...Trip idea

A Rail of Three Cities…in Italy

Sit back and enjoy the ride with cultural stops in Venice, Florence and Rome, private transfers between cities and stations and some of Italy’s finest hotels to relax in.

Highlights

  • Savour the golden age of travel with a laid-back holiday exploring Italy’s three best cities by train
  • Enjoy a smoothly organised itinerary with private transfers, English-speaking guides and restaurant reservations
  • Discover the sights of Venice from canals, glass-making artisans and hidden away trattorias
  • Wander through the atmospheric streets and piazzas of Renaissance Florence
  • Appreciate the wealth of art and architecture in ancient Rome
  • Enjoy Italian hospitality at grand, elegant hotels with history

This relaxing train holiday takes you to three of Italy’s best cities. Sit back and watch the Italian countryside fly by before stepping out to explore Rome, Venice and Florence, soaking up cultural highlights, foodie experiences and art in abundance.

Who for

This relaxing holiday is best suited for a couple or honeymoon - kids may not appreciate sitting still on train journeys.

When to go:

To avoid the heat of the summer, try spring or early autumn giving you quieter, less touristy cities too.

How to get there:

Fly to Venice and be met at the airport for a quick transfer to your hotel. On your return, you will fly home from Rome. For your train travel, we will book first-class tickets to ensure your comfort. In addition, we arrange private transfers from the hotel to the station with luggage assistance all the way to the train.

AdobeStock_62561216
Venice St Mark's square
Anan Venice 2
Venice, Italy
Venice, Italy

Day 1-5 Venice’s Waterworld

After a short flight and transfer to Venice you will be met and transported to your hotel, where you can settle in with a drink at the bar, a massage or room service. The next four nights will see you getting under the skin of this beautiful city, seeing the sights but also getting off the well-worn track. We recommend stepping down intriguing side streets and wandering away from the main canals.

Of course, you will want to see Venice’s gorgeous highlights – like the Rialto Bridge and Bridge of Sighs plus St Mark’s Square with Doge’s Palace. When it comes to mealtimes, we can make reservations at some of Venice’s best restaurants, many of which overlook the canals. Art aficionados should visit the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, plus glimpse art in churches such as Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari with Titian’s Assumption and sculptures by Bellini and Donatello. Consider taking a vaporetto ride over to the Lido and hiring a bicycle or visiting the beach. Alternatively, visit the island of Murano and learn about the island’s thousand-year-old tradition of glassblowing.

Florence
Florence
Ponte Vecchio
Boboli Gardens

Day 6-9 Florentine Foray

Today you will take the train to Florence, travelling west from Venice passing through Padua before dropping south past Bologna. The train journey is just two hours, and you’ll arrive in Florence feeling relaxed and ready to explore your next Italian city. With four nights in Florence, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know this surprisingly compact city, finding perfect places for morning cappuccino, afternoon aperitivo and the ideal selfie spot. You’ll savour the city’s beautiful Romanesque and Renaissance buildings in the Piazza della Signoria, and despite the tourists you won’t fail to be impressed by the huge gothic cathedral and Ponte Vecchio. On a warm day, the Boboli Gardens of the Palazzo Pitti offer respite from the crowds as well as wonderful views over the city.

To help with crowds and queues, let us book advance tickets for you at the Uffizi and Accademia galleries. You won’t want to miss the Uffizi’s gems including Italy’s most celebrated artists from Giotto to Caravaggio while the Accademia is home to Michelangelo’s sculpture of David along with many other important sculptures and paintings. There are many smaller galleries and churches housing impressive artworks such as the church of Santa Maria del Carmine which contains notable 15th century frescoes by Masaccio.

Rome
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Rome
Rome

Day 10 – 13 Rome’s Splendours

Onwards to Rome. You’ll enjoy another relaxed few hours onboard the train as you journey south from Florence to Rome speeding through the scenic Italian countryside of Tuscany. With four nights in Rome, you will get to grips with this fascinating city whose history dates back more than two and a half thousand years. For your first day, why not let us organise a guided tour, so you can hear first-hand the history of the ancient sites. Explore the Forum and the Colosseum, as well as the Vatican City, Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps.

Once you’ve got your bearings you can start to enjoy Rome like a local, stopping for espresso at the bar or lingering in beautiful piazzas, watching daily life go by. Piazza Navona has the impressive Bernini Baroque Fountain of the Four Rivers and lively Campo dei Fiori has a packed daily market. Of course, art plays a large part to any visit to Florence – admire impressive art works by Raphael and Michelangelo at the Vatican, and enjoy visiting the Borghese Gallery which features important works by Bernini and Caravaggio among others. Enjoy your last day, soaking up the Italian dolce vita before beginning your journey home.

Summary

For lovers of Italy, this trip will allow you to get your fill of the best of Italy’s cities, each connected by a relaxing train journey where you can contemplate the wonders you’ve seen. Alongside mind-blowing art, ancient sites and historic architectural feats, you can get under the skin of each city with private guiding, reservations at the best restaurants and time to simply soak it all up.

Sarah Woodthorpe

Personal Travel Designer

01488 689700 Read Sarah’s profile
"Although there's quite a bit of movement on this trip, I will ensure that every aspect goes smoothly. Even better, let me book you into extremely comfortable hotels whether that's canal-side, a luxe palazzo or a historic private home."

Have questions? Our knowledgeable team of experts are on-hand to take your call or if you prefer by Zoom. Talk to us about your holiday dreams or challenge us with your travel conundrums.

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