Italy’s story stretches from Roman emperors to Renaissance geniuses, told in stone, marble, and fresco. In one compact week you can trace that arc: gladiators and popes in Rome; Medici patrons, Botticelli, and Michelangelo in Florence; cypress-lined hills in Tuscany. This itinerary favors depth over speed—two cities, rich experiences, and the kind of meals you’ll talk about for years.

Expect world-class museums, grand piazzas, and neighborhoods that come alive at aperitivo hour. In Rome, the Colosseum and Vatican anchor your days; in Florence, the Duomo’s red dome crowns streets of artisans and trattorie. A full-day foray into Tuscany adds medieval hill towns, winery lunches, and postcard landscapes.

Practical notes: book timed entries (Colosseum, Vatican, Accademia, Uffizi) well in advance, watch for pickpockets in crowded areas, and pack comfortable shoes for cobblestones. High-speed trains make intercity travel easy, and espresso is a ritual—stand at the bar for a quick, budget-friendly caffè.

Rome

Rome is equal parts open-air museum and modern metropolis. The Forum and Palatine Hill whisper origin stories; Baroque fountains splash in elegant squares; Trastevere hums with trattorie and wine bars. Beyond the icons, neighborhoods like Monti and Testaccio reward wandering with vintage shops, street food, and lively osterie.

• Top sights: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museums, Castel Sant’Angelo.
• Great bites: supplì at Supplizio; pizza al taglio at Pizzarium Bonci; carbonara in Testaccio; gelato at Gelateria del Teatro.
• Good to know: Taxis have a fixed FCO airport fare (usually around €50 to the center). The Leonardo Express train to Termini runs ~32 minutes, ~€14.

Getting to Rome: Compare flights on Omio (for Europe). For long-haul options, check Trip.com and Kiwi.com.

Where to stay (Rome): Browse options on VRBO Rome or Hotels.com Rome. Handpicked: Hotel de Russie (design-forward classic near Piazza del Popolo), Hotel Santa Maria (Trastevere courtyard hideaway), The Beehive (stylish budget stay with a community vibe).

Featured Rome experiences (Viator):

• Rome: Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour

  

• Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour

  

• Winner 2025 Rome Twilight Trastevere Food Tour by Eating Europe

  

Day 1: Arrive in Rome, Golden Hour in the Historic Center

Afternoon: Land, drop bags, and revive with espresso at Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè (noted for its crema) or Tazza d’Oro near the Pantheon. Stroll to Piazza Navona’s Bernini fountains, then into the cool hush of the Pantheon—Rome’s best-preserved ancient temple.

Evening: Toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain and climb the Spanish Steps at sunset. Dinner options: Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina (Roman pasta and top-shelf cured meats; reserve), Armando al Pantheon (classic trattoria), or Da Francesco (excellent cacio e pepe). Gelato at Gelateria del Teatro to finish.

Day 2: Ancient Rome—Colosseum, Forum, Palatine

Morning: Join a guided Colosseum tour to skip lines and bring the engineering and gladiator lore to life: Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour.

Fuel up beforehand with maritozzi (cream buns) at Pasticceria Regoli in Esquilino.

Afternoon: Wander the Forum’s triumphal arches and climb Palatine Hill for sweeping city views. Lunch in Monti: La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali (homestyle Roman) or Trattoria al 19 (seasonal plates). Browse Monti’s indie boutiques and vintage stores.

Evening: Aperitivo at Ai Tre Scalini (local wine bar with small plates). Dinner in Testaccio: Flavio al Velavevodetto (amatriciana, oxtail), then a nightcap at Salotto 42 by the Hadrian Temple.

Day 3: The Vatican and Trastevere Flavors

Morning: Beat the crowds with a skip-the-line guided visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour.

Admire Raphael Rooms, then step into St. Peter’s. If time and weather permit, climb the dome for Rome’s best panorama.

Afternoon: Casual bites: Pizzarium Bonci (creative pizza by the slice) or Pastasciutta (quick fresh pasta) near the Vatican. Walk along the Tiber to Castel Sant’Angelo, then cross the bridge of angels towards Piazza Navona.

Evening: Eat your way through Trastevere on a curated tasting walk: Rome Twilight Trastevere Food Tour by Eating Europe.

Expect Roman Jewish specialties, porchetta, and gelato. Post-tour, sip Negronis at Freni e Frizioni on the square.

Florence

Birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence concentrates artistic might in a walkable city. The Duomo’s terracotta crown, Brunelleschi’s dome, and Giotto’s campanile dominate the skyline; inside the Uffizi and Accademia, Botticelli and Michelangelo await. South of the river, artisan workshops and lively piazzas fill the Oltrarno.

• Top sights: Duomo complex, Baptistery, Accademia (David), Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens, Santa Croce, San Lorenzo Market.
• Great bites: lampredotto at a trippaio stand, bistecca alla fiorentina, schiacciata sandwiches, biscotti with Vin Santo.
• Coffee and gelato: Ditta Artigianale (third-wave coffee), Caffè Gilli (Belle Époque classic), Gelateria dei Neri or La Carraia.

