DAY 1 - USA/ITALY
Depart from USA on a flight to Milan Airport
in Italy. Dinner and breakfast on board.
DAY 2 - MILAN/VENICE
Upon arrival in Milan, we will be met
and transferred to our bus to begin our visit to this beautiful city.
Milan has the cultural buzz and amenities of an international
metropolis; it is also home to some of Italy's finest artistic
masterpieces. We will visit Il Duomo - reigning serenely over the
city center. Milan's Duomo is the third largest gothic church in
Europe, capacity is said to be 40,000 - and one of the most ornate
cathedrals in the world. We continue to Santa Maria Delle Grazie
- to the left of this church is the former reflector of a Dominican
monastery, now basically a shrine to Leonardo da Vinci's Last
Supper. We also visit the Teatro Della Scala. It owes its name to the
Fourteenth-century church of Santa Maria Della Scala that once
stood here. It was built between 1775 and 1778 by G. Pirmarini
in neo-classical style. Partially destroyed during the Second World
War, it was successfully rebuilt. Of the original constriction,
only the interior structures remain. At present it can hold about
3,000 spectators. We continue to PADOVA hotel for dinner and
overnight. (B,D)
DAY 3 - VENICE
After breakfast we start our tour of Venice first
we will take a vaporetto to get to central Venice than we continue
on a walking tour of Venice. Venice is magical with its pink palazzi,
green canals, the blue Adriatic Sea, and yellow signs pointing to
the center. Venice is eternally beautiful and culturally vigorous. We
will have a half day walking tour of Venice including a visit to the
Doge's Palace with its splendid rooms decorated by 16th century
artists such as Titan, Tintoretto and Veronese, St. Mark's Basilica
and Square, the Bridge of Sighs. The afternoon is at leisure to walk
the many bridges. Later return to the hotel in PADOVA for dinner
and overnight. (B,D)
DAY 4 - VENICE/PISA/FLORENCE
Today after breakfast and
a short visit to the Basilica of St Anthony we will depart for
Pisa seeing some of the most picturesque scenery. We will stop
in Pisa to leaning Tower, one of the world's best known sight.
The best reason to come to Florence is to immerse yourself in a
truly astounding collection of Renaissance art and architecture.
Florentines are fiercely proud of their cultural heritage and are
protective of the assets that define their city. Upon arrival in
Florence we will have some free time. Dinner and overnight in
Florence. (B,D)
DAY 5 - FLORENCE
Morning tour takes us to Michelangelo
Square for a panoramic view of the city, the Academia to see
Michelangelo's original David Statue, Giotto's Bell Tower, the
Baptistry with its “Gates of Paradise” doors, Signoria Square and
Santa Croce Church. Afternoon free to pursue personal interests.
(B,D)
DAY 6 - FLORENCE/ASSISI/ROME
Today after breakfast we
depart for Assisi as we experience Tuscany and Umbria two of
Italy's most scenic regions. Our tour visits the Crypt of St. Francis
under the huge Basilica of St. Francis, which contains many of his
possessions and a series of frescoes depicting his life. Our guided
tour continues with a visit to the Church of St. Clare, where the
body of the Great Saint rests, and St. Mary of the Angeles Basilica,
site of the minute Church of the Porziuncola, the cave where
Francis prayed. We continue on to Rome. For a thousand years,
Rome was the capital of the republic and then of an empire that
stretched from the British Isles to North Africa, and from Gibraltar
to Constantinople. Upon arrival we drive to our hotel for overnight.
(B,D)
DAY 7 - ROME
This morning experience a very special privatelyguided
tour of the priceless collection of art and treasures found
in the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum. You will be amazed by
the beautiful wall frescoes created by Michelangelo, Perugino and
Botticelli. The unique ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is surely one
of Michelangelo's greatest achievements. Continue to St. Peter's
Basilica, the largest church in the Christian world, built over the
tomb of St. Peter. Then proceed to the Piazza Venezia, and the
Roman Forum, with a stop at the Colosseum - a testament to the
greatness of Rome's past. Continue your full tour day with visits
to the Arch of Constantine, Circus Maximus, the Synagogue, Isola
Tiberina and Castel Saint Angelo. Then back to our hotel to get
ready to dine out at a popular Roman restaurant. (B,D)
DAY 8 - ROME
Full day at leisure with many interesting things
to see and do. You may wish to visit some of the famous churches
or you may want to visit some of the museums of take the
underground to the many sights such as the Spanish Steps, the
Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona places that you have seen on day 7.
Or you may want to take a optional tour of Pompeii. (B)
DAY 9 - ROME/USA
Today we say farewell and take with us
wonderful memories from our Italian journey. We are transferred to
the airport for our flight to the USA. (B)
* (B,L,D) = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner