-Day 1 Overnight Flight to Italy (Venice)
Day 2 Ciao Venice
Meet your tour director and check into hotel
Day 3 Venice
Details: Venice guided sightseeing tour
Bubbling up on more than 100 islands in a lagoon off the Adriatic, Venice is an absolutely unique and unquestionably beautiful city. Step into Piazza San Marco, an airy expanse of arches, sunlight, and pigeons. The multi-domed Basilica on one end, completed in 1094 but decorated for centuries afterward, is the final resting place of the apostle St. Mark, Venice’s patron saint. The mosaics beneath the basilica’s outside arches depict the arrival of St. Mark’s body, stolen from Egypt in 828 by Venetian traders. The frothy Venetian Gothic Doge’s Palace stands next door. Continue on to a glass-blowing demonstration. Venetian glass has long been considered the best in the world, and its production was such a state secret that during the Middle Ages, any Venetian glassblower who attempted to ply his trade outside the city was immediately arrested.
Details: St. Mark’s Square
Stroll through St. Mark's Square. Bordered by Venice's greatest historic buildings, St. Mark's Square is the center of both the city and its water transportation system, as well as a popular tourist attraction.
Details: Doge's Palace guided visit
Discover the Doge’s Palace, once the seat of government and justice in the Venetian Republic. Its lavish rooms, monumental artwork, and intricate architectural details reveal the wealth and influence that defined Venice at its height.
Day 4 Venice--Florence
Travel to Florence
Traditional Italian pizza dinner
Details: Verona tour director-led sightseeing
Brush up on your Shakespeare before visiting Casa di Giulietta, where you can look up at the balcony long associated with the story of Romeo and Juliet. Learn how many versions of this tragic tale existed well before Shakespeare gave it its most famous form. From this legendary setting of star-crossed love, continue on to Verona’s Roman Arena, a remarkably preserved 1st-century B.C. amphitheater. Still used for performances today, it is the third-largest arena of its kind in Italy.
Day 5 Florence
Details: Florence guided sightseeing tour
Immerse yourself in the charms of old-world Firenze. The birthplace and focal point of the Italian Renaissance, Florence still has the masterpieces to prove it. Brunelleschi’s monumental cupola (dome) atop the city's renowned Duomo dominates the skyline. Your local licensed guide will take you to Giotto's Bell Tower and the aptly named Gates of Paradise, the bronze east doors of the Baptistery that spurred the burgeoning Renaissance. Don’t overlook the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli at the Chiesa di Santa Croce, or Florence’s amazing leather goods. You can check them out when you visit one of the area’s famed workshops!
Details: Piazza della Signoria
Spend time in the Piazza della Signoria, the political stage of Renaissance Florence and an open-air museum of sculpture.
Details: Ponte Vecchio
Stroll along the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest of Florence's six bridges and one of the best-loved sites of Florence. Lined with numerous shops, visitors often do not realize they are on a bridge until the reach the center arches that look out over the Arno.
Day 6 Florence--Rome
Travel to Rome
Details: Ancient Rome guided sightseeing tour
The ultimate symbol of Ancient Rome, the Colosseum still dominates the modern city. Tour the amphitheatre with your local licensed guide. Built by the emperor Vespasian in A.D. 72, the structure held almost 50,000 spectators but was so well organized that the entire place could be emptied within 15 minutes. Inside, the spectacles varied from gladiator battles to immense naval contests to wild beast shows, in which thousands of exotic animals like giraffes and ostriches were popped into the stadium through trap doors and left to fight Roman hunters. See the system beneath the floor that operated the trap doors and housed the animals, then continue on to the relative calm of the Forum. Ancient Rome’s commercial, religious and political center, the Forum held markets, temples and the Senate House. Near the Rostra, or speaker’s platform, you can still see game boards scratched into the marble by bored politicians--anyone up for a game of tic tac toe?
