Benvenuti a Roma! Open your heart to a whirlwind of antiquities and local flavors. Join your Travel Director for an introduction to the 'Eternal City' this evening and enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers.
Venture across the Tiber River to Ancient Rome and see the mighty Colosseum and Circus Maximus, where daring chariot races were once held to thunderous applause. Drive to the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin for a private after-hours visit to the Mouth of Truth. See the church, crypt, and relics of the famous saint of love, Valentine, and learn about the legend of the Mouth of Truth.
This morning, head to the Vatican Museums with a Local Specialist and take in Michelangelo’s famous ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Then visit St. Peter’s Basilica to see the Pietà, one of his most celebrated sculptures. Later, travel north through the scenic landscapes of Tuscany to Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance. This evening, Connect with Locals at a Be My Guest experience in the Chianti countryside, where you’ll enjoy local hospitality and regional flavors in a beautiful rural setting. Please note: On some departures, access to St. Peter’s Basilica may be restricted due to the Papal Audience. You’ll still have time to take in the atmosphere of St. Peter’s Square during your visit to Vatican City.
Your Local Specialist reveals Florence's rich cultural heritage during your walking tour. Visit Piazza della Signoria, with its impressive sculptures, and imposing palazzi. View the marble Duomo and the famous Baptistery, renowned for its bronze doors with relief sculptures and the Ponte Vecchio. Learn about the quality and expertise of one of this city's historic industries at a demonstration of Florentine leathercraft. Then travel through the Apennines and cross the Veneto plains towards Venice. This evening, you may choose an Optional Experience to take a gondola ride along the city’s enchanting canals.
Cruise by private launch to St. Mark's Square to see the Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark's Basilica and the ornate Doge's Palace. Later, you’ll enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience where you’ll witness the ancient Venetian tradition of glassblowing. You’ll learn how the talented masters are using the same techniques their forefathers once did, and how your visit helps to preserve this art for generations to come. Don’t resist the urge to buy a souvenir to remember the experience before enjoying the rest of the day to explore Venice your way. You could choose to spend a lazy afternoon watching the traffic on the busy waterways with a Venetian Spritz, or consider taking an Optional Experience to one of the islands in the lagoon.
Leave behind the canals of Venice and Italy’s northern hills and plains to board your flight to Athens.
Travel north to Kalambaka and the astonishing UNESCO-listed monasteries of Meteora. These are among the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece. Your Local Specialist will guide you on visits to two of the six monasteries built on sandstone rocks towering above the town.
Drive south towards Mount Parnassos and Delphi, where you will stay overnight. Join a Local Specialist and see the site of the most important oracle in the classical world and walk the Sacred Way to the Temple of Apollo where athletes competed in the Pythian Games. Join a fun, interactive Greek Culinary Optional Experience and taste your creations along with other dishes prepared by your cheery chef.
We depart the 'navel of the earth' today and travel to Athens where we'll discover the city's rich heritage during your sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist. Marvel at the Royal Palace, the Temple of Zeus and the Acropolis. See Hadrian's Arch and the stadium where the first modern Olympics took place in 1896. Indulge in dinner to celebrate the end of your trip.
Say goodbye to your fellow travelers and Travel Director after an unforgettable journey.
