If you are looking for the perfect one week Italy itinerary to give you a good taste of Italy then this is the itinerary for you. You will explore the beautiful food that Tuscany has to offer along with the stunning architecture and history that the capital city of Rome has to offer.

This guide includes:
- Tips for getting around
- Where to stay
- Things to do that aren't just for tourists
- Cafés, bars and restaurants

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Italy

Pisa, Province of Pisa, Italy

Lucca, Province of Lucca, Italy

Siena, Province of Siena, Italy

Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

Florence, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy

How to spend one week in Central Italy

Check into your hotel (I stayed at Hotel Bavaria and would recomend it for a central budget stay) or just drop off your bags if you are too early. 

Head straight over to Florence cathedral and take in the beauty of the architecture. Take in the atmosphere of street performers busking, the scent of tasty food in the air and do some people watching in the sqaure. 

The highlight of my trip to Florence is always a walk up Brunelleschi's dome which has the most spectacular views over the city of Florence. Be prepared for lots of steps to climb on your trip to Florence but it’s absolutely worth the climb for the views. 

Duomo Dome Skip the Line Tour

Florence is a beautiful city located in central Italy in the region of Tuscany. It is considered to have been the birthplace of the Renaissance and is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Another great spot to watch the sunset is Forte di Belvedere which provides panoramic views over the city. 

Spend your second day exploring Florence on the otherside of the river. Here you will find beautiful gardens to explore with stunning views over the rest of the city. 

Today is the day to make the most of a day trip to see Pisa and Lucca. Take the train to Pisa early morning which takes about an hour from Florence. From the train station head stright to Piazza del Duomo. The square is at its quiestest first thing in the morning or after sunset in the evening. Be prepared for lots of people in the backgorund of your photos as it is incredibly busy during the day.  

On the way back from Pisa stop off at the beautiful city of Lucca. Get ready to do lots of exploring and getting lost in this ancient walled city. Lucca is a small city with a big heart! With its medieval walls and squares, this lovely city is guaranteed transport you back in time.

Start the day off by stopping by Caffe' Fiaschetteria Il Pulcino for some morning coffee and a bite for breakfast. Don't be fooled by the small size of Siena, it is incredibly hilly which can make it incredibly tiring especially in the heat of summer. 

Book tickets for the cathedral complex

A temple was originally built here during the early reign of Emperor Augustus (27 BC to 14 AD) by consul Marcus Agrippa between 25 and 27 BC. The temple, which was a wooden structure was destroyed in a fire in 80 AD, and only the façade remained. The date of when the temple was rebuilt is unknown. It may surprise you to learn that the Pantheon is actually still used as a Catholic church; masses are held on Sundays and holy days, and sometimes even weddings take place there.

Book your tickets here

Today will be an early start to head over to the Trevi fountain at sunrise to see it without all the crowds (there will still be people). Be aware that some mornings they will be cleaning the fountain and therefore you cannot get close to it so you may need to come back another mroning. From Trevi fountain you can head over to the Spanish steps which again will be quiet early morning and you will actually be able to see the steps.

Spend the day exploring the other side of the river with the castle and the Vatican City. First visit the Vatican museum for when it opens at 8:30am as they get absolutely packed. The Vatican Museums consist of 26 museums and almost 5 miles of wall space with densely packed displays. You could spend days and weeks admiring and discovering all the exhibits. Make sure to pick up a map when you walk in, this place is a maze.

Take the train from Rome Termini to Fiumicino Aeroporto which is about 30 minutes. 

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If you haven't already heard, Piazzale Michelangelo is one of the best spots to watch the sunset over Florence. The walk is steap and around 20 minutes from the gardens. But you will be greated by a few refreshment stands along with a cafe with live music playing. The atmosphere at this spot is very wholesome and well worth the climb to get there. I would absolutely recommend visiting this spot at least once on your trip to Florence. 

Check out hotel Bavaria

As you head towards the river you will pass Piazza della Signoria which is a beautiful sqaure full of coffee shops to stop for your morning coffee and some breakfast. 

Continue your walk towards the river and head over to Ponte alle Grazie which is where you will get a beautiful view of the Ponte Vecchio for any photos. 

