Celebrate Italy on a journey that will have you admiring the artistic masterpieces of Florence, tasting wines and olive oils at an agriturismo in Tuscany, walking the medieval streets of Siena, and exploring Rome's magnificent sites with a private guide.

Request a Tailor-Made Itinerary Request Itinerary or Ask Us A Question or Call 855-215-8690
 Panorama of Florence at dusk
Panorama of Florence at dusk
 The iconic Duomo in Florence
The iconic Duomo in Florence
 The Palazzo Vecchio at dusk, Florence
The Palazzo Vecchio at dusk, Florence
 Michelangelo's <i>David</i>, at the Accademia. Credit: John Kellerman/Alamy
Michelangelo's David, at the Accademia. Credit: John Kellerman/Alamy
 Botticelli's <i>The Birth of Venus</i> in the Uffizi in Florence
Botticelli's The Birth of Venus in the Uffizi in Florence
 Traveling with a small group of freinds
Traveling with a small group of freinds
 Exploring sites your way
Exploring sites your way
 A reunion of women friends
A reunion of women friends
 Enjoying a reunion in Italy
Enjoying a reunion in Italy
 Taking a break over gelato
Taking a break over gelato
 Exploring the arts of Florence with your daughter
Exploring the arts of Florence with your daughter
 Wine tasting in Italy
Wine tasting in Italy
 Enjoying the wine and food of Italy
Enjoying the wine and food of Italy
 A lesson in making pasta
A lesson in making pasta
 The Campo in Siena
The Campo in Siena
 The facade and distinctive belltower of Siena's cathedral
The facade and distinctive belltower of Siena's cathedral
 Vineyards and San Gimignano
Vineyards and San Gimignano
 The Colosseum of Rome
The Colosseum of Rome
 The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum
 St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City
St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City
 Interior of St. Peter's Basilica with Bernini's Baldocchio
Interior of St. Peter's Basilica with Bernini's Baldocchio
 Michelangelo's iconic Sistine Chapel ceiling
Michelangelo's iconic Sistine Chapel ceiling

Culture, Art, and Cuisine of Italy: A Tailor-Made Journey

From Florence to Rome

10 days from $7,995

Celebrate Italy on a journey that will have you admiring the artistic masterpieces of Florence, tasting wines and olive oils at an agriturismo in Tuscany, walking the medieval streets of Siena, and exploring Rome's magnificent sites with a private guide.

Request a Tailor-Made Itinerary

or call 855-215-8690
Accommodations

* Click on hotel name to visit hotel web-site.

Hotel Bernini Palace

Florence, Italy

A luxury hotel in the center of Florence, the Hotel Bernini Palace is situated in a 15th-century palace with a storied history. Rooms and public spaces are appointed with period décor and antiques and equipped with modern amenities. The hotel features a  fine-dining restaurant and a handsome bar and lounge, and breakfast is served under a fresco-covered ceiling in the former Parliament Hall. The Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery are just steps away.

Badia a Coltibuono

Chianti, Italy

On a hilltop in Chianti, the Badia a Coltibuono is an enchanting 11th-century monastery that has been transformed into a family-owned agriturismo. Guestrooms are beautifully refurbished monk’s cells—or private apartments—and the restaurant is housed within the former stables. The property includes extensive gardens, a pool, and intimate courtyards, as well as a working farm and vineyards. Wines and olive oils are produced here, and the wine cellar is well worth a visit. 

Crossing Condotti

Rome, Italy

While the Crossing Condotti does not have either a breakfast room or restaurant, and even the reception is very small, what available space they have has been allocated to the rooms. This has created a hotel offering a high standard of accommodation in an excellent location that is very good value for money. There is a small kitchen with tea, coffee, juice and snacks, and due to the location there are a number of excellent options for breakfast within a short distance. The rooms are well-designed, all with queen or twin sized beds, en suite bathrooms with rain showers, and a large TV with English language channels.

Gift Membership – Friends of Smithsonian

When you travel on a tailor-made journey, you will receive a Friends of the Smithsonian Archivist Circle membership*. Benefits include:

  • A Smithsonian annual engagement calendar with full-color images of exceptional art and artifacts, mailed in the fall.
  • Subscription to Smithsonian, the award-winning magazine of the arts, sciences, and history. Early access to Smithsonian magazine produced events.
  • Invitations to four exclusive virtual programs for Friends of the Smithsonian members with Smithsonian experts.
  • 10% discount in Smithsonian Museum Stores (good on purchases up to $200); 10% discount with the SmithsonianStore.com, and Folkways Recordings
  • Recognition in the Friends of the Smithsonian Honor Roll, displayed electronically on the National Mall in the Membership Reception Center
  • Special member rate for tickets to the Smithsonian’s IMAX® theaters and Einstein Planetarium.
  • Free admission to the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City.
  • A complimentary copy of the annual Smithsonian museum guidebook.
  • Invitation to a special welcome event for new members at a Smithsonian venue.

*Offer only available for first-time Smithsonian members. 

Reading List

Highly Recommended

Italy in Mind: An Anthology
The Food of Italy
By: Waverley Root
DK Eyewitness Italy (Travel Guide)
By: DK Eyewitness
La Bella Figura: A Field Guide to the Italian Mind
By: Severgnini, Beppe

Also Recommended

Lonely Planet Italian Phrasebook & Dictionary 8
By: Iagnocco, Pietro, Beltrami, Anna, Cicioni, Mirna, Coates, Karina, Walker, Susie
City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas
By: Crowley, Roger
Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture
By: King, Ross
April Blood: Florence and the Plot against the Medici
By: Martines, Lauro
SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome
By: Beard, Mary
The Renaissance: A Short History (Modern Library Chronicles)
By: Johnson, Paul
La Bella Lingua: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language
By: Hales, Dianne
The Italians
By: Hooper, John
Delizia!: The Epic History of the Italians and Their Food
By: Dickie, John
The Complete Italian Cookbook: 200 Classic and Contemporary Italian Dishes Made for the Modern Kitchen (Complete Cookbook Collection)
By: The Coastal Kitchen
D. H. Lawrence and Italy: Sketches from Etruscan Places, Sea and Sardinia, Twilight in Italy (Penguin Classics)
By: Lawrence, D. H.
Death at La Fenice: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery
By: Leon, Donna
Smithsonian Journeys Quarterly (Winter 2015 - Venice)
24x36 World Wall Map by Smithsonian Journeys - Tan Oceans Special Edition (24x36 Laminated)

*As an Amazon Associate, Smithsonian Journeys earns from qualifying purchases.

Travel Insurance

For the convenience of our travelers, Smithsonian Journeys includes a basic medical expense and evacuation plan through Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand, at no additional charge. This plan provides post-departure Medical and Dental coverage of $250,000 per person and Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage of $1,000,000 per person (U.S. Residents Only). Note: For full details regarding these coverages please review the following Plan Documents here.

In addition, we recommend that travelers purchase a travel protection plan to help protect their travel investment from unforeseen events such as cancellation due to illness, flight delays due to adverse weather, baggage loss, and more. For your convenience, Smithsonian Journeys offers an optional Travel Protection Plan administered by Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand. For those interested, optional "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage is available for an additional charge. Note: Certain eligibility requirements apply and Cancel for Any Reason coverage is not available to New York residents. For full details regarding this coverage please review the following Plan Documents here.

To learn more about the Travel Protection Plan, you may visit https://www.generalipartner.com/smithsonianjourneys or call the administrator, Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand at (866) 501-3252.

Related Tours