Discover Italy: A First-Time Visitor Travel Guide

Benvenuto a Italia (Welcome to Italy)—you’ve arrived! Venice: A first step back in time where you’ll be fully immersed into this “City of Canals” ancient maritime culture. Centrally anchored by the magnificent Piazza San Marco containing St. Mark’s Cathedral and the Doges Palace, it’s very easy to “navigate” Venice. From it's Grand Canal to it's outlying islands, by picking up your pre-reserved Venice Pass, you’ll have unlimited 72-hour access to it’s water transit system (ACTV Vaporetti) along with two museum visits.

Better yet, with a time-zone acclimation free-day, purposely “lose” yourself (you can’t get lost in Venice!) walking throughout the main island by following it's convenient destination-signed ancient alleyways (known as “calle”).

Checking into the well-located Venice AC Hotel, situated directly on Piazzale Roma (the only Venetian land bridge point connected to the mainland), you’re within walking minutes to the St. Lucia railway station and the main ACTV transportation hub where you’ll find busses to inland cities, a romantic Gondola ride down the Grand Canal, or a Vaporetto anywhere you’d want to travel throughout the Venetian lagoon, including the charming islands of Burano (historically known for its textile lace industry and shops) and Murano (world renowned for it’s glass blowing). Ciao Italia!

Just a two-minute walk from the Venice AC Hotel, start your Venice discovery day by taking the ACTV Vaporetto Linea #1 from Piazzale Roma to the Academia stop down the picturesque Grand Canal (have your camera ready!). Cross over the Academia bridge and walk to Piazza San Marco (30 minutes) by following the calle signs to “San Marco”. You’ll pass through several Piazzale (small squares) along the way with some amazing small canal photo opportunities.

Entering Piazza San Marco, take time to marvel at the historic significance of this immense central square that dates back several hundred years and is anchored by St. Mark’s Cathedral. Take time to enter and view the cathedral before starting your pre-reserved, self-guided tour of the Doges Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, and ancient prison.

After your morning touring, your reservation at the funky Venice Hard Rock Cafe will delight your tastebuds before starting off on your afternoon walking trek through the Merceria Orologio shopping district to Ponte Rialto following the calle signs marked “Rialto”. Take your time strolling through this vibrant shopping street lined with various souvenir shops, boutiques, and artisan stores.

After a short walk back to Piazzale Roma (or take the ACTV Linea 1 or 2 from the Rialto stop) for a late afternoon hotel rest, end your day with a pre-reserved dinner at Ristorante Hostaria Venexiana, a local Venetian restaurant just a charming walk down the calle from the Venice AC Hotel. If you’re brave, try the local pasta dish “al Nero di Seppia” with parmesan cheese and a local white wine—Buon Appetite!

Day three is highlighted by Venetian Iagoon island self-guided tours with visits to Burano and Murano. Start with a morning ACTV Vaporetto departure directly to Burano (from Piazzale Roma), where this island is known for its textile lace work, brightly colored homes, and quaint, picturesque canals. Take time to stroll the back canals before visiting the abundant lace shops that line Piazza Baldassare Galuppi, the main square on Burano.

Several great restaurant locations in the square will also satisfy your lunch appetite before your early afternoon departure to Murano. Taking the direct ACTV Vaporetto to Murano, this world-renowned glass island will “blow” your mind with a myriad of glass shops and “fornos” (ovens)!

After finding a glassblowing demonstration (choose from several places)—well worth the viewing—take time to shop for that ultimate glass take-home souvenir—many shops provide shipping services worldwide. End your day with a pre-reserved dinner at Ristorante Alle Madonna (near Ponte Rialto), known for its local resident menu that features several types of Venice lagoon “pesce” (fish)—cooked fresh to your table!

Day four, a last-visit day of unforgettable Venice charm—starting with a mid-morning ACTV Vaporetto to Isola San Giorgio. Inside the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, the bell tower (campanile) elevator (8 euro/pp) takes visitors to the top for an amazing view of Piazza San Marco (a “money” photo opp) and the surrounding Guideca Canal.

