The Best of Italy: Rome, Florence and Venice

The Best of Italy trip was awesome! Be prepared to walk a lot. I averaged 10 to 12 thousand steps a day, as advertised. The program coordinator, lecturers, and expert guides were just great--so knowledgeable and quite fun! Their understanding of the intersection between art, religion, and politics was enlightening and inspiring. The group was fantastic. Thanks Road Scholars for all you do!

The Best!

This was the best Road Scholar program I have attended. It has a great itinerary and the guides are exceptional.

This was my first time to Italy and the trip was wonderful. Our tour director was incredible, every step of the trip was well planned out, our hotels were unique and we saw and learned so much. Can highly recommend this program!

When people ask me which was your favorite city, I say I loved something about each city. In Rome, it was going to the opera right around the corner from our hotel, and having a delicious dinner of (air)-fried artichoke and sea bass in the Jewish Quarter. Our guide Rachel was incredibly knowledgeable about the Forum and the Colosseum, as was the professor who gave us two lectures. In Florence, I finally got to see Bruneschelli's la Duomo, which I had read about in a book by Ross Pope King. I also enjoyed seeing the Vatican in Rome after reading King's account of Michelangelo's travails and artistic triumph. There were many sites I did not get to see that would make me want to return to both cities. In Venice, seeing how the Murano glass-craftsman creates his art was neat. On a return trip, I'd like to take a boat to the island. The Jewish Quarter was near our hotel, so I got to make a few trips to it, to see the synagogues and bring back meaningful souvenirs for my family. Mimmo, our group leader, worked nonstop to make everything go smoothly, keeping us on schedule, shepherding us to the train stations and through crowded areas. He paid careful attention to members of our group who needed special assistance. He was always upbeat and helped to create a sense of camaraderie among the 18 of us. I especially liked the hotels in Rome and Florence. The one in Rome served delicious breakfast brunches and had a delightful garden room on the roof. Rooms in Florence were as spacious as ones in U.S., and the hotel served the best meal ever, a rare sirloin (and I rarely ask for sirloin cooked rare!) The hotel in Venice had a quaint charm with Murano glass chandeliers, however the rooms were small, without a refrigerator or the ability to control the AC. Group meals in restaurants/hotels were variable, good when choices offered, not good when no choice available. I also would have preferred more outdoor excursions, such as the Borghese and Biboli gardens.

I would say this trip surpassed our expectations, thanks to Mimmo, our very talented and highly capable tour director. He communicated in an affable and convivial way with his American clientele; the rapport and connections he's developed with locals at Rome/Florence/Venice sites made for smooth navigations and transitions.

I have always wanted a trip to Italy and now I had the Perfect Trip. Great people on the trip and Mimmo, our Tour Director, is Magnifico! It opened my eyes to history that I did not know. So informative and a wonderful experience.

The Best Of Italy was such an enjoyable adventure of learning, sightseeing, and eating with our small group with enough free time to explore on our own that I have recommended it to several friends already.

The activity level was exactly as described. A fun way visit the three cities in Italy.

Italy- Rome, Florence and Venice is the best of the best. Best lecturers, best guides, great places to stay in the heart of each city. Indescribably delicious food no matter where you eat- with the tour or on your own. This is just a break-taking adventure not to be missed.

This was our 17th Road Scholar trip. Each of the trips was unique and wonderful in its own way. This trip was wonderful and educational, also.

The Best of Italy trip was wonderful! I'm so glad I went. Our guide, Bruna, was knowledgeable and very attentive. Most of all she was fun and helped bring the sights to life. I enjoyed Florence and Venice most. The hotels, trains and general accommodations were very good. If I had one thing I would say as an improvement, it would be that pace of the trip could be a little bit slower. Sometimes, I could barely keep up to take in the venue, and take a picture. Perhaps one less venue a day and a little more time to linger and take a short rest would be my suggestion. Overall, this was a wonderful trip.

Italy is very crowded so select early spring or late fall dates. Beautiful country that has been discovered by too many people…

The "Best of Italy: Rome, Florence, and Venice" was an amazing adventure. Each city provided a different look back into trade, religion, and art. They were all different but each one added to the experience. If you want something made of leather, get it in Florence before you leave!

