A Perfect 10-Day Itinerary for Exploring Rome, Florence, and Milan

Dining in Piazza Navona

Arguably the most beautiful of all the piazzas in Rome, Piazza Navona is particularly stunning at night. As one of the largest and most romantic piazza squares in Rome, it is a great spot to spend the evening, with a whole host of restaurants, bars and entertainment on offer. See its three impressive fountains illuminated by night, sip on an Aperol Spritz, take an evening stroll or simply sit on a bench with an ice cream. When night falls, this is the place to be.

Dining in Piazza Navona

Arguably the most beautiful of all the piazzas in Rome, Piazza Navona is particularly stunning at night. As one of the largest and most romantic piazza squares in Rome, it is a great spot to spend the evening, with a whole host of restaurants, bars and entertainment on offer. See its three impressive fountains illuminated by night, sip on an Aperol Spritz, take an evening stroll or simply sit on a bench with an ice cream. When night falls, this is the place to be.

Dining in Piazza Navona

Arguably the most beautiful of all the piazzas in Rome, Piazza Navona is particularly stunning at night. As one of the largest and most romantic piazza squares in Rome, it is a great spot to spend the evening, with a whole host of restaurants, bars and entertainment on offer. See its three impressive fountains illuminated by night, sip on an Aperol Spritz, take an evening stroll or simply sit on a bench with an ice cream. When night falls, this is the place to be.

Dining in Piazza Navona

Arguably the most beautiful of all the piazzas in Rome, Piazza Navona is particularly stunning at night. As one of the largest and most romantic piazza squares in Rome, it is a great spot to spend the evening, with a whole host of restaurants, bars and entertainment on offer. See its three impressive fountains illuminated by night, sip on an Aperol Spritz, take an evening stroll or simply sit on a bench with an ice cream. When night falls, this is the place to be.

Ancient Rome Guided Walk

On this 3-hour private guided tour, you will explore the imposing remains of ancient Rome. Your guide will explain the extraordinary history of the birth of Rome, life in the city and everything about the fall of the Empire. Visit the Colosseum, the monumental ruins of the Roman Forum, and end the tour on the Capitoline Hill, the smallest and most important of the seven hills of Ancient Rome.

Ancient Roman Ampitheater

Monumental Roman amphitheater once used for gladiatorial games

Ancient Rome Guided Walk

On this 3-hour private guided tour, you will explore the imposing remains of ancient Rome. Your guide will explain the extraordinary history of the birth of Rome, life in the city and everything about the fall of the Empire. Visit the Colosseum, the monumental ruins of the Roman Forum, and end the tour on the Capitoline Hill, the smallest and most important of the seven hills of Ancient Rome.

Ancient Roman Ampitheater

Monumental Roman amphitheater once used for gladiatorial games

Book early if you want to see the Vatican Museum's monumental works of art from the greatest Italian artists of the Renaissance.

The Vatican Museum is actually 26 different museums, which include not only exhibitions but chapels, apartments, and other rooms of the Vatican palace, covering a huge range of fine and applied arts patronized by the popes. There's also an outstanding collection of ancient antiquities (including even the Emperor Nero's red stone bathtub), a gallery of hand-painted maps, and whole rooms turned into works of art. In addition to ancient and medieval works of art, you'll see masterpieces by the "who's who" of the Italian Renaissance, including Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, and Caravaggio. Other highlights include panels by the brilliant monk-artist Fra Angelico, works from the Venetian school, including Vavarini, and much, much more.  Booking in advance is highly recommended as otherwise you can wait for hours or not even be able to get in at all.

Explore the gigantic and incredibly beautiful church known as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom".

The basilica is one of the chief pilgrimage sites in the Christian world, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Rome. The basilica is the symbolic center of the church not only because the Pope frequently celebrates Mass there, but because it is believed that the apostle St. Peter is buried beneath it. Catholics consider Peter as the first Bishop of Rome and "the rock" upon which the Catholic Church was built, in accordance with Christ's instructions. Inside you can admire sculptures by Bernini as well as Michelangelo's famous sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding the crucified Jesus, known as The Pietà. The church's elaborate and impressive golden interior is a sight to behold. Other sights include St Peter's tomb, the Papal crypts in the necropolis under the basilica, as well as the dome, which rewards visitors with views over Rome.  Entry is free, but queues to visit the Basilica can be lengthy, so it is highly advised to either get there early or to purchase a skip the line entrance. The dome is also paid entry.

Escape the crowds in this oasis of green hidden behind the walls of the Vatican.

Accessible only via a guided tour, the gardens are definitely worth a visit. Just as the Popes have for hundreds of years, you can stroll the gardens and relax amidst the greenery, while taking in the perfect view of St. Peter's.

Vatican City

Rome is unique in the world in that it contains an independent country within its city limits - the Vatican City, from where the Pope administers the Catholic Church. The symbolic center of Catholicism is St Peter's Basilica, the second-largest Catholic church in the world and among the most beautiful. The Vatican Museum contains one of the greatest collections of art in existence, including Michelangelo's jaw-dropping Sistine Chapel. The popes had a bigger influence on Rome than just the collection of art. The Pope's title is actually Bishop of Rome, and popes administed the city for centuries, shaping its architecture & public spaces. Rome was re-built to be an example of urban beauty, and the Vatican was meant to be the showcase within the showcase. Their success is evident from the throngs of visitors who flock here even today.

Stand in the middle of this famous square in which the faithful gather to hear the Pope give audiences and celebrate mass.

As one of the most superb conceptions of its kind in civic architecture, St Peter’s Square is the masterpiece of Gian Lorenzo Bernini and makes a wonderful approach to one of the world’s most magnificent churches, St Peter's Basilica. An oval rather than an actual square, the piazza, laid out in 1656-67, is partially enclosed by two semi-circular colonnades on which stand 96 statues of saints and martyrs. At the center of the oval stands an 84-foot (26m) tall Egyptian obelisk of red granite.

Gaze up at the world's most famous ceiling, the masterpiece of Michelangelo.

This famous chapel inside the Vatican Museums is best known for Michelangelo's 16th-century painted ceiling of "The Creation of Adam" and "The Last Judgement" fresco that covers the whole altar wall of the chapel. The jaw-dropping sight is not to be missed, considered one of the top highlights of visiting the Vatican Museums and one of the top artistic wonders of the world.

See a Michelangelo-designed church built within the former Baths of Diocletian.

In 1561, almost 1000 years after the baths of Diocletian fell into disuse, Pope Pius IV decided to build a basilica consecrated to Our Lady of the Angels within the baths. He commisioned the 86-year-old Michelangelo to plan the church, making use of some of the existing structures of the baths. Today a visit to the basilica gives you an idea of the enormous size of the baths. The church was constructed at the site of the former frigidarium (a large cold pool which would be used to close the pores after using the hot baths) and incorporates several elements of the former thermae. The vestibule occupies the former tepidarium (a Roman-style relaxation room) and the imposing entrance is an exedra of the caldarium (a room with a hot plunge bath). Other highlights include the meridian solar line running across the floor, which still accurately calculates the length of the year and the summer and winter solstices. There is also an impressive organ with 5,400 tubes. It is capable of leaving those visitors lucky enough to hear it spellbound.

Visit one of Rome's greatest but most unheralded museums of antiquity.

This light-filled museum holds one of the best classical art collections in the world. The ground and first-floor feature famous Greek and Roman sculptures, mosaics and statues, as well as impressive sarcophagi and high reliefs. The second floor showcases the best preserved Roman frescoes in the world, which are considered the highlight of the museum. Originally located in Villa of Livia (the wife of Augustus) and Villa Farnesina, these colourful frescoes, sometimes covering an entire room, offer a unique view into life in ancient Rome and the critical importance of gardens, nature, and the villa atmosphere to upper echelon Romans. A must visit room is the painted garden room of Villa Livia. There is also a cinema room with a video showing a 3D reconstruction of the Villa Farnesina as it would have been, showing the layout of the rooms in the villa and the frescoes you had seen just moments before.

Esquilino District

Upon first glance, this urban neighborhood of Rome may seem busy and overwhelming, but hidden among its traffic-noisy streets are some of Rome's most beautiful churches, artistic treasures, and cultural museums, including the Baths of Diocletian.

Walk the ruins of what was once the largest themal baths in the ancient Roman world.

Covering an area of more than 13 hectares (some 32 acres), the bath complex was commissioned by Emperor Diocletian in 298 AD, with a capacity to host over 3,000 people (twice as many as the Baths of Caracalla). The baths were made of bricks, coated in marble and decorated with mosaics and sculptures. The complex included a gymnasium, a library, a large outdoor swimming pool and cold, hot, and tepid public baths. They remained open until 537 when the Goths cut off the aqueducts in an attempt to conquer Rome. After they fell into disrepair and were left abandoned. Even though only a small part of the public bath complex can be seen and visited, it is extremely impressive, with the possibility to see at some points the high ceilings the baths possessed. The interior includes part of the National Museum of Rome and a permanent exhibition on pre-historic populations of the area. In the outdoor part of the baths, it is possible to stroll through a sixteenth-century garden with nearly 400 works of art, including statues, sarcophagi and reliefs.

