This 11-day journey through Italy has been customized to visit the most sought-after destinations while allowing our travelers to enjoy some downtime and relaxation. Filled with the history and romance of what Italy is all about, you will experience the foods, drinks, and culture of the second-most-visited country in Europe.
Your trip begins in the spectacular city of Milan (home of Michelangelo’s The Last Supper) and you will travel south through some of the most beautiful countryside and along coastlines dotted with villages and beaches.
Filling your senses with sights, smells, history and culture, famous buildings, churches, and ancient art, the photography from this trip will bring back incredible memories for years. As you continue on the historic journey, you will visit the breathtaking structures of the Roman and Renaissance period. Cathedrals where Michaelangelo’s art completes the beauty. The Tuscan hills are known for the food and wine worldwide, where a luncheon of fresh pasta, basil, and sun-dried tomatoes will assault your tastebuds.
Our trip continues to Rome, where four days will never be enough to see and delight in what it has to offer. The four Holy Vatican Basilicas, the Roman fountains, and the colosseums are what picture postcards feature. Your trip to Pompeii will both entertain and sadden you as you see the remains of a culture that once was the centerpiece of the world.
The drive up the Amalfi Coast completes our adventure as we visit the colorful markets while enjoying Naples, the birthplace of one of our favorite foods, pizza. You will fly back to your home from the Naples airport.
AT A GLANCE
STATUS
Registration is open. CLICK HERE to jump to the registration section.
DATES
Departing: October 13, 2024
Returning: October 23, 2024
PRICING
Trip cost of $4,100 is based on double-room occupancy; LAND ONLY (flights must be secured individually). A single-room supplement costs $820.*
Your trip includes:
9 nights in deluxe hotels (breakfast included);
9 dinners (1 wine and water);
9 lunches with (one cooking class);
Entrance fees into all mentioned sites;
Deluxe fully-equipped motor coach;
Any city taxes;
Local guides in Milan, Venice, Piza/Lucca, Florence, San Gemignani/Siena, Assisi, Rome, and Amalfi;
Historian Omer Eshel, CEO of The Bible Comes to Life will join us for four days in Rome, leading our group.
Your trip does NOT include:
Travel insurance (required);
Tips for guides and drivers (recommend $10 pp per day);
Any meals not mentioned (depending on flight schedule);
Entrance fees not listed.
*See Terms and Conditions for details.
ITINERARY
Day 1 - October 13, 2024: Depart USA
Your Italian adventure begins as you depart on your international flight.
Day 2 - October 14, 2024: Arrive in Milan/Verona
You will be met at the airport in Milan by our representatives. Begin your time in Italy with a guided visit to Milan (external visit of Duomo and Galleria). Continue to Verona, home to Roman ruins and a courtyard that reminisces the scenes from Romeo and Juliet, whose storyline is based in Verona. Finish the day at your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3 - October 15, 2024: Verona/Venice/Mestre
You will travel by boat to the magical city of Venice. Rising between sea and sky, this fascinating city boasts waterways and boats instead of roads and cars, encompassing 118 islands separated by more than 150 canals. You will stand in the Piazza San Marco, bordered on three sides by palatial arcades in two tiers and faced on the other by the Basilica of St. Mark, one of the world’s most magnificent churches. You’ll visit the Basilica with its treasure of marble and gold-background mosaics. From the square, you can see the famous Bell Tower and the Clock Tower, as well as the charming pink and white Doges’ Palace. You’ll view the sadly romantic Bridge of Sighs. There is much more to see in Venice and you’ll enjoy free time to explore on your own. You can shop, stroll along the bridges and canals, or, perhaps, indulge in a gondola ride along the Grand Canal. Dinner and overnight in Mestre.
Day 4 - October 16, 2024: Mestre/Pisa/Lucca/Montecatini Terme
Travel to Pisa where you can snap your photo in front of the famous Leaning Tower. This 180-foot tall round tower is over 10 degrees out of perpendicular. In the past, some thought the tower was designed to lean. It was designed to stand straight and tall. The tower began to lean during its construction in 1173 and corrective efforts failed. Even if it did not lean, it would still be one of the most remarkable bell towers in Europe. While the tower is a great source of pride for the town’s people, it is just one of several renowned buildings in the center of Pisa. Wander the medieval walled city of Lucca, the birthplace of Puccini. Each wall is lined with a different species of tree and encompasses a town full of medieval churches. Check into your area hotel for dinner and overnight in Montecatini Terme.
