Italian City Escapes
A collection of apartments, residences, and hotels in the heart of Italy's great cities, from Venice and Rome to Florence and Milan.
Explore Italy's Iconic Cities with Essenza Escapes
Essenza Escapes offers private apartments, historic residences, and hotels chosen above all for their position, in the heart of Italy's four great cities: Venice, with its canals and quiet, art-filled corners; Rome, layered with history at every turn; Florence, compact and rich with the Renaissance; and Milan, Italy's capital of design and fashion. Each is placed within walking distance of the art, the piazzas, and the restaurants that define its city. Beyond the stay itself, our team acts as your concierge on the ground, securing tickets that are difficult to obtain, arranging private guided tours, and sharing the restaurants and recommendations we trust.
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Apartments and Hotels in Italy’s greatest cities
Explore All Italian City Properties
Why Travel to Italy with Essenza Escapes?
A team devoted entirely to Italy, and to the travelers who come to discover it.
Making the Most of Every City
Whether you are discovering a city or coming back to it, we bring it to life in a new way.
Overview
Service and Planning
What to Consider
No two Italian cities tell the same story. Rome carries two thousand years of empire and faith; Venice, built on water, rose as a maritime republic; Florence gave the world the Renaissance; and Matera, older than almost anywhere, is carved into the rock. Yet none of these places is a museum. Venice hosts the Biennale, one of contemporary art's great events; Milan sets the global pace in fashion and design, and its Navigli canals are among Italy's most vibrant places for an evening out; Rome and Florence balance their history with a restless modern life of their own. Whatever draws you, the art, the food, the design, or the past, each city rewards more than a passing look. Our apartments and residences sit in the central, well-placed parts of each, and we also offer some of the finest hotels in each city.
This is where Essenza Escapes makes the difference. Our team arranges private, skip-the-line access to the sights that matter, and tours you will not find online, shaped around your own interests rather than a fixed script. Much of this is guided by our Chief Historian, Oxford-educated and fluent in four languages, whose grasp of why each city's past still matters gives every itinerary real depth.
Tell us what interests you, and our team and its local partners will put the city within reach. For art and history, we arrange private guided tours of the Colosseum and Vatican in Rome, or the museums and galleries of Florence and Venice, alongside quieter pursuits such as an afternoon at a Florentine art restoration laboratory, a painting lesson, or a mask-making workshop in Venice. For food and wine, there are tastings, cooking classes, and tables at the best restaurants. Milan opens up its fashion houses and design studios, and in season each city offers opera, theater, and music.
Families are looked after with the same care. We arrange treasure hunts through the old streets, gelato and pizza-making, boat trips, and days out judged to keep every age engaged, so that children and parents enjoy the city equally.
We also take care of the practical details that shape a good city stay. A private driver is on hand to move you across town or out to the sights beyond it, tickets and restaurant reservations are arranged before you arrive, and a local contact remains reachable throughout, leaving you free to enjoy the city rather than manage its logistics.
A city stay rewards a little planning, and a few practical points are worth knowing before you go.
Plan to explore on foot. Italy's historic centers are compact and made for walking, and we would not recommend a car in any of these cities: traffic is restricted by ZTL zones that carry fines, parking is scarce, and ride apps like Uber are not widely available outside of Rome and Milan. For arrivals, departures, and trips beyond the center, a private driver is the better option, and we arrange these for you. Venice, of course, moves entirely by water and on foot.
The major sights reward planning too. Attractions such as the Vatican need to be reserved well ahead, as do restaurants for groups of eight or more, and we take care of both on your behalf. Bear in mind that the great museums are vast: the Uffizi in Florence, for example, can take at least half a day to see properly. Some are also less suited to younger children, and where that is a concern, we are glad to suggest more age-appropriate alternatives. Note too that smaller shops often close over lunch, typically between one and three in the afternoon.
In summer, plan around the heat. July and August can be draining in the middle of the day in cities like Rome and Florence, so the great museums and sights are best visited early or late, which we arrange wherever possible. It is also worth knowing that in August many Italians leave for the coast, and some restaurants and shops close for part of the month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the apartments have daily housekeeping?
In most cases, yes. Housekeeping is either included as standard or can be arranged on request, and we will confirm the details for any apartment before you book.
Can you arrange breakfast or a chef in the apartment?
Yes. We can arrange everything from breakfast to a private chef in your apartment, though for smaller groups a minimum charge sometimes applies. Tell us what you have in mind and we will set it up.
Are external suppliers allowed?
It depends on the property. Some ask that certain services, such as catering, transfers, or entertainment, are arranged through their own approved suppliers, while others leave the choice open to you. We will always tell you where this applies so you can plan accordingly.
Do the apartments have air conditioning, an elevator, and parking?
All of our apartments have air conditioning, though it is worth noting that air conditioning in Italy typically reaches a minimum of 19 to 20 degrees Celsius. Some have an elevator, though the historic buildings that give many city apartments their character often do not, so it is worth asking where this matters to you. Parking is rare, but as a car is not recommended in Italy's cities, it is seldom needed.
Do I need a car?
No. Italy's cities are best reached and explored without one, by train between them and on foot within them. We arrange your travel throughout, whether by train or by private car and driver.
Do you offer stays in all the major Italian cities?
Yes. Beyond Venice, Rome, Florence, and Milan, we also offer stays in cities such as Bologna, Turin, and Verona. Not all appear on the website, so if you have a particular city in mind, simply ask.
Can you arrange a trip across several cities?
Yes, and we do so often. We can plan a multi-city itinerary and the travel between each, staying in four and five-star hotels throughout, so a single trip might take in Venice, Florence, and Rome without you arranging a thing.
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