Italy: A combination of history, art and culinary delights to satisfy all tastes with beautiful landscapes thrown in.
Intro
There are many areas in Italy, and visiting them all in one go takes work. Ten days is a perfect time to get a taste of the country and see the highlights. If you have more or less time, check out my other itineraries and mix and match. My France and Italy Itinerary combines Europe’s two most popular countries.
We all know the highlights of Italy, St Mark’s in Venice, David in Florence, and the Colosseum in Rome. There is much more to see, and I aim to balance the overcrowded classics and the less well-known sights, the hidden gems off the beaten track.
Travel Style
This itinerary is perfect for travel by car or by train. Whatever your budget, I recommend rail travel in Italy as it is quick and efficient. While delays are possible, it is much more relaxing than driving in busy cities or on the Autostrada (Expressways), where traffic can be a bit chaotic.
The high-speed trains in Italy (Frecciarosso, Frecciaargento) are quick, efficient and generally easy to use. Make sure to reserve tickets in advance. Doing so online is relatively easy via the Trenitalia website. Check out my information on how to book train tickets in Europe.
If you do want to hire a car, it will give you more flexible travel, but it is unnecessary in the cities, and the cost of one-way rental can be excessive. A vehicle can be more trouble in the cities than it is worth. If you fly in and out of the same airport, a cheap return flight or train is much quicker than driving the return leg between Venice and Rome.
10-Day Italy itinerary
The following ten days are an ideal balance of visits and museums interspersed with time to relax and see the local areas as well as the necessary travel time.
Arrival in Rome
Most transatlantic flights arrive early in the morning in Rome; if you are coming from a European city or transferring through a different major airport, you will probably arrive in the early afternoon. In both cases, just checking into your lodging (if possible) or at least leaving your luggage there is a good idea. Head out and start exploring.
Rome is a great city to wander in. There are magnificent sights at every corner. Churches abound, and their beauty is astounding. Take an ice cream on the Spanish Steps or a coffee in the Piazza Navona. Relax and take it all in. In the evening, head over to the Trastevere Quarter. This area on the west side of the Tiber River is full of narrow alleys and excellent restaurants.
Ancient Rome
The city of Rome is a history lesson. Follow the traces of the old Roman Empire through the ruins of the ancient Forum and Palatine Hill. Nearby is the Colosseum. Make sure you book a tour or your tickets in advance. The amount of visitors can be overwhelming at almost all times of the year, but it is incredible and worth the visit. If you want, though, you can skip the crowds by opting for the Circus Maximus and visiting the Arena in Verona instead. The Romans built things to last, and there are many well-preserved Roman arenas around Europe.
The majority of Roman remains are in the same area, but there are many more dotted around the city, including, of course, the Parthenon. You will probably be tired before you manage to visit all of them. Make sure you bring comfortable walking shoes.
Renaissance Rome
While Florence is known as the home of the Renaissance, this period in history still had a massive influence on Rome. Many of the best-known churches (those in Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons, for example) date from this period. Of course, the Vatican was one of the world’s centers of wealth from the 15th to the 17th centuries, and being in Rome is an excellent opportunity to visit the smallest country in the world.
Most visits start in St Peter’s Square, Piazza San Pietro, in front of the basilica named after the same saint. The walk from Castello Sant Angelo is one of the few ways into the country. The Basilica of St Peter and its dome is world-renowned. The interior decoration is equally spectacular. A guided tour and a trip up the dome are great ways of getting a more intimate view of the once-groundbreaking architecture.
The Sistine Chapel is not part of the Basilica but a chapel in the Pope’s quarters accessible through the Vatican Museum, a repository of the best art in the church’s archives.
You could spend all day in the Vatican, but there is more outside the city-state. Depending on whether you prefer Ancient Rome or Renaissance art, you can use the afternoon for something like the catacombs or the Villa Borghese (gardens are free, but the gallery is extra).
Departure for Florence
Head early to the train station and depart for Florence. In less than two hours we can be in the birthplace of the Renaissance thanks to modern high-speed trains, you will arrive in time for lunch. Make sure you book accommodation that will let you drop off your luggage. Otherwise, you can leave it at the train station for a fee. These are now manned offices as the coin lockers have been removed due to security fears.
Get lunch and go to Explore Florence. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, known as the Duomo, is in the center of town, and many interesting sights are nearby. The famous Ponte Vecchio leads to the other side of river Arno and onwards to the Boboli Gardens and Villa Bardini. While it is a bit of a climb to Villa Bardini, the view over the city is a classic and makes the climb worthwhile.
Starting in the Duomo is a good idea, booking a timeslot to climb the dome is also an option but maybe climbing the bell-tower (Campanile in Italian) is a better option. That way you can see more of the Cathedral. Check out the nearby Baptristry as well.
The Classic Museums of Florence
There are two museums in Florence which are known around the world. The Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi, just around the corner.
Visiting both can be a bit too much but do you want to miss out when you are nearby?,
The Uffizi has many artworks including:
Birth of Venus by Botticelli
Annunciation by Leonardo Da Vinci
Medusa by Caravaggio
And the Palazo Vecchio of course was home to Michelangelo’s David. The palace decorations themselves are masterpieces in their own right. Many of the great artists of the time were invited to remodel for the Grand Duke Cosimo and painted massive artworks to commemorate the victory over neighboring Siena. The statue of David by Michaelangelo is now housed in the Galleria dell’Accademia.
There are many museums in Florence. Pick and choose depending on your preferences. The Bargello Museum has many sculptures, and hosts Donatello’s bronze version of the David.
Explore the Tuscan Countryside
Florence is, of course, the main center of Tuscany, famous for its wine and landscapes. An escape into the countryside is a must. Visiting a hilltop town like San Gimignano is a great way to see another side of the region.
This old hilltop town is easy to reach by public transport, but hiring a car for the day is another option. This is my preferred option, allowing for more flexibility during the day. There are many wineries in the region, though make sure you have a designated driver if you plan a wine tasting.
I recommend San Gimignano as it is a small town and dependent on tourism. It will give you a good insight into the other side of Italy, to what you see by visiting the main cities.
Verona, the city of love
Visit the arena and the old town in the afternoon. Juliet’s balcony is a classic but can be overcrowded. The castle bridge at night is a great view if it is lit up. The train station is a bout 30 minutes walk to the Old Town centre. Staying somewhere between the two is a good option. It makes the city pretty walkable.
Depart for Venice
Depart for Venice
Not two far to travel. A stroll around town in the afternoon is a good introduction. Wander the streets and you will get lost. The canals are great ways to get around by gondola but it isn’t cheap. However it is a different point of view. For cheaper accommodation you can stay on Jesolo. It is an easy boat ride into the city. Well it isn’t cheap accommodation, just a bit less than staying in the city centre. Venice is pretty much two things. A large city with ship building and many suburbs and a central core that is what most of us think of when we hear Venice.
The Central core is car free and full of canals. Parking and the main train station are in Tronchetto, across a causeway from the mainland, and from here one uses the famous water taxis or more accurately water busses to get around. Saying in the centre of Venice is not so expensive, especially when you consider the price of water transport to get around.
Exploring Venice
The area around St Mark’s Square and Cathedral is the real centre of town. The Doge’s Palace is a beautiful building on the seafront beside St. Mark’s Square. It was the one time palace of the ruler of Venice, the Doge. This is actually just the local dialect word for Duke. The nearby cathedral is a great example of a Romanesque church from the early period of Venice. The bell tower or Campanile nearby is quite a lot more modern, having collapsed in the 19th century. From here the city stretches out behind the square in a massive twist of alleys and canals. You can get lost but you can also find yourself again very easily.
My favourite museum is the Arsenal, effectifely a museum dedicated to the fantastic developement of the ships that protected the Venetian empire which once covered most of the Adriatic Sea.
Getting a boat out to Murano is well worth the trip. The souvenir produced by the glassblowers can be a bit kitsch, but the skill on show is amazing. The boat ride is also a great way to see a different side of Venice. In the center the canals are narrow and small but out here in the lagoon you can see the reason that they became such good ship builders. If you are in Venice in the summer season then heading to Murano in the morning can be a good idea. the small island can get a bit overrun in the afternoon.
Departure from Venice
Depending on your flight time, you might have some extra time to explore more of Venice. Wandering the streets again is always good. You will certainly find hidden corners that you haven’t already seen. Maybe take some time to visit the mask shops, which often both produce and sell the traditional masks worn during the Venice Carnival.
If you have most of the day free, a trip to Jesolo should be considered. This is one of the most popular beach areas in Italy. Often filled with Austrians and Germans coming south. A short boat ride from Venice, the Lido, as it is known, is the spit of land that separates the Venice Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. The style of beachfront restaurants is just typical of Italy.
Conclusion
All in all, this will give you a good taste of Italy. From Ancient and Modern Rome to Renaissance Florence and Historic Venice, I have included a bit of everything for first-timers to Italy.
Be prepared, though. This can be something of a gateway drug. Italy is beautiful and has amazing food and buildings around every corner. You might become addicted.
