2027-09-10 ~ Italy | Rudisell Trip
Venice (3) – Volterra/Tuscany (4) – Cinque Terre (3)
→ Rome (4) – Maiori (3) → Naples (1) → ✈️ Cincinnati
ALL PRICES ARE ESTIMATES AND MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE
Most Activities Estimated Per Couple · Flights TBD
Three weeks total for R. — leave the 9th or 10th. If others need to, may push back a week. One couple joining in Cinque Terre; three couples likely overall.
Itinerary at a Glance
- Day 1 ~ ✈️ Fri, Sept. 10 — Depart CVG for Venice
- Flight estimate, 2 pass. — $2,400.00
- Pub crawl, first evening
- Day 2 ~ Sat, Sept. 11 — Venice (1 of 3)
- Water taxi, airport to hotel
- 🏠 Institute San Giuseppe or Casa Vacanza Madonna dell’Orto
- Murano/Burano, Doge’s Palace, Pub Crawl
- Day 3 ~ Sun, Sept. 12 — Venice (2 of 3)
- Day 4 ~ Mon, Sept. 13 — Venice (3 of 3)
- Day 5 ~ Tue, Sept. 14 — Volterra/Tuscany (1 of 4)
- Rental Car Pickup in Venice
- Hotel: Loggiato dei Serviti (Florence) / Court of San Lorenzo VRBO / Borgo Pinti Sanctuary or,
- Hotel: Hotel San Lino (Volterra)
- Brunelleschi Pass, Wine Tour, Terme di Petriolo
- Day 6 ~ Wed, Sept. 15 — Volterra (2 of 4)
- Day trip to Florence by Rental Car
- Day 7 ~ Thu, Sept. 16 — Volterra (3 of 4) — San Gimignano, market day
- Day 8 ~ Fri, Sept. 17 — Volterra (4 of 4)
- Day 9 ~ Sat, Sept. 18 — Cinque Terre / Monterosso (1 of 3)
- Train Volterra → Monterosso — $136.00
- 🏠 Villa Mesco
- Sunset boat ride, hike between towns, Pisa & Lucca day trip
- Day 10 ~ Sun, Sept. 19 — Cinque Terre (2 of 3)
- Day 11 ~ Mon, Sept. 20 — Cinque Terre (3 of 3) — market day, Riomaggiore
- Day 12 ~ Tue, Sept. 21 — Rome (1 of 4)
- Train Monterosso → Roma Termini — $148.00
- 🏠 Hotel Flower Garden / Casa per Ferie I Cappuccini
- Vatican Museums, Colosseum Underground, Pantheon, Catacombs tour
- Day 13 ~ Wed, Sept. 22 — Rome (2 of 4) — Papal Audience
- Day 14 ~ Thu, Sept. 23 — Rome (3 of 4)
- Day 15 ~ Fri, Sept. 24 — Rome (4 of 4)
- Day 16 ~ Sat, Sept. 25 — Maiori (1 of 3)
- Train Roma Termini → Salerno — $144.00
- 🏠 Casa Religiosa Amici Di San Francesco
- Capri, Pompeii, Positano, Ravello, cooking class, limoncello tour
- Day 17 ~ Sun, Sept. 26 — Maiori (2 of 3)
- Day 18 ~ Mon, Sept. 27 — Maiori (3 of 3)
- Day 19 ~ Tue, Sept. 28 — Naples (1)
- Transfer Maiori → Naples, 🏠 The Five Rooms Napoli
- Day 20 ~ Wed, Sept. 29 — Return home, NAP → CVG
Day 1 · Fri, Sept. 10 — Depart CVG for Venice
✈️ Flight estimate, CVG → VCE (2 passengers) — $2,400.00
🍺 Pub crawl planned for the first evening in Venice.
Day 2 · Sat, Sept. 11 — Venice (1 of 3)
- 🚤 Water taxi, airport to hotel — $100.00 (Ref: Monastery Stays travel plan #1280713857)
🏠 Hotel Options
- Option A: Institute San Giuseppe — Twin, €125/nt (VEV118, Monastery Stays) — $290.00 (pay now €50, non-refundable)
- Option B: Casa Vacanza Madonna dell’Orto — Patronato Pio IX, Double €112.50/nt (VEV118, Monastery Stays) — $261.00
🎫️ Activities
Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat $175
OPTION: Murano & Burano Islands
This is a guided small-group tour by private boat, with City Wonders, booked through Viator (video).
Explore the intricacies of two famed Italian handicrafts on a fully guided day trip from Venice to the nearby islands of Murano and Burano with a group of up to 20 people. Watch centuries-old glassblowing techniques in Murano, and marvel at the detailed stitches of exquisite Burano lace.
Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to departure time at the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, Riva degli Schiavoni.
- Your City Wonders guides will have a City Wonders sign with the name of the tour at the meeting point for easy recognition.
- Your tour will end at Hotel Gabrielli Riva degli Schiavoni, 4110, near San Marco.
