10 Days in Italy: Exploring the Best of Italian Art, Architecture, and Culture

  • Day 1: Arrive in Rome
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    Upon arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport, you will transfer to your hotel in central Rome where you will spend your first two nights. The city offers stunning historical landmarks, streets great for walking and a lively nightlife.

  • Day 2: Exploring Imperial Rome
    25 minutes by Metro from your hotel

    Start your day at the Colosseum, a symbol of Rome and one of the world's greatest marvels of architecture. Afterward, head to the Roman Forum, which was the political and economic center of Ancient Rome. End the day at the Pantheon, a temple that the Romans built to worship all their gods, and take a stroll through Piazza Navona, the city’s most popular baroque square.

  • Day 3: Vatican City and Trastevere
    30 minutes by bus from your hotel

    Visit one of the top art collections in the world, the Vatican Museums, which include the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Crypt. Second, explore Trastevere, a district that is full of romantic alleyways and trendy bars with plenty of dining options.

  • Day 4: Tuscany, Pisa, Lucca, and Florence
    2 hours by train from Rome

    Spend the fourth day exploring the Tuscan countryside, and check out the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. In Lucca, walk along the original medieval walls that still surround the city, and indulge in Italian food culture. Spend the night in Florence, the birthplace of Renaissance art, and culture

  • Day 5: Uffizi Gallery and The Accademia Gallery
    12 minutes on foot from your hotel

    Fuel your artistic side with a trip to the Uffizi Gallery, which displays some of the world’s greatest masterpieces created by artists such as Botticelli, Leonardo, and Michelangelo. Then, head to the Accademia Gallery to admire Michelangelo's famous masterpiece, David. In between galleries, explore Florence's downtown area or its curving streets along the Arn.

  • Day 6: Tasting Italy's Wine and Architecture
    1 hour and 45 minutes by train from Florence

    Take a train to Verona city of Romeo and Juliet for its connection with Renaissance art, and to taste fantastic Italian wines. Climb the Torre dei Lamberti bell tower and visit the balcony of Romeo and Juliet, and the Romanesque and Gothic Juliet’s House.

  • Day 7: Venice
    1 hour and 25 minutes by train from Verona

    Imagine floating on a gondola between some of Venice's 200 canals that flow through the historic center of the city which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The art, architecture, and food will leave you reeling. Do not miss visiting Saint Mark's Basilica and Piazza San Marco.

  • Day 8: Cinque Terre
    3 hours from Venice by train

    Take a train to Monterosso al Mare, which is the heart of the Five Lands. The Cinque Terre National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its unique and picturesque environment that holds five tiny villages overlooking the Ligurian Sea.

  • Day 9: Milan
    2 hours by train from Cinque Terre

    As the capital of Lombardy, guide yourself to the third-largest city in Italy, Milan. It is home to the historic centers for arts and culture, fashion, and design. Spend a day admiring the gothic cathedral Duomo Milan, shopping at the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, or strolling through the Brera district.

  • Day 10: Departure
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    Depart Milan for Rome Fiumicino airport to connect with your onward flight home.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • Colosseum (2 hours, 12 EUR)
  • Roman Forum (2 hours, 16 EUR)
  • Ticket to the Vatican Museums (3 hours, 17 EUR)
  • Ticket to Accademia Gallery (1 hour, 14 EUR)
  • Torre dei Lamberti (1 hour, 8 EUR)
  • Rome to Florence by train (1 hour and 45 minutes, 48 EUR)
  • Florence to Verona by train (1 hour and 45 minutes, 38 EUR)
  • Verona to Venice by train (1 hour and 25 minutes, 18 EUR)
  • Venice to Cinque Terre by train (3 hours, 60 EUR)
  • Cinque Terre to Milan (2 hours, 35 EUR)

  • Total estimated costs: 286 EUR

Transportation

Most transportation will consist of train rides, they are affordable and available for short and long distances. It's also fast and easy to get around town via taxi, bus, or metro hence travelers are encouraged to use public transport. The cost of transportation is 25 EUR per day and covers train tickets, taxi costs, and tickets for public transportation.

Useful Tips

For travelers who have more time can opt to include other cities such as Bologna, Naples or Puglia, Italy offers endless tourist attraction sites to explore. Also, for a longer stay in Rome, there are the beaches of Ostia Antica and Fregene on the coast which are accessible by train from the city in under 30 minutes. In Florence, do not hesitate to take a day trip to Siena, a bucolic commune worth a visit. Travelers with less time can skip Cinque Terre and Verona to make the trip shorter.

Airports

Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) is Rome's major international airport which is approximately 30 km from Rome's city center. Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is the main international airport serving the city of Venice which is 12 km from the city center. Milan Malpensa Airport is Italy's second busiest airport after Rome Fiumicino Airport which is approximately 45 km from the city.

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