Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
If you are a golfer and you’ve never been to Italy, then your first trip should be this classic Florence to Rome golf journey.
First, we’ll start in Florence, the home of the Renaissance.
Since flights from the U.S. typically arrive in Italy in the morning, you’ll want a full day after your arrival to explore Florence.
Among the sites you’ll want to consider exploring are
- Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo di Firenze) and the surrounding piazza
- Mercato Centrale (central market)
- Accademia Gallery – home of Michaelangelo’s The David
- Ponte Vecchio bridge
- Uffizi Gallery
- Giardino di Boboli – stunning gardens
- Piazzale Michelangelo – this gives you magnificent views of Florence from across the river
Le Pavoniere
There are two golf courses we recommend in Tuscany. Closest to Florence is Le Pavoniere, located about twenty miles to the northwest.
A bit further away, to the south of Siena about 55 miles away is Royal Golf La Bagnaia.
To get the most of your visit to Florence, including golf, you’ll need probably need four nights of accommodations.
You’ll want to stay in town, near the Duomo or near the Ponte Vecchio. Florence is very walkable, and accommodations near these sites will put you right in the heart of the city.
From Florence, you can take the high speed train to Rome. Or, you can consider driving to a couple destinations in between (with either a rental car or private driver).
If you want to get a taste of the small town life in Italy between Rome and Florence AND have the opportunity to play an outstanding golf course, we recommend a two night stay in Perugia.
Just north of the city is Antognolla Golf Club, one of the best golf courses in Italy.
Nearby is the beautiful Lago di Trasimeno, and a couple beautiful small villages you will want to explore.
The Pantheon in Rome
From Perugia you head south to Rome by train or car, where you’ll stay in the historic center, with easy access to all of the historical sites… the Vatican, Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, etc.
We can set you up with an exclusive private tour of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel ahead of the opening to the public.
We then recommend rounds of golf at Marco Simone Golf Club, host course for the 2023 Ryder Cup, and Olgiata Golf Club, which has held the Italian Open twice, most recently in 2019.
Another popular course near Rome is Acquasanta, one of the oldest courses in Italy. It is known for being well-maintained and for its views of some historical sites near Rome from some elevations.
With our team of professionals in Italy, we can put together a customized trip for you that includes transportation to and from the airports, golf courses and train stations, along with guided tours of any of the historic sites and museums you want to experience.
Shoot me an email at scottcolegolf@aol.com to get started!
