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Italy

The Best of Italy: Rome, Florence and Venice

Program No. 18206RJ
Learn about three great Italian cities as you visit Rome’s preserved ruins, explore Renaissance architecture in Florence and discover the renowned cathedrals and cuisine of Venice.
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  • A gondolier steers a traditional gondola with passengers through a narrow, sunlit canal between old brick buildings in Venice, Italy.
  • Tourists walk through a cobblestone piazza in front of the Pantheon in Rome, Italy.
  • A smiling older couple looks up at the large marble statue of David in a crowded art gallery in Florence.
  • Visitors in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, admire colorful, ornate Renaissance terracotta reliefs hanging on the walls.
  • The iconic Colosseum stands under a blue sky in Rome, Italy, as tourists gather on the lawn in front.
  • Boats travel along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy, passing under the historic Rialto Bridge on a sunny day.
  • A scenic canal in Venice, Italy, is lined with historic, colorful buildings and several boats moored along the water's edge.
Small GroupMost PopularCity DiscoveriesMulti-City Discoveries
Length
12 days
Rating (4.87)
Activity Level
Starts at
5,499
Flights start at
950
Program
At a Glance
Duration
12 days
Program Begins
Rome
Program Concludes
Venice
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
21 ( 10B, 5L, 6D )
Activity Level
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.
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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.
Bianca is originally from the former Yugoslavia, but after studying at the American Business School in Rome 30 years ago, she decided to make Italy her home. She is fluent in English, Italian, French, and Arabic among other languages. Bianca has worked as the site coordinator and group leader for numerous educational travel companies in Italy and in the Mediterranean.
Cristina Davanzo is a native of Treviso (a city just north of Venice) and has an advanced degree in foreign languages and literature from the Università Ca' Foscari in Venice. She has taught at the primary school level and has studied and worked in Spain, England and Italy as an interpreter, group leader and administrative assistant. When she returned to Italy, she began managing educational travel programs as well as leading Road Scholar groups since 2005. She is fluent in Italian, Spanish, English and Portuguese.
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.
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.
Monica Shenouda, originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, now calls Florence home. She majored in French Literature at Swarthmore College, worked in New York City, and studied art history and architecture in Rome. She then went to the University of Virginia and earned a master’s in architectural history and a PhD in the art history and architecture. She did her research in Venice, the subject of her dissertation. Monica teaches for study abroad programs in Florence and Venice and works as a translator and editor.
Anna Perkovic is a seasoned group leader with extensive experience in tourism across Europe, North America, and beyond. She holds an M.A. in German studies from the University of Edinburgh and professional hospitality certifications. Fluent in Italian, English, and German, she has a background in education, translation, and customer service. Passionate about culture and travel, Anna enjoys theater, history, and languages.
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.
Elizabeth Namack majored in art history and Italian at Smith College and continued her studies with a master's in Italian Renaissance art history from Syracuse University. She took a special course in painting conservation in Florence and truly enjoys sharing her passion for art and history with visitors as a licensed guide for the city and province of Florence. She loves to cook and can suggest excellent local wines.
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.
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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