have another night in your hotel.

DAY 3 – ROME, FLORENCE, SIENA

Today you will depart Rome and transfer to Florence after breakfast, travelling with a private driver-guide. This is a beautiful journey out of the busy city and into the Tuscan countryside, dotted with cypresses, olive trees, vineyards and more.

Your first stop en-route will be Siena, which rivals Florence in its collection of Renaissance architecture and artistic heritage. The Piazza del Campo in the historic city centre was commissioned in the 13th century and is the setting of the famous Palio horse race, where the seventeen boroughs of the city compete with one another every summer.

Siena’s cathedral is one of the most impressive in the whole country, with a classic medieval design and ornate interior decoration. But there are great works of art and design everywhere you look around the city, in churches, palaces and museums. It’s a wonderful city, and you will have the morning to explore its honey-coloured stone streets, each quarter of the historic centre, and the various little shops, bakeries and restaurants.

After visiting Siena, we will stop for lunch at a classic Tuscan countryside villa, experiencing a tour of the wine cellar followed by a guided tasting session. You will also be served lunch, featuring some of the region’s finest ingredients.

You will arrive in Florence in the late afternoon, and you will check into your hotel and choose where to eat dinner if you’re not still full of lunch!

DAY 4 – FLORENCE

After breakfast in your hotel in Florence, you will join a small group tour to explore the city of Florence and learn about the 2000 years of history that make it such a famous location.

Medieval architecture is abundant across the city, with elaborate towers attached to many buildings and several stunning Renaissance palaces. Your tour will take you past some of the most iconic spots in Florence, including Brunelleschi’s Dome, the Gates of Paradise, the Baptistery, the Bell Tower and the Ponte Vecchio.

Florence is known for its art and culture, and is home to works by masters of painting and sculpture such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Lippi, Botticelli and Brunelleschi. The city is filled with frescos, statues and paintings which you will pass during the tour, and which can be found in the three churches you will visit in the morning; the Duomo, Santa Trinità and Orsanmichele.

After choosing somewhere to have lunch, you will have the opportunity to continue exploring Florence on your own, perhaps returning to some of the sights you passed on your tour or visiting an art gallery. You will have the evening to yourself to enjoy a meal in one of the city’s fine restaurants, and spend another night in your hotel.

DAY 5 – Day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence

Today you will take a trip from Florence to the northern coast of Italy, discovering incredible views and mouth-watering local cuisine in the fishing region of Cinque Terre. You will drive through the Tuscan Hills and along the Italian Riviera Coast until you can spot the southern part of the Alps.

Cinque Terre is known for being a hiking and backpacking destination, and on arrival, we will visit the area’s National Park and experience some of its iconic trails across the cliffs and forests. The highlight of today’s itinerary is lunch, which will consist of wonderfully fresh seafood dishes cooked in the classic Ligurian style, accompanied by crisp white wine and views of the coast.

You will relax after lunch before travelling back to Florence, and spend another night in the city.

DAY 6 – PISA AND LUCCA

After breakfast in Florence, your private driver-guide will meet you in the morning for a transfer to explore the towns of Pisa and Lucca.

You will stop in Pisa, which is best known of course for its leaning tower. But there is more to discover in this city that once held a large amount of maritime power, such as the stunning Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) which is home to both a cathedral and a baptistery.

After visiting Pisa, your next stop will be in the city Lucca for an independent visit. Situated beside the Apuan Alps, Lucca is one of the best historic places to visit in Tuscany because of its range of Roman architectural remains and medieval buildings. Stone walls ring the city’s old town, which is surrounded by carefully maintained countryside and which makes for a lovely location for a pleasant afternoon stroll and rest in the shade.

You will return to Florence in the late afternoon.

Overnight Florence.

DAY 7 – Florence Free Day

On your final full day in Italy, enjoy a slice of the laid-back life in Florence.

Sleep in, relax and enjoy Florence at your own pace.

Overnight Florence.

DAY 8 – DEPARTURE

You will depart Florence with a private transfer to the airport. You may also extend this tour to other parts of Italy or return to Rome if your flight is from there. Discuss your last day options with your booking agent.