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Rick Steves' Heart of Italy Tour, Day by Day
Tight on time? This tour is Rick's personal "best of" distillation of our Best of Italy tour. Beginning with the "must-see" sights of the Eternal City of Rome, your Rick Steves guide will help you experience the very heart of this remarkable country: the Tuscan hill-town ambience of Volterra, harbor-hugging villages of the Cinque Terre, and the amazing art of Renaissance Florence. Along the way, you'll enjoy Italy's distinctive culture, countryside charm, robust wine, and farm-fresh cuisine. Tag along on this slideshow preview of our Heart of Italy in 9 Days tour…Andiamo!
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Day 1: Welcome to Italy
We'll start with a get-acquainted meeting 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, dolce vita trek through the heart of Rome, soaking up the evening ambience in the city's classy piazzas and the Baroque Trevi Fountain before enjoying our first Italian dinner together at a favorite restaurant.
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Day 2: The Backstreets of Rome
This morning we'll take a more intimate look at Rome above and below ground. We'll uncover the layers of Piazza Navona and embark on a colorful backstreets walking tour through the center of the city. Your afternoon is free to explore more of the Eternal City on your own. Consider a modern-day pilgrimage to St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel or simply soak up more of Rome's artistic, historic, and cultural heritage (don't forget to taste some refreshing gelato along the way).
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Day 3: Ancient Rome and the Heart of Tuscany
This morning, we'll do some time-traveling as a local guide takes us on a walking tour through the heart of Ancient Rome. We'll see the remarkably preserved 2,000-year-old Pantheon, hear vivid tales as we stroll around the larger-than-life Colosseum, and end in the history-drenched Roman Forum. Then, we'll say arrivederci to Rome and drive into the heart of Tuscany and our final destination for today — the highest of hill towns, Volterra. This evening we'll enjoy a hearty Tuscan feast together at a favorite local restaurant.
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Day 4: All Day in the Hill Town of Volterra
This morning, we'll take a walking tour with a local guide who'll make Volterra's traditions and history come alive. We'll also visit an alabaster workshop and tour the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum, one of Italy's best places to learn about this mysterious pre-Roman civilization. Then you'll have time to poke around the ancient lanes on your own. We'll regroup later this afternoon to learn about and taste some of the region's famous wines, followed by dinner on your own.
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Day 5: The Italian Riviera
Today we say goodbye to our rustic Tuscan hill town and head to a mountainous and seductive stretch of the Ligurian coast. On the way, we'll stop in the countryside at a local family-run olive farm and sample some of the region's tastiest products. Then we'll wind our way to our seaside getaway, nestled along the harbor-hugging villages of the Italian Riviera. You'll have plenty of free time to explore the area's unique mix of Italian culture and nature before we gather this evening for dinner at a local family restaurant.
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Day 6: Exploring the Cinque Terre
You'll take a "vacation from your vacation" today in our Mediterranean getaway. You may choose to hike the famous cliffside paths, taking in lots of fresh air and panoramic views between Cinque Terre villages. Or pick a village where you can spend your day exploring the stairways and alleyways, sunning yourself on the rocks, or sipping cappuccino or vino while catching up on your journal at an outdoor café.
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Day 7: Renaissance Florence and David
Today we'll drive to Tuscany's Renaissance epicenter, Florence, where we'll hit the streets for a Renaissance 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. We'll end our tour at the Accademia Gallery to marvel at works of sculptural genius: Michelangelo's rough-hewn Prisoners and his greatest masterpiece, David. Then you'll be free to find a special trattoria for dinner on your own.
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Day 8: The Uffizi Gallery
This morning we'll devote our time to the breathtaking Renaissance art of the Uffizi — home to the finest collection of Italian paintings anywhere — including masterpieces by Leonardo, Botticelli, Michelangelo, and more. The afternoon is yours to visit more of the city's art-filled churches and museums, or browse the colorful markets. As it's our final night together, we'll have a grand dinner to share travel memories and toast new friends. Salute!
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Day 9: Arrivederci!
It's a breeze to reach Florence's airport by taxi or shuttle bus. Your guide will help you with any post-tour planning, leaving you well prepared for the road ahead. Grazie e ciao!
Ready to go? We still have plenty of seats available on our 2025 summer and fall departures.
Itinerary specifics subject to change.