Private Guided Walk in Florence

Enjoy a 3-hour private walking tour of Florence, the perfect introduction to the masterpieces of this city. Stroll around the historic center and take in sights such as the Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Della Signora and end your tour at the famous Galleria dell'Accademia where you can enter to see Michelangelo's marble masterpiece, the statue of David.

Art museum and home to Michelangelo's famous David

The Gallery's prized exhibits are naturally its works by Michelangelo, including in addition to David his unfinished Slaves (or Prisoners).

Private Guided Walk in Florence

Enjoy a 3-hour private walking tour of Florence, the perfect introduction to the masterpieces of this city. Stroll around the historic center and take in sights such as the Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Della Signora and end your tour at the famous Galleria dell'Accademia where you can enter to see Michelangelo's marble masterpiece, the statue of David.

Art museum and home to Michelangelo's famous David

The Gallery's prized exhibits are naturally its works by Michelangelo, including in addition to David his unfinished Slaves (or Prisoners).

Venture into the richly-adorned chambers of the palace from which Florence and Tuscany were governed for centuries.

The fortress-like Palazzo Vecchio was originally constructed around 1299 to house the government administration, but underwent many reconstructions and was utlized for many purposes over the following centuries. Visiting the palazzo is usually a lot simpler than lining up with the crowds next door trying to get into the Uffizi Gallery. You simply need to go through the courtyard at the front entrance to the ticket office where the queues should be relatively short. Highlights of the palace include the magnificent inner courtyard, the chancery once used by Machiavelli, and the lovely Sala delle Carte decorated with 57 maps painted in 1563 depicting what was then the entire known world.

Escape the crowds to visit this gallery filled with the greatest works of Renaissance sculpture.

The Palazzo del Bargello dates back to 1255 and was the former residence of the chief of police (Bargello means police station). But in 1865 it was transformed into a museum containing the richest collection of Renaissance sculpture in Italy, although it is thankfully free of the huge crowds that are attracted to the Uffizi. You'll encounter masterpieces by Michelango, Donatello, Cellini, and many others.

Piazza Della Signoria

Piazza Della Signoria represents the very soul of Renaissance Florence and Italy. It was here in the Palazzo Vecchio that the rulers of Florence began commissioning work from the great masters of the Florentine, Roman and Venetian art world before they moved across the Arno River to Palazzo Pitti. The piazza remains an open-air sculpture museum, with eye-catching works such as the Neptune Fountain. Nearby the world famous Bargello Gallery contains the overflow of masterpieces from the Uffizi Gallery, including Donatella's famous rendering of David, while the Loggia dei Lanzi houses some of the greatest statuary to have come out of Renaissance Italy. The piazza is still the most popular meeting point in the city, particularly during political campaigns when speakers address the crowds from the terrace in front of the Palazzo Vecchio.

See Florence's wealth of sculptural treasures in this 14th-century open-air gallery.

Originally completed in 1382 as a platform for the swearing in of public officials and other state affairs, it was only in the late 18th century that the Loggia was reserved exclusively for the display of the city's greatest exponents of sculpture. In the corner by the palazzo is a copy of one of the Renaissance's most iconic works, Benvenuto Cellini's Perseus Trampling Medusa (1545). If you examine the sculpture from the back, you can see the self-image of the sculptor Cellini on the backside of Perseus' helmet. Another headturner is Giambologna's Rape of the Sabine Woman, created from the largest single piece of sculptural marble ever seen in Florence.

Discover some of the Florence's best but often overlooked museums in the former palace of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany.

You'll find the Pitti Palace just a few steps from the Ponte Vecchio. In 1457, wealthy banker Luca Pitti began building the palace, but by the time it was completed, the family fortunes had run dry. He was forced to sell it to their arch-rivals, the Medicis, and thus it became the official residence of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany. On the first floor you'll find the Palatine Gallery and the Royal Apartments, the two most popular museums in the palace. They contain a collection of 16th and 17th-century paintings (including works by Raphael), and 28 beautiful rooms with original furnishing. On the ground floor is the Treasury, displaying a vast collection of Medici household treasures, from table silverware to precious stone vases, rock crystals and precious jewelry. There is also a Gallery of Modern Art, Porcelain Museum, and a museum showcasing costumes and fashion from the last 300 years. You can get a combined ticket which includes all the museums housed within the palace.

Join locals and tourists alike in a park which the Medici's poured their hearts (and money) into creating.