Returning to Piazza San Marco, take in a relaxing lunch (pre-reserved) at the Illy Caffe’ Giardini Reali near the ACTV San Marco Giardinetti B vaporetto stop. The caprese sandwich will not disappoint!

Next, walk through Piazza San Marco to the Bacino Orseolo gondola location, where this special gondola ride (pre-reserved) is the only one that takes visitors past Marco Polo’s home and under Ponte Rialto. After your gondola ride, take time to shop for final souvenirs before sitting down to an amazing pre-reserved dinner at Ristorante Al Profeta in the Venice Dorsoduro Sestiere (neighborhood)—a great way to end the Venice portion of your Italy journey!

Day five—ride the train for two hours on the Trenitalia Freccia Rossa service from the Venice-St. Lucia train station to “La Bella Cita’” (the beautiful city): Florence.

Seated in the pre-reserved Business Quiet section provides astounding views of the Italian countryside as you enter Tuscany—the home of the Italian Renaissance. Disembarking at the Santa Maria Novella train station, it’s a short 5 minute taxi to the beautifully stoic Sina Villa Medici Hotel located in a quiet neighborhood just walking blocks away from “il centro” (the city center) and its historical and cultural attractions.

After check-in, order a taxi for an afternoon visit to Piazza Michaelangelo, the stunning city overlooking the Arno River that gives visitors the most memorable photos of Florence. End the day at Ristorante Tijuana, located directly across the street from the hotel, where tacos and a cold cerveza will be a surprising “change-up” dining experience!

Tuscany awaits you on day six with a pre-reserved guided day tour. Start with a morning visit to a local Tuscan vineyard and winery, Casale Falchini, where sampling their heritage Vernaccia wine is a must! Follow that with a visit to the 13th century walled hill town of San Gimignano (known for its skyline of medieval towers), climb to the top of the Torre Grossa for magnificent views and photos of the Tuscan countryside, and top off this medieval town visit with a pre-reserved scrumptious lunch at Ristorante La Mandragola, where they pair food with Falchini wines.

As if that’s not enough to overwhelm your senses with Tuscan culture, enjoy the afternoon backcountry road sights (with a brief stop at the walled castle of Monteriggioni) before arriving at Siena and a walk through its famous Piazza del Campo, the home of the Palio horse race.

A visit to the Duomo (cathedral) di Siena is truly a sight to behold with it's stunning marble architecture before returning to Florence. End the day with an amazing pre-reserved Tuscan dinner experience at Ristorante Olio, located just a few steps from the Sina Villa Medici Hotel.

Day seven provides the best of what the Renaissance culture represents in Florence as a pre-reserved morning visit to the Uffizi Galleria shows visitors a stunning array of the true artistic wonders of this period, along with a late-morning guided tour of the recently opened Vasari Corridor that reveals the secret passageway of the ruling Medici family over Ponte Vecchio to visit the Pitti Palace.

After a lite pick-up lunch near the Boboli Gardens, stroll along the Arno River to the pre-reserved, full afternoon, Pastamania cooking class, a fun and interactive pasta-making experience that features authentic Italian recipes and techniques while sipping on Tuscan vino (wine) that would definitely be enough to replace any dinner plans!

When visitors think of Florence, the Statue of David typically comes to mind. Starting with a pre-reserved morning visit to the Galleria dell’ Academia to marvel at David is the highlight of day eight.

Afterwards, a short stroll brings visitors to the Florence Duomo complex to gaze at the architectural wonders of the Maria del Fiore cathedral, Giotto’s Tower, and the Baptistery of San Giovanni. An optional climb (highly recommended!) to the top of the cathedral dome provides stunning views of Florence and it's surrounding features.

Then, an afternoon of free strolling (and a pick-up lunch) down Via de’ Calzaiuoli provides some incredible shopping time along the way to the Piazza della Repubblica, the historical political center of Florence. Finish this epic day with a pre-reserved unforgettable Florentine dinner experience at Ristorante Osteria di Giovanni, most likely the dinner highlight of the entire Italian journey!

