Florence and Venice by Train from Rome: 2-Day Small Group Tour

Pick-up service from Hotel/Apartment to Train Station, meeting with tour assistant and departure by fast train to Venice Santa Lucia.

15 minutes•Entrée libre

Arrival at the Venice train station after approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes. Construction of Santa Lucia railway station began in 1860 under the Austrian Empire. In order to make room for both the station building and its forecourt, a convent and the Church of Santa Lucia were demolished in 1861. The station in turn took up the name of this church. The current station building is one of the few modernist buildings facing the Grand Canal.

15 minutes•Entrée incluse

The Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges of the Grand Canal. It is famous for both its architecture and its history. For years it was the fulcrum of Venice's economy.

The name "Rialto" comes from "Rivus altus", which in Italian means "deep canal", indicating that it is a flood-free area. The structure of the bridge is similar to the previous ones, collapsed twice and burned on various occasions, and consists of two inclined ramps joined by a portico in the centre. Crossing the Rialto Bridge you will reach the Rialto Market, a colorful place where fruit and vegetables are sold. The Market has ancient origins and has been held in this place since 1097.

30 minutes•Entrée libre

San Marco is one of the most fascinating squares in the world, so much so that Napoleon Bonaparte called it "the most beautiful hall in Europe".

It was built in the 9th century and paved in 1177, 100 years after its construction. Piazza San Marco is the lowest area of Venice and, therefore, it is the first area to flood with high water. In these cases, the municipality of Venice installs walkways to allow the regular transit of pedestrians. If you are lucky (or unlucky, depending on your tastes), you will be able to see the square full of water. The most important buildings in the square are the Basilica of San Marco, the Palazzo Ducale, the Correr Museum, the Campanile and the Clock Tower.

2 heures•Entrée libre

Originally this building was supposed to be an extension of the Doge's Palace. The first construction of the Basilica of San Marco began in the year 828 and ended in the year 832 to house the body of the Apostle Saint Mark brought from Alexandria as protector of the city.

The construction of the current basilica began in 1063 in Byzantine style to represent the power of the prosperous Venetian Republic. This basilica was built respecting the model of two basilicas of the ancient imperial city of Byzantium with a central plan in the shape of a Greek cross, five large domes and a particular blend of ancient and oriental art. The result is a splendid and successful combination of styles.

45 minutes•Entrée incluse

The Ducal Palace was probably built between the 10th and 11th centuries on the basis of a central fortified nucleus. The first renovation was carried out in the 12th century with Doge Sebastiano Ziani who transformed the fortress into an elegant palace.

Between 1339 and 1342 during the reign of Bartolomeo Gradenigo, the palace began to take on its current form. Doge Francesco Foscari extended the palace in 1424 until it reached the Basilica of San Marco. In the early 17th century, the architect Antonio Contin added the New Prisons across the canal, connecting them to the palace with the Bridge of Sighs, where the inmates passed on their way to the new prisons. In 1797, after the fall of the Republic of Venice, the palace was adapted to house the administrative offices.

15 minutes•Entrée libre

The Campanile of San Marco is one of the symbols of the city of Venice. Venetians affectionately call him "El parón de casa" (The master of the house).

At 98.6 meters high, it is one of the tallest bell towers in Italy. It stands majestically in Piazza San Marco in front of the basilica. Simple in shape, it consists of a fluted brick barrel, having a side of 12 meters and approximately 50 meters high, above which is the arched belfry. The bell tower is in turn surmounted by a die, on whose faces two walking lions and the female figures of Venice (Justice) are alternately depicted. Everything is completed by the pyramid-shaped spire, on top of which, mounted on a rotating platform to function as a weather vane, is the golden statue of the archangel Gabriel. The base of the building is embellished, on the side facing the basilica, by Sansovino's Loggia.

15 minutes•Entrée libre

The Bridge of Sighs is located in the historic center of Venice, right behind Piazza San Marco, it is the only bridge in the city that is completely closed. Nowadays it is also known as the "lovers' bridge": legend says that to declare eternal love, you must kiss under the bridge during a gondola ride.

The true history of the Bridge, however, is very different: the fact that it connected the Palazzo Ducale and the Palazzo delle Prigioni is no coincidence! In fact, it served as a security passage to move prisoners from the Court to the Prisons and vice versa.

15 minutes•Entrée libre

Try the water bus experience in Venice.

