OVERVIEW
Italy is one of the most enchanting and appealing places in the world. Enjoy a cultural journey in Rome, Florence & Venice.
Italian lifestyle is so rich in culture and charm, and nowhere in the world are mythology, tradition, art, literature, architecture, philosophy and music so close related. Far from the hustle of everyday life, a journey to Italy is the perfect way to relax while enjoying our history, culture, heritage and food. We design your tour in authentic places where you can slow down to recharge your spirit or breathe the bustling life in the heart of an Italian city. ICNOS Adventures offers centrally located hotels reflecting the character of the cities, well suited to independent travelers, in order to spend mornings for city walks and evenings sipping a glass of wine or savoring a delicious “gelato” or “cappuccino” in the typical Italian bars.
- ACTIVITY: Self-guided cultural tour
- NAME: Rome, Florence & Venice
- TRIP CODE: ICRFV
- DURATION: 8 days/7 nights
- GRADE: Easy
- 2025 PRICES: According to the period required
GALLERY
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- Colosseo
ITINERARY
Private transfer from Rome Airport to the Hotel in Rome. Depending on your arrival time you could enjoy a first sightseeing tour of the Eternal City or a relaxing time at the hotel before enjoying your dinner in Rome. Overnight: B&B or Hotel***/**** in Rome depending on request
Your first day in the Eternal City could begin with a sightseeing tour along the most important monuments of the ancient Roman Empire. You can visit the Colosseum, one of the greatest works of Roman architecture: an impressive amphitheatre used for gladiators games, mock sea battles, executions, animal hunts and public spectacles. From here you take a walking tour towards the ancient Roman Forum. On the Sacred Road (the Via Sacra), You admire the Arch of Titus: a 1st century honorific arch constructed to commemorate Titus’ victory culminated in the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. In the afternoon you visit the ancient Roman Temple dedicated to all the Gods: the Pantheon. From here, you start a lovely walking tour in the historical centre of Rome, enjoying the view of the Piazza Navona with its luxurious cafes and baroque palaces. Overnight: B&B or Hotel***/**** in Rome depending on request
Today you could opt to visit the the Vatican City, an independent ecclesiastical state ruled by the Pope, the bishop of Rome and UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can visit the impressive Vatican Museums, with hundreds of galleries filled with art treasures, from the Egyptian Museum to Greek and Etruscan Art, included the Vatican Art gallery (Pinacoteca) that contains some masterpieces of the greatest artists of the history of Italian painting, from Giotto to Raphael, from Leonardo to Caravaggio. You can also visit the Gallery of Tapestries, a collection of various 15th and 17th century tapestries before being enchanted by the Sistine Chapel, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes of the last judgment. Then you could visit the St. Peter’s Basilica built on the site where St. Peter is buried. It has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, holding 60,000 people with a impressive dome designed by Michelangelo. Inside you admire Bernini’s remarkable bronze canopy and the Michelangelo’s world famous Pietà. It is carved out of a single block of Carrara marble. Pietà means “pity” and it represents the scene of Mary holding the dead Christ in her arms and it is filled with pain and maternal tenderness.
You cannot miss a walking tour in the city center enjoying the amazing Trevi Fountain, an impressive example of baroque Roman architecture, the famous Spanish Steps and Via Condotti the center of fashion shopping in Rome.
Then depending on your interests you could opt for a visit of the Borghese Gallery and Museum or continue your journey in the Eternal city with a walking tour in the city center enjoying the “dolce vita” before you say arrivederci to Italy.Overnight: B&B or Hotel***/**** in Rome depending on request
After breakfast a private transfer brings you to Rome Termini Railway Station and from here you easily take your train to Florence. Arrived in Florence you will be transferred by private transfer to your hotel centrally located in the city in order to give you the possibility to better enjoy a lovely walk in Florence.
Depending on your arrival time you could enjoy a first sightseeing tour of the City or a relaxing time at the hotel before enjoying your dinner in Florence. Overnight: B&B or Hotel***/**** in Florence depending on request
As cultural capital of the Renaissance and ancient capital of Tuscany the town has preserved its antique beauty. Perfectly conserved architecture and artistic inheritance continuously astonish the visitor. The Duomo, a grand Cathedral that dominates the city centre with it the Brunelleschi’s Cupola is the most characteristic feature of the Florentine skyline, symbolizing a great cultural tradition and the city’s civic awareness. Not far from the Palazzo Vecchio, the elegant town hall built in the 13th century for the city’s republican government, stands the richest art gallery in the world: the Uffizi, with fabulous paintings by Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael, Titian and Caravaggio. The Ponte Vecchio, a medieval bridge on the river Arno is renowned for jewelers shops, and, with the Coliseum, is probably the most typical background used for thousand of shots about trips in Italy.Overnight: B&B or Hotel***/**** in Florence depending on request
Your journey continues towards the most fascinating highlight of your Italian journey. A private transfer brings you to Florence railway station to take your direct train to Venice (the journey takes about 2hrs). Arrived in Venice a porter brings your luggage to the accommodation and you start exploring this fascinating city. Known as the city of canals, Venice is undoubtedly one of the most romantic cities in the world! Explore the amazing mazes of backstreets, buildings and galleries: the perfect place to walk for hours through mysterious alleyways or ride round on a typical gondola.Overnights: B&B or Hotel***/**** in Venice depending on request
Venice is a truly unique city, built on one hundred and seventeen small islands connected by picturesque bridges. Whether you are a lover of history, art and architecture or just one that feel affection for the Italian way of life, a sojourn in Venice is a must. The must-see sights for our escape in Venice embrace the St. Mark’s Square, the Grand Canal, the Bridge of Sighs and the twelfth century Palazzo Ducale. You could also enjoy a great introduction to the magical islands of the Venice lagoon. Taking a local ferry, you can opt to explore Murano & Burano.
