Italy is a tapestry of empires, artisans, and kitchens. In Rome, the stones still speak: emperors paraded on the Via Sacra, popes commissioned the world’s greatest artists, and family-run trattorie have perfected recipes older than nations. In Florence, the Renaissance ignited—Brunelleschi dared a dome into being, Botticelli painted spring eternal, and Michelangelo found a David in a block of marble.

This one-week itinerary blends icons and local life. You’ll tour the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Uffizi, and Accademia, then detour to Siena’s Gothic splendor and San Gimignano’s medieval towers. Between masterpieces, you’ll sip espresso at century-old cafés, taste regional wines, and learn why a perfectly simple cacio e pepe can be life-changing.

Practical notes: reserve timed-entry tickets for major sights (Colosseum/Forum, Vatican Museums, Uffizi, Accademia). Churches require modest attire (shoulders/knees covered). Watch for pickpockets in crowded areas. Trains between cities are fast and frequent; book high-speed options in advance for the best fares.

Rome

Rome is a living archaeology lab, where daily life swirls around 2,000-year-old ruins. Beyond the headline sights, neighborhoods like Monti, Testaccio, and Trastevere reward slow wandering and serious eating. Espresso culture is codified; stand at the bar, pay first at old-school counters, and never order a cappuccino after lunch.

• Top sights: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Capitoline Museums, Vatican Museums & St. Peter’s Basilica, Castel Sant’Angelo.
• Food highlights: Roman pasta (cacio e pepe, gricia, amatriciana, carbonara), pizza al taglio, supplì, artichokes (seasonal), gelato, and Testaccio’s market snacks.
• Fun fact: The Pantheon’s oculus is a 27-foot-wide open skylight; it has drained rain for nearly 2,000 years via an invisible floor system.

Stay in Rome: Find well-located stays near Monti, Campo de’ Fiori, or Trastevere on VRBO Rome or compare hotels on Hotels.com Rome.

Getting to Rome: Fly into FCO (Leonardo da Vinci) or CIA (Ciampino). Search fares via Omio Flights. From FCO, the Leonardo Express to Termini takes ~32 minutes (~€14). If arriving from elsewhere in Italy, high-speed trains (Frecciarossa/Italo) reach Rome from Naples (~1h10) and Florence (~1h30); check times and fares on Omio Trains.

Day 1: Arrival, Centro Storico Stroll, and a Roman Welcome

Morning: In transit.

Afternoon: Check in, freshen up, then orient yourself with a gentle loop: Piazza Navona (Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers), the Pantheon (free; €5 to visit with audio guide), and the whispered alleyways toward Campo de’ Fiori. Coffee at Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè (since 1938) or Tazza d’Oro—two legendary espresso bars with fiercely loyal locals.

Evening: Aperitivo by the Tiber—order a spritz and small bites at Salotto42 near the Pantheon. Dinner options: Armando al Pantheon (classic Roman pastas; book well), Enoteca Corsi (family-run, Roman staples and good-value wines). Gelato at Frigidarium or Gelateria del Teatro. Nightcap in Trastevere at Freni e Frizioni (creative cocktails) or Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fà (serious craft beer).

Day 2: Colosseum, Forum, Capitoline Art, and Trastevere Nights

Morning: Early entry to the Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill (combined ticket ~€18–€24; reserve timed slot). Breakfast on the go: maritozzo (cream bun) and cappuccino at Regoli Pasticceria near Piazza Vittorio, or a quick espresso at Antico Caffè Santamaria by the Colosseum.

Afternoon: Explore the Capitoline Museums (Europe’s oldest public museum, curated by Michelangelo’s piazza design). Pause at Terrazza Caffarelli for a view over the Forum. Lunch in Monti: Taverna Romana (rustic Roman dishes) or La Carbonara (since 1906; not just for the namesake pasta). Browse Monti’s indie boutiques along Via del Boschetto.

Evening: Cross the Tiber to Trastevere. Dinner at Da Enzo al 29 (tiny, beloved; book or line) or Taverna Trilussa (handmade pastas served in the pan). After, stroll to the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere for golden mosaics. Finish with a grappa at San Calisto or cocktails at Litro.

Day 3: Vatican Masterpieces and Prati Bites

Morning: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (reserve an early slot; standard tickets ~€20–€30). Breakfast near Ottaviano: Sciascia Caffè 1919 (velvety espresso) or Panificio Bonci for flaky cornetti. After the Museums, enter St. Peter’s Basilica (free); climb the Cupola for sweeping views (~€8–€10, stairs/elevator).

Afternoon: Walk the Passetto side of Castel Sant’Angelo and the Ponte Sant’Angelo’s angel-lined bridge. Lunch in Prati: Pizzarium Bonci (pizza al taglio with seasonal toppings) or Il Sorpasso (modern Roman plates and cured meats). Gelato at Old Bridge or La Romana.

Evening: Head back toward Piazza di Spagna at golden hour; if energy allows, climb the Spanish Steps and window-shop along Via dei Condotti. Dinner near Campo de’ Fiori: Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina (iconic carbonara, excellent wine list) or Osteria da Fortunata (hand-rolled tonnarelli). Nightcap at Jerry Thomas Speakeasy (reservations often needed).

Day 4: Markets, Borghese, and Hidden Hills

Morning: Testaccio for Rome’s food soul. Espresso and a sfogliatella at Pasticceria Linari, then graze inside Mercato Testaccio—try Mordi e Vai’s legendary panino with braised beef (picchiapò) and CasaManco’s seasonal pizza al taglio. If you love food history, swing by the Pyramid of Cestius and ancient Porta San Paolo.

Afternoon: Galleria Borghese (reserve; ~€13–€20), home to Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne and Caravaggio’s Boy with a Basket of Fruit. Later, wander the Aventine: peek through the Keyhole of the Knights of Malta for a perfect St. Peter’s view and relax in the Orange Garden.

Evening: Dinner in Testaccio: Felice a Testaccio (famous for tableside cacio e pepe) or Flavio al Velavevodetto (Roman classics under Monte dei Cocci). For a casual final gelato in Rome, go to Gelateria La Romana or Otaleg.

Florence

Florence is a UNESCO-sized workshop where art, architecture, and artisanship still shape daily life. The Duomo’s terracotta sea of rooftops, the Uffizi’s corridor of Renaissance stars, and the Arno’s bridges create an intimate city that rewards early mornings and late-night strolls.

• Top sights: Duomo complex (Cathedral, Dome, Baptistery, Campanile), Uffizi Gallery, Accademia (Michelangelo’s David), Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Croce, Oltrarno artisans, Piazzale Michelangelo.
• Food highlights: bistecca alla fiorentina, ribollita, pappa al pomodoro, schiacciata sandwiches, Tuscan wines (Chianti Classico, Brunello).
• Fun fact: Brunelleschi built the Dome without modern scaffolding, using a double-shell structure and herringbone brickwork—an engineering feat still studied today.

Stay in Florence: Base near the Duomo or Oltrarno for walkability and authentic nights. Browse VRBO Florence or compare hotels on Hotels.com Florence.

Rome → Florence (Day 5 morning): High-speed trains from Roma Termini to Firenze S. M. Novella take ~1h30; fares typically €25–€60 depending on time and advance purchase. Check schedules and book via Omio Trains. If you prefer a cheaper, slower option, regional trains take ~3h.

Day 5: Arrival in Florence, Duomo Quarter, Sunset Over the Arno

Morning: Depart Rome after breakfast and ride the high-speed train to Florence (~1h30). Drop bags and grab coffee at Ditta Artigianale (specialty roaster) or Caffè Gilli (historic belle-époque café).

Afternoon: Explore the Duomo complex: admire the Cathedral’s façade, visit the Baptistery’s golden mosaics, and climb Giotto’s Campanile or Brunelleschi’s Dome for panoramic views (reserve dome climb; combined tickets ~€30–€35). Lunch: schiacciata sandwiches at All’Antico Vinaio (famous, expect lines) or the less-crowded La Schiacciateria.

Evening: Golden-hour walk across Ponte Vecchio to the Oltrarno and up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the city’s best sunset. Dinner: Trattoria Mario (old-school, communal tables; lunchtime too) or Osteria Vini e Vecchi Sapori (tiny, Tuscan staples; book). Gelato at Gelateria dei Neri or La Carraia. Nightcap at Rasputin (speakeasy) or Procacci (tiny truffle sandwiches with a glass of prosecco).

Day 6: Uffizi, David, and the Oltrarno’s Craftsmanship

Morning: Uffizi Gallery (reserve timed entry; €12–€25 seasonally). Don’t miss Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, Leonardo’s Annunciation, and Caravaggio’s Medusa. Breakfast beforehand at La Ménagère (stylish café-flower shop) or Caffè Concerto Paszkowski.

Afternoon: Accademia Gallery to meet Michelangelo’s David (timed entry recommended; ~€12–€16). Lunch at Trattoria da Garibardi (pappa al pomodoro, ribollita) or Mercato Centrale’s food hall—try Nerbone’s bollito sandwich. Later, wander the Oltrarno’s artisan workshops around Via Maggio and Santo Spirito.

Evening: Aperitivo in Santo Spirito (Volume or Pitta M’Ingolli for snacks). Dinner: Trattoria Sostanza (butter chicken and bistecca, an institution) or Il Santo Bevitore (contemporary Tuscan with a deep wine list). For gelato, Vivoli or Perché No!—both historic and excellent.

Day 7: Siena and San Gimignano Day Trip, Then Departure

Morning: Early bus or train to Siena (bus is usually faster and more direct; ~1h15–1h30 each way; fares ~€10–€15; check Omio Buses or Omio Trains). Espresso at Nannini, then explore Piazza del Campo (imagine the Palio horse race) and the striped Siena Cathedral (Duomo). If time allows, the Piccolomini Library’s frescoes are dazzling.

Afternoon: Bus to San Gimignano (~1h). Climb Torre Grossa for countryside views and stroll lanes scented with wild herbs. Lunch at Le Vecchie Mura (views) or a rustic board at Enoteca Divinorum. Treat yourself at Gelateria Dondoli, a multi-award-winning gelateria on the main square.

Evening: Return to Florence (~1h15). If you have time before departing in the afternoon, pick up edible souvenirs: cantuccini at Caffè Gilli or olive oil at La Bottega del Chianti. A final plate of tagliatelle with porcini at Trattoria Camillo or a quick bowl of pici cacio e pepe at Osteria Santo Spirito, then make your way to the station or airport. For onward flights within Europe, compare options on Omio Flights.

Bookings and Tips (At-a-Glance):

• Reserve timed entries: Colosseum/Forum, Vatican Museums, Galleria Borghese, Uffizi, Accademia, and the Duomo Dome climb.
• Transit: High-speed Rome–Florence trains (~1h30; €25–€60) via Omio Trains. Siena/San Gimignano buses via Omio Buses.
• Stays: Compare apartments and hotels for both cities on VRBO Rome, Hotels.com Rome, VRBO Florence, and Hotels.com Florence.
• Etiquette: Stand at the bar for cheaper coffee; tipping is minimal (round up or leave small coins).

In one week you’ll trace the arc from empire to Renaissance—gladiators to gilded Madonnas, rustic trattorie to refined Tuscan tables. With trains smoothing the journey and timed entries set, this Rome-and-Florence itinerary delivers Italy’s greatest hits with time for serendipity—and a second gelato.