CLASSICAL ITALY

Day 1 : USA - Rome
Our trip begins as we leave the airport to take the overnight flight to Rome. Meals are served on board.

Day 2 : Rome
"Buongiorno" Welcome to the eternal City. Enjoy our welcome dinner of local cuisine, wine and live entertainment in a local restaurant. The real flavors of Italy. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Day 3 : Rome
Morning visit of the Vatican, a self contained state ruled by the Pope. Stand in the great square designed by Bernini and admire the magnificent dome of St. Peter designed by Michelangelo. Inside St Peter's - the world largest church - is Michelangelo's Pieta and the baroque St Peter's Pulpit by Bernini. In front of this is the crypt where St Peter is buried. Adjoining St Peter is the Vatican Museum where we will visit the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's superb ceiling and his mural of the Last Judgment. We will also see the Rafael Rooms with exquisite frescoes, the great Library, the Picture Gallery of Italian Masters, and the wonderful collection of tapestries, sculptures, robes, maps and other treasures. Afternoon tour of Christian Rome - Visiting the Basilica of St Maria Maggiore, St Walls, Appian Way- Catacombs. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Day 4 : Rome
Rome belongs to the world! Today experience the event that millions of people all over the world are dreaming of the "Papal Blessings" by His Holiness, Pope John Paul 11. Afternoon tour of Ancient Rome - enjoy a panoramic city tour viewing Castel St Angelo and Large Argentina - where Julius Caesar met his fate at the hands of Brutus. The Capitoline - most important of seven hills in Rome, home of Jupiter. The Marcello's Theatre and the Jewish Ghetto, the Imperial Palaces atop the Palantine Hill overlooking the Circus Maximus where the Rape of the Sabines occurred. Then back on foot to view the Arch of Titus and one of the best preserved Roman structure - the Arch of Constantine. Hear the roar of the lions as we enter the Colosseum and imagine the brutal entertainment of the Romans. Next we view the astonishing "Wedding Cake" Monument to Victor Emmanuel in Piazza Venezia and the world famous nostalgic "Trevi Fountain" Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Day 5 : Rome - Assisi - Siena - Florence
Early departure for a scenic ride to Florence via Assisi - visit the Basilica of St. Francis, famous for its fresco paintings depicting the life of this much loved saint and Siena - birthplace of St. Catherine. Also the home of one of the longest ongoing Eucharistic miracles in the world, then, a beautiful drive through the vineyards of the Chianti wine growing region brings us to Florence, cradle of the Renaissance and artistic center of Italy. Dinner and overnight in Florence.

Day 6 : Florence - Pisa - Florence
The fountainhead of the Renaissance-city of Dante, Boccaccio, Botticelli and DA Vinci. Enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the city atop Pizzale Michaelangelo, followed by the tour of the Academy of Fine Arts where Miachaelangelo's proud "David" stands. We will visit the majestic Cathedral built in 1296, Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery with its renowed "Gates of Paradise" doors. We will follow the medieval streets to the most striking square in Florence, Piazza Della Signoria and then to Santa Crece Church, Michaelangelo's final resting place. A short drive to the most instantly recognizable building in all he Western World - The leaning Tower of Pisa - if it were straight, it would measure 180 feet. Dinner and overnight in Florence.

Day 7 : Florence - Padua - Venice
A short stop at Padua to visit the Basilica where of the basilica is one of Italy's most famous statures by Donatello. It is a massive bronze statue of an amazingly realistic large horse - calmly astride is a Venetian hero - who it is said is a dead ringer for the Laurence Olivier! Then, on to Venice - "The most glorious and heavenly show upon the water that ever any mortal eye beheld" as viewed by Thomas Coryate. There is no normal life in Venice. Here, everything and everyone floats. Not only the gondolas, launches, barges and vaporettos, but also the buildings and the people float. One floats luxuriously with such sense of freedom, never tormented by traffic or even disturbed by the sound of horn. Dinner and overnight in Venice.

Day 8 : Venice
New York has Fifth Avenue, Paris its Champs Elysee, but Venice tops them all with its Grand Canal - the great water road filled with gondolas, motorboats and peppermint stick boat moorings! Venice - a living treasure! Appreciate her splendor as we travel by private launch along the city's famous canals, past the Church of the Redentore and Palladio's San Giorgio Maggiore, to alight at the St Mark's Square -the drawing room of Europe. We'll visit the magnificent Basilica, view the magical Bridge of Sighs, the Bell Towers Zodiac Clock, the extraordinary Dodge's Palace- the remarkable seat of Venetian power. Dinner and overnight in Venice.

Day 9 : Venice - Verona - Milan
About 70 miles from Venice along a snaking Adige River lies Verona - home of "Romeo and Juliet". As we stand in the courtyard and look up at Juliet's Balcony, we could imagine Romeo saying "But soft" What light through yonder window breaks! It is the east, and Juliet is the sun! Then, on to Milan - Italy's richest second larges and business capital. An important European center of fashion design, banking and culture Building ever created - Milan's Duomo, its capacity, 40,000 people! Then, we stroll through the spectacular glass-topped Galleria- the world's first shopping mall and home of Campari - toward Piazza Scala, home of the famed La Scala Opera House. Dinner and overnight in Milan.

Day 10 : Milan - USA
Arrivederci! After breakfast, checkout, transfer to the airport for our flight back home laden with photographs, happy memories and new found friendS.