Italy and Greece Travel Tour 15

1. 1:50 PM - Arrival in Rome. || 41.899889952096224, 12.48444668353612

Rome is the capital city of Italy. It is also the capital of the Lazio region, the centre of the Metropolitan City of Rome, and a special comune named Comune di Roma Capitale.

2. 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - Transfer from airport to hotel

3. 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM - Hotel check in. || 41.90380799613317, 12.494827788202436

4. 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Piazza di Spagna. || 41.90578959733677, 12.48231090354784 

Piazza di Spagna, at the bottom of the Spanish Steps, is one of the most famous squares in Rome, Italy. It owes its name to the Palazzo di Spagna, the seat of the Embassy of Spain to the Holy See. There is also the famed Column of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

5. 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Trevi Fountain. || 41.90103726397219, 12.4833534130742

The Trevi Fountain is an 18th-century fountain in the Trevi district in Rome, Italy, designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762 and several others.

6. 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Pantheon. || 41.89878246506639, 12.476899718892776

The Pantheon is a former Roman temple and, since AD 609, a Catholic church in Rome, Italy. It was built on the site of an earlier temple commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus, then after that burnt down, the present building was ordered by the emperor Hadrian and probably dedicated c. AD 126.

7. 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Piazza Navona. || 41.8993039851414, 12.473125118892817 

Piazza Navona is a public open space in Rome, Italy. It is built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in the 1st century AD, and follows the form of the open space of the stadium. The ancient Romans went there to watch the agones, and hence it was known as "Circus Agonalis".

8. 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Trastevere. || 41.88480432857237, 12.470088363182485

Colorful Trastevere is a funky, bohemian area that clings to its centuries-old, working-class roots. It's known for traditional and innovative trattorias, craft beer pubs and artisan shops, as well as simple B&Bs and budget hotels. From the pre-dinner passeggiata (promenade) until late, a young crowd buzzes around Piazza di San Calisto and Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, the site of a gilded, mosaic-filled church.

9. Transfer to hotel. || 41.90380799613317, 12.494945805401937

10. Free time

11. Night in Rome

1. 6:30 AM - 7:00 AM - Breakfast at the hotel. || 41.90380799613317, 12.494945805401937

2. 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM - Papal Audience 

The Papal Audience is not a private one-on-one audience with the Pope. When you request Papal Audience tickets, you are asking to attend a (mostly) weekly ceremony in which thousands of other people like you will be in the audience to hear and see the Pope.

3. Lunch at St. Peter's Square (not included). || 41.90221090794249, 12.456867513074526

Saint Peter's Square is a large plaza located directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the papal enclave in Rome, directly west of the neighborhood of Borgo. Both the square and the basilica are named after Saint Peter, an apostle of Jesus whom Catholics consider to be the first Pope

4. 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Vatican Museums. || 41.906667428648966, 12.453625203547936

The Vatican Museums are the public museums of Vatican City. They display works from the immense collection amassed by the Catholic Church and the papacy throughout the centuries, including several of the most well-known Roman sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world.

5. 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Sistine Chapel. || 41.90307852736336, 12.454456674711414 

The Sistine Chapel is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the pope's official residence in Vatican City. Originally known as the Cappella Magna, the chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who had it built between 1473 and 1481.

6. Transfer to hotel. || 41.90377605564445, 12.494827788202436

7. Free time

8. Night in Rome

1. Breakfast at the hotel. || 41.90374411513977, 12.494881432384027

2. 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM - Colosseum. || 41.89039786124735, 12.492268447728689

The Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and is still the largest standing amphitheatre in the world, despite its age.

3. 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM - Roman Forum. || 41.89223832289987, 12.48645389005614

The Roman Forum, also known by its Latin name Forum Romanum, is a rectangular forum surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum.

4. Transfer to hotel. || 41.90380001101248, 12.49487070354771

5. Free time

6. Night in Rome

1. Breakfast at the hotel. || 41.903760085394104, 12.494892161220344

2. 9:10 AM - 10:45 AM - High speed train to Florence

3. Arrival in Florence. || 43.76967578632137, 11.260524444605627

Florence, capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. One of its most iconic sights is the Duomo, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and a bell tower by Giotto. The Galleria dell'Accademia displays Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. The Uffizi Gallery exhibits Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation.”

4. 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Walking Florence Tour

Classic Private walking tour is perfect for those who want to get an insightful overview of Florence - the city of flowers and the birthplace of the Renaissance. This tour will be conducted by one of our licensed, expert guides who will illustrate simply and clearly the history and traditions of the area, while taking you by foot, through the streets of the town and being always at your disposal for questions. There are plenty of hidden secrets and mysteries in the city, that makes it a treasure to be discovered. Every corner and every street has its own story and interesting facts. Book this tour and hear the most interesting and fascinating stories. Also learn about gorgeous buildings, pieces of art, local food and wine, handicraft and other typical and famous products of Tuