Signature

Signature Italy | Dolce Vita by Rail

Activity

Culture

Overview

Italy unfolds by rail, from Venice’s waterways to Florence’s ateliers and Rome’s layered streets

Journey by first-class train from Venice to Florence and Rome, as Italy reveals quiet canals at dawn, Renaissance light cast across marble, and layers of ancient and modern. Guided by your handpicked Signature Guide, you’ll embark on a journey shaped by rare access and thoughtful encounters, from an after-hours visit to St Mark’s Basilica and time with Venetian artisans to close study of Renaissance works at the Uffizi. This is an Italy experienced with clarity, depth, and intention.

Venture to the very heart of each destination on our Signature Collection, where every journey is shaped by our unrivalled local connections and insider expertise. Step beyond the ordinary with private invitations, rare encounters, and experiences few will ever share. So when someone says, “I’ve been there,” you’ll simply smile, knowing you’ve experienced it differently.

Signature Day: Experience our distinctive Signature Day, choosing between included activities such as an Appian Way e-bike ride, an expert-led museum day, Ostiense’s industrial-art heritage, or a personalised dolce vita styling experience

Signature Stay: Enjoy the elegance of Palazzo San Lorenzo, a restored Venetian palace, part of this trip’s refined accommodation portfolio

Signature Guide: Let your hand-picked Signature Guide lead you to the country’s soul — sharing their home, heritage, and heart

Key Information

Trip Code: LIV
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Italy
Carbon Footprint: 28.8kg CO2e per person per day

Signature Exclusive Inclusions

Elegant, hand-picked hotels and a Signature Stay in Palazzo San Lorenzo, a restored Venetian palace
All breakfasts, five lunches, and six dinners featuring restaurants that capture the authentic cuisine of Italy
Your preferred Signature Day experience, selected and prebooked ahead of travel
Named Signature Guide with outstanding knowledge and guest satisfaction
Complimentary transfers on arrival and departure, plus comfortable transport throughout (first-class train rides and private vehicle transfers)
Gratuities for local support staff so every detail of your journey feels effortless

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

Signature Experiences

Enjoy privileged after-hours access to St Mark’s Basilica in Venice, exploring the Pala d’Oro and the crypt’s quiet, atmospheric sanctum

Craft your own personalised scent in a perfume masterclass, led by master perfumer Fernanda Russo in her historic atelier

Step inside Palazzo Colonna for a director-led tour and Italian cooking masterclass, revealing Princess Isabelle’s private rooms and contemporary culinary craft

Savour fine Italian produce at the family-run Azienda Agricola Marchesi estate with a guided tasting of their wines and olive oils, followed by a seasonal lunch

Itinerary

First Destination: Venice
Next Destination: Rome

Accommodation:Palazzo San Lorenzo
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Palazzo San Lorenzo
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Hotel Balestri
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Hotel Balestri
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Hotel Kolbe
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Hotel Kolbe
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Hotel Kolbe
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Venice
Next Destination: Rome

Our journey begins on the water, travelling by private water taxi to our Signature Stay, Palazzo San Lorenzo, a restored Venetian palace, just moments from St Mark’s Square and the city’s storied landmarks.

Those arriving early can open a window into Venetian craft: visiting a traditional squero, where master builders shape each gondola by hand; learning Venetian rowing with a champion; joining a private, family-run workshop into the traditional Venetian craft of mask making; or exploring Venice from the water with a gondola ride (all available to be prebook on request).

As evening draws in, we gather for our welcome reception and enjoy dinner at Luna Sentada Restaurant, a celebration of traditional Venetian cuisine inspired by Marco Polo’s travels to the East.

Accommodation:Palazzo San Lorenzo
Meals included:Dinner

A guided walk reveals the Venice shaped by merchants, travellers and its once-lively social worlds behind the Rialto, bringing the city’s more intimate history into view. A light lunch at Bakarò presents reimagined Venetian dishes.

After, we board a private boat to cross the lagoon, calling first at the vibrant island of Burano, where fishermen’s houses are painted in vivid hues and lace-making endures as a living craft. We continue by boat to San Francesco del Deserto, a monastic island defined by gardens, cloisters, and a centuries-old devotion to quiet.

