Key: IF = In Flight Meals, B= Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Day 1: Sunday: Departure
We will depart from Omaha on our overnight flights to Venice, Italy. (IF)
Day 2: Monday: Arrival in Venice
On arrival in Venice, we will meet our Reformation Tours’ Tour Director who will welcome us to Italy and escort us to our hotel on Venice Island. The afternoon is at leisure to explore Venice, before we meet up for our Welcome Dinner at our hotel. (IF/D)
Day 3: Tuesday: Venice
After breakfast, our guide will take us on a walking tour of Venice, including inside visits of the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Square, the Bell Tower, and the impressive St. Mark’s Cathedral. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore. We can shop in the famous market area around the Rialto Bridge, watch glassblowing, take a gondola ride, or enjoy a coffee and some people-watching at St. Mark’s Square. Some might want to visit Gallerie dell-Accademia to see its impressive art collection. (B)
Day 4: Wednesday: Florence
We will drive to Florence this morning, stopping first at the Piazzo Michaelangelo for a stunning view of the city. After free time to purchase lunch, our guided walking tour will include the Ponte Vecchio bridge, a visit to Galleria dell-Accademia to see Michelangelo’s incomparable “David”, and the Duomo with its famed Baptistry. We will dine in our hotel this evening. (B/D)
Day 5: Thursday: Florence
The Uffizi Gallery with the finest collection of paintings in all of Italy, including Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus” and many Biblically-themed masterpieces. We will have a break for lunch, so we can purchase sandwiches from the renowned sandwich shop, All’Antico Vinaio. The rest of the day is free to visit the Boboli Gardens, shop, take a cooking class or explore independently. (B)
Day 6: Friday: Florence, Assisi
Italy is known for its spectacular wines, and we will sample some of the best regional wines, as well as visiting some scenic villages. We will have a special lunch on the panoramic terrace of the Poggio Amorelli winery in the Tuscany region. The food is all locally-produced, such as vegetables from the organic garden, truffles, and locally-made goat’s cheese. We will also take a tour of the winery and sample their wines, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We will continue on to Assisi and dine in our hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 7: Saturday: Assisi
Assisi is a traditional Umbrian hill-top town, made famous by the St. Francis and the UNESCO-listed Basilica of St. Francesco. Our walking tour will include the basilica, which has hand-painted frescos from the 13th and 14th centuries. In the main city square we will see one of the best-preserved Roman temples in Italy. The rest of the day is free time to soak up the atmosphere of this special town. (B)
Day 8: Sunday: Rome
We will begin the day by driving through beautiful Tuscany to Rome, with a lunch stop on the way. We will begin with a panoramic tour of Rome, seeing all the familiar sites. In the afternoon our guide will show us the highlights of old Rome on foot, including the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Colonna, the Colosseum and Piazza Navona. The rest of the day is at leisure and tickets to tour the inside of the Colosseum can be arranged. (B)
Day 9: Monday: Rome
Our morning begins with a visit to the Vatican City, beginning with the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum. We will also tour St. Peter’s Cathedral, home of the Roman Catholic Church and the largest building in Christianity. The rest of the day is at leisure, for independent sightseeing, with an optional tour to the Roman catacombs. (B)
Day 10: Tuesday: Rome
We will begin today at the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs) which were reputedly brought to Rome from Jerusalem by St. Helena in the fourth century. According to tradition, the Holy Stairs are the steps leading up to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate on which Jesus Christ stepped on his way to trial during his Passion. Martin Luther climbed these steps when he visited Rome. We pause and think of Christ appearing before Pilate and the Passion of Christ. After lunch, we will stroll through the Roman Forum with time at Mamertine Prison to reflect on Paul’s time spent in Rome. We will also see San Pietro in Vincoli Church with Michelangelo’s Moses. This evening we will learn how to make pizza at the La Carovana Restaurant. (B/D)
Day 11: Wednesday: Herculaneum, Sorrento
On our way down to the Amalfi Coast, we will stop in the seaside retreat of Herculaneum, close to Naples, which was the very first archaeological site discovered in that region during the 18th century. We will explore this ancient Roman town that was completely covered in dust after Vesuvius erupted in 79AD. Smaller than Pompeii, it’s an ideal size for an afternoon tour. We’ll end the day in Sorrento, a picturesque town perched on rocks overlooking the ocean. We will dine in our hotel. (B/D)
Day 12: Thursday: Capri, Sorrento
From Sorrento we will be able to see the Isle of Capri, as it’s a short ferry ride to this stunning island. It is said that Charles Dickens once noted, “There is no spot in the world with such delightful possibilities of repose as this little isle.” We will take a private boat trip around the island, stopping at the Blue Grotto (if tides permit). We’ll also go up to the top of the island for some spectacular scenic views. (B)
Day 13: Friday: Positano, Rome
We will have a stunning drive on the Amalfi Coast with panoramic views of both the Lattari Mountains and the blue ocean. We’ll have some free time in the delightful village of Positano before we head back up to Rome. Our farewell meal is in a restaurant this evening. (B/D)
Day 14: Saturday: Return
We will transfer to Rome Airport for our return flights to Omaha.
Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.
