Faculty-Led: Highlights of Italy - 9 Days

Daily Itinerary

Day 1 – Departure

Today you'll start your adventure to Italy to make unforgettable memories with your group. 

Day 2 – Arrival, Rome, Florence

You’ll arrive in Rome and then board your bus for the drive to Florence with a stop in Assisi to visit the Basilicas of St. Francis and St. Clare and the Piazza del Comune. After your stop in Assisi you’ll continue the drive to Florence. 

Day 3 – Florence 

Today you’ll take a walking tour in Florence, a city famous for its art and architecture. The city was the center of the Florentine Republic founded in 1115 AD and is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance during the Middle Ages. It was also home to the Medici, one of history’s most important noble families. During your tour you’ll see the famous Florence Cathedral and Baptistery known as the Duomo. This magnificent gothic structure built in the 1300’s includes art work by Giotto and engineering by Brunelleschi. The impressive brick dome was the largest ever constructed. You’ll also see Baslilca of Santa Croce which is the burial place of famous Italians including Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. 

 You’ll also visit the Piazza della Signoria, the Ponte Vecchio and other sites during your tour. After the tour you’ll take a break for lunch and then have the afternoon free. In the evening you’ll participate in a hands on cooking class and dinner.

Day 4 – Florence 

This morning, you will visit the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest and most famous museums of the western world and home to famous works by Michelangelo and Da Vinci. Next, you’ll continue to the Boboli Gardens, one of the largest and most elegant Italian style gardens. Located behind Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens offers a welcome respite for travelers looking to escape from urban life. 

Day 5 – Florence 

Today you’ll have a free day. If you wish we can arrange an excursion in advance. Options include a day trip to the Cinque Terre, Pisa or Lucca or a trip to one of the charming Tuscan hilltop towns of Siena, San Gimignano, or Volterra. 

Day 6 – Rome

After breakfast, you'll head to Rome by train. Here you’ll learn about the history of a thriving civilization that began as early as the 8^th century BC and grew to become one of the largest empires in the ancient word. Your first stop will be the Roman Forum which served for centuries as the center of Roman public life. Throughout the years it served as a venue for public speeches and criminal trials, a market place and as the site for ancient government buildings. You’ll tour the site and then continue to the Coliseum, an elliptical amphitheater in the center of Rome and the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. Its construction was completed in 80 AD and is a 50,000 seat stadium used for gladiator battles and other public performances. 

After your tour you’ll head to Piazza Navona where you’ll take a break for lunch. After lunch you’ll see the Pantheon and then have some free time before dinner. In the evening you’ll have dinner and then take a walk along the Tiber River in the trendy area of Rome known as Trastevere. 

Day 7 – Rome 

Today you will have a free day. If you wish we can arrange an excursion in advance. Options include a visit to the Catacombs in Rome, the Borghese Gallery or other museums. A day trip to Pompeii is also an option. 

Day 8 – Rome 

You'll visit the Vatican, usually referred to as a City State and often called "The Holy See", Vatican City is home to about 800 residents. And it's the world’s smallest country.   A unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces lie within its boundaries. At its center is St Peter's Basilica, with its double colonnade and a circular piazza in front and bordered by palaces and gardens. The basilica, erected over the tomb of St Peter the Apostle, is the largest religious building in the world. Today you’ll see the Vatican Museums including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. You’ll have the afternoon free. After dinner you’ll see the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps.

Day 9 – Departure

Today your Italy adventure will come to an end as you start your journey back home.