Our guides were amazing, they were able to anticipate every glitch and assure smooth sailing through crowded venues. Our local guides were highly trained, as well as being charming and entertaining in their presentation of art and history.

5 stars! This was a wonderful overview of the most interesting sites and historical art/monuments in all 3 cities. The food was great, the hotels were older, but adequate. Our guide, Enzo, was superb. He went out of his way to make sure everyone was well taken care of and got the best experience from the trip. The presenters were excellent as well. We had some pretty cold, rainy and windy weather in Venice, but everyone took it in stride. This is a very high activity trip, so if you can't walk 5-8 miles per day and do lots of stairs and uneven ground, this isn't your trip. There has never been a time in my life that I said, "Wow!" so much. Highly recommend this wonderful trip!

The Best of Italy was an outstanding educational trip. Enzo Mangini was so knowledgeable and accommodating. We were able to use all our time productively even when the weather became a little rainy. The local guides were so good too. I will highly recommend Road Scholar tours to my friends and acquaintances. Margaret Stewart

Learned so much. wonderful Bruna. Guides were awesome - one a little snarky in Rome....be careful Rome having a Jubilee Year in 2025. It was so crowded it will be worse. Mess up with transportation of vans - one came - other two were MIA - we were waiting on a crowded corner waiting to go to the museum.....truthfully food in Rome very disappointing. Many people did not finish their meals, even the pasta was XXXXX When we had free nights and went to dinner on our own, the food was fantastic. Hotel had great food, restaurants not so good. The first timers were asking me if this is what Road Scholar is about since they knew I had a wonderful experience in Portugal. Thank goodness when we arrived in Florence and Venice the food/restaurants definitely got much better and we all enjoyed. We did have lots of TLC getting into programs not offered to tourists. By the end of the trip everyone forgot about the issues in Rome and we had a great time.

The Best of Italy, Rome, Florence & Venice is a Fantastic Program, very educational & fun! A trip of a lifetime for me, I will never forget!!

My husband and I had a wonderful time exploring Italy on this trip. Our RS guide, Cristina, was knowledgeable about the cities we travel and was extremely patient with us as a group and all our unique personalities. I had wised we had another day(or 2) in both Florence and Venice. Both cities have so much to offer and I felt we could have benefited from additional time. We appreciated the daily schedules and planning that went into navigating the ever changing tourist influx Italy had this past year, especially in Rome and at the Vatican. This was our first European RS trip and was are looking forward to scheduling another in the future!

I truly enjoyed the trip: well-thought-out programs/itineraries, great transportation services, nice accommodations, and most importantly, wonderful group leader, Lara Mattioli, and lovely classmates :-)

This is the only way to see a new country. This program prepares you for the trip of a lifetime. Organized, educational and fun!

I really do not like saying this; however, my wife and I were very disappointed with Road Scholar. You would think that the name of the company would denote a rather rigorous academic part of the trip. We were not please that the lectures were few and far between and were very rushed in presentation. The presenter were good, but needed much more time to go over the materials and answer questions. The guides were very good and the leader of our group was fantastic. We were always felt cared for and safe. She was the highlight of the trip crew. There was all too much free time. It seemed a somewhat lazy way. For example we had all afternoon in Florence one day. We could have been in another musicum or some other group activity. Will we do another Road Scholar trip - perhaps not.

This program fulfilled my life long dream to travel to Italy. The guided tours and lectures meant I learn more and understood more than I would have if I'd travelled on my own. Thanks to this experience, I would feel comfortable traveling to these cities again, on my own.

I would highly recommend this trip.

Road Scholar's - Best of Italy - Rome, Florence and Venice is a great program with enough time in each location to absorb the history and culture of these ancient cities. The educational instructors and guides provide excellent insight to the sites visited. We will definitely go on another tour.

Of the five Road Scholar trips we have participated in, this was, by far, the best, especially if you are, like us, new to Italy.

This was one of the best trips we have ever taken. Erika Morri was fantastic and all the tour guides were exceptional. It was one of the most flawless, enjoyable trips we've had and I've been to Italy two other times. Thank you for a wonderful program we will remember forever. It was our first experience with Road Scholar and we are now sold. Theresa & Chuck

My husband and I went on our first Road Scholar trip to Italy in September 2023. It was fantastic! We enjoyed the sites, the learning, the food and our group of 17. We had so much fun getting to know them and sharing this wonderful experience. We strongly recommend Road Scholar and plan to book another trip soon!

Excellent experience! Well planned and executed tour. Lovely accommodations and food. SO much to see in Italy! Bring your sneakers!

Amazing. The biggest event of my life. Everything was perfect. !!!

We went in early summer 2023. Overall I would highly recommend this tour. Road Scholar put together terrific cultural content, hotels were very good, fellow travelers very good. If you're into really good food, the included meals on this program were not consistently good. Some were less than good; others good.

Excellent introduction to the Big 3 of Italy. Lots of walking to museums and standing once there, more strenuous than you might think.

This program was excellent! It w as my first RS trip, and it exceeded my expectations. Accommodations and meals were outstanding. Our group leader was kind, professional and kept us organized for each day's activities. I learned a lot from the lectures and the expert led tours. Bravo RS!

This was an excellent experience with an outstanding leader to some of the most historical and beautiful places in Italy.

We just completed our first Road Scholar trip, "The Best of Italy, Florence and Venice." Given our wonderful experience, it will not be our last! The program itinerary was spot on, we left having seen it all. The lectures, guides and presenters were very knowledgeable in their field. We really felt like we were on an educational journey throughout Italy. Our only regret will be that we won't have Lara Mattiolli as a Group Leader on future Road Scholar trips, as she was the best!

The guides provided extremely helpful expertise and insight to the places and the artwork, much more than if I had just gone to see the sites on my own.

Loved this trip. Particularly liked the Florence segment (lectures, hotel, food, tours). Well organized and great leader Alessio. Thank-you!

My first trip but not my last with Road Scholar. "Best of Italy" with a small group visiting Rome, Florence, and Venice was filled with sights and history of Italy with informative lectures and expert guides to the Museums and attractions provided by Road Scholar Itinerary were valuable in my experience. Road Scholar Group Leader "Lara" made it very enjoyable and memorable. Great representative and Ambassador to Italy & Road Scholar.

Our trip to Rome, Florence and Venice was fantastic. Don't go to Italy unless you go Road Scholar!

As always, Road Scholar provided good educational experiences and gave me a greater appreciation for Italian art and the historical significance of the artists, architects, engineers, and patrons. Remarkable sites steeped in history. Plenty of walking, but not more than explained in the trip information. Enjoyed meeting the other travelers as well.

This is a wonderful trip for anyone who is visiting Italy for the first time. You will learn about the culture, history, geography and food of the 3 major cities in Italy. Transportation by bullet train, vaporetto, and gondola make the trip uniquely Italian. Food is excellent all cities, and lodging is provided in boutique hotels that provide a uniquely European experience. I highly recommend this trip for first time or experienced travelers.

This program is great! Starting with the history and art that is Rome, through the fantastic art in a much more mellow Florence, to the unique experience that Venice provides. High speed trains between cities (business class!) helped to keep the transitions short.

The trip was great! Met so many nice people. Itinerary was perfect. Loved the high-speed rail. Cristina did an amazing job. Good balance of scheduled activities and free time. I travel with Road Scholar because of the educational opportunities. I was not disappointed. Food was amazing. Hotels were lovely and location was excellent. I prefer hotels in the heart of a city. This way we can just walk out the door and explore. And that's what we did.

Unforgettable experience learning about Italy's Renaissance in art, politics, and modern Italy's lifestyle and food!

This trip was truly amazing. We love the immersive style and the quality of Road Scholar's curated planning. It was a perfect trip made easy.

We wanted an educational format for Rome, Florence and Venice and we were really happy to get that! We feel we had a richer experience in the ancient sites and museums and other visits due to the rich backgrounds RS gave us. Cristina took us all over expertly, and we had great lectures and local guides. Lots of food, wine and gelato were consumed! As first-time RS customers, we hope to be back!

