Essential Italy: Rome, Florence & Venice in 7 Days

Take a scenic walk up the 18th-century stairway where Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck set out on their Roman Holiday.

The majestically balustraded Spanish Steps were built in 1723-6 to connect the piazza with the church of the Trinita dei Monti and the Pincio. It quickly became a favorite spot of poets, artists, and writers who gathered on its 137 steps, and it's now a favorite stop for tourists from all over the world. Yet this highly attractive stairway still somehow manages to retain a sense of romance even at the height of the tourist season, and if you happen to get there at the beginning of May you’ll find it laden with tubs of magnificent azaleas. A masterpiece of 18th-century town planning, the steps actually contain a religious message – the three flights and three landings are an allusion to the Holy Trinity.

Admire one of the most iconic sights in Rome, made famous by Anita Ekberg in La Dolce Vita.

The Trevi Fountain is one of the most iconic sights in Rome thanks to the antics of the shapely Anita Ekberg casting herself into its waters in Frederico Fellini’s cinematic masterpiece, La Dolce Vita. The fountain curiously seems to appear out of virtually nowhere within a warren of backstreets but is nevertheless discovered reasonably early each day by endless crowds of tourists looking to ensure their future return to Rome by tossing a coin back over their should into its crystal clear water (the coins are raked up each morning and donated to the Church organization Caritas). 

Visit this iconic former pagan temple converted into a Christian church.

This sanctuary of impressive dimensions is one of the best-preserved buildings of ancient Rome. Erected by Agrippa in 27 BC, the Pantheon was originally a Pagan temple. The building's consecration as a church in 609 AD saved it from the abandonment, destruction, and the worst of the spoliation that befell the majority of ancient Rome's buildings during the early medieval period. Its greying exterior may look its age, but inside, a spectacular experience awaits. With light streaming through its oculus, the marble-clad interior seems vast. The Pantheon is home to some notable tombs, including those of painters Annibale Carracci and Raphael and King Vittorio Emanuele II.

Take a scenic walk up the 18th-century stairway where Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck set out on their Roman Holiday.

The majestically balustraded Spanish Steps were built in 1723-6 to connect the piazza with the church of the Trinita dei Monti and the Pincio. It quickly became a favorite spot of poets, artists, and writers who gathered on its 137 steps, and it's now a favorite stop for tourists from all over the world. Yet this highly attractive stairway still somehow manages to retain a sense of romance even at the height of the tourist season, and if you happen to get there at the beginning of May you’ll find it laden with tubs of magnificent azaleas. A masterpiece of 18th-century town planning, the steps actually contain a religious message – the three flights and three landings are an allusion to the Holy Trinity.

Book early if you want to see the Vatican Museum's monumental works of art from the greatest Italian artists of the Renaissance.

The Vatican Museum is actually 26 different museums, which include not only exhibitions but chapels, apartments, and other rooms of the Vatican palace, covering a huge range of fine and applied arts patronized by the popes. There's also an outstanding collection of ancient antiquities (including even the Emperor Nero's red stone bathtub), a gallery of hand-painted maps, and whole rooms turned into works of art. In addition to ancient and medieval works of art, you'll see masterpieces by the "who's who" of the Italian Renaissance, including Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, and Caravaggio. Other highlights include panels by the brilliant monk-artist Fra Angelico, works from the Venetian school, including Vavarini, and much, much more.  Booking in advance is highly recommended as otherwise you can wait for hours or not even be able to get in at all.

Explore the gigantic and incredibly beautiful church known as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom".

The basilica is one of the chief pilgrimage sites in the Christian world, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Rome. The basilica is the symbolic center of the church not only because the Pope frequently celebrates Mass there, but because it is believed that the apostle St. Peter is buried beneath it. Catholics consider Peter as the first Bishop of Rome and "the rock" upon which the Catholic Church was built, in accordance with Christ's instructions. Inside you can admire sculptures by Bernini as well as Michelangelo's famous sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding the crucified Jesus, known as The Pietà. The church's elaborate and impressive golden interior is a sight to behold. Other sights include St Peter's tomb, the Papal crypts in the necropolis under the basilica, as well as the dome, which rewards visitors with views over Rome.  Entry is free, but queues to visit the Basilica can be lengthy, so it is highly advised to either get there early or to purchase a skip the line entrance. The dome is also paid entry. 

Escape the crowds in this oasis of green hidden behind the walls of the Vatican.

Accessible only via a guided tour, the gardens are definitely worth a visit. Just as the Popes have for hundreds of years, you can stroll the gardens and relax amidst the greenery, while taking in the perfect view of St. Peter's. 

Stand in the middle of this famous square in which the faithful gather to hear the Pope give audiences and celebrate mass.

As one of the most superb conceptions of its kind in civic architecture, St Peter’s Square is the masterpiece of Gian Lorenzo Bernini and makes a wonderful approach to one of the world’s most magnificent churches, St Peter's Basilica. An oval rather than an actual square, the piazza, laid out in 1656-67, is partially enclosed by two semi-circular colonnades on which stand 96 statues of saints and martyrs. At the center of the oval stands an 84-foot (26m) tall Egyptian obelisk of red granite.

Gaze up at the world's most famous ceiling, the masterpiece of Michelangelo.

This famous chapel inside the Vatican Museums is best known for Michelangelo's 16th-century painted ceiling of "The Creation of Adam" and "The Last Judgement" fresco that covers the whole altar wall of the chapel. The jaw-dropping sight is not to be missed, considered one of the top highlights of visiting the Vatican Museums and one of the top artistic wonders of the world. 

Book early if you want to see the Vatican Museum's monumental works of art from the greatest Italian artists of the Renaissance.

The Vatican Museum is actually 26 different museums, which include not only exhibitions but chapels, apartments, and other rooms of the Vatican palace, covering a huge range of fine and applied arts patronized by the popes. There's also an outstanding collection of ancient antiquities (including even the Emperor Nero's red stone bathtub), a gallery of hand-painted maps, and whole rooms turned into works of art. In addition to ancient and medieval works of art, you'll see masterpieces by the "who's who" of the Italian Renaissance, including Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, and Caravaggio. Other highlights include panels by the brilliant monk-artist Fra Angelico, works from the Venetian school, including Vavarini, and much, much more.  Booking in advance is highly recommended as otherwise you can wait for hours or not even be able to get in at all.

Venture into the richly-adorned chambers of the palace from which Florence and Tuscany were governed for centuries.

The fortress-like Palazzo Vecchio was originally constructed around 1299 to house the government administration, but underwent many reconstructions and was utlized for many purposes over the following centuries. Visiting the palazzo is usually a lot simpler than lining up with the crowds next door trying to get into the Uffizi Gallery. You simply need to go through the courtyard at the front entrance to the ticket office where the queues should be relatively short. Highlights of the palace include the magnificent inner courtyard, the chancery once used by Machiavelli, and the lovely Sala delle Carte decorated with 57 maps painted in 1563 depicting what was then the entire known world.

Escape the crowds to visit this gallery filled with the greatest works of Renaissance sculpture.

The Palazzo del Bargello dates back to 1255 and was the former residence of the chief of police (Bargello means police station). But in 1865 it was transformed into a museum containing the richest collection of Renaissance sculpture in Italy, although it is thankfully free of the huge crowds that are attracted to the Uffizi. You'll encounter masterpieces by Michelango, Donatello, Cellini, and many others.

See Florence's wealth of sculptural treasures in this 14th-century open-air gallery.

Originally completed in 1382 as a platform for the swearing in of public officials and other state affairs, it was only in the late 18th century that the Loggia was reserved exclusively for the display of the city's greatest exponents of sculpture. In the corner by the palazzo is a copy of one of the Renaissance's most iconic works, Benvenuto Cellini's Perseus Trampling Medusa (1545). If you examine the sculpture from the back, you can see the self-image of the sculptor Cellini on the backside of Perseus' helmet. Another headturner is Giambologna's Rape of the Sabine Woman, created from the largest single piece of sculptural marble ever seen in Florence.

Venture into the richly-adorned chambers of the palace from which Florence and Tuscany were governed for centuries.

The fortress-like Palazzo Vecchio was originally constructed around 1299 to house the government administration, but underwent many reconstructions and was utlized for many purposes over the following centuries. Visiting the palazzo is usually a lot simpler than lining up with the crowds next door trying to get into the Uffizi Gallery. You simply need to go through the courtyard at the front entrance to the ticket office where the queues should be relatively short. Highlights of the palace include the magnificent inner courtyard, the chancery once used by Machiavelli, and the lovely Sala delle Carte decorated with 57 maps painted in 1563 depicting what was then the entire known world.

Step inside this inconspicuous Gothic 15th-century church to discover some of Venice's most famous tombs and artwork.

The relatively austere brick Gothic Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari holds many surprises. It has the second tallest campanile in Venice after St Mark's, and contains numerous masterpieces of painting and sculpture by the likes of Titian, Bellini and Donatello, plus a number of important doges' tombs, as well as Titian's tomb. Titian's majestic painting of The Assumption in the sanctuary, with its dramatic movement and coloring, is the work that established Titian's reputation as one of the greatest of all Italian painters. Even if you feel you've seen too many churches already, this one is definitely worth visiting and we recommend investing in the audio guide to get the best out of your time here.

Visit this underrated art museum featuring works by the famed Renaissance artist Tintoretto.

Next door to the Frari, one of the most magnificent of Venice's charitable associations, The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is one of the most magnificent of Venice's charitable associations. The building was completed in 1560, and Tintoretto won a competition held to select an artist to decorate the interior. Over the next 23 years, he executed an incomparable series of paintings that cover the walls and ceilings. According to the writer Jan Morris, "no collection of sacred pictures is more overwhelming of impact than the immense series of Tintorettos in the Scuola [...] - often dark, often grandiose, often incomprehensible, but culminating in the huge masterpiece of the Crucifixion, which Velazquez humbly copied, and before which, to this day, you may still see strong men moved to tears."