Day 5 - October 17, 2024: Montecatini Terme/Florence/Montecatini Terme
The elegant city of Florence is nestled between a line of hills and the banks of the Arno River. During your stay, you will have time to enjoy the beautiful gardens and stroll through the open-air markets. Every street, every square, and every winding alley of Florence is a showcase for Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance grandeur. Among the wealth of masterpieces to be found in Florence, you’ll see the Piazza della Signoria with its Neptune Fountain and Vecchio Palace, the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral which houses Michelangelo’s unfinished Pietà, the Baptistry which features Ghiberti’s famous Gates of Paradise and the Academy where you can view some of Michelangelo’s finished and unfinished work, including the awe-inspiring David. Dinner and overnight in Montecatini Terme.
Day 6 - October 18, 2024: Montecatini Terme /Siena/Assisi/Rome
This morning, continue to one of the most charming and picturesque of all the Tuscan hills. Beautiful Siena is built across several hills and valleys. The focal point of the city is the shell-shaped town square which is both a meeting place and marketplace. It is also the venue for the town’s famous horse race known as the "Palio". Your journey continues as you travel to Assisi, a charming medieval town that was the home of St. Francis. Just two years after his death, the large Basilica was started in his memory. At one time, the land on which the church stands was an execution ground for condemned criminals. In his humility, St. Francis asked to be buried there and it became known as the Hill of Paradise. The church contains his tomb and many great works of art. Proceed to Rome. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 7 - October 19, 2024: Rome
Today we dive into “Roma Antica” and visit Circo Massimo, Fori Imperiali, Colosseo, and Terme di Caracalla. Lunch in a restaurant. Afternoon at disposal free time. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 8 - October 20, 2024: Rome
Today we will visit the Four (4) Holy Vatican Basilicas Santa Maria Maggiore, San Giovanni in Laterano, San Pietro, and San Paolo outside the wall. Free time at disposal. Lunch in a restaurant. We reach by bus the historic center of Rome, where you can admire the beauties of Rome on foot. An opportunity to enjoy the view of the Roman Forums, Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, and the Colosseum. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 9 - October 21, 2024: Rome/Castel Gandolfo/Pompei
After breakfast, we travel by bus to Pompei. Enjoy the incredible beauty of this region as your bus travels to Sorrento. You will be in awe of the dramatic cliff-top drive that leads to your hotel. Possibility to visit the Pompei Ruins site (optional) in the afternoon. During your two-night stay, you’ll have time to discover the colorful ambiance of this delightful town and enjoy the view of Mt. Vesuvius.
Day 10 - October 22, 2024: Pompei/Amalfi Coast/Pompei
The Amalfi Coast is considered to be one of Italy’s finest! You will be enchanted by the rich hues of the blue-green sea, the tiny mystical islands, and the pastel-colored cottages gathered around tiny harbors! Have your camera ready to capture one breathtaking view after another! Snap a photo of the famous village of Positano which has graced a thousand postcards and charmed at least three generations of travelers. Visit the town of Amalfi, a must for every visitor! A glorious maritime republic from the 9th to 12th centuries, the town is also famous as the place where the compass was invented and boasts a splendid Duomo in Arab-Norman style. Time permitting you'll stop at the village of Vietri Sul Mar, home of Amalfi Coast ceramic factories which produce the colorful tiles that decorate every church tower in the area.
Day 11 - October 23, 2024: Naples and Return Home
Return to the USA with wonderful memories to share!
HOW TO REGISTER
STEP 1: COMPLETE REGISTRATION FORM
Register for the trip by completing the Traveler Registration Form and paying the non-refundable registration fee of $300 (plus applicable fees). For more info, please review our Terms and Conditions.
STEP 2: COMPLETE BOOKING
After you complete the Traveler Registration Form, click the event link below to select your trip options and complete your booking. Upon checkout via the event page, you can select from the following payment options: Online via Credit Card or PayPal; or Manual Payments via Check, Zelle, or Bank Wire. Instructions for each payment method will be available on the checkout page and are always available on our Payment Options page.