Directly behind the Pitti Palace are the marvellous Boboli Gardens, which were developed over hundreds of years and funded by the immense gold reserves of the Medici family. This green hidden oasis in the heart of Florence is often considered an open air museum, rich in history and art, and blessed with plenty of water features, hidden paths, and fascinating grottoes. For those with museum overload, it makes for the perfect retreat, as well as a precious refuge from the city’s heat during the summer months. The adjoining Forte di Belvedere is also worth the hike up to it, as it offers spectacular views of Florence and the surrounding Tuscan hills.

Palazzo Pitti

The Ponte Vecchio, an iconic bridge over the Arno River, dates back to Roman times and is a key Florence landmark. Once home to butchers, it now houses jewelers and art dealers. The Vasari Corridor above was a Medici family passage linking the Palazzo Vecchio with the Pitti Palace, a treasure trove of Italian Renaissance and Baroque art by Raphael, Titian, and others. Walk across this magnificent bridge that connects the two sides of the city and learn about its history along the way.

Discover some of the Florence's best but often overlooked museums in the former palace of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany.

You'll find the Pitti Palace just a few steps from the Ponte Vecchio. In 1457, wealthy banker Luca Pitti began building the palace, but by the time it was completed, the family fortunes had run dry. He was forced to sell it to their arch-rivals, the Medicis, and thus it became the official residence of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany. On the first floor you'll find the Palatine Gallery and the Royal Apartments, the two most popular museums in the palace. They contain a collection of 16th and 17th-century paintings (including works by Raphael), and 28 beautiful rooms with original furnishing. On the ground floor is the Treasury, displaying a vast collection of Medici household treasures, from table silverware to precious stone vases, rock crystals and precious jewelry. There is also a Gallery of Modern Art, Porcelain Museum, and a museum showcasing costumes and fashion from the last 300 years. You can get a combined ticket which includes all the museums housed within the palace.

Take a tour or experience an opera or ballet in this world-famous opera house.

Considered one of the most important and famous theatres in the world, known as the ‘Temple of Opera’, La Scala has hosted the most revered names in the world of music and theatre. Many famous operas have had their first production in La Scala, such as Othello, Nabucco by Verdi or Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini. While seeing a performance is the best way to experience the theater, visiting the Theatre Museum or taking a guided tour which includes the museum are also great options. In addition to a large collection of paintings, busts, costumes, and other objects related to the world of opera and theater, you will get to see parts of La Scala which are otherwise off limits, like the boxes. Unless a rehearsal or show is in progress, visitors can even watch the set-moving machinery in action.

A huge Medieval-Renaissance fortress with a number of interesting history and art museums

The Sforzesco Castle, one of the most popular monuments in Milan, has undergone various and complex transformations over the centuries; it has been defense fortress, military barracks, private residence and now a center of cultural institutions with several specialized museums and galleries that hold important fragments of Milan's cultural and civic history.

Guided Walk in Milan

Milan is the center of business and the capital of Italian fashion, but it also has an ancient heritage and a fascinating history; here you find some of the greatest masterpieces of Italian art! Together with your guide, you’ll explore the magnificent Duomo, Galleria, Scala opera house, merchant square, financial district, food street, and Sforza Castle.

Take a stroll through this ornate covered shopping mall that was completed in 1877.

Known as the "drawing room" of Milan, due to its numerous shops and importance as a common Milanese meeting and dining place, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is Italy's oldest active shopping mall and a major landmark in the city. It is one of the most magnificent shopping arcades in the world, home to some of the most luxurious boutiques and brands including Prada, Armani, Gucci.

Visit a historic vineyard that once beloved by Leonardo di Vinci.

In 1498, the Duke of Milan, Ludovico “Il Moro”, gifted this beautiful vineyard to Leonardo in return for his work on The Last Supper. It is said that Leonardo da Vinci cherished the vineyard, so much so that he cared for it until the day he died. Even after fleeing Milan during the French invasion, he returned to the city and recovered his precious vineyard. The vineyard, as well as a museum dedicated to the artist , can both be visited.

Discover a fascinating and oft-missed church that dates all the way back to 387 AD.

One of the finest examples of Romanesque churches in all of Lombardy, the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio is perhaps Milan's most underrated place of worship. Founded back in the 4th century and renovated in the 11th, the basilica is dedicated to St Ambrose, the patron saint of Milan whose relics can be seen in a glass crypt within the church. St. Ambrose was key in the conversion of St. Augustine, who later become one of the most significant figures in Christian history and theology. The red-bricked Basilica’s exterior is quite unique, with two bell towers of differing height towering above a courtyard which is almost as large as the church itself. The Basilica’s earliest history can still be seen near the back of the church, where you will discover 4th-century mosaics and a picture of Saint Ambrose. Another precious piece of more-than-thousand-year-old history is the 9th century Golden Altar, which is completely covered in gold, silver, and over 400 precious stones. It is covered by a Byzantine-Lombard style canopy resting on four salvaged Roman columns.

