The Louvre, the Uffizi and the Vatican

Who it is for

For a first trip to Europe with the two great art capitals and Florence in between.

Not for anyone with only a week, since Paris and Rome each need three days.

The strategy

Paris comes first, and a short flight leads to Florence; Rome is an hour and a half away by train. The trip ends in Rome, with return flights.

What you will see

• Eiffel Tower, Paris. Raised in 26 months for the 1889 World's Fair, it stands 330 m with the antennas, made of 7,300 metric tons of puddled iron, 18,038 parts, and 2.5 million rivets, and is hand-repainted every seven years.
• Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the dome, Florence. Begun in 1296 by Arnolfo di Cambio and closed by Brunelleschi's dome between 1420 and 1436: a 45.5 m span, herringbone brickwork, two shells and no wooden centering.
• Colosseum, Rome. Opened in AD 80 under Titus: an ellipse 188 by 156 m, 48 m tall, with an estimated capacity of 50,000 spectators.

Day by day

Paris

1. 1
   Day 1: The island, the river, and the Left Bank

   1. 4Sainte-ChapelleUp to half an hourEssential
2. 2
   Day 2: Museum in the morning, the Marais in the afternoon

   
3. 3
   Day 3: Montmartre, a cemetery, and the Eiffel Tower

   1. 1Eiffel TowerEssential
4. 4
   Day 4: Giverny (day trip)

   
5. 5
   Day 5: Versailles (day trip) · if you have more time

   

Florence

1. 6
   Day 6: The religious axis and the civic axis

   1. 2Baptistery of San GiovanniUp to half an hourEssential
   2. 4Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza della SignoriaWorth a visit
2. 7
   Day 7: Michelangelo in the morning, Oltrarno in the afternoon

   1. 8Galleria dell'AccademiaOne to two hoursIf there is time
   2. 9Ponte Vecchio and the Vasari CorridorUp to half an hourIf there is time
   3. 7San Miniato al Monte and Piazzale MichelangeloWorth a visit
3. 8
   Day 8: Sculpture, cells and the hill · if you have more time

   

Rome

1. 9
   Day 9: Ancient Rome, from the Colosseum to the Capitoline

   1. 1Coliseu (Anfiteatro Flávio)2hEssential
   2. 2Foro Romano2hEssential
   3. 4Palatino e Horti Farnesiani1hWorth a visit
   4. Circo Máximo20minIf there is time
   5. Monti1h30Worth a visit
2. 10
   Day 10: The Vatican and the right bank

   1. 5Museus Vaticanos e Capela Sistina3h30Worth a visit
   2. 6Basílica de São Pedro1h30Worth a visit
   3. Castel Sant'Angelo1h15If there is time
   4. Trastevere e Santa Maria2hWorth a visit
3. 11
   Day 11: Baroque, Borghese, and Appia Antica

   1. 3Panteão45minEssential
   2. 8Piazza Navona30minWorth a visit
   3. Campo de' Fiori40minWorth a visit
   4. Fontana di Trevi20minIf there is time
   5. 7Galleria Borghese2hWorth a visit
   6. 9Via Appia Antica e catacumbasmeio diaWorth a visit
   7. Mercato Testaccio1hWorth a visit
4. 12
   Day 12: Ostia Antica (day trip) · if you have more time

   
5. 13
   Day 13: Tivoli (day trip) · if you have more time