Italy Explorer: Rome, Florence, Pisa and Cinque Terre

Flight from your preferred airport to Rome.

Upon your arrival in Rome, you’ll be greeted at the airport by your Travel For Teens guides, who will accompany you for the duration of your journey. After getting settled into the hotel, we’ll have lunch and head down to the Colosseum, perhaps one of the most famous sites in all of Rome. Tour this incredible structure that has been standing for millennia, and learn about the battles that Gladiators fought here. Then visit the Roman Forum to learn about ancient Roman government. We’ll top off an exciting first day with your first taste of authentic Italian cuisine at one of our favorite local restaurants.

Start the day with a visit to the market at the Campo di Fiori. Browse the stalls and see all the delicacies on offer, from farm-fresh cheeses to bread fresh out of the oven. Pick up the makings for a picnic lunch here and enjoy lunch al fresco just as the locals do. This afternoon, climb the Vittorio Emanuele II monument for some of the best views in Rome and explore the secrets of the Pantheon. Have some time for souvenir shopping on the Via del Corso and enjoy a delicious dinner in Piazza Navona, one of Rome’s most beautiful squares. Of course, no trip to Italy would be complete without enjoying a homemade gelato for dessert every night!

Cross another country off your bucket list today as we visit Vatican City. Begin in Saint Peter’s Basilica, the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, before continuing to the Vatican Museums to marvel at the archaeological treasures in the Church’s collection. After a lunch of pizza al taglio, we’ll explore the beautiful neighborhood of Trastevere. See the Basilica di Santa Maria and wander the ancient cobblestone streets. We’ll enjoy dinner in Trastevere tonight at a traditional trattoria.

Today we say arrivederci to the Eternal City and depart for Florence, the Renaissance City. After a short train ride, we’ll arrive and get settled into our hotel before enjoying our first Florentine lunch. Climb to the top of the Duomo, the elaborate multicolored cathedral in the heart of the city, for incredible views. After dinner, embark on TFT’s famous gelato challenge! We’ll bring you to three of our favorite gelaterias. Will you be able to eat a gelato at every one?

Florence is best known as the cradle of the Renaissance, and today we’ll get a feel for the incredible art and history that has shaped this beautiful city. Begin the day with a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s statue of David. No other statue will look the same after you’ve seen this! Have lunch and time to browse for treasures in the famous Mercato di San Lorenzo, where they sell everything from fresh panini to beautiful notebooks and leather goods. This afternoon, have a guided tour of the Uffizi–one of the world’s most important sculpture museums–before heading up to Piazzale Michelangelo for a sunset photo shoot with the best view of Florence.

Perhaps there’s no more iconic building in all of Italy than the leaning tower of Pisa. This morning, as we take the train from Florence to the Cinque Terre, we’ll stop for a photo op with this seemingly unstable edifice and learn that there’s more to Pisa than meets the eye. Continue onwards towards the amazing Cinque Terre, arriving just in time for a delicious Tuscan dinner.

Our time in the Cinque Terre is always one of the most memorable portions of the trip. We stay right in the heart of one of the villages at a family-run hotel, not outside the region in the larger town of La Spezia. Students love the picturesque Italian coastline, swimming in the Mediterranean, and exploring all of the quaint villages. Students may choose to hike between the villages or take the train that connects them. Either way, the views are breathtaking and the culture isn’t any more authentic than this!

On our final day in Italy, we’ll visit the charming village of Portovenere, the unofficial sixth village of the Cinque Terre. Stroll along the quaint cobblestone streets, gelato in hand, and soak up what true Italian life is like. In the afternoon, students will have more time to relax at the beach and souvenir shop in the boutiques of Riomaggiore. For our last meal together, we’ll enjoy an upscale dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants to celebrate the end of an amazing journey.

Your TFT guides will accompany you to the airport and assist you with check-in for your flight. Wave goodbye as you head through security and sit back and relax on your flight home.