Discover this large science museum dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci, and see some of his theoretical inventions brought to life.

The museum first opened to the public in 1953 with the Leonardo da Vinci exhibition, the Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia (National Science and Technology Museum) is the largest museum of science and technology in Italy and one of the most important in the world. It houses a number of permanent exhibitions including more than 1,300 square meters and 170 historical models and works of art from Leonardo da Vinci, bringing his creations and antiquities to life.

The Last Supper

Preserved in the refectory (i.e. the dining hall) of the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper is not only one of Milan's top attractions, but one of the most famous paintings in the world. Painted between 1494 and 1498, it depicts the last "dinner" between Jesus and his apostles. The painting shows the dramatic moment in which Christ reveals that he will be betrayed by one of the twelve apostles sitting at the table, as told in the Gospel of St John.  A mandatory reservation has to be made either online or over the phone if you wish to visit The Last Supper. Reservations for each calendar month go on sale approximately 3 months in advance. Spots are very limited, so if you miss your chance, then the best bet is a guided tour which includes The Last Supper. With so much to learn about the painting, seeing it with an expert is a good idea in any case. The Last Supper of Leonardo da Vinci is undoubtedly one of the most important works of art of all time, but Milan is a city full of surprises and you'll find numerous other sights linked to the great artist just a short distance away.

Discover this famous Renaissance church and convent which is the home of The Last Supper.

This terracotta Renaissance church and Dominican convent is the home to Da Vinci's The Last Supper. It was also once home to another great masterpiece, Titian's altarpiece depicting Christ receiving the crown of thorns. However, as that work was stolen by the French in 1797, you would have to travel to the Louvre in Paris to see it. Luckily The Last Supper was painted onto the wall, otherwise it probably would have ended up in the Louvre as well. The church is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as it is an outstanding work of architecture in its own right. In 1460, the Duke of Milan Francesco I Sforza ordered the construction of the convent and church, which was also to serve as a family burial place. The groundbreaking architecture of the church, attributed to its architect Bramante, as well as Da Vinci’s The Last Supper, are both considered symbols of Renaissance Milan, as well as of a new era in European art.

Visit a historic vineyard that once beloved by Leonardo di Vinci.

In 1498, the Duke of Milan, Ludovico “Il Moro”, gifted this beautiful vineyard to Leonardo in return for his work on The Last Supper. It is said that Leonardo da Vinci cherished the vineyard, so much so that he cared for it until the day he died. Even after fleeing Milan during the French invasion, he returned to the city and recovered his precious vineyard. The vineyard, as well as a museum dedicated to the artist , can both be visited.

Private Milan Malpensa Airport Transfer

A car service will pick you up from your hotel and deliver you to Milan Malpensa Airport for your flight departure. This is a private transfer just for your travel party, and you will not need to pay the driver for the transfer, as it is already included in the cost of the itinerary. IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be aware the car service can fit up to 1 checked item of luggage and 1 personal item per person, such as a purse or small backpack. If you think you will have more baggage, please inform your travel consultant as this may result in an additional fee.

Private Milan Malpensa Airport Transfer

A car service will pick you up from your hotel and deliver you to Milan Malpensa Airport for your flight departure. This is a private transfer just for your travel party, and you will not need to pay the driver for the transfer, as it is already included in the cost of the itinerary. IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be aware the car service can fit up to 1 checked item of luggage and 1 personal item per person, such as a purse or small backpack. If you think you will have more baggage, please inform your travel consultant as this may result in an additional fee.

Private Milan Malpensa Airport Transfer

A car service will pick you up from your hotel and deliver you to Milan Malpensa Airport for your flight departure. This is a private transfer just for your travel party, and you will not need to pay the driver for the transfer, as it is already included in the cost of the itinerary. IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be aware the car service can fit up to 1 checked item of luggage and 1 personal item per person, such as a purse or small backpack. If you think you will have more baggage, please inform your travel consultant as this may result in an additional fee.

Private Milan Malpensa Airport Transfer

A car service will pick you up from your hotel and deliver you to Milan Malpensa Airport for your flight departure. This is a private transfer just for your travel party, and you will not need to pay the driver for the transfer, as it is already included in the cost of the itinerary. IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be aware the car service can fit up to 1 checked item of luggage and 1 personal item per person, such as a purse or small backpack. If you think you will have more baggage, please inform your travel consultant as this may result in an additional fee.