Essence of Italy: Private Vacation Package to Rome, Florence & Venice

We had the absolute best vacation and loved working with Zicasso’s travel specialist. The trip exceeded our expectations and everything was so easy on our end. Our drivers were fantastic and always on time.

Our guides for private tours of Pompeii and the Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica) were knowledgeable, friendly, spoke excellent English, and we never had to wait in extended queues.

The hotels selected worked perfectly for our family, with wonderful locations in Sorrento and Rome.

Our travel specialist was always quick to reply to our questions and truly planned a vacation we will never forget. We will use this her again when we return!

Zicasso's travel agent was like our “patron saint of hassle-free and VIP vacations!" Every step of our trip was planned for us; we were greeted by private guides at each airport or train station, and met in the lobby of our hotel for each privately guided tour. We went to the front of the line at the Vatican on a day when the line stretched over a mile. Each night she sent us a detailed itinerary for the next day’s tours and on our free days she even gave us suggestions for local restaurants.

I have traveled pretty extensively for work and pleasure, and this trip was so well organized by this travel agency. I cannot recommend them any higher. If you want a truly memorable and hassle-free vacation, you must use them; you will not be disappointed! Thank you so much for creating a true “trip of a lifetime."

The travel professionals at Zicasso’s travel company worked with us for over a year to plan the most amazing 14-day tour of Venice, Florence, and Rome. They were beyond patient and kind, fielding my endless questions and providing assurances for every detail. Every day was jam-packed with guides and travel. Well, one really doesn't know until you get to Italy, right?

Upon our late-evening arrival to Venice, we had our personal escort waiting for us at the airport, with private transport to our hotel in Venice. She did not leave until we had our bags in the lobby. I knew right then and there we had made the right choice with the travel company.

We found that everything was taken care of by the travel company, down to the smallest detail. Every guide, and there were many, came to our hotels to greet us and escorted us back to our hotel upon conclusion of our tour. Every single guide was a treasure. We never had to hail a taxi, which to me was the most amazing thing, as the travel company had private drivers picking us up or waiting for us at hotels and train stations.

Upon leaving Venice for Florence, our personal escort from the airport was waiting for us at the hotel, with a water taxi to the train station. She walked us through the train station and showed us how to find our gate for our train to Florence. Upon arrival in Florence, we had a private driver waiting for us for transport to the hotel. Same from Florence to Rome, Rome to Naples (for Pompeii and back to Rome).

We had multiple food tours and they were all amazing. We spent every day with private guides. Believe me, the travel company knows the very best guides in Italy. They are there 24/7 for you if things don't go as planned. Trust me on this.

In Venice, our tickets for St. Mark's Basilica that were reserved for our guide disappeared. There we were, no access. Our guide tried to secure tickets on her own and access was sold out. She called the travel company, which somehow secured access, even to the second level, where we could visit the four bronze horses.

Did I mention our day in Tuscany? The travel company insisted we were spending too much time with tours and insisted we take a day in Tuscany. We visited a vineyard in Tuscany for what turned out to be a private tour and lunch hosted by the vineyard owner. We had a table set up overlooking the vineyard and indulged in what may have been the best food we experienced in all of Italy. Everything was made on-site and perfectly paired with the vineyard wines. We were entertained by her three wonderful dogs, two of which were lovable and goofy Labrador retrievers. What a perfect day!

Without a doubt, the travel company is the finest travel agency we have ever had the privilege to work with. As I said earlier, everything was taken care of, nothing was missed: drivers, trains (business class), guides, food tours. The best vacation we have ever had.

When we decided to plan a family trip to Italy, I did some research and found Zicasso. They were very highly rated, and we reached out to them. Zicasso’s travel agent responded very quickly. She was friendly, professional, and asked us questions to ensure she knew what we were looking for in our trip. The travel agent planned an exceptional family vacation for us with a customized itinerary that included traveling to Rome, Siena, Florence, and ending in Venice. She tailored our trip to include private transfers from the airport to the hotels, as well as traveling city to city.

Each hotel had an excellent location that allowed us to easily walk and explore. The hotels were beautiful, clean, and comfortable, each with impeccable service.

They set us up with private tour guides, who not only allowed us to skip the lines to major attractions, but also personalized the tour so we were able to spend time viewing the things that were important to us. The guides were friendly, informative and engaging.

Every aspect was meticulously curated and the travel company checked in with me via a messaging app daily to share the next day’s itinerary. They were always available if we had any questions or if any issue arose, which never did because of how well they planned everything. I reached out to them asking if they could please make a dinner reservation for me and they were quick to secure that for us.

I would highly recommend this travel company and will definitely use them again in the future.

Zicasso’s tour operator planned the most amazing trip to Italy for us! My requirements were culture, romance, and relaxation. She delivered on every aspect. Although we missed our tour of the Vatican due to the Pope's funeral, my husband and I actually attended his funeral!! Our hotel, though planned many months before, was next to the basilica where Pope Francis was laid to rest. Talk about being a part of history!

We stayed in a beautiful converted villa to boutique hotel in Florence; got whisked away through the Tuscan countryside in a vintage Fiat 500; took cooking classes; sipped lovely wine, accompanied by excellent lunches on our winery tours; soaked in Italy's rich culture and museum scene; and even ticked the relaxation box by spending time by the pool, in the spa, and resting on our large deck overlooking the Amalfi coastline.

Every tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and personable, and it was evident they loved their jobs. Between memories of the boat ride along the Amalfi Coast, tips from the cooking classes I have already started using at home, and the cases of wine we are eagerly awaiting delivery of, my husband and I will forever hold Italy in our hearts and la dolce vita it provided us. 

Talk with our tour operator; you will be glad you did!

I am so happy we worked with our Zicasso travel agent for our 11-night visit to Venice, Florence, and Rome. We had a wonderful Italian experience. Our agent was everything you hope for in a travel specialist: knowledgeable, thoughtful, helpful, gracious, and kind. 

Upon hearing our initial ideas for the trip, she quickly put together a plan on how best to allot our time. Thereafter ensued exchanges regarding hotels, sightseeing, guides, and transfers. She listened to our thoughts, desires, and questions, making many useful suggestions, including hotel choices. She always prioritized our wants and concerns. She organized the travels quickly, as we contacted her only two months prior to departure. 

Once we agreed to the program, she sent us a brochure PDF laying out details for each day of the trip that included hotel confirmations, transfer details, vouchers for museums, a cooking class, a Tuscany day trip with wine, cheese, and olive oil tasting, a gondola ride, Venice lagoon boat excursion, basilica entrance tickets, and guided tours of each city, the Vatican, and Colosseum. 

Upon arrival in Venice, our agent met us at the airport and escorted us to our water taxi. She kept in touch with us daily, texting a reminder of the next day’s schedule, along with numbers for guides and drivers if applicable. Everything she planned went smoothly, without a single hitch. 

When you begin the process with Zicasso, it feels akin to a shot in the dark. The site provides the names of two companies and you’re left to decide who to work with. I couldn’t be more pleased with the trip our agent designed. Book with her; you will be in the best of hands.