Signature Experience: Later, we step inside St Mark’s Basilica after closing hours for a privately guided encounter, including privileged access to the Pala d’Oro and the crypt. In the quiet of the evening, the basilica reveals its most sacred spaces in near silence, an intimate immersion in Venice’s spiritual heart.

Accommodation:Palazzo San Lorenzo
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Travel by first-class train to Florence, a smooth journey into the heart of Tuscany. On arrival, walk to the Uffizi for a curated exploration of Italy’s artistic milestones, from Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus to Caravaggio’s Medusa, and da Vinci’s Annunciation.

Lunch at Boccanegra unfolds inside a 14th-century palazzo. Later, you’ll cross the Arno into artisan Florence, pausing at workshops, churches, and neighbourhood squares to see how craftsmanship still shapes the city’s rhythm.

Dinner at Belcanto closes the day with classic Florentine atmosphere accompanied by live piano.

Accommodation:Hotel Balestri
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy a relaxed start to the day before a private visit to Florence Cathedral’s Sacristy of the Mass. Joining an expert guide, you’ll explore a worship space normally closed to visitors, revealing a rarely seen side of the cathedral.

Later, at Mercato Centrale, a guided walk leads into a tasting menu of seasonal Tuscan dishes served in a reserved space.

Signature Experience: Join Fernanda Russo, founder of the Italian Perfumery School, for a masterclass in the craft of scent. Within her historic herbalist atelier, you’ll study the architecture of fragrance, handle raw essences, and blend a personalised perfume to take home, a one-of-a-kind creation shaped by your own palate of aromas.

Dinner tonight is at Sabatini, a historic Florentine dining room renowned for its polished service, classical recipes, and quietly elegant atmosphere.

Accommodation:Hotel Balestri
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A first-class train carries us to Rome, where our day begins inside one of the city’s most historic noble residences.

Signature Experience: Step inside Palazzo Colonna for an exclusive tour led by the Museum Director, moving through the Baroque gallery and Princess Isabelle’s preserved apartment. A hands-on pasta class within the palace grounds follows, paired with a gelato-making demonstration.

The afternoon unfolds at your own rhythm, whether browsing Roman ateliers or settling into an aperitivo, before light dinner options in characterful neighbourhood settings.

Accommodation:Hotel Kolbe
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is your Signature Day, where you can select an authentic, curated experience to connect deeply with Rome. You could:

Cycle the ancient Appian Way by e-bike with a local guide, following Roman ruins, aqueducts, and green spaces.
Delve into Rome’s artistic and archaeological heritage on a full-day exploration of the key museums and sites, including Terme di Caracalla, Villa Giulia and Palazzo Massimo, with a three-course lunch included.
Explore Ostiense’s creative side on a full-day walking tour through bold street art and industrial landmarks before visiting Centrale Montemartini, a unique former power-station museum.
Step into Rome’s golden age of style with a private showroom welcome, curated outfit styling, and a guided walk through the city’s most cinematic streets − a unique blend of fashion, lifestyle, and cultural discovery.

Reunite in the evening for a three-course dinner at our hotel’s elegant restaurant.

Accommodation:Hotel Kolbe
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Travel into the Roman Castles region to Frascati, long known for its villas, winemaking heritage, and gentle hillside setting.

Signature Experience: Our first stop is Azienda Agricola Marchesi, a family-run estate specialising in high-quality extra virgin olive oils. Here, we have a private tasting of the estate wines and olive oils guided by those who cultivate, press and bottle them, before sitting down to a light lunch shaped by the estate’s seasonal produce and long-held traditions.

Return to Rome for an unhurried afternoon before our farewell dinner at Casa Coppelle, where Italian-French cooking and elegant interiors provide a fitting final chapter.

Accommodation:Hotel Kolbe
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a final breakfast, take a moment to reflect on the journey and enjoy the hotel’s quiet gardens. Those with later flights may linger, perhaps taking time to discover Villa Borghese or revisit a favourite site.

