Italy Family Vacation: Rome, Florence, Amalfi Coast

Your transfer will meet you at Rome’s major international airport to convey you comfortably to your hotel in the city’s center. With every kilometer passed, your anticipation will grow as you begin to catch glimpses of the past poking up through the modern buildings and apartments. In the city, the Colosseum towers above the surrounding neighborhoods and various obelisks and columns that adorn the squares. By the time your car squeals to a halt in front of your hotel, you will be gripped by a combination of exhaustion and excitement.

In any case, the capital of Italy possesses an illustrious past that reached a climax as the seat of republican and imperial power before crashing into the Dark Ages. It is in this environment that is steeped in both myth and fact that you will get to explore on your first full day. A short trip from your accommodations lies the airy ruins of the Roman Forum, Colosseum, and other sites from Roman antiquity. Your tour will include an up-close and personal look at the immense amphitheater, where gladiatorial fights, festivals, and other events took place. You will also visit the Forum, which exhibits the foundations, columns, and temples of republican Rome.

Today, your senses will be dazzled through a guided tour of some of the more recent centuries of Roman history. Meeting you at your hotel, a knowledgeable guide will escort you on a tour of the nearby Trevi Fountain, where you can marvel at the cascade of water and participate in the exceptional tradition of tossing coins in over your shoulder. Afterward, you will meander down the short distance that separates you from the impressive Spanish Steps, which is an ascent of 174 stairs that leads climbers to the Trinità dei Monti church at the top. During this tour of iconic Roman sights, you will have the option to enjoy a popular Italian gelato, which is a sweet, frozen dessert that comes in a delicious array of flavors.

Today, you will be leaving the sovereign territory of Italy to visit the seat of the Catholic church and papal authority. Situated within Rome but considered a distinct political state, Vatican City sits adjacent to the Tiber river and exhibits a unique identity that includes some of the elements of modern Italy while also remaining faithful to its illustrious identity. After a leisurely wake-up and satisfying breakfast, a private car will convey you through the bustling surface streets to St. Peter’s Square and the entrance to the Vatican grounds. Upon your arrival, you will be met at the square by your guide who will provide you with a thorough and entertaining exploration of the Vatican.

After surveying the splendor of Rome’s Vatican City yesterday, you will prepare to depart the ancient pillars and ruins of Rome for the Renaissance grandeur of Florence. Train travel is best enjoyed with a window seat because the rural communities and vast farmland of Lazio gives way to the rolling hills of Tuscany. As the capital of the Italian region of Tuscany, Florence enjoys a level of prestige and status as one of the must-sees of the major Italian cities. From the famous dome that dominates the skyline to the priceless paintings and sculptures of the Uffizi gallery, there is much to appreciate in the city. Upon your arrival, you will have the remainder of the day to explore the shops, eateries, and palaces of this storied city.

Your first full day in Florence will start at the impressive dome that you probably noticed upon your arrival yesterday. The dome is the most prominent piece of the Cathedral of Florence, and it is also known as the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. Your guide will meet you at the entrance to the grounds, where you will begin your exploration. During your tour, your guide will lead you to a narrow threshold, where your ascent to further heights will begin. Emerging into the Florentine sunlight like a coal miner at the end of his shift, a sea of red-tile roofs will stretch before you as you enjoy the view from the top of Brunelleschi’s famous dome. This bird’s eye view of Florence is often missed by the hurried traveler.

After a leisurely morning of relaxing or exploring Florence unchaperoned, you and your family will have the opportunity to witness the mythical place that is the Italian kitchen, where the proverbial veil will be lifted, and you will have a chance to see how the chefs make their creations. In a nearby neighborhood, you will be escorted to meet your instructor for this culinary course, who will demonstrate the proper methods for selecting ingredients, cooking techniques, how to sample your work during the process. As you learn about Florentine cooking strategies, refreshments will be served, and, with your knowledgeable instructor looking over your shoulder, you will be able to help create a classic example of Italian cooking.

Today will be the longest travel day of your trip, but you will enjoy the best accommodations as you head for the final leg of your journey. Meeting you at your hotel, a private car will escort you to the domestic airport of Florence, where you will depart in style for the bustling port city of Naples in Southern Italy. Meeting you curbside in Naples, a veteran driver will transport you the remainder of the way to the rural communities of the Sorrentine Peninsula and the relaxing beaches of Amalfi.

Your driver will leave you conveniently at the doorstep of your charming accommodation in the quaint center of the town, and you will have the remainder of the day to stretch your legs along the main boulevard that runs down to the marina.

Today, you will make your way to the crashing waves of the beach to meet a vessel that will carry you on your luxury cruise voyage. By riding the swell, you and your family will be able to enjoy a view of this famous coastline that is seldom seen by the hurried traveler. As your experienced captain hugs the coast, you will be able to spot the ruins of a series of lighthouses and watchtowers. It was these sentinels that once scanned the waves, searching for pirates and ready to raise the alarm should any unfamiliar watercraft appear on the horizon. At the opportune moment, your guide will supply you with some tasty, locally produced treats and other refreshments to pair with the pristine coastline views.

From the depths of ancient Roman ruins to the heights of Florentine cathedrals, your exploration of Italy will have included many of the destinations that have attracted visitors for centuries. You and your family will depart Italy with memories that last lifetimes and a renewed interest in returning to this storied land. You will reluctantly depart Amalfi via a private car that will meet you at your hotel to convey you comfortably back to Naples airport.