Guide Training: Heart of Italy in 9 Days

You'll get at least 15 group sightseeing events — at no extra cost!

Plus you'll get all this, too.

• A small, friendly group of 24–28 people — half the size of most tour groups
• Full-time services of a professional Rick Steves guide and local experts who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of Italy come alive for you
• All group transportation from Rome to Florence
• 8 nights' accommodations in memorable, centrally located hotels
• All breakfasts and 4 other meals
• All tips for guides and driver
• A tour kit including a guidebook and a moneybelt
• Guaranteed tour price, locked in the moment you make your deposit
• Tour alum discount of $50 for each tour you've taken with us
• Flexibility should you need to transfer or cancel your tour

Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing. See our Tour Conditions for important details regarding everything listed above.

Group sightseeing events subject to change.

Day 1: Welcome to Italy

We'll gather for a get-acquainted meeting at 3 p.m. at our hotel in Rome. After an orientation walk through our neighborhood, we'll learn about the city's transportation system. Then we'll enjoy a fountain-splashing, la dolce vita trek through the heart of Rome, soaking up the city's evening ambience at the classy Piazza Navona and Baroque Trevi Fountain before enjoying our first Italian dinner together at a favorite restaurant.

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. No bus. Sleep in Rome.

Day 2: Ancient Rome

This morning, we’ll meet an expert local guide for a tour of St. Peter-in-Chains Church, home to Michelangelo's sculptural masterpiece, Moses. After, we'll embark on a tour through Ancient Rome as we walk around the outside of the larger-than-life Colosseum and through the Roman Forum (the center of the ancient city). After lunch together, we will spend time discussing RSE’s philosophy and approach to teaching history and art. You are free for dinner on your own.

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. No bus. Sleep in Rome.

Day 3: Orvieto and the Heart of Umbria

This morning we'll leave the city and drive into Umbria, arriving at the deservedly famous hill town of Orvieto, where we’ll drop our bags off at our hotel and hit the ground walking on an orientation tour. You’ll be free for lunch with time to check in before joining the group to delve into understanding the Rick Steves mission and philosophy. This evening we’ll get to know each other better at a fun-filled happy hour, followed by dinner together.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. No bus. Bus: 2 hours. Sleep in Orvieto.

Day 4: All Day in Orvieto

This morning, we'll visit Orvieto’s Cathedral and artistic masterpiece, the San Brizio Chapel. After a break for lunch, we’ll gather again to practice the art of delivering a great talk, followed by further sessions learning what makes a Rick Steves tour unique. This evening we’ll gather for an aperitivo and share group bonding ideas, followed by dinner on our own.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day, mostly on level terrain. No bus. Sleep in Orvieto.

Day 5: Market Day and Managing Tour Members

Today we’ll explore the weekly market together and learn how to introduce this European tradition to the North Americans. You’ll have some free time to poke around Orvieto’s back lanes before we regroup at our hotel to learn how we manage Tour Member expectations, and handle emergencies and other unfortunate incidents that happen on tour. Plus, we'll go over the support network you can expect while guiding our groups. You're free for lunch today, but we’ll enjoy dinner together tonight.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day, mostly on level terrain. No bus. Sleep in Orvieto.

Day 6: To Florence and the Renaissance

Today we'll make our way to Florence, the epicenter of the Renaissance, and take a walking tour of the city's historic center, learning about Brunelleschi's magnificent cathedral dome, Ghiberti's Baptistery doors, and other creations that helped define this world-changing era. This evening, we’ll gather to reflect on what we’ve learned followed by dinner together.

Light to strenuous walking (your choice). Bus 2 hours. Sleep Florence.

Day 7: Tour Over After Breakfast

Breakfast is provided, and the tour ends after breakfast. Florence’s airport is a handy tram ride away. Arrivederci!

Itinerary specifics subject to change.

Our tours are physically active! It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. On our Heart of Italy in 9 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily…

1. Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks) and up stairways to reach your hotel, then up several flights of stairs to reach your room.
2. Be on your feet, walking and standing, for up to four hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions.
3. Sleep with street noise and no (or weak) air conditioning.
4. After orientation and transportation lessons, be able to navigate towns and cities on your own.

Any time between March and October is a good time to take a Heart of Italy tour. However, the months of April, May, September, and October are best for combining the convenience of peak season with the most pleasant weather. Visiting in March offers the benefit of missing out on the sweat, stress, and crowds of the tourist season, along with cool and crisp weather.

Italy / Florence

Italy / Rome

Tour Hotels

In case you wish to book pre- or post-tour hotel accommodations, the contact information for the tour's first and last hotels is included in your tour confirmation email as well as in the Itinerary section of your tour account. One month prior to the tour departure, you'll find the directions to your first tour hotel and a complete list of hotels where we'll be staying while on tour in the Documents section of your tour account.

Flights

Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements and transfers are completely up to you.

Most tour members arrange to fly into Rome (FCO) and out of Florence (FLR) — choose "multicity" on flight-booking websites. Booking round-trip to one city will require a connecting flight, train trip, or additional overnight stay in Italy.

We suggest arriving a day or two before your tour begins to allow ample time to get over jet lag and be well-rested for the first few days of your tour. For more information about transportation options for getting to and from your tour, see your Rick Steves Italy guidebook.