The Gottlieb family from Jacksonville, FL, grandparents traveling with their 18-year-old grandson, celebrated his high school graduation with a special arts-focused journey through Italy. Their itinerary included Rome, Florence and Venice, making it an ideal first Italian adventure as a multigenerational family.

Their trip began with two nights at Singer Palace Rome, where they especially loved the warm and welcoming staff. In Rome, they enjoyed a variety of private half-day tours of the Colosseum area, the Jewish Ghetto and the Vatican. They were particularly impressed with their guide for Jewish Rome but noted that every guide throughout the trip was outstanding, sharing not only their knowledge but also their genuine love for their city and its history.

On their journey north, they stopped in Siena for a privately guided tour of this beautiful medieval city, followed by lunch before continuing to Florence. Their three-night stay at Grand Hotel Minerva was enjoyable, especially the rooftop bar with its spectacular panoramic views of Florence.

Their private and eclectic half day tour experiences in Florence included a city highlights tour, visits to the city’s renowned art museums and a fascinating artisan tour featuring traditional workshops for paper making, goldsmithing and mosaics. The family told us the artisan experience was a real treat and one of the unexpected highlights of the trip. To cap off their Florence stay, they enjoyed a memorable pasta and tiramisu-making class in a chef’s home, which doubled as a delicious and memorable dinner.

From Florence, the family traveled by train to Venice, where they spent two nights at Violino d’Oro Venezia, ideally located right on a canal. They loved the hotel’s unique layout, which spans three interconnected buildings…a maze they quickly learned to navigate! In Venice, they capped off a great trip with several more half day tours of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, and also a private boat excursion to the islands of Murano and Burano.  Here they met local lace and glass artisans and even participated in a private glassmaking workshop. Their Italian adventure came to a colorful close with a Venetian mask-painting workshop.  And a private canal boat ride back to the airport for their trip home.

The Gottlieb family’s trip is a perfect example of why custom travel is such a wonderful way to experience the world as a family. Every element was thoughtfully chosen around their interests, ages and budget, creating a trip that felt personal and meaningful to everyone.  It was certainly jammed pack, but worthwhile for the amount of time they wanted to travel.  And, as they told us, “Every little detail turned out just over the top!”