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Italy Itinerary: La Bella Vita – Rome, Florence & Lake Como Luxury

  • Rome, Florence, Venice (day trip), Milan & Lake Como
  • 9 nights / 11 days, starting at $9,000 per person

Live la bella vita on a tailor-made journey through Italy’s most celebrated cities and its most romantic lake. Begin in Rome, where ancient wonders and golden-lit piazzas set the tone. Drift through Renaissance Florence and its world-class galleries, slip across to Venice for a day on the water, then finish among the cypress-lined shores and storied villas of Lake Como — including a private cruise to Villa del Balbianello, the dreamlike estate film fans know as the “Star Wars Villa.”

Explore all our Italy luxury travel options here, or continue your journey into France with an onward stay in Paris.

Top Highlights

  • Private cruise on Lake Como to Villa del Balbianello — the "Star Wars Villa," with a guided tour of its terraced gardens and historic interiors
  • Skip-the-line guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica
  • Explore the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill with a licensed private guide
  • Stand before Michelangelo's David at the Accademia and tour the masterpiece-filled Uffizi Gallery in Florence
  • A first-class train day trip to Venice with a private walking tour of St. Mark's Square and the canals
  • A scenic stop in the hilltop town of Orvieto en route to Florence
  • Guided Milan highlights — the Duomo rooftop terraces and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
  • Lakeside lunch and Prosecco on board your private boat on Lake Como

What’s Included

We design unforgettable and luxurious journeys just for you. Our bespoke trips include:

  • Boutique and luxury hotel accommodations
  • Daily breakfast at your hotels
  • All private transfers, including airport meet-and-greet
  • First-class train travel between cities
  • Private guided tours and skip-the-line entrances as listed
  • A private boat experience on Lake Como with English-speaking captain
  • Full support from your dedicated travel designer and our on-the-ground team, 24/7

Itinerary

A Note on Customization:

This itinerary is a starting point. We can adjust the pace, upgrade accommodation, add extra cities, extend into Morocco, or layer in exclusive experiences at the monastery — all tailored to how you like to travel.

Arrive in Rome

Rome

Begin your Italian escape in the Eternal City. On arrival, your private driver meets you at the airport for a seamless transfer to your hotel, leaving the rest of the day free to settle in and wander the nearby piazzas, cafés and trattorias at your own unhurried pace.

The next morning, step inside the Vatican Museums with skip-the-line access and a professional guide. Marvel at the Gallery of Maps, the Gallery of the Tapestries and Michelangelo’s extraordinary frescoes before entering the Sistine Chapel. Your guide then leads you through St. Peter’s Basilica, revealing the art and architecture beneath its iconic dome, finishing in the grandeur of St. Peter’s Square.

Another day belongs to ancient Rome. Explore the Colosseum — the mighty Flavian Amphitheatre — and hear the stories of its gladiatorial spectacles and engineering genius. Continue to Palatine Hill, the legendary birthplace of Rome, and stroll the Roman Forum, once the beating heart of the ancient world.

SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION: ALBERGO OTTOCENTO

Florence (via Orvieto)

Depart Rome by private transfer toward Florence, pausing in the enchanting hilltop town of Orvieto for free time to explore its dramatic cathedral and medieval lanes. Arrive in Florence in time to enjoy the evening at leisure.

Give a full day to Florence’s treasures on a guided experience through the city’s most celebrated landmarks. Walk the historic centre — Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, the Duomo and Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery and the Ponte Vecchio — then enjoy skip-the-line entry to the Accademia Gallery to admire Michelangelo’s David, followed by a guided tour of the world-famous Uffizi Gallery, home to works by Botticelli, Leonardo and more.

Another day takes you further afield: travel by first-class train through the Italian countryside to Venice. A local guide leads a private walking tour through hidden alleyways and canals to St. Mark’s Square, with free time to explore before your first-class return to Florence. Enjoy a final full day at leisure to discover Florence at your own rhythm.

SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION: GRAND HOTEL BAGLIONI

Lake Como (via Milan)

Travel by first-class train from Florence to Milan, where your private driver awaits. Discover the city’s highlights with a guided visit to the magnificent Duomo and its rooftop terraces, and the elegant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, before continuing on to the shores of Lake Como.

Then comes the journey’s most magical day. Set out on a private boat experience across Lake Como, gliding past grand villas and spectacular scenery to Villa del Balbianello — one of the most beautiful estates in all of Italy and, to film lovers, the unmistakable “Star Wars Villa.” Perched on a wooded promontory near Lenno, this 18th-century villa stood in for Varykino, the lakeside retreat on Naboo, in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, where Anakin and Padmé shared their secret wedding on its romantic terraces. Its loggia and sculpted gardens also featured as a James Bond hideaway in Casino Royale. On a private guided tour you’ll wander the terraced gardens and historic interiors and hear the story of its final owner, the explorer Guido Monzino.

Afterwards, savour lunch at a charming waterfront restaurant before sailing back across the lake — Prosecco in hand, the villas of Como drifting by.

SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION: HOTEL BARCHETTA EXCELSIOR

Onward to Paris (optional)

When it’s time to leave the lake, a private transfer takes you to the airport for your onward journey to Paris — and the next chapter of your European adventure.

Departure

We design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something just for you.

Why we are the top choice for your next luxury trip.

Our unique approach to planning transformative experiences ensures our clients gain more than just a vacation: they come away with a greater understanding of the world, their place in it, and how the journey has enriched their lives.

  • We prioritize personalized experiences tailored to guests’ wants and needs, from holiday getaways to educational trips and everything in between.
  • Travel is about more than just going from point A to point B. It's an experience; we're here to help you create the best possible one for you and your family or friends.
  • Taste. Indulge. Immerse. Each destination has unique flavours and dishes. Bespoke travel is the perfect way to indulge your senses.
  • Our team of experienced travel planners has an eye for detail, meaning no stone goes unturned when crafting the perfect itinerary. Whenever you want it, the way you want it.