A visit to Tuscany would not be complete without experiencing the amazing Leaning Tower of Pisa. A full-day tour starts with pre-reserved, round-trip bus transportation from Florence, highlighted by a pre-reserved climb to the top of the Leaning Tower within the Piazza dei Miracoli complex. Amazing countryside photos await visitors from the top, including the Carrara marble quarries in the distance, and optional visits to the Duomo and Baptistery are highly recommended as well. Enjoy a final dinner in Florence at Harry’s Ristorante, conveniently located in the Sini Villa Medici Hotel.

Day 10—Take a train two hours on the Trenitalia Freccia Rossa service from the S.M. Novella railway station in Florence to “The Eternal City”: Rome.

Once again, seated in the pre-reserved Business Quiet section provides beautiful views of the Italian countryside as you leave Tuscany. Arriving at the Rome-Termini railway station, a pre-reserve transfer to the Cardo Roma Autograph Hotel allows an afternoon of rest, recoup, and relaxation before starting a Roman adventure of architecture, art, and historical sites.

A Rome visit starts with a day of walking through the “The Old Part of Rome” which includes the Trevi Fountain, the Patheon, Piazza Navona, Castel Sant’Angelo, and the Spanish steps.

After retrieving your pre-reserved Roma Pass from the Tourist Infopoint Minghetti (includes local transportation and two historical site visits), it’s a short walk to the Trevi Fountain where throwing a coin over your shoulder into the fountain (with your right hand!) assures visitors that they will return to this beloved city.

Only a few walking blocks away, opt to visit inside the Pantheon, a remarkably well-preserved ancient Roman temple. Another five-minute walk sits Piazza Navona, originally built as a Roman stadium and turned into a vibrant public marketplace with fountains, that serves as an excellent place to experience a memorable Roman outdoor cafe lunch.

A pre-reserved early afternoon entrance into Castel Sant’Angelo sends visitors back in time into this ancient mausoleum and provides views and photos of St. Peter’s Basilica from it’s ramparts. The self-guided day walking tour finishes with a visit to the nearby Spanish Steps, where conveniently located taxis return visitors to the Cardo Roma Autograph Hotel to prepare for a pre-reserved dinner at Ristorante Matterello Laurentine with handmade authentic Roman pasta dishes.

Day 12 starts with what is described by most as a “bucket list” item to visit the Roman Colosseum and Forum. Accessed via the Roma Pass with a pre-reserved time, the Colosseum is an iconic architectural monument that truly displays the glory and majesty of the Roman empire.

Optional tours (highly recommended) include the reconstructed Colosseum floor and underground areas that provide a unique and historically immersive viewing experience.

After lunch at a nearby outdoor cafe of choice, start a full afternoon self-guided walking tour inside the heart of ancient Rome: the Roman Forum. Essential sights include the Palatine Hill royalty residences and the temples of Saturn, Vesta, and Romulus. End the day with a pre-reserved memorable dinner experience at the Rome Hard Rock Cafe, and don’t forget to buy that classic T-shirt!

Spiritual Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museum pre-reserved visits anchor the last day of the Discover Italy travel itinerary. Known as a significant Catholic pilgrimage site, a morning visit to St. Peter’s Basilica is highlighted by a pre-reserved elevator ride to the basilica’s terrace and an optional climb to the top of the Dome where unique perspectives of the basilica and breathtaking panoramic views of Rome can be found.

After another open cafe lunch surrounding St. Peter’s Square, a pre-reserved full afternoon tour includes the Vatican Museum and the “must-see” Sistine Chapel known for Michaelangelo’s frescoes.

An early evening return to the Cardo Roma Autograph Hotel provides ample time to have dinner at Vertici (hotel restaurant) and prepare for the trip home tomorrow via a pre-reserved transfer to Rome’s Fiumicino airport—Ciao Italia!