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A gondolier in a striped shirt guides a gondola through a narrow canal lined with brick buildings in Venice, Italy.
Italy

The Best of Italy: Rome, Florence and Venice

Program No. 18206RJ
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Program
At a Glance
Duration
12 days
Program Begins
Rome
Program Concludes
Venice
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
21 ( 10B, 5L, 6D )
Activity Level
From
5,499
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Experience the beauty of three historic capitals of Classical, Medieval, and Renaissance acclaim as local experts lead you through some of Italy's greatest cities. Follow the path of legendary artists, scientists, and philosophers from the classical remnants of Rome to the preserved treasures of Florence and Venice.
Best of all, you'll...
  • Trace history as you visit the Colosseum, Pantheon and Galleria Borghese.
  • Journey to Florence and Venice via a high-speed train, reaching speeds of over 190 mph.
  • View the statue of David — and ride in a gondola through the canals of Venice.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Learn About Activity Levels
Walking up to 5 miles per day at a moderate pace of 2 mph over uneven terrain, marble and terracotta flooring, cobblestones, inclines, loose gravel, and dirt paths. Standing up to 4 hours per day with limited public seating. Program will require approximately 35 miles of walking over 11 days. This mileage does not include free time. Must be able to use stairs without handrails in order to navigate field trip sites. Elevator use is limited in historic sites. Program-related travel and transfers will be via bus, high-speed train, vaporetto, and water taxi. Sheltered waiting areas may not be available at docks. Due to unavoidable stairs and pacing wheelchairs and scooters cannot be accommodated on this program. Must be physically capable of participating in all planned program activities.
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See Related Programs
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General Notes
Due to advance reservation requirements and limited group capacity at some popular museums, occasional itinerary adjustments may be necessary.
Featured Expert
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Jane Zaloga
Jane Zaloga holds degrees in architecture and business administration from the University of Notre Dame, an MA from Syracuse University, and has done further graduate study at Harvard University. She has received several fellowships to study in Rome and in Florence, including the prestigious Fulbright Fellowship. She now lives in Florence and teaches with several American university programs, including Syracuse University and New York University.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Please Note:
These experts may not be available for every date of the program
Jane Zaloga holds degrees in architecture and business administration from the University of Notre Dame, an MA from Syracuse University, and has done further graduate study at Harvard University. She has received several fellowships to study in Rome and in Florence, including the prestigious Fulbright Fellowship. She now lives in Florence and teaches with several American university programs, including Syracuse University and New York University.
Paolo Alei is an art historian from Rome. He received his M.A. in art history and archaeology from Columbia University and his Ph.D. in Italian Renaissance art from Oxford University. He is an adjunct professor at the University of California and Loyola University and serves as the curator of the museum of the Castello Odeschalchi of Bracciano. Paolo has extensive publications and is an internationally acclaimed lecturer in Italian art history.
Rachel Potts is a licensed excursion leader in Rome. She graduated from Manchester University with a bachelor's in Philosophy and French, and later studied garden design at the London Gardening School. Having grown up in Rome, she chose to return to Italy and share her knowledge and love of Rome and the surrounding areas.
Rosanna Giannotti is a Senior Authorized Venice Guide Lecturer who has devoted her life to studying the art and history of her home city. She is fluent in English, French, and Spanish, and she has always had a penchant for traveling and cosmopolitanism, in order to expand her knowledge and connect Venetian history with the world context. Rosanna is a member of the most prestigious Italian and European Associations of Guide Lecturers and has cooperated with Road Scholar programs in Venice for over 30 years.
Julieta is a passionate student of history, specializing in the history and culture of her native city of Rome. She studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma with a concentration in painting before earning a degree in classical archaeology and art history from the Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza." Outside of history, Julieta enjoys hiking beautiful nature trails by the seaside or in the mountains of Italy.
Lara Mattioli is from Ancona, a city on the eastern Adriatic coast of Italy. She has an advanced degree in communications from the Università degli Studi di Macerata and has been working for many years as group leader in Italy and abroad. Lara studied and worked in Barcelona and Rio de Janeiro where she learned to speak Spanish and Portuguese fluently. When not leading Road Scholar programs in her beautiful country, she loves to travel and pursue her hobby of scuba diving.
Richard Bowen, a native of London, has lived in Rome for most of his adult life. He was awarded a BA in humanities from Middlesex University and an MA in history from University College in London. As a young graduate, he worked as an archaeologist for the Museum of London. Richard is a licensed group leader for the Province of Rome and has led groups in Italy and other parts of Europe. He has a keen interest in political, social, and art history.
Daniela is a licensed travel leader for the city and province of Rome. She studied and worked in other countries in Europe, in China and Morocco. Daniela defines travel as learning about and appreciating different cultures. With a young family, her most recent adventures have been traveling in time, rediscovering ancient sites and historic curiosities in sites off the beaten path in Rome, the city she considers the most beautiful in the world.
Matia Guintini was born in Genoa, but as a teen moved to a small village in Tuscany surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. She earned her degree in hospitality and did an internship at the Uffizi in Florence. After graduation, she lived for a while in Montreal to improve her English and French. Returning to Tuscany, Matia worked in an office as a product manager for group operators but knew her true passion is sharing the secrets of the Italian "dolce vita."
Marco Ceccarani, a native of Assisi, holds a PhD in humanities from the Università degli Studi di Perugia. His field of expertise includes medieval and Renaissance Italian civilization and literature. He has taught for several American universities in the United States and currently teaches in Florence for American university study away programs.
Monica Chojnacka earned her PhD in European history from Stanford University and undergraduate degrees from Kalamazoo College and the London School of Economics and Political Science. From 1994-2007 she was a professor of history at the University of Georgia, where she authored numerous publications. She has published books relating to Venice on topics as diverse as women of the Renaissance, food and wine. Monica continues to teach in Venice, primarily for study away programs for American universities, as well as online courses.
Susan Steer is originally from England. She came to Venice 20 years ago as an art history undergraduate with an internship at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, later serving as a supervisor of the British pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Living and working in Venice changed her life, falling in love with its architecture, art, and lifestyle. She returned to study for an MA and a PhD in Venetian art. Susan married a Venetian. They and their son share their time between the UK and Venice.
Enrica Lattanzio, born and raised in Milan, holds a master's in international law from the University of Milan and a piano degree from the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory. Her career includes roles as a PR manager in the United States and the Dominican Republic. She is fluent in English and Spanish, which she acquired during her international experiences. She passionately works as a group leader in Italy, combining her diverse skills.
Helen Bayley received her B.F.A. in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design and her M.F.A. in painting from Indiana University. As a professor for over 30 years, Helen has inspired learners of all ages with her extensive knowledge and artistic talents at universities in the United States and Italy. While Helen is passionate about art history throughout space and time, she is aesthetically drawn to the 18th century in all its musical and sartorial particularities.
Carlotta Guerra is a licensed group leader and literary translator from the coastal area near Rome. She holds a master's degree in English and Portuguese literature and translation studies from the Università della Tuscia. Alongside her academic background, she has a strong passion for art history, which she pursues by exploring the artistic heritage of Italy's diverse regions. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and foraging in the natural landscapes of her homeland.
Roberto Carbone was born in Pisa and graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome in 1995. After working as a film assistant for Diffusion of Contemporary Art (D.Ar.c.) and pursuing a career as a painter with exhibitions in Italy and abroad, he became a licensed guide in Rome in 2003. Fluent in English, French, and Spanish, Roberto combines leading with managing the Mario Carbone photographic archive. He enjoys reading, traveling, and collecting books and art prints.
Linda Nolan, Ph.D., is an art and architectural historian based in Rome, where she has taught for more than a decade with programs including Dartmouth College, Iowa State University, and UNC Charlotte. Her teaching examines how social and political change shaped Italian art from antiquity through the early modern period. She specializes in 16th- and 17th-century Rome, particularly urban history and church design. She also conducts archival research, including work in the Vatican Apostolic Archive, and collaborates on research and writing projects.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Walking up to 5 miles per day at a moderate pace of 2 mph over uneven terrain, marble and terracotta flooring, cobblestones, inclines, loose gravel, and dirt paths. Standing up to 4 hours per day with limited public seating. Program will require approximately 35 miles of walking over 11 days. This mileage does not include free time. Must be able to use stairs without handrails in order to navigate field trip sites. Elevator use is limited in historic sites. Program-related travel and transfers will be via bus, high-speed train, vaporetto, and water taxi. Sheltered waiting areas may not be available at docks. Due to unavoidable stairs and pacing wheelchairs and scooters cannot be accommodated on this program. Must be physically capable of participating in all planned program activities.
Small Group (13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Books and Resources
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You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
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Call 800-454-5768
Helpful Links
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Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

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Assurance Plan

Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.

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Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

An illustration of an elderly woman holding a piggy bank, with the Eiffel Tower in the background
Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

An illustration of a hand holding a globe with a small bird flying around it
  • Peace of Mind

    We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

    An illustration of a hand using a pen to check off the final item on a clipboard checklist
  • Assurance Plan

    Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.

    An illustration of an elderly man sitting at a computer with a pair of binoculars beside him
  • Want to Protect Your Investment?

    Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

    An illustration of an elderly woman holding a piggy bank, with the Eiffel Tower in the background
  • Sustainable Travel

    We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

    An illustration of a hand holding a globe with a small bird flying around it
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