Venice In a Day St Mark’s Doges Palace Gondola Ride and City Tour $370
Venice Like a Local: Food, Wine & Spritz Tour with Traghetto Ride $210
Eat Like a Local: Venice 3-Hour Small-Group Food Tasting Tour $210
Day 3 · Sun, Sept. 12 — Venice (2 of 3)
🏠 Same hotel as Day 2.
Day 4 · Mon, Sept. 13 — Venice (3 of 3)
🏠 Same hotel as Day 2. Next stop: Florence/Tuscany (Volterra area), 4 nights.
Day 5 · Tue, Sept. 14 — Volterra/Tuscany (1 of 4)
🚗 Getting There — Drive from Venice to Volterra
🚗 Rental Car Pickup: Venice → San Gimignano
- Approx. 3 hrs, ~190 mi (305 km)
- Via Padua–Ferrara–Bologna–Florence — $TBD
- Stop in San Gimignano
- Walk the medieval towers, lunch, gelato at the famous Piazza della Cisterna spot
🚗 San Gimignano → Volterra
- Approx. 25–30 min, ~19 mi (30 km
- Via Colle di Val d’Elsa — $TBD
- Keep car through the Volterra stay, Days 5–8
🚗 Rental Car Drop-off: Volterra → La Spezia
- Approx. 1h45m–2h drive, ~100 mi (165 km) — $TBD
🚅 Train: La Spezia Centrale → Monterosso al Mare
- Cinque Terre local line, direct, ~12–22 min — $5–8/person
- Monterosso doesn’t have a car rental drop-off office.
- Car Parking for Cinque Terre
🏠 Hotel Options for Florence
- Option A: Loggiato dei Serviti — Classic Double (Florence) — $1,100.00
- Option B: The Court of San Lorenzo — VRBO apartment (Florence) — $525.00
- Option C: Casa per Ferie Suore Oblate dell’Assunzione — Monastery Stays) — $478.50 (pay now €132.50, non-refundable)
🏠 Hotel Options for Volterra
- Still deciding: base in Volterra vs. staying in Florence itself?
- Option: Hotel San Lino (Volterra) $800
🎫️ Activities in Florence
- Brunelleschi Pass — $80.00
- Wine tour — $350.00
- Terme di Petriolo Thermal Pools — 4 hour drive roundtrip
Day-trip ideas: Montecarlo, Pitigliano, San Quirico d’Orcia
Day 6 · Wed, Sept. 15 — Volterra (2 of 4)
Open question: can we drive into Florence?
No, a drive into Florence is not recommended due to the ZTL’s. However, it is feasible to drive from Volterra to a parking facility outside of Florence and take a tram to near the city center.
Day Trip from Volterra to Florence
For a smooth day trip, consider driving from Volterra to the Villa Costanza park-and-ride, which is located just off the A1 motorway. This parking area will keep you outside Florence’s ZTL zones. Parking costs are approximately €7 to €10 for the day.
Villa Costanza is a special “park & tram” exit off the A1. Once parked, just hop on the T1 tram line, which takes about 20-25 minutes to reach Florence’s city center near Santa Maria Novella station. From there, you can easily walk to the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, and other iconic sites.
⭐ Along the Route (SS68 → RA Firenze–Siena)
Monteriggioni is right off the highway. It is a tiny, perfectly preserved medieval fortress perched on a Tuscan hilltop, encircled by stout stone walls and fourteen watchtowers that rise over the surrounding vineyards. Inside, a quiet piazza and a few narrow lanes create an intimate, time‑capsule atmosphere, while the ramparts offer wide, cinematic views of the countryside.
Colle di Val d’Elsa Medieval town with glassmaking heritage, great for a quick walk and espresso.
Day 7 · Thu, Sept. 16 — Volterra (3 of 4)
Market day in Volterra.
Thermal pools; a couple of fun towns to explore.
Day 8 · Fri, Sept. 17 — Volterra (4 of 4)
Open day.
Day 9 · Sat, Sept. 18 — Cinque Terre / Monterosso (1 of 3)
🚗 Driving to Monterossa – Parking €25/day
🚅 Train: Volterra → Monterosso (Trenitalia 2nd & 1st class Viva, via ItaliaRail) — $136.00
🏠 Villa Mesco (LIM111, Monastery Stays) — $435.00 (pay now €207.50, non-refundable)
🎫️ Activities
- Sunset boat ride / swimming
- Option: Cinque Terre Sunset Tour by Boat, Viator 255721P1) — $250.00
- Hike between towns
- Day trip: Pisa & Lucca — $100.00
Day 10 · Sun, Sept. 19 — Cinque Terre (2 of 3)
Same hotel as Day 9.
Day 11 · Mon, Sept. 20 — Cinque Terre (3 of 3)
Same hotel as Day 9.
Market day in Riomaggiore
Market day in Riomaggiore typically unfolds along the village’s main artery, Via Colombo — the steep, lively street that runs from the upper part of town down toward the marina. This is where vendors set up their stalls and where all the market activity concentrates.