Details: Forum Romanum visit
Tour the ruins and excavations of the Roman Forum, which features the remains of magnificent temples, basilicas, and triumphal arches that once formed the heart of the Empire.
Day 7 Rome
Authentic trattoria dinner
Details: Vatican City guided sightseeing tour
Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, with its vast colonnades that seem to embrace the world. Inside, admire Michelangelo’s soaring dome, rising 452 feet above the ground, and his renowned Pietà. Then step into the Sistine Chapel, where the artist reluctantly painted frescoes that today stand among the world’s greatest masterpieces. Please note that the Sistine Chapel portion of the visit is unguided and will be explored independently.
Details: Rome city walk
Take a walk past Rome's most beautiful and unusual Baroque fountains. At the foot of the Spanish Steps, elegant cafes surround the central fountain. The water pressure here was so low that the artist had to sink the fountain into the ground to get any water going through it, so he went ahead and designed the fountain to look like a sinking ship. There's no shortage of water pressure at the nearby Trevi Fountain, a Baroque extravagance designed by master sculptor Bernini.
Details: Trevi Fountain
View the Trevi Fountain, where it is traditional to toss a coin into the fountain to ensure a safe return to the Eternal City.
Details: Piazza Navona
We will spend some time in the Piazza Navona area. Built on the foundations of Domitian's Circus, this magnificent square was designed by Borromini in 17th century. It is full of life and is highlighted by one of Rome's most spectacular fountains, the Four Rivers designed by Bernini. The square is often filled with local artists. The surrounding neighborhood is also one of the best places in Rome to get a tasty tartufo or gelato ice cream
Day 8 Rome--Sorrento
Travel to Sorrento region
Details: Capri & Blue Grotto excursion
From the Bay of Naples the island of Capri is less than an hour away by boat. Weather permitting, you will take a boat to the Blue Grotto, where sunlight reflected from beneath the water bathes the cave in a silver-blue light.
Day 9 Sorrento--Rome
Travel to Rome via Pompeii
Details: Pompeii guided excursion
Stop to see the city where time stood still, literally. Once an important Roman city with 20,000 residents, Pompeii was frozen in time nearly 2000 years ago, when Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the city under 30 feet of mud and volcanic ash. Forgotten for centuries after the eruption, Pompeii was discovered in the 1600’s and is now completely excavated. On your tour you will learn how Romans of all classes lived their lives--not only from large public structures, but from details like political graffiti, bars, and street signs.
Day 10 Rome--Athens
Fly to Athens
Details: Athens city walk
You’re never more than a few steps away from the past in Athens. Accompany your Tour Director to the Plaka, the historic district that borders the Acropolis. In its twisting narrow streets you’ll catch glimpses of an older city, from wrought-iron balconies bursting with geraniums to traditional Greek dancing in basement tavernas. Continue on to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, begun in the 6th century B.C. and finished in A.D. 132 by the emperor Hadrian. Its enormous columns provide a sense of the scale of the original temple. Nearby, the elaborate Hadrian’s Arch separated the ancient and imperial sections of the city.
Details: Hadrian’s Arch
View Hadrian's Arch, an enormous triumphal arch built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, which is still a symbolic entrance to Athens.
Day 11 Athens
Details: Athens guided sightseeing tour
Athens has grown from the birthplace of democracy into a lively modern capital. With a licensed local guide, explore the city’s ancient highlights, beginning at the site of the first modern Olympic Games and the Acropolis, the heart of classical Athens. The Parthenon, dedicated to Athena, dominates the hill, while the nearby Erechtheion stands out for its Caryatids, the sculpted women supporting its porch. From here, the views over today’s Athens are remarkable. Back in the modern city, stop at Syntagma Square to see the Parliament building and the Changing of the Guard, a ceremony marked by the traditional uniforms with pleated skirts and pom-pom shoes. Continue on to Omonia Square, another major meeting point, surrounded by shops, cafés, and everyday city life.
