Italy for Beginners

Check into your hotel and spoil yourself with a private tour of Murano and Burano islands. Not only will you have a chance to admire the art of glassblowing and lacemaking, but you will also take in Venice's beauty from the sea. Enjoy dinner with a view on the terrace of Ombra del Leone, and then get some well-deserved rest.

Take a walking tour of Venice, hit the main highlights—St. Mark's Square, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Bridge, Cannaregio, etc. While exploring, you can stop to snack like a local and enjoy some cicchetti (Venetian tapas). Here are some suggestions for bacari (the bars where cicchetti are served) in different parts of the city: My favorites are Vino Vero, Bacareto da Lele, Ozio, Al Mercà, Adriatico Mar. For added fun, you can build your itinerary around the bacari’s location.

Time to go to Florence! I’d recommend a private transfer with a stop in Modena to learn and appreciate how Parmigiano Reggiano and balsamic vinegar are made. You could also add a stop at the Ferrari Museum if cars are your passion.

Florence is a wonderful, very walkable city. So much to explore, from Ponte Vecchio to Piazza della Signoria, without forgetting to make time to admire the masterpieces at the Accademia Gallery and the Duomo, just to name a few monuments. To honor the Italian aperitivo tradition, take a Vespa and sidecar tour. Your guide will drive you around the city showcasing hidden corners while zipping around on stylish Vespas sidecars. The tour will end with an aperitivo with magnificent views of Florence.

Visit Officina Santa Maria Novella, where perfumes have been crafted since 1221. Then stop at the Antico Setificio Fiorentino, a silk mill that has been producing precious fabrics for centuries. Here you can join a guided tour, take a class to try using the loom, or simply do some shopping.

Private transfer to Rome with a stop in Siena and San Gimignano, two of Tuscany’s most charming towns. Enjoy lunch at a local vineyard, where you can taste regional cuisine paired with excellent Tuscan wines before continuing on to Rome.

Take a private guided tour of Imperial Rome—the Colosseum and Roman Forum—in the morning to avoid the crowds. Then, tour some of the major squares: Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Trevi, Campo dei Fiori, Piazza della Rotonda, and Santa Maria in Trastevere.

Free day for shopping and gathering some souvenirs! Via Condotti, Via Borgognona, Via del Babuino are perfect destinations for high-end fashion, while Via del Corso has a little bit of everything at a more moderate price point. If you are a fan of thrift stores, you will enjoy the shops around Campo dei Fiori.

Explore the Vatican Museums with a private guide, and lose yourself in the Sistine Chapel's beauty before entering Saint Peter's Basilica. For your last night in Rome, I suggest dinner at Hosteria Grappolo d’Oro for an authentic dive into Roman cuisine and drinks in Trastevere.