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Rome & Florence | 8 Days
Rome, the Eternal City. As a millennium-long center of power, culture and religion, having been the center of one of the globe’s greatest civilizations ever, has exerted a huge influence over the world in it’s 2500 years of existence. With wonderful palaces, millennium-old churches and basilicas, grand romantic ruins, opulent monuments, ornate statues and graceful fountains, Rome has an immensely rich historical heritage and cosmopolitan atmosphere, making it one of Europe’s and the world’s most visited, famous, and beautiful capitals.
Leaving Rome we head south to explore one of the most geologically active coastlines in the world. The misfortune of Pompeii and the views from Mount Vesuvius will provide students with a lifetime of memories.
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Itinerary
| Day | City | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airborne | Meet your Group Director at the airport for an overnight flight to Italy! |
| 2 | Orientation | Arrive in Rome. Coffee/Pastry. Navigate to the hotel. Pizza/Panini. Walk to San Pietro in Vincoli. Admire Michelangelo’s Moses. Gelato. Walk to the Basilica of Saint Clement. Explore the 12th century basilica, then descend to the 4th century basilica, and then descend to the 1st century domus of a Roman nobleman. Find the Capuchin Crypt home to the skeletal remains of almost 4,000 monks. Visit the Trevi fountain on the way back to the hotel. Relax and freshen up for dinner in Rome. |
| 3 | Ancient Rome |
Early breakfast. Enjoy a guided tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum. Lunch overlooking Trajan’s Column before a guided tour of the Domus Romane at Palazzo Valentini. Coffee/Pastry/Gelato. Stroll to Piazza Venezia and take the elevator to the terrace of Il Vittoriano for a panoramic view of Rome. Admire Michelangelo’s Piazza del Campidoglio on the Capitoline Hill then explore the museums. Relax at the hotel and freshen up for dinner in Rome. |
| 4 | Modern Rome |
Morning stroll up the Pincian Hill and through the gardens of Villa Borghese. Explore the Borghese Gallery. Enjoy the panorama of Rome then stroll down to the Spanish Steps. Coffee/Pastry/Shopping. Ascend to the ramparts of Castel Sant’Angelo for another great view of Rome. Lunch at Piazza Navona then visit the Pantheon and Campo di’Fiori. Shopping with a regroup at the hotel. Farewell dinner in the cellars of Da Pancrazio, originally a room of the Theatre of Pompey (where Caesar was assassinated). |
| 5 | Vatican City Naples |
Early breakfast. Explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Enjoy the view of Rome from the cupola of Saint Peter’s Basilica then explore the basilica itself. Take the fast train to Florence and navigate to the hotel. Explore the museum, climb the tower, and admire ruins of the Roman Colony beneath Palazzo Vecchio before enjoying dinner on Piazza della Signoria. |
| 6 | Florence | Early breakfast. Climb Giotto’s Campanile for wonderful view of Brunelleschi’s Duomo. Learn about Dante, Da Vinci, Galileo, Machiavelli, Marconi (and many others) during a guided tour of the tombs at the Basilica di Santa Croce. Lunch/Shopping at Mercato Centrale then spend afternoon relaxing in the Boboli Gardens and exploring the Pitti Palace. Sunset pictures of Ponte Vecchio from Ponte alle Grazie then admire Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo. Dinner on Piazza della Republica. |
| 7 | Florence | Early breakfast. Admire Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia. Lunch/Shopping. Explore the Uffizi in the late afternoon after the morning crowds have departed. Freshen up at the hotel for the Farewell Dinner. |
| 8 | Airborne | Flight from Florence. Ciao Italia! |
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