ROME, FLORENCE, VENICE, MILAN
Gourmet & Wine, History & Culture, Nature & Wildlife
One of Europe’s most fascinating countries, Italy not only boasts the most UNESCO Heritage Sites in the world, but also charming cities, historic landscapes, scrumptious cuisines, multi-faceted art and trendsetting fashion.
With so much to offer, Italy is definitely a destination to return to but for first timers visiting this stunning nation, we have curated an itinerary taking in its monumental cities, starting with the ancient Roman capital, Rome, and its striking monuments. Next, we visit Florence, home to Renaissance art and the Medici family, surrounded by the rolling hills of Tuscany, before a jaunt to the sinking city of Venice, where an astounding maze of canals and alleys hide layers of history waiting to be discovered. Finish in the fashion capital of Milan, where you will uncover history and culture beneath its contemporary outlook.
Upon arrival, be met and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Vatican Museums & St Peter’s Basilica Early Morning Tour (3hrs)
Meet your driver at your hotel for the transfer to St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the holiest shrines of Christianity. Arriving early is the ideal time to speed through the security check and enter the Basilica!
Next, enjoy an interactive experience inside the Vatican Museums with your passionate tour guide, who will animate the history of the magnificent artwork and cater to your personal interests.
During your visit, you will have a chance to see one of the world’s finest collections of sculptures, frescoes, and paintings. Your guide will focus your attention on the most important masterpieces, making this experience easy and unforgettable. Take the opportunity to learn about Roman and Greek mythology by admiring ancient statues of Pagan gods like Diana Efesina in the Gallery of the Candelabra. As you continue through the Gallery of Tapestries you will enjoy the elegance and precision of Flemish artists. Explore all of Italy in a single room in the fascinating Gallery of the Maps.
As the Grand Finale, be stunned by Michelangelo’s fresco masterpieces inside the Sistine Chapel. As speaking is forbidden inside the Sistine Chapel and inside St.Peter’s Basilica during the Mass, you will learn beforehand how to see the sites in all their cryptic resplendence, unlocking Michelangelo’s private jokes and personal vendettas engulfed within The Last Judgement.
Old Rome Walking Tour (3hrs)
Enjoy a walking tour and admire the highlights in the historical center of Rome. An expert tour guide will be your story-teller during this extraordinary walk through the beautiful piazzas of the city. Marvel at the beauty of the Spanish Steps with the famous Fountain of the Ugly Boat by Bernini. Be stunned by the Pantheon, the ancient temple dedicated to all Gods.
Presently this incredibly well-preserved monument is a church that hosts several tombs of many remarkable characters from Italian history like Raphael and Baldassare Peruzzi. From Piazza della Rotonda you’ll walk directly to Navona Square, where you’ll see the famous Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini. Continue your tour as you walk through the picturesque, cobblestone streets and reach the charming Trevi Fountain. Toss a coin in the fountain to ensure your return to Rome.
Private Walking tour of Ancient Rome, with Colosseum Skip the Line Tickets (3hrs)
Admire the Colosseum, one of the most amazing attractions from the ancient world. Leave the crowd behind and enter the Ancient Rome with your skip-the-line tickets. Accompanied by an entertaining and knowledgeable tour guide, wander the amphitheatre following the path of the ancient Romans, learning the history of this place and hearing tales about the gladiators, the main characters of the games.
Walk the short distance to the entrance of the Roman Forum and discover the ruins of the political center of the Ancient Rome. Your tour guide will help you understand how this place looked like in its heyday. Among the most important sites you’ll see walking down the Via Sacra are the Temple of Julius Caesar and the House of the Vestal Virgins.
End your tour on the Capitoline Hill, the smallest and most important of the seven hills of Ancient Rome and enjoy a wonderful view of the city and of the Imperial Forum.
Transfer to the train station for your high speed train to Florence in First Class.
In Florence, a private transfer will be arranged to your hotel.
Florence Walking Tour (2hrs)
See the main attractions of Florence’s historic centre through a 2-hour private guided walking tour with an historical guide. You will visit the exterior of the city’s landmarks, including Piazza Santa Maria Novella, Piazza della Repubblica, Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi, Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria, Piazza del Duomo, Basilica di San Lorenzo. The tour will end at the characteristic Central Market – the city’s food court and showcases the Florentine food and wine culture, as well as the link between food and the city’s history, with traditions that are still alive. Enjoy a guided food tour to sample Tuscan specialties.
History and Art of Florence (2hrs)
You have the opportunity to take an in-depth look at the history and art masterpieces of Florence, with a choice of one of the following:
Today, spend the day out in Tuscany with your private driver. Your first stop will be in Siena, where you will have a local guide to take you to see the main attractions in the historic center, including the very famous and beautiful Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Vecchio and the Duomo. Enjoy lunch at a typical restaurant (own expense) in the city centre and some free time to browse the shops selling typical products.
Next, head out to Chianti where you will visit a stunning boutique winery nestled among the hills and vineyards. Tour the property which produces high quality, organic wine, wander among the vineyards and discover the wine cellars, finishing with a private wine tasting session.
After breakfast, transfer to the train station for your high speed train to Venice in First Class.
In Venice, a meet and greet will be arranged and you will be taken to the pier for your private water taxi to your hotel.
Venetian Insider Walking Tour (3hrs)
Meet your guide at the lobby of your hotel and together head towards both the highlights and the hidden spots of Venice. Start with the Rialto Market, where you’ll smell some fresh fish and see some exotic veggies. Continue on a gondola traghetto to cross the Grand Canal, sneak into one of the Palaces on the Grand Canal and learn how Venice is really built. Enjoy a stroll on the beaten track into the backyard of Venice where you’ll visit an ancient church and, just like Venetians do, enjoy a bite to eat with the famous Spritz, the famous Venetian drink.
Highlights of Venice (3hrs)
In this fascinating tour, learn about what Venice used to be. Meet your guide at the lobby of your hotel and head towards New York 500 years ago. The city that ruled over almost 2 continents. Learn who the Doge was and his role in the history of the world, and pay a visit to the Doge’s Palace, a house made to show off. Later, skip the lines for a visit at the Basilica of Venice and enter a Byzantine world. The best of the best of gold and of design, covered with stories and history your guide will share with you. At the end of your tour, your guide will drop you off at your restaurant.
Afternoon at leisure.
Burano & Murano Boat Tour, with a special wine tasting experience (5hrs)
The best way to explore Murano Glass and to learn about its history is to have a private visit to a glass factory in Murano Island. These factories existed for 700 years now and in order to become a Murano Glass Master you have to study and work for about 17 years. You will also visit some special Showrooms where Glass Masters sell their creations. After this visit, stroll through the brightly coloured houses in Burano seeing the meticulousness of the Burano Lace.
Full of precious memories, you will be ready for a special experience in the little island of Mazzorbo: visiting a local vineyard with a specialised sommelier! During the visit you will taste two special kinds of wine from venetian terroir, before return to Venice.
After breakfast, transfer to the train station on your private water taxi and take the high speed train to Milan. A private transfer will be arranged to your hotel for check-in.
Milan Walking Tour (3hrs)
Milan offers a unique blend of old-world charm in the midst of the modern era. With your expert guide, discover the masterpieces and secret sites of this wonderful city. Visit Piazza della Scala, named after the renowned opera house Teatro alla Scala, pass through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a shopper’s paradise and marvel at the Duomo, the iconic Gothic cathedral that took six centuries to build. Other sites may include Merchant Square, Sforza Castle, Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie, and San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore.
Navigli Aperitivo Tour (2hrs)
This twilight tour of the Navigli district in Milan takes you on an early evening stroll, discovering a charming area popular among locals where a buzzing nightlife lines the landmark canal. With your local insider, delve into the history of the aperitivo, finishing our time together sipping on a delicious cocktail and tasting local Italian snacks.
Bergamo Excursion (6hrs)
Make a day trip to Bergamo (approx. 50km, 1hr), a medieval city which is divided into the Lower Town known for its commercial centre and the Upper Town which is surrounded by impressive Venetian walls that are now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and contains architectural treasures from the medieval and renaissance eras. Take the funicular up and commence on your walking tour through narrow cobblestone streets and explore its landmarks like Via Gombito, Piazza Vecchia, Piazza Duomo with Chapel Colleoni, the church Santa Maria Maggiore and the Duomo. Climb up to the “Rocca” to enjoy a wonderful view to the Lower Town. Be sure to get some Stracciatella ice cream, as this is where it was founded.
Alternatively, we will be happy to arrange an excursion to Lake Como (best done from March to October).
Lake Como Excursion (9hrs)
Discover the “pearls” of the mid lake area and visit some of the most famous waterfront villas, all accompanied with the tasting of delicious local products.
Start with a visit to a fascinating original mill on the hills above Varenna where you will be offered a tasting of the world famous locally produced olive oil, typical Valsassina cheese, cold cuts and wine followed by a guided walking tour of Varenna with its Celtic origins and steep alleys.
Lunch will be served in a local restaurant where you will sample typical freshwater fish and pasta.
Next, board a private motorboat for a relaxing cruise to admire the spectacular mountains and the stunning villas, once the homes of aristocrats, now the playgrounds for the jet set. Disembark at Villa del Balbianello for a guided visit, better known for its stunning shooting location for a number of famous films such as “Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones” and “Casino Royale”. Finish at Bellagio, where you shall be guided through the wonderful Villa Melzi gardens, followed by a stroll along the lakeside.
A transfer will be arranged to Milan Malpensa Airport for your departure flight (approx. 50km, 50min).
Chapter Roma • Hotel L’orologio Florence • Sina Palazoo Sant Angelo • The Square Milano Duomo
Villa Spalletti Trivelli • Il Tornabuoni • Londra Palace • Rosa Grand Milano
Rocco Forte Hotel de la Ville • Four Seasons Firenze • The Gritti Palace or Belmond Cipriani Hotel (Note: Belmond Cipriani opens from Mar – Oct only) • Park Hyatt Milan
Kindly call us at (65) 6219 1359 if you require any immediate assistance.
Call us at +65 6219 1359 or email us at enquiry@intriqjourney.com to start planning for a holiday that is completely tailored to your preferences.
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