The Grand Canal is the main waterway in Venice (about 4 km long). The Grand Canal has an inverted "S" shape and divides the city into two parts, each of which groups together three districts. The width of the Grand Canal varies from 30 to 70 meters and its maximum depth is 5 meters. The Grand Canal is crossed by four bridges, the oldest is that of Rialto (1591). The other three bridges over the Grand Canal are those of the Scalzi, the Accademia and finally the Constitution Bridge, the latter designed by the architect Calatrava (inauguration 11 September 2008). Follow the course of this famous canal to discover the secrets of a unique city.

1 heure•Entrée incluse

Enjoy a tour about the gondola (optional not included) the traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian lagoon. It is similar to a canoe. It is propelled by a gondolier, who uses a rowing oar, which is not fastened to the hull, in a sculling manner and acts as the rudder.

45 minutes•Entrée libre

Arrival in Florence in the late afternoon, transfer to a 4-star hotel or similar, accommodation in the rooms.

30 minutes•Entrée libre

Enjoy the full day a tuo piacere with your professional tour Assistant.

Florence is noted for its culture, Renaissance art and architecture and monuments such as Palazzo Vecchio, the Church of San Lorenzo, Santa Maria del Fiore (built by Brunelleschi). The nearby Campanile (designed by Giotto) and the Baptistery are also highlights. But Florence is also an important city for Italian fashion, being one of the 15 fashion capitals of the world. Have all day for yourself to do what you prefer to do. For lunch, you have many options such as bars, typical restaurants, pizzerias but the most famous dish in Florence is the Florentine steak with good red wine. Let yourself be guided by the tour guide for shopping, eating, sightseeing and everything will be easier. In the afternoon 2 hours visit of the city with professional guide

8 heures•Entrée libre

You will visit the Accademy Gallery where inside

You will visit the Accademy Gallery where inside is the David, Michelangelo's famous sculpture. Michelangelo’s David at the “Accademia in addition to the work of David, there are also other sculptures and a large collection of paintings by Florentine artists.

45 minutes•Entrée incluse

The cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Visit from outside), with its beautiful dome projected by Brunelleschi, is the cathedral of Florence. Construction began in 1296, Gothic style to a design of Arnolfo di Cambio and was structurally completed by 1436, with the dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink, bordered by white, and has an elaborate 19th-century Gothic Revival façade by Emilio De Fabris.

15 minutes•Entrée libre

The Baptistery of San Giovanni (visit outside) is located in Piazza Duomo, in front of the Cathedral of S. Maria del Fiore, it is one of the most important monuments in Florence.

The origins of the monument are not certain. It is thought to have been built on the ruins of an ancient Roman temple dedicated to the God Mars around the 4th-5th century AD. The first mention dates back to 897 when it was referred to as a basilica. In 1128 it officially became the city's baptistery, where the baptism rite took place. The baptistery, named after the patron saint of the city, is characterized by an octagonal plan, covered by a dome with eight segments covered on the outside by a pyramid roof. The exterior of the building is decorated with white Carrara marble and green Prato marble, characteristic of Florentine Romanesque architecture.

15 minutes•Entrée libre

Adjacent to the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

Adjacent to the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is the Bell Tower designed by Giotto (visit outside). Giotto's Bell Tower is the majestic bell tower of the Cathedral and one of the masterpieces of Italian Gothic. The Bell Tower has a square base of approximately 15 meters per side with corner reinforcements that rise up to the horizontal cantilevered crown located at a height of 84.7 metres.

15 minutes•Entrée libre

Piazza della Signoria has been at the center of Florence's political life since the 14th century. The Square has seen important historical events and great triumphs take place, such as the return of the Medici in 1530.

The famous sculptures located in Piazza della Signoria have references to the political events of Florence. The David (the original is located in the Accademia Gallery) was created by Michelangelo and positioned in front of Palazzo Vecchio to symbolize the power of the Florentine Republic in contrast with the tyranny of the Medici. Hercules and Cacus (1534) by Bandinelli instead symbolizes the physical power of the family.

30 minutes•Entrée libre

Built near a Roman-era crossing, the Ponte Vecchio was until 1218 the only bridge that crossed the Arno in Florence.

Above Ponte Vecchio you can see a part of the beautiful Vasari Corridor. This corridor, built in 1565 by Giorgio Vasari, passes just above the goldsmith shops that currently stand on either side of the bridge. Commissioned by the Medici, it allowed them to move from Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti without having to cross the streets of Florence, in complete safety. At the time of the construction of the Corridor, the butchers' shops were gathered on the Ponte Vecchio, whose activity probably disturbed the passage of the Medici, who in 1593 had them moved, replacing them with the more "decorous" goldsmith shops.

20 minutes•Entrée libre

Departure by fast train to Rome. Arrival after approximately 2 hours, transfer service to your hotel/apartment.

15 minutes•Entrée incluse