From Ponte alle Grazie head along Lungarno Generale Diaz where you will continue to have a beautful view of ponte Vecchio. Ponte Vecchio is a picturesque medieval arched river bridge with Roman origins, lined with jewelry & souvenir shops. You will notice a large police presense here due to all the expensive jewelery shops that line the bridge. Spend some time doing some window shopping and admiring the views over the river. 

From the bridge head to Basilica di Santo Spirito where you can see the wooden Crucifix sculpted by Michelangelo at a young age. 

https://www.basilicasantospirito.it/

From the basilica head towards Pitti Palace which is currently home to five different museums: the Treasury of the Grand Dukes and the Museum of Russian Icons, with the Palatine Chapel, the Palatine Gallery and the Imperial and Royal Apartments, the Modern Art Gallery and the Museum of Fashion and Costume.

After visitng Pitti Palace I'm sure you will be peckish and ready for some pizza for lunch to keep you going. Gusta pizza is only a 2 minute walk from Pitti Palace. 

After enjoying some pizza head over to Cantina del Gelato and enjoy some delicious gelato along the river. I was on a hunt for a gelateria that had salted caramel and this was the only place I could find in most of Florence and it was worth the search. 

Once you have finished enjoying your gelato make your way to the gardens at villa Bardini. Take your time strolling thorugh the beautiful gardens and enjoying the breathtaking views over the city. 

Once you have done all the hard work climbing to steps to the dome and tower it is now time to learn about the history of the cathedral and how this incredible structure was built. You will find the museum located in the building behind the far end of the cathedral behind the dome. 

To top your first day off in Florence head over to Zio Gigi for some authetic Italian food. This family-run resturant is an absolute gem I found and would highly recommend eating here. The chef came out and helped clear plates and even sang and just had the best atmosphere.

After the leaning tower do not skip out on the cathedral and baptistery. The inside of this cathedral was more ornate and impressive than the inside of Florence cathedral. 

After visiting the cathedral it will be time to grab some lunch. Head over to Piazza del Campo and grab a delicious pizza from Pizzaria Spadaforte and do some people wathing in the piazza. You can just get a pizza slice to go if you don't fancy a whole pizza. 

After spending two months travelling Italy and visiting lots of churches and cathedrals, Siena cathdral has to be one of the most beautifully decorated interiors I have ever seen. 

Within the cathedral you will find the entrance to the Piccolomini library. The large painting by Pinturicchio above the door leading to the Piccolomini library shows the coronation of Cardinal Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini as Pope Pius III. He died 26 days after his election. Although a number of significant codices are on display, the main reason to visit is to admire the colorful frescoes honoring the life of Pope Pius II that cover the walls and ceiling vaults.

Make your way to the leaning tower at your time-slot (I would suggest before lunch time) and take your time taking in the views that the tower has to offer (they are stunning, by the way).  Make sure you have a sturdy pair of shoes on to walk up the tower as the stairs are incredibly slippy and have no grip. 

Make your first stop in Lucca at Ciacco to grab a sandwich for lunch to keep you going for the rest of the day, as there is a lot more walking to do. 

Once you have refuelled, make your way to Lucca cathedral which is only a 4 minute walk. Duomo di Lucca is one of the must-see sites and is only €3.00 to visit the cathedral. This impressive 11th-century cathedral is dedicated to Saint Martin. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Lucca. There is a legend that explains why all columns of the cathedral’s facade are different. There was a contest for choosing an artist. Every artist took part in it with a handmade column. In the finals, the inhabitants of the city decided not to choose a winner, but to use all the columns made for the contest. 

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina

Colosseum

Trevi Fountain

Zio Gigi

Giotto's Bell Tower

Ponte Vecchio

Piazzale Michelangelo

Piazza della Signoria

Pitti Palace

Villa Bardini

St. Peter's Basilica

Vatican Museums

Castel Sant'Angelo

Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport

Amerigo Vespucci Airport

Firenze train station

Roma Termini

Pantheon

Piazza Navona

Piazza dell'Anfiteatro

Guinigi Tower

Spanish Steps

Cantina del Gelato

Basilica di Santo Spirito

Cattedrale di Pisa

Complesso museale della Cattedrale di San Martino in Lucca, il museo è attivo dal 1992 custodisce i tesori della Cattedrale

How to spend one week in Central Italy

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