Rome → Florence: Take a Frecciarossa/Italo high-speed train from Roma Termini to Firenze S.M.N. (~1h30–1h40). Typical fares €19–€60; book on Omio Trains (Europe). Buses are cheaper but 3–4+ hours via Omio.

Where to stay (Florence): Browse VRBO Florence or Hotels.com Florence. Handpicked: Hotel Brunelleschi (history meets design near the Duomo), Hotel Santa Croce (value in a stellar location), The St. Regis Florence (riverfront grandeur).

Featured Florence/Tuscany experiences (Viator):

• Tuscany Day Trip: Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa + Winery Lunch

  

• Winner 2025 Florence Sunset Food & Wine Tour by Eating Europe

  

• Florence Pizza or Pasta Class with Gelato Making at a Tuscan Farm

  

Day 4: Train to Florence, Duomo District and the Arno

Morning: Depart Rome by high-speed train (aim for ~9:00 a.m.) and arrive in Firenze S.M.N. around 10:30–10:45. Drop bags and grab a quick schiacciata sandwich at All’Antico Vinaio or a plate of ribollita at Da Nerbone inside Mercato Centrale.

Afternoon: Explore the Duomo complex from the square—admire Brunelleschi’s dome and the Baptistery’s bronze doors. Coffee at Ditta Artigianale on Via dei Neri. Walk to Piazza della Signoria (Medici power seat), then cross Ponte Vecchio to the Oltrarno.

Evening: Aperitivo in Santo Spirito at Volume (spritz + snacks). Dinner picks: Trattoria Cammillo (old-school Tuscan), Osteria Santo Spirito (cozy, baked gnocchi), or 4 Leoni (pear-and-pecorino ravioli). Gelato at Gelateria La Carraia by the bridge.

Day 5: Masters of the Renaissance—Accademia and Uffizi

Morning: Reserve the earliest slot at the Accademia to stand before Michelangelo’s David—seeing the unfinished Prisoners nearby reveals his process. Coffee and a cream-filled bombolone at Pasticceria S. Forno in the Oltrarno.

Afternoon: Uffizi Gallery highlights: Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, Leonardo’s Annunciation, and Titian’s Venus of Urbino. Late lunch near the gallery at Trattoria Buzzino or a cicchetti-style snack board at Procacci on Via de’ Tornabuoni.

Evening: Taste Florence on a guided food walk—Tuscan salumi, wine windows, and trattoria classics: Florence Sunset Food & Wine Tour.

If you prefer a sit-down dinner, book Trattoria Sostanza (butter chicken, bistecca) or Buca Lapi (historic steakhouse).

Day 6: Full-Day Tuscany Countryside

Spend a day among vineyards and medieval towers on this popular route: Tuscany Day Trip—Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa + Winery Lunch.

Expect a guided stroll through Siena’s shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and the Duomo quarter, free time under San Gimignano’s towers, a Tuscan lunch with wine pairings at a countryside estate, and a Pisa stop for the Leaning Tower photo op. Alternative for hands-on travelers: a farm-based cooking class with pizza or pasta and gelato making just outside Florence—see details here.

Day 7: Oltrarno Artisans, Boboli Gardens, and Departure

Morning: Start with cappuccino at Ditta Artigianale (Via Sprone) or Caffè Gilli on Piazza della Repubblica. Wander the Oltrarno’s artisan lanes—goldsmiths, leatherworkers, and wood inlay studios around Via Maggio and Borgo San Frediano. Visit the Pitti Palace courtyards and Boboli Gardens for Medici grandeur and city views.

Afternoon: Early lunch at I’ Trippaio del Porcellino (lampredotto sandwich) or Trattoria da Garibardi near San Lorenzo. Pick up edible souvenirs (olive oil, biscotti) in the Mercato Centrale. Depart in the afternoon—Firenze S.M.N. has frequent high-speed trains back to Rome if needed; check Omio Trains.

Optional Add-On from Rome (if you extend): A blockbuster day trip that combines ruins and coastlines: Pompeii, Amalfi Coast and Positano Day Trip from Rome.

Booking logistics at a glance:

• Flights to Rome: Omio (Europe flights), Trip.com, Kiwi.com
• Trains within Italy: Omio Trains (Rome ↔ Florence ~1.5 hours, €19–€60).
• Hotels and apartments: Hotels.com Rome, VRBO Rome, Hotels.com Florence, VRBO Florence

This 7-day Italy itinerary balances headline sights with local flavor—espresso bars and twilight piazzas, museum masterpieces and countryside feasts. With Rome’s ancient drama and Florence’s Renaissance brilliance, plus a Tuscan day trip, you’ll savor the best of Italy at a comfortable, memorable pace.