Walk over or ride under the most famous bridge on the Grand Canal.

The 16th-century Rialto Bridge is the most iconic bridge in Venice. With a width of other 75 feet (23m) and span of over 100 feet (31m), the wide stone footbridge crosses over the Grand Canal and connects the San Marco and San Polo districts. It stands on the spot of an earlier wooden drawbridge which collapsed under the weight of a crowd gathered on it to watch a wedding procession. It took almost 150 years before the current Rialto bridge was built, this time in stone, and thus still stands as a symbol of the city. Surrounded by tourist shops and pricey restaurants, it sits on 12,000 wooden pilings and will be forever immortalised in millions of photographs as the backdrop to the classic Venetian photo shot, which captures the city's gondolas as they ferry lovers around the Grand Canal. While for many a gondola ride is a must-do experience in Venice, it's also possible to admire the bridge on foot. For a less-pricey way of seeing it from the water, you can always take the Number 1 local Vaporetto (water bus) and see the bridge as you pass underneath. 

Experience the sights, tastes, and smells of Venice's historic "Pescaria" fish market, as well as the fresh produce market.

Located close to the Rialto Bridge stands the Rialto Market, "the incomparable fish market of Venice, a glorious wet, colorful, high-smelling concourse of the sea, to which in the down hours fleets of barges bring the day's supply of sea-foods" (Jan Morris). Established well before the bridge was built, Venice's iconic market is a sight to behold, with colourful vegetable stalls and loud market vendors touting for business. It is a great spot for photographs and of course for a taste of the freshly caught fish with a host of appetising snacks on offer. Adjacent to the fish market you'll find a produce market, which is also important for a city which demands fresh ingredients for its cuisine. Keep in mind that the markets close at 1pm, and both markets are closed on Sundays (the fish market is also closed on Mondays).

Observe firsthand one of the world's oldest and most famous traditions of lace making.

Burano is historically a fishing village known for its handcrafted lace and technicolor houses. The legend goes that a sailor was lured to the island by a beautiful mermaid. She splashed her tail and created intricately patterned sea spray which she used as her wedding veil for her upcoming nuptials to the sailor. The village girls were very jealous of her veil and did their best to replicate the airy patterns with needle and thread, thus beginning Burano’s tradition of handcrafted lace. The Museo del Merletto was established in 1978 in the former gothic palace of the magistrate of Torcello. Inside the museum you can observe not only how the famous lace is made, but also learn about its history. You'll see artefacts from the collection of the Lace School of Burano, which occupied the building during the late 19th century.

Take a walk through Venice's most colorful island and enjoy the unusual sight of its brightly-painted flourescent houses.

Burano is filled with colorful houses famous for their fluorescent shades. The colors are heavily regulated in Burano (you have to write for permission before painting) and their origins disputed. Some say the houses were painted brightly so fisherman returning from the sea could spot their houses through the thick fog. A less romantic version say the houses were painted distinctively so fishermen could find their way home after a night on the town.

See a superb collection of Venetian glass inside the Museum of Glass, and then stop by one of the island's workshops for a live demonstration.

Primarily known as the island of glass-making, Murano has sat at the epicenter of creative glassmaking for centuries. In the late 13th century Venice's Government deemed it too dangerous to have open furnaces in the city, as they posed a huge fire risk to a confined island city whose buildings were often made entirely of wood. Glass production was moved to the nearby island of Murano, and here the industry prospered. The Museum of Glass is housed inside an ancient palace and boasts a large collection of Murano glass, including world-class masterpieces by artists as Venini, Zecchin and Carlo Scarpa. Meanwhile, many of the island's workshops have belonged to the same families for centuries. Several furnaces are open to the public and you can watch short demonstrations. Be aware many also follow with a hard sales pitch, but you are never obligated to buy anything. A few tips: 1) The farther away from the Colonna Waterbus stop you walk—toward the glass museum and the Basilica of Santi Maria e Donato—the better the values. 2) Some glass houses—especially Barovier & Toso, Moretti, Pauly, Seguso, and Venini—command higher prices than others because of the quality of their work and the long tradition behind their names.  3) Shipping delicate pieces home can prove both costly and hazardous. If you do, don’t forget to get the seller’s email address, record the tracking number, and insure, insure, insure.

Observe firsthand one of the world's oldest and most famous traditions of lace making.

Burano is historically a fishing village known for its handcrafted lace and technicolor houses. The legend goes that a sailor was lured to the island by a beautiful mermaid. She splashed her tail and created intricately patterned sea spray which she used as her wedding veil for her upcoming nuptials to the sailor. The village girls were very jealous of her veil and did their best to replicate the airy patterns with needle and thread, thus beginning Burano’s tradition of handcrafted lace. The Museo del Merletto was established in 1978 in the former gothic palace of the magistrate of Torcello. Inside the museum you can observe not only how the famous lace is made, but also learn about its history. You'll see artefacts from the collection of the Lace School of Burano, which occupied the building during the late 19th century.