A fabulous introduction to these renowned cities - museums, cathedrals, other sights, and the food...!!!

My wife and I have just completed a 12 day tour of Rome, Florence and Venice. The trip was outstandingly produced and our guide Barbara attended to all of our wants and needs. We were a tour group of 16 including 2 solos and we all meshed together well, thanks to Barbara. The content was fabulous and intellectually stimulating, the pace and accommodations were perfect. Thank you Roads Scholar. Mike Ross

It was a great trip. I wished we could of stayed in some museums longer. Our tour guide was great. She handle situations and made us all feel we were important. It was lovely traveling in a small group. Thank you!

Opened my mind to the resilience of the Italian culture from ancient times that has permeated to today.

Great trip of the sights in Rome, Florence and Venice! Lots of focus on art history and the church’s influence. Be sure to pay heed to the activity level in this program! We walked 15 to 20 thousand wonderful steps a day and LOTS of stairs! Italy is my favorite country to travel to! The food is wonderful, the sights breathtaking and the people so fun!

This was a wonderful trip! Our group leader, Barbara Gigi, made the difference in exploring these wonderful, ancient-yet-ever-new cities. I would highly recommend this trip-- and this leader-- to all who are looking for a historical and art-infused adventure!

This was a great experience. I learned so much! It was a very fun, safe, learning adventure led by experienced knowledgeable staff. It was very well coordinated. Loved it and can't wait for my next Road Scholar experience!

For my first European experience I could not have selected a better program. The tour guide was not only affable but very knowledgeable and strove to accommodate the needs of her group. I came away from my trip with a greater appreciation for Italy and the Italian culture.

This program was incredible! I learned so much and it widened my worldview. I highly recommend it!

Our tour leader was exceptional as a person and as a leader. She handled challenging situations with excellent decision-making and communication. Her competency allowed me to just relax and enjoy the program.

I chose RS to go to Italy because I had heard only good reviews from acquaintances. I was reasonable knowledge about the history and art of Italy, but the presentations and lectures added another layer of enjoyment to the trip. My tour mates were great, helping and taking care of each other, engaging in good conversation and sharing knowledge and bringing enthusiasm to the journey. I do not know how to express my gratitude to the wonderful tour leader Erika. She made our trip a memorable one.

Excellent educational experience, but do do the reading. Logistics were incredibly smooth Very comfortable lodging & food

The Italy -- Rome, Florence and Venice -- program was wonderfully academic, intellectual, aesthetic, sensual, and collegial, a fabulous way to experience a first time travel for my wife and me. We are very pleased with the experience.

This trip has it all! The three cities and a variety of experiences in each one with a remarkably good guide and local experts. Enough free time, wonderful food and all the mandatory historic and artistic sites. Everything was fun, informative, good food and lodging, and lots of good company.

This was my first trip to Italy, and after reading books and viewing photos of the places we visited for years, I was thrilled to actually see them in person. Actually seeing the Coliseum, the Duomo, St. Peter's, the Sistine Chapel, St. Marks, and all of the famous works of art housed in the churches and museums we visited in those cities was a dream come true. The group leader was fantastic, the tour guides and lecturers were highly knowledgeable, the accommodations were comfortable, the food was excellent, and the other group members were friendly and welcoming. As a solo traveler, I can't wait for my next trip!

This was genuinely a wonderful experience. It took 3 tries to get to Italy from 2019 until Oct. 2021, but it was so worth the wait! I'm a retired Quantitative Analysis Instructor so I did not expect to THOROUGHLY enjoy all I learned about art, but I certainly did! I appreciated the Covid-19 precautions at all locations and going to Italy when tourism was 20% of its pre-Covid numbers was an added value in our trip. Our leader, Bruna Baravelli was a major factor in making this trip so successful. She was amazing. My advice to others considering this Tour is to come prepared for the activity level which was Let's Go!. At home we walk a couple of miles 5 days a week and pre-covid we regularly got our 10K daily steps so we thought we were ready. 18 months of enforced staying home made us a bit soft I guess, and we found we were quite tired in the evenings. Of course, I've never been 68 before, so maybe that's the reason?? We got up everyday excited about the day's activities and then came home after 2 weeks blissfully tired! Enjoy YOUR adventure. Cathy Martin in Leander, TX

This program provides excellent insights into the history and art of Italy and especially the renaissance in a safe, enjoyable manner.

