Posted By Kate on October 29, 2009
I have a bit of an unhealthy obsession with maps. Plonk an atlas down in my lap and I won’t move for hours. (Seriously. Ask my family. They’ll gladly confirm.)
I love creating travel itineraries and maps, so I’m going to make this a recurring feature on KateMcCulley.com.
Ten Days in Italy
This is a perfect trip to Italy for a first-timer — it hits the three major cities and a few unique sites. It can be accomplished easily if you take off a Friday, then the following week.
While you could spend months in Italy and only see a fraction of what you wanted to see, this is a solid way to spend a week.

10 Days in Italy
Day 1: Rome. Fly into Rome. Arrive early. Catch a few of the iconic sights: the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navoni, the Pantheon (outside of which you can grab some gelato!). Have dinner in the nearby Jewish ghetto.
Day 2: Rome. Visit tiny Vatican City in the afternoon — first the Vatican Museums, then St. Peter’s Basilica. Climb to the top of Castel Sant’Angelo for an unbelievable sunset over the city. I love a pizza place in Trastevere called Dar Poeta.
Day 3: Rome. The morning is devoted to the Colosseum and the Forum — buildings that have stood for thousands of years. Make sure to protect yourself from the sun! In the afternoon, if you love art, don’t miss the Galleria Borghese. Beyond that, there are so many things this city has to offer — it’s up to you.
Day 4: Florence. Leave Rome in the morning and take the Eurostar to Florence. When you arrive, find the city’s most famous resident: David. Head up to the Accademia to see him. Afterward, check out the markets in San Lorenzo. Make your way to the Duomo and climb it for a 360-degree view of the city. For the best introduction to Tuscan food you could possibly have, go to the world-famous Il Latini.
Day 5: Florence. Make this a heavy sightseeing day. Start with the Galleria degli Uffizi, then move on to Santa Croce to see the graves of Renaissance superstars. Make your way over to Piazza della Repubblica, then Piazza della Signorina for the legendary hot chocolate at Rivoire. Cross the Arno via Ponte Vecchio, then climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for the best view of the sunset. If you have time, check out the hauntingly beautiful cemetery by Piazzale Michelangelo!
Day 6: Florence. Love art? Spend your time at the Palazzo Pitti or Bargello. Want to shop? Buy leather in the Santa Croce area — NOT from a market — gold on the Ponte Vecchio, designer clothing on Borgo Ognissanti, and affordable trendy clothing in San Lorenzo. And since this is the birthplace of gelato, you better eat!
Day 7: Pisa, Lucca and Florence. In the morning, take the hourlong train to Pisa. Get to the Leaning Tower, take the requisite photos, and LEAVE. Trust me — there’s nothing else to do there but spend way too much on souvenirs. Take the same train line back to Florence — only stop in Lucca, a beautiful Tuscan hill town. Shop in the markets, walk atop the walls surrounding the city, or grab a bike and explore. Return to Florence for dinner.
Day 8: Venice. Leave Florence early for Venice. Once you arrive, take a water taxi or bus and get used to the confusing street layout, visit Piazza San Marco and feed the pigeons if you dare! See the Bridge of Sighs and climb the Campanile for the view. Take a gondola ride and enjoy cichetti at a bar that evening.
Day 9: Venice. Visit any of the museums that catch your fancy. Or, if you’re museumed out, which you likely will be, relax and try to get lost in the streets. It’s a fun way to get off the very beaten path, and a friendly local will guide you if you get lost. In the afternoon, take a boat ride to Murano to see glass blown or Lido, if you’re there during the summer.
Day 10: Venice. Spend your final morning wandering the walkways of Venice and seeing what you missed. Catch an afternoon flight home.

Ten Days in Italy
There are so many ways to spend ten days in Italy. You could tailor a trip for foodies, for art history fans, for devout Catholics, for nightlife mavens and more.
But if you’re in Italy for the first time and want to maximize your trip, this isn’t that bad of a way to do it.
Category: Travel Itineraries, Travel Musings |
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Tags: 10 day itineraries, europe, florence, italy, itineraries, lucca, pisa, rome, travel, venice