Italy rewards the curious. In a single week you can walk Roman roads that Julius Caesar knew, stand before Michelangelo’s David, and sip Chianti among Tuscan hills shaped by monks and winemakers. This itinerary focuses on two cities—Rome and Florence—linked by fast trains, rich cuisine, and stories that read like epics.

Rome, the capital of an empire, still moves to the rhythms of espresso and evening passeggiate. You’ll tour the Colosseum and Vatican with expert guides, linger in cobblestoned Trastevere for a progressive street feast, and learn how locals truly eat—slowly, seasonally, together.

Florence is compact but inexhaustible: Brunelleschi’s dome, Botticelli’s Venus, artisan workshops in the Oltrarno, and markets perfumed with porchetta and pecorino. A full-day Tuscan escape adds cypress-lined roads, medieval towers, and a long, laughing lunch at a countryside winery. Pack comfortable shoes, book major museums ahead, and carry a light scarf for churches.

Rome

Rome overlays millennia like fresco layers: Etruscan foundations, imperial grandeur, Renaissance palaces, and 21st-century verve. Its landmarks—Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon—are best understood with context, while neighborhood lives unfold in markets like Campo de’ Fiori and trattorie where recipes rarely change.

• Top sights: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Trastevere.
• Fun fact: The Pantheon’s dome (126 CE) remains the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.
• Eat and drink: Roman-style pizza al taglio, supplì (fried rice balls), cacio e pepe, carciofi (artichokes in season), and gelato made with fresh seasonal fruit.

Where to stay (Rome):

• Splurge: Hotel de Russie (garden oasis near Piazza del Popolo).
• Classic luxury: Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel (city views, exceptional art collection).
• Midrange charmer: Hotel Santa Maria (Trastevere cloister vibes).
• Budget-friendly: The Beehive (stylish hostel-hotel hybrid near Termini).
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com — Rome | VRBO — Rome

Getting in: For flights within or to Europe, compare on Omio (flights). Long-haul options: Trip.com flights. From FCO airport, the Leonardo Express to Termini takes ~32 minutes (~€14) or use a fixed-fare taxi (~€50) to central districts.

Day 1: Arrival, Pantheon Quarter, and a Roman Passeggiata

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with a slow wander around the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. For a classic first espresso, try Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè (roasted since 1938). If peckish, split a Roman pizza by the slice at Pizzarium-style counters or grab supplì from Supplizio near Campo de’ Fiori.

Evening: Do as Romans do—passeggiata from the Trevi Fountain to the Spanish Steps. Dinner ideas: Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina (legendary carbonara and curated salumi), Armando al Pantheon (old-school Roman recipes; book ahead), or Da Enzo al 29 in Trastevere (rustic and beloved). Gelato after: Gelateria del Teatro (seasonal flavors like sage–raspberry) or Fatamorgana (creative, all-natural).

Day 2: Gladiators, Emperors, and the Capitoline

Morning: Fuel up with a cornetto at Pastificio Guerra (also famous for €-friendly pasta later) or a cappuccino at Tazza d’Oro. Then walk the arena where gladiators once stood:

Colosseum Arena Floor, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour

With special arena access, your guide brings the amphitheater to life before leading you through the Forum’s temples and Palatine’s imperial palaces.

Afternoon: Lunch near the Forums at Taverna dei Fori Imperiali (family-run; seasonal Roman fare) or Pizzeria Alle Carrette (thin, crisp pies). Continue to the Capitoline Museums for the She-Wolf and equestrian Marcus Aurelius; then duck into the quiet Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli next door.

Evening: Cross the Tiber into Trastevere. Aperitivo at Freni e Frizioni (canal-era building, generous snack spread), then dinner at Le Mani in Pasta (seafood pasta) or La Tavernaccia da Bruno (wood-fired meats, lasagna). Nightcap on ivy-draped Via della Scala.

Day 3: The Vatican, Sistine Splendor, and Trastevere Bites

Morning: Go early for fewer crowds. Book a priority-entry guided visit to absorb the Vatican’s labyrinth:

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

Marvel at the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine ceiling before stepping into St. Peter’s. Dress modestly (shoulders/knees covered). Consider the dome climb for sublime city views.

Afternoon: Stroll Via dei Coronari’s vintage shops toward Castel Sant’Angelo. Lunch at Pastasciutta (fresh, fast pasta in cups) or Panificio Bonci (focaccia sandwiches). Rest in Villa Borghese gardens if you crave green space.

Evening: Explore Rome by appetite with a celebrated neighborhood feast:

Winner 2025 Rome Twilight Trastevere Food Tour by Eating Europe

You’ll sample supplì, porchetta, artisanal gelato, and regional wines while meeting the makers behind the counter. A delicious way to learn the city’s culinary history.

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

Morning: Depart Rome for Florence by high-speed train (Frecciarossa/Italo ~1.5 hours, €20–60). Compare schedules and prices on Omio (trains in Europe). Aim for a mid-morning arrival to maximize your day.

Afternoon: Check in, then graze at Mercato Centrale’s upstairs food hall (try lampredotto, artisanal pasta, or truffle tagliolini). Visit the Duomo complex: admire Brunelleschi’s dome, the Baptistery’s “Gates of Paradise,” and Giotto’s bell tower. Coffee break at Ditta Artigianale (specialty roaster) or Caffè Scudieri (historic counter service).

Evening: Join locals on the Ponte Vecchio at golden hour, then climb or taxi up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the postcard skyline. Dinner ideas: Trattoria Sostanza (butter chicken and bistecca, old-school two-room spot), Trattoria Mario (lunchtime Tuscan classics; no-frills), or Il Santo Bevitore (modern Tuscan, excellent wine list). Nightcap at Procacci (truffle panini and bubbles) or wine bar Le Volpi e l’Uva.

Florence

Florence invented the Renaissance and still feels like a living atelier. Its compact historic center holds masterpieces at nearly every corner, from Brunelleschi’s engineering miracle to Botticelli’s mythic canvases. Across the river, the Oltrarno preserves artisan trades—goldsmithing, bookbinding, marbling—passed through generations.

• Top sights: Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia (Michelangelo’s David), Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Croce, Boboli Gardens, Oltrarno workshops.
• Fun fact: “Wine windows” (buchette del vino) embedded in palazzi served vino to-go during plagues; some reopened in recent years.
• Eat and drink: Ribollita (hearty bread-and-vegetable soup), bistecca alla fiorentina, schiacciata sandwiches, Chianti Classico, and cantucci with Vin Santo.

Where to stay (Florence):

• Iconic luxury: Four Seasons Hotel Firenze (private gardens and museum-caliber art).
• Stylish central: Grand Hotel Minerva (rooftop pool, Santa Maria Novella square).
• Excellent value: Hotel Davanzati (friendly, walk-to-everything base).
• Budget boutique: Hotel Santa Croce (quiet street near the basilica).
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com — Florence | VRBO — Florence

Getting around: Florence is walkable; taxis are useful late at night or for early trains. For flights out (FLR or PSA), compare on Omio (flights) or Trip.com flights for long-haul.

Day 5: Renaissance Greatest Hits—Uffizi, David, and Santa Croce

Morning: Cappuccino and a still-warm pastry at Caffè Gilli or Ditta Artigianale. Prebook the Uffizi (closed most Mondays)—trace painting’s leap from medieval gold grounds to humanist realism with Giotto, Botticelli, and Leonardo. Pause among the statues in the Vasari Corridor’s shadow for Arno views.

Afternoon: Quick lunch: schiacciata sandwiches at All’Antico Vinaio (go off-hours) or La Prosciutteria (salumi boards). Head to the Accademia to meet Michelangelo’s David—approach along the Prisoners for maximum drama. Swing by the leather artisans at the Scuola del Cuoio near Santa Croce.

Evening: Aperitivo at an Oltrarno spot around Piazza Santo Spirito (spritz plus small plates). Dinner picks: Trattoria 13 Gobbi (rigatoni in a clay pot), Buca Lapi (historic steak cellar), or Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco (wild boar specialties). Finish with gelato at La Carraia across the bridge.

Day 6: Full-Day Tuscan Escape—Hill Towns and Winery Lunch

Tuscany Day Trip from Florence: Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa and Lunch at a Winery

See Gothic Siena’s striped cathedral, stroll tower-studded San Gimignano, and cap it with a leisurely winery lunch and Chianti tasting. Many departures include Pisa’s Piazza dei Miracoli for a classic Leaning Tower photo. It’s a big day, but it stitches together Tuscany’s greatest hits with someone else at the wheel.

Day 7: Oltrarno Studios, Boboli Gardens, and Farewell

Morning: Espresso at Caffè Piansa, then browse Oltrarno workshops: goldsmiths on the Ponte Vecchio side streets, marbled paper, bespoke sandals. Art stop at the Pitti Palace courtyards before a restorative walk in the Boboli Gardens (Renaissance landscaping with views over olive-dotted hills).

Afternoon: Lunch in Santo Spirito—trippa sandwiches from a street cart or a sit-down plate of pappardelle al cinghiale. Last-minute shopping on Via Tornabuoni (Tuscan cashmere, perfume, artisan chocolates). Depart in the afternoon by train or flight—check schedules and fares on Omio trains and Omio flights; for long-haul routes, compare on Trip.com.

Evening: If you have one last night, book a sunset tasting: the Winner 2025 Florence Sunset Food & Wine Tour by Eating Europe pairs Tuscan wines with historic “wine windows,” artisan bites, and neighborhood lore.

Practical Notes

• Museum reservations: Book the Uffizi and Accademia in advance. Vatican and Colosseum skip-the-line tours save hours in peak months.
• Getting around: Central Rome and Florence are best on foot; use taxis late at night. High-speed trains link cities quickly—search on Omio.
• Dining: Italians dine later; many trattorie open at 7:30–8 pm. For the most popular spots, reserve or arrive right at opening.
• Etiquette: Shoulders and knees covered for major churches; bring a light scarf. Watch for pickpockets around the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and crowded buses.

Optional Add-On in Rome (time permitting)

If you find extra time, a fun, low-effort overview is the Rome by Golf Cart Private Tour: Beyond the Landmarks for hidden corners and hilltop panoramas without the miles.

In one week you’ll have traced the arc of Italian civilization—from imperial arenas to Renaissance studios—and tasted its living culture in coffee cups, wine glasses, and plates twirled with pasta. Keep your train apps handy, your restaurant list flexible, and your evenings open to serendipity. Italy rewards wanderers.