An excellent overview of Rome, Florence and Venice. Geared for travelers who can walk 5 miles a day and stand for long periods at a time.

I just got back from this trip and had a great time! Our leader, Nancy, was excellent and really looked after us. We were lucky as far as the weather and lack of crowds went. That really made a difference in the Vatican and especially the Sistine Chapel. But Italy does an excellent job of making people feel safe by enforcing mask wearing inside and checking Covid vaccination certificates. All of the guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. Be sure to check out the Ice Bar in Rome. I would also recommend taking a river taxi in Venice to the seafood restaurant, Trattoria alla Madonna. If you go around sunset you will have some fabulous photo opportunities!

The Road Scholar experience is first-rate!The tours are well-organized, the tour guides are personable, helpful, knowledgeable. The trips are full of activities, yet allow ample time to explore on one's own. I have traveled with two other companies and Road Scholar is outstanding! can't imagine a better experience with any other company.

History of the Catholic Church in Italy

I just returned from the Best of Italy trip. It was amazing, way beyond my expectations. The sites, activities, and lectures were exceptional. Group leader Nancy B was awesome. She is highly organized, informative, experienced, with an awesome sense of humor. Likely everyone in our group will be saying, "Andiamo" to family, friends, pets in the future. I wasn't sure what to expect physically. I would say we walked 3-5 miles per day. The pace was not excessive and everyone appeared comfortable. I envisioned racing through the streets of Italy and that was not the case at all. There was, however, a lot of standing in galleries, museums, churches, etc. Good walking shoes are a must. Our group was awesome and we truly enjoyed each other's company. Italy truly came alive for me and I highly recommend the trip. Ciao!

The Best of Italy is a great way to learn about and see the art and architecture of Italy.

If you're looking to hit the 3 big cities in Italy, this program is absolutely made for you.

This was a fabulous trip. The instructors were wonderful. My husband and I went to a museum on our own in Venice and missed the docent. I want to go back.

The Best of Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice) was an amazing trip! I highly recommend it for anyone. Our group had so much fun, we learned so much, and ate wonderful food, (even for the vegetarians in the group)! We all loved Fabio. He was a wonderful leader! If you want to go see Italy, take this tour!!

This trip was a dream come true! Road Scholar makes all the arrangements, so you can focus your attention on the glorious art and architecture of these wonderful cities.

This tour was an excellent introduction to Italy. You will learn a lot and be continually fascinated.

If you seek new learning experiences, then a Road Scholar tour needs to be on your bucket list. Their instructors are top notch sharing with you their expertise to make your tour more enjoyable. You certainly get your money’s worth.

I thought the program was well-organized and met all my needs in relation to services and our tour guides were the best!

This was a Trip-of-a-Lifetime for me. I loved the educational component and how that helped to make the museum visits have so much more meaning. The leaders were informed, organized and supportive. The pace was lively, and the other participants were interesting and interested.

The tour of Italy with Marco and Lara was fabulous. I choose Road Scholar’s travel company so from my home airport and back to my home airport RS took care of 100% of my needs except when we had free time and then our leaders gave idea and directions! Great trip!

NO FAT...ALL LEAN PROGRAMMING

This trip was truly fantastic. The intellectual curiosity of the leaders, faculty and participants was invigorating, and the activities and experiences well-exceeded my expectations.

This was a wonderful trip! The guides were great. I had new adventures in the cities. We were always on the go doing interesting things. I met many new friends!

An outstanding program. Fast paced and exciting. You would see and learn a lot. Beautiful cities, famous museums, historical monuments, great food, etc. Group leaders were great.

Great experience! I'd do it again in a heartbeat.