You may choose to extend your Italian story with the help of our Signature Collection travel experts.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Need flights or extra nights? Book through us – one team, one seamless journey

Call us: 020 3733 5948

Your Group, Your Adventure

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Accommodation

Experience the best of Italian hospitality

Every aspect of the Signature Collection is meticulously planned to take you deeper into the destination. That means your accommodation is a refined showcase of local hospitality, whether you’re staying in a pioneering luxury hotel or enjoying privileged access to a characterful stay designed to fully immerse you in the local culture.

Below are the accommodations we use on this adventure:

Venice: Palazzo San Lorenzo (nights 1-2)

Signature Italy | Dolce Vita by Rail

Our Signature Stay. A restored palace in Castello, one of Venice’s oldest quarters, Palazzo San Lorenzo feels richly Venetian from the moment you arrive by private water taxi. Rooms pair period detail with contemporary comfort, looking onto still canals or enclosed courtyards. Its location places you within easy reach of St Mark’s Square, the Basilica and the Rialto area.

Florence: Hotel Balestri (nights 3-4)

Signature Italy | Dolce Vita by Rail

Overlooking the Arno, Balestri pairs historic architecture with soft, Thirties-influenced interiors. Light-filled spaces, an elegant bar and a rooftop terrace shape its serene character. Moments from the Uffizi and riverside cafés, it offers a graceful base from which to experience Florence’s artistic heritage and modern rhythm.

Rome: Hotel Kolbe (nights 5-7)

Signature Italy | Dolce Vita by Rail

Beside the Roman Forum, Kolbe blends contemporary comfort with the quiet presence of a historic convent building. A peaceful garden, warm service and an inviting restaurant set a restorative tone. Its location near markets, trattorias and ancient landmarks offers a grounded, textured sense of Rome in its many layers.

Enhance your stay: Personalise your experience with curated room upgrades and additional nights tailored to your travel plans.

Essential Information

We have graded this trip Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page.

Travel times: The longest travel time takes place on Day 3, a 2hr 15min first-class train ride from Venice to Florence. The longest road transfer is on Day 7, a one-hour private transfer each way between Rome and the Castelli Romani.

Prebooking activities: An immersive adventure of your choice awaits on the Signature Day. This activity is included – all you need to do is prebook your chosen experience at least 60 days before departure through our Signature Collection travel experts. Additionally, a choice of several optional tours can be prebooked if you intend to arrive early on Day 1.

Porterage: Hotel porterage on arrival and departure is included, as is porterage from the airport to the hotel in Venice (due to boat transfers). At railway stations porterage is provided by locally hired assistants and you should expect to handle your own luggage briefly when boarding and alighting trains.

As with all adventures in the Signature Collection, we take care of your arrival and departure transfers, allowing you to fully relax and immerse yourself in the local culture.

Arrival airport: Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
- Your adventure begins with your private water-taxi transfer from the airport to our first accommodation on Day 1, then a welcome reception at 6pm.
Departure airport: Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
- Your adventure concludes after breakfast on the final day.

Complimentary transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Complimentary transfers should be booked with your Signature Collection travel expert at least two weeks before the tour starts.

Italy

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Italy. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/italy
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html

Please note: it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times in Italy.

This journey celebrates Italy’s status as one of the world’s most revered culinary cultures, revealing how place, season, and tradition shape every table. Dine beside quiet Venetian canals, taste Florence through market-led experiences, learn the art of pasta making within a Roman palazzo, and savour estate wines and olive oils in the Castelli Romani. Each meal is thoughtfully chosen, grounded in regional identity, and guided by those who preserve Italy’s enduring food heritage.

Italy’s seasons shape each city differently. Spring and autumn bring mild temperatures ideal for exploring Venice, Florence and Rome on foot. Summers are warm, especially inland, with long days suited to evening strolls and late dining. Winters are cooler and quieter, offering a gentler pace and fewer crowds around major landmarks.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

We also weave Signature Legacy moments into your itinerary, so the positive impact of your trip lasts long after your stay. These are moments to remember which help people and nature thrive, ensuring you build a harmonious, positive connection with the places you visit.

On this journey, you can:

Engage directly with Italy’s living craft traditions through hands-on workshops—supporting master artisans whose skills sustain cultural knowledge passed down through generations.