Details: Acropolis site visit
Visit the Acropolis, which has overlooked Athens for over 2,000 years; habitation traces indicate that it was occupied as early as the Neolithic Age. View the Temple of Athena Nike, and its successor, The Parthenon. The Parthenon is the crowning achievement of the Doric order, built to demonstrate the wealth of Athens in tribute to its patron goddess, Athena.
Details: Syntagma Square
Syntagma Square, located directly in front of the Old Royal Palace, is the central square of Athens.
Details: Panathenaic Olympic Stadium
The Panathenaic Olympic Stadium is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble and the site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It was also used during the 2004 Athens Olympics for events such as the marathon finish and archery competitions. Its horseshoe shape follows the layout of the ancient stadium that once stood here, making it one of the city’s most iconic historic venues.
Day 13 Athens
Details: Cape Sounion guided excursion
Contemplate the sea god Poseidon from his temple perched high atop the hill of Cape Sounion, the southern-most tip of Central Greece. Stand among the tall, marble pillars rising up from the slippery slabs of rock and look out over the calm blue Aegean Sea. The Temple of Poseidon, built around the same time as the Parthenon (between 450-440 BC), is a refreshing point of calm after the chaos of modern Athens.
Day 14 Flight home from Athens
Day 13 Start cruise extension (tour must depart North America on Sundays to do extension)
Details: Cruise for three days on the Aegean
Set out to sea. Take three days to tour four islands of the Aegean and get to know authentic Greek island culture and some of the Aegean's best beaches. First is Mykonos, one of the Mediterranean's busiest resorts, with everything from a great museum filled with 7th-century artifacts to pure white, cubistic buildings, Crayola-colored boats, gourmet restaurants and...more beaches. Next stop is Kusadasi, known for its myriad of shops and historic sites. Then it is on to the hilly, seahorse-shaped Patmos, you'll see gold-leafed Byzantine frescos at the Monastery of St. John, the capital city of Hora, the busy port of Skala and beautiful beaches. Cruise on to Heraklion, the capital of Crete and a former Minoan seaport, for an unparalleled collection of Minoan archaeological artifacts. Finally, you’ll visit Santorini, where whole villages seem to cling to the side of the volcano, and mysterious black sand beaches stretch into the sea. Itinerary is subject to change. Your cruise includes two shore excursions.
Details: Your cruise includes two shore excursions.
The following two excursions are included on your cruise: Ancient Ephesus through the ages - Hellenistic and Roman, and
Heraklion: Minoan Palace of Knossos - 1st European Civilization. Note that depending on the departure date of your cruise, shore excursions are subject to change.
Day 16 Athens
Details: Cape Sounion guided excursion
Contemplate the sea god Poseidon from his temple perched high atop the hill of Cape Sounion, the southern-most tip of Central Greece. Stand among the tall, marble pillars rising up from the slippery slabs of rock and look out over the calm blue Aegean Sea. The Temple of Poseidon, built around the same time as the Parthenon (between 450-440 BC), is a refreshing point of calm after the chaos of modern Athens.
Day 17 Flight home from Athens
Tour Includes:
- Round-trip airfare
- 12 overnight stays (13 with extension) in hotels with private bathrooms
- 3 overnight stays in cabins on cruise ship on extension
- Full European breakfast daily
- Dinner daily
- Lunch included on cruise ship
- Full-time services of a professional tour director
- Internal flight
- Guided sightseeing tours and city walks per itinerary
- Visits to select attractions as per itinerary
- Guided sightseeing tours with high-tech headset as per itinerary
- Aegean Cruise on extension
- Two shore excursions on cruise
- Tips to cruise staff on extension
- Tour Diary™
- Local Guide and Local Bus Driver tips; see note regarding other important tips
- Note: On arrival day only dinner is provided; on departure day, only breakfast is provided
- Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees, or fees for any required passport or visa. Optional excursions, optional pre-paid Tour Director and multi-day bus driver tipping, among other individual and group customizations will be listed as separate line items in the total trip cost, if included.
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