Wondering around the tiny isle of Murano it is possible to admire the workshops of the Murano glass artisans. You can visit a local workshop where you can see the skilled glass-blowers create delicate and exclusive masterpieces. Then you reach by ferry the island of Burano to admire the scenic fishermen’s houses painted in bright pastel colors, with the option to stop to the last island : Torcello, to visit the cathedral founded in the 7th century and the excavated remains of the circular baptistery in the church of Santa Fosca.Overnights: B&B or Hotel***/**** in Venice depending on request
Your trip ends after breakfast . Your luggage will be transferred by our porter to Venice Railway Station. From here you can easily reach by train your next destination in Italy. INCLUSIONS
• 3 nights in Rome
• 2 nights in Florence
• 2 nights in Venice
• Meals: 7 breakfasts
• Private transfer from Rome Airport to the Hotel on day 1
• Private transfer from the Hotel to Rome Railway Station on day 4
• Private transfer from Florence railway station to the Hotel on day 4
• Private transfer from the hotel to Florence railway station on day 6
• Luggage transfer from Venice railway station to the Hotel on day 6
• Luggage transfer from the Hotel to Venice railway station on day 8
• Train ticket from Rome to Florence
• Train ticket from Florence to Venice
• Detailed information about the city walks
ITEMS NOT INCLUDED:
• Visas, Airfare & airport taxes
• Travel Insurance (compulsory)
• Drinks
• Tourist taxes to be paid locally
• Other meals not mentioned in the itinerary
• Public transportation (train/bus/ferry tickets) not mentioned in “inclusions”
• Anything not mentioned in “inclusions”
• 2 nights in Florence
• 2 nights in Venice
• Meals: 7 breakfasts
• Private transfer from Rome Airport to the Hotel on day 1
• Private transfer from the Hotel to Rome Railway Station on day 4
• Private transfer from Florence railway station to the Hotel on day 4
• Private transfer from the hotel to Florence railway station on day 6
• Luggage transfer from Venice railway station to the Hotel on day 6
• Luggage transfer from the Hotel to Venice railway station on day 8
• Train ticket from Rome to Florence
• Train ticket from Florence to Venice
• Detailed information about the city walks
ITEMS NOT INCLUDED:
• Visas, Airfare & airport taxes
• Travel Insurance (compulsory)
• Drinks
• Tourist taxes to be paid locally
• Other meals not mentioned in the itinerary
• Public transportation (train/bus/ferry tickets) not mentioned in “inclusions”
• Anything not mentioned in “inclusions”
TESTIMONIALS
“Icnos Adventures’ “Highlights & backroads of the Amalfi Coast” self-guided walking tour was a fabulous experience from beginning to end. Highlights included detailed and easy-to-follow walking instructions, which enabled us to stay off the beaten track without ever getting lost; first rate hotel accommodations (most notably our Tramonti B & B, where our hosts went out of their way to make us feel welcome and well looked-after); and renowned visitor sites such as Pompeii, the Island of Capri, and the magnificent Villa Cimbrone in Ravello. Marcello and our local hosts provided excellent dining recommendations, including an unforgettable pasticceria in Minori (try anything with lemon!), excellent seafood, pasta and local cheeses. Walks encompassed magnificent Amalfi coastal scenery, picturesque villages, Roman ruins, historic churches, fragrant lemon groves and quiet forested trails. Distances walked each day were very manageable, and there was ample opportunity for shopping and sightseeing along the way. We cannot recommend this vacation too highly! A.D. & M.J.”
“Highlights & backroads of the Amalfi Coast” ” – self-guided walking & gourmet tour – May 2011
A.D. & M.J., Ottawa, Canada
“Dear Friends,
You made me a star for selecting the Icnos self-guided tour of Cinque Terre. My companions and I had a great time making our way from village to village. The weather in mid-May was perfect for hiking and we were blessed with many sunny days.[…] The information packets were really impressive — perhaps a bit overwhelming at first.
Finally, I think we owe you some money for the train tickets from Pisa to Levanto that you purchased for us when the Trenitalia web site wouldn’t cooperate. Please let me know how much they were.
Best regards, Christine”
“Walking the Cinque Terre & Portofino Peninsula” self-guided walking tour – May 2014
Christine Hopf-Lovette Wiscasset – Maine US