La Dolce Vita Discovery: Rome, Florence, and Venice

Imagine yourself wandering through Rome's ancient streets as golden evening light bathes the Colosseum, savoring your first bite of authentic cacio e pepe in a tucked-away Trastevere trattoria, standing awestruck before Michelangelo's David in Florence, and gliding through Venice's misty canals as church bells echo across the water. This journey through Italy's three most captivating cities offers the perfect blend of guided cultural immersion and freedom to explore at your own pace.

From the moment you arrive in the Eternal City, you'll be swept into a world of Renaissance masterpieces, cobblestone piazzas, and culinary traditions passed down through generations. Together with your fellow travelers, you'll discover hidden artisan workshops in Florence's Oltrarno district, toss coins into the Trevi Fountain at twilight, and toast new friendships over Venetian cicchetti as the sun sets over the Grand Canal. Each carefully planned day balances expert-led discoveries with time to wander, shop, and create your own Italian moments.

This is more than a tour of Italy's greatest hits. It's an invitation to live la dolce vita alongside like-minded women, creating stories you'll share for years to come and friendships that transcend continents.

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1: SEPTEMBER 23 - WELCOME TO ROME

Your Italian adventure begins the moment you land at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, where a private transfer whisks you to your centrally located boutique hotel within walking distance of the city's most famous piazzas. After settling into your room, venture out for your first taste of Roman life with a gentle evening stroll through the illuminated streets of the historic center. Watch as locals gather at outdoor cafés and street artists perform near ancient fountains. Tonight, gather with your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at an authentic Roman trattoria, where you'll share stories, toast with local wine, and savor traditional dishes like carbonara and saltimbocca. The adventure has officially begun, and new friendships are already taking root over candlelit conversation and laughter.

Arrival Note: Please arrive at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) by 3pm local time on September 23rd to participate in the first day's activities.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodations: Napoleon Hotel, Rome or similar

DAY 2: SEPTEMBER 24 - ANCIENT ROME UNVEILED

Step back two thousand years as your expert guide brings ancient Rome to vivid life this morning. Stand in the center of the mighty Colosseum and imagine the roar of crowds as gladiators entered the arena, then wander through the crumbling columns of the Roman Forum where senators once debated the fate of empires. After your guided tour, the afternoon is yours to discover Rome's iconic treasures at leisure. Toss a coin over your shoulder into the baroque splendor of the Trevi Fountain, marvel at the Pantheon's impossible dome with its oculus open to the sky, and sip espresso at a café where locals have gathered for generations. As evening descends, cross the Tiber River into Trastevere, Rome's most charming neighborhood, where ivy-covered walls and cobblestone streets come alive with the sound of clinking glasses and aromas of simmering tomato sauce. Here, authentic trattorias spill onto narrow lanes, offering the perfect setting for tonight's dinner among new friends.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Napoleon Hotel, Rome or similar

DAY 3: SEPTEMBER 25 - ROME TO FLORENCE

Enjoy a leisurely morning to explore Rome on your own terms. Perhaps you'll choose the optional excursion to Vatican City, where the world's smallest country holds some of its greatest artistic treasures. Walk through the Vatican Museums' endless galleries before entering the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo's ceiling frescoes will leave you breathless. Stand beneath the soaring dome of St. Peter's Basilica and feel the weight of centuries of faith and artistry. Or simply wander Rome's charming neighborhoods, discovering hidden churches, artisan shops, and that perfect corner café. In the late afternoon, the group boards Italy's sleek high-speed train for a scenic journey north through the Tuscan countryside. Watch as Rome's ancient skyline gives way to rolling hills dotted with cypress trees and medieval hilltop towns. Arrive in Florence just as the evening light turns the Duomo's marble facade to gold, then join your fellow travelers for a twilight gelato stroll past the magnificent cathedral and across the romantic Ponte Vecchio, where jewelers' shops have glittered since the Renaissance.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Grand Hotel Baglioni Florence or similar

DAY 4: SEPTEMBER 26 - FLORENCE HIGHLIGHTS & HIDDEN GEMS

This morning, your private guide unlocks the secrets of Florence, leading you through both iconic landmarks and tucked-away corners that most visitors never discover. Marvel at Brunelleschi's ingenious dome crowning the Duomo, wander through the bustling Mercato Centrale where vendors have sold fresh produce and flowers for centuries, and cross into the Oltrarno artisan quarter to watch leather workers, gold beaters, and paper marbleizers practice crafts passed down through generations. Your guide shares captivating stories of the Medici family, Renaissance artists, and the passionate Florentines who shaped Western art forever. This afternoon offers free time to delve deeper into Florence's treasures on your own. Perhaps you'll join the line to see Michelangelo's David at the Accademia, lose yourself in the masterpieces of Botticelli and da Vinci at the Uffizi Gallery, or simply claim a table at a sidewalk café to watch Florentine life unfold over a perfectly pulled espresso and a slice of schiacciata.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Grand Hotel Baglioni Florence or similar

DAY 5: SEPTEMBER 27 - FLORENCE AT YOUR OWN PACE

Today is yours to embrace Florence however your heart desires. Early risers might climb the 463 steps to the top of Brunelleschi's dome for breathtaking panoramic views across terracotta rooftops to the hills beyond. Shopaholics can browse the San Lorenzo Market for buttery leather gloves and handbags, or explore Via de' Tornabuoni's elegant boutiques. Art lovers might return to favorite museums or discover smaller gems like the Bargello sculpture museum. Or perhaps you'll simply surrender to the pleasure of wandering without a map, getting lost in medieval lanes before stumbling upon a perfect little osteria for lunch. For those seeking a taste of Tuscany beyond the city, an optional day trip to the legendary Chianti region awaits. Wind through postcard-perfect hills to a family-owned vineyard where you'll taste exceptional wines and sample golden olive oil while gazing across rows of vines. Tonight, gather with your travel companions to share the day's discoveries over another memorable Florentine dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Grand Hotel Baglioni Florence or similar

DAY 6: SEPTEMBER 28 - JOURNEY TO VENICE

After breakfast, board your morning train for one of Italy's most magical journeys. Watch through the window as Florence's Renaissance domes fade into the distance and the landscape transforms from Tuscan hills to the flat wetlands of the Venetian lagoon. Arrive by midday in Venice, the impossible city built on water, where boats replace cars and centuries-old palaces rise directly from shimmering canals. After checking into your hotel, join your expert guide for a walking tour through Venice's maze of narrow lanes and hidden squares. Cross arched bridges where locals pause to chat, discover tiny campi tucked away from tourist crowds, and learn the fascinating thousand-year history of this maritime republic that once ruled the seas. Your guide reveals the stories behind ornate facades and points out details you'd never notice on your own. As the afternoon light turns the Grand Canal to liquid gold, you'll understand why artists, writers, and dreamers have been captivated by Venice for centuries. Tonight, celebrate your arrival in this enchanting city with dinner at a traditional bacaro.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Foscari Palace Venice or similar

DAY 7: SEPTEMBER 29 - VENICE AT YOUR OWN PACE

Today, Venice is yours to explore without an agenda. Perhaps you'll fulfill a dream and glide through the canals in a sleek gondola, watching palaces slide past as your gondolier navigates the waterways with practiced grace. Visit the opulent Doge's Palace to see where Venice's rulers made decisions that shaped Mediterranean history, then step into St. Mark's Basilica to gaze up at glittering gold mosaics that rival any cathedral on earth. Take the vaporetto water bus to the colorful islands of Murano, where glass blowers create impossibly delicate masterpieces, and Burano, where houses painted in rainbow hues line the canals. Or simply embrace the joy of wandering, getting intentionally lost in this car-free city where every turn reveals another photogenic bridge or hidden courtyard. Browse shops selling Carnival masks and delicate Burano lace, sample cicchetti (Venetian tapas) at a canal-side bar, or people-watch from a café in St. Mark's Square as musicians play and pigeons swirl overhead. Tonight, gather one final time with your travel companions for a farewell dinner, toasting new friendships and unforgettable Italian memories over authentic Venetian pasta and local wine.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Foscari Palace Venice or similar

DAY 8: SEPTEMBER 30 - ARRIVEDERCI, ITALIA

After a final Italian breakfast, linger over your last espresso and take one more walk through Venice's enchanting streets if time allows. Your private transfer will escort you to Venice's Marco Polo Airport for your departure flight, your heart full of memories and your camera full of photos that somehow can't quite capture the magic you've experienced. You leave not just with images of ancient ruins, Renaissance art, and Venetian canals, but with the warmth of new friendships forged over shared gelato, spontaneous laughter, and countless moments of wonder. The beauty of Rome, Florence, and Venice will stay with you long after you return home, along with the confidence and joy that comes from traveling alongside like-minded women who became friends. Arrivederci, Italia, until we meet again.

Departure Note: This is a multi-city tour with arrival in Rome (FCO) and departure from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE).

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: None