Signature Italy

Rome (3nts) – Florence (3nts) – Venice (3nts)

Day 1 - London/Rome

Arrive into Rome for the start of a memorable journey exploring Italy's magnificent cultural heritage, liberally seasoned with spectacle and romance. Choose to stay at one of our two properties in the Borghese Gardens for three nights.

Day 2 - Rome

Make time to visit the Colosseum and the Forum to appreciate how Rome used to look. Wander through the shopping streets leading to the Spanish Steps and enjoy discovering hidden squares full of fountains and with statues on every corner. One piazza not to overlook is Piazza Navona. With Bernini sculptures, fountains, a fantastic church coupled with cafes and restaurants, this is Baroque Italy at its best.

Day 3 – Rome

A visit to the Vatican City including the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica are not to be missed. Marvel at the gold in the Basilica and the fabulous paintwork in the Chapel. Ensure you indulge in one of the best Italian pastimes, a stroll before dinner and an ice-cream. We recommend a leisurely stroll through Gianicolo Park to admire the views of Rome from on high.

Day 4 - Rome/Florence

Travel to Florence by first class train and as you head north into Tuscany, marvel at the Italian countryside and Florence’s domes and campaniles as they come into view. Enjoy a three night stay to truly appreciate Florence’s beauty. Choose one of our three centrally located properties for ease of exploring on foot or the Villa San Michele on the wooden slopes of Fiesole for spectacular views.

Day 5 - Florence

Florence is easily explored on foot. View the remarkable Palazzo Vecchio before walking through the grand Piazza della Signoria. Don’t be fooled by the copy of Michelangelo’s David in the square, a trip to the Galleria dell’Accademia is where the original is housed. A visit to the Duomo to admire Brunelleschi’s dome is a must. Climb into the gallery of the dome and marvel at the stained glass by masters such as Donatello and Ghiberti. If your legs will carry you, continue up Giotto’s campanile tower to the terrace to appreciate a rooftop view of Florence.

Day 6 – Florence

Experience a hidden world in the centre of the city. With an English-speaking guide, explore the beauty of the Uffizi Gallery where you can see Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Caravaggio’s Bacchus, before following in the footsteps of the Medici's by gaining exclusive access to the Vasari Corridor right through to the Pitti Palace on the south side of the river. Enter the Boboli Gardens by the Pitti Palace and walk through Florence’s only central public gardens. The formality of these Tuscan gardens is hard to beat with a plethora of statues dotted throughout.

Day 7 - Florence/Venice

Today we recommend a first class rail journey to Venice, your third and final Italian city. Nothing you have seen or read will prepare you for the wonder that is Venice. Here you will experience the inspirational canals and pastel palazzos of Venice, and stay for three nights. Take your pick from a palace hotel on the Grand Canal to your own private island setting. We have the perfect property for you.

Day 8 - Venice

Ensure you visit the Doge's Palace dominating the Piazza San Marco and the Basilica di San Marco where there is a wealth of mosaics to be seen. If you visit one museum in Venice make it the Gallerie dell’Accademia housing masterpieces from such greats as Bellini, Tintoretto and Titian. Don’t miss the opportunity to take a romantic gondola ride, serenaded by musicians.

Day 9 – Venice

Spend a day exploring the islands across the lagoon. Moved out to the island of Murano in the 13th Century for fear of fire, the city’s glass works and worker’s cottages are just waiting to be explored. Watch how glass is made and take a piece of Venice back home if you so wish. Burano, a quiet fishing village with brightly coloured houses along the canals, is known for its lace which was once the backbone of Venice’s economy. Be warned that authentic Burano lace can cost thousands of Euros so buy wisely.

Day 10 - London

Transfer to Venice airport for your flight home.