Day 12 · Tue, Sept. 21 — Rome (1 of 4)
🚅 Train: Monterosso → Roma Termini
- (Trenitalia 2nd & 1st class Viva, via ItaliaRail) — $148.00
🏠 Hotel Options
- Option A: Hotel Flower Garden — $800.00
- Option B: Casa per Ferie I Cappuccini
- Monastery Stays) (pay now €285.61, non-refundable) LAR259,
🎫️ Activities
- Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica
- Guided tour — $350.00
- Colosseum Underground — $500.00 (tickets from Parco, ~€24 ea. — unlikely)
- Rome: Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour — $425.00
- Pantheon — $20.00
- Underground Rome: Catacombs & Colosseum — small group tour (62972P7) — $235
Day 13 · Wed, Sept. 22 — Rome (2 of 4)
🏛️ Wednesday Papal Audience Experience with Pope Leo XIV $90
Option: Papal Audience – Free Tickets Required
Tickets must be collected the day before the audience from 3 pm until 7 pm. Tickets can also be collected on the day of the audience from 7am until 8:30 am. Seating is always first-come, first-served so it is best to arrive early if you wish to sit.
General Audiences begin at 9:00am, however the Holy Father will tour through St. Peter’s Square at 8:45am so it is recommended to arrive by 8:30 am latest. When entering St. Peter’s Square, everyone will be required to pass through security which include metal detectors and x-ray machines.
In the summer months when there are more visitors, guests will arrive up to 3 hours in advance to ensure seating. Even if you have a ticket, you are not guaranteed a seat.
Day 14 · Thu, Sept. 23 — Rome (3 of 4)
Same hotel as Day 12.
Day 15 · Fri, Sept. 24 — Rome (4 of 4)
Open day.
Day 16 · Sat, Sept. 25 — Maiori (1 of 3)
🚅 Train: Roma Termini → Salerno (Trenitalia Premium Viva, via ItaliaRail) — $144.00
Hotel Options
- 🏠 Casa Religiosa Di Ospitalità Amici Di San Francesco (CAM111, Monastery Stays) — $754.00 (pay now €260, non-refundable)
- 🏨 Hotel Panorama $1100
- 🏨 Residence Inn Panoramic $700
- 🏨 Raggio di Sole Deluxe Double Balcony $850
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🎫️ Activities
- Capri Deluxe / First to Blue Grotto — from Sorrento, Positano & Amalfi (7746P40) — $300.00
- Pompeii — $360.00
- Positano — $100.00
- Ravello — $100.00
- Cooking class — $300.00
- Limoncello class + lemon tour
- Amalfi Lemon Experience (ferry from Maiori) — $350
Maiori Beaches
Maiori is home to the longest sandy beach on the Amalfi Coast — nearly 1 km of golden sand, gently sloping into the water, which makes it one of the most family-friendly stretches of coastline in the area (a rarity on this mostly rocky, cliff-lined coast). A seafront promenade (lungomare) runs the length of it, lined with cafes, gelaterie, and restaurants.
Nearby Coves
- Cala della Praia — a smaller, quieter cove toward Erchie, reachable by a short drive or boat ride.
- Marina di Erchie — a scenic sandy/pebbly cove about 10 minutes away, often reached by boat; one of the prettiest spots near Maiori.
- Boat trips from Maiori’s harbor are a popular way to reach smaller coves toward Cetara and Erchie.
Lidos (Beach Clubs)
- Maiori and neighboring Minori are among the cheapest spots on the Amalfi Coast for beach clubs — loungers typically run €15–40, well below prices in Positano or Amalfi town.
- Top pick: Lido degli Artisti — spacious, relaxed, family-friendly, with a beach shack that doubles as a genuinely good restaurant for lunch and dinner.
Day 17 · Sun, Sept. 26 — Maiori (2 of 3)
Same hotel as Day 16.
Day 18 · Mon, Sept. 27 — Maiori (3 of 3)
Same hotel as Day 16.
Day 19 · Tue, Sept. 28 — Naples (1)
🚆 Transfer: Maiori → Naples — $280.00
Naples Hotels
- 🏠 The Five Rooms Napoli — $150.00
Day 20 · Wed, Sept. 29 — Return Home from Naples
✈️ NAP → CVG
💰 Tipping in Italy
| Service | Tip Expected? | Suggested Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant — Casual | No | Round up or leave €1–2 cash |
| Restaurant — Upscale | Optional | 5–10% if no servizio included |
| Café / Bar | No | Small coins on the counter |
| Taxi | No | Round up to nearest euro |
| Hotel Porter | Optional | €1–2 per bag |
| Tour Guide — Half Day | Yes | €5–10 per person |
| Tour Guide — Full Day | Yes | €10–20 per person |
| Private Driver | Yes | €20–30 per ride |
Never tip on a credit card in Italy — cash only, left on the table.
ALL PRICES ARE ESTIMATES AND MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE
LAST UPDATED 07/30/2026