The classic route, planned so that the famous rooms are seen before the crowds reach them. Your clients move from imperial Rome to Renaissance Florence and mercantile Venice, with a resident historian in each city and access arranged months ahead. Three nights in each place, no single-night stops.
Arrival at Fiumicino and transfer to the hotel near the Pantheon. The afternoon is left free after the flight, with an optional orientation walk to Piazza Navona before dusk. Welcome dinner in the Regola district and a short briefing on the week ahead.
Morning at the Forum and the Palatine with an archaeologist, entering ahead of the main flow of visitors. Independent lunch near the Capitoline. In the afternoon, the basilica of San Clemente and its three superimposed levels, down to a Roman house and a Mithraic temple. Evening free.
Early entry to the Vatican Museums, walking the galleries and the Sistine Chapel before public opening, then St Peter’s. Independent lunch. The afternoon is free, with an optional walk through the Jewish Quarter and the Portico d’Ottavia.
Mid-morning high-speed train to Florence, ninety minutes, with luggage moved separately. Afternoon orientation walk from Santa Maria Novella to the Duomo and across the Ponte Vecchio. Dinner at a trattoria in Oltrarno.
Guided visit to Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s bell tower and the Baptistery doors, then Piazza della Signoria and Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia with a fixed entry slot. Independent lunch, and an afternoon for leather workshops and goldsmiths.
Morning at the Uffizi with an art historian, concentrating on a dozen rooms rather than all of them. In the afternoon, Oltrarno: Santo Spirito, the Brancacci chapel and the workshops around via Maggio. Evening free.
Morning train to Venice, just over two hours, and water transfer to the hotel, entering from the lagoon. Afternoon walk through Cannaregio and the old Ghetto. Dinner in a bacaro, with cicchetti and wines from the Veneto.
San Marco outside public opening hours, with the mosaics and the floor explained, followed by the Doge’s Palace. Independent lunch. In the afternoon, by boat to Murano and Torcello, returning at dusk. Farewell dinner near the Zattere.
Water transfer to Marco Polo for onward flights. For later departures, time in Castello or a final hour at the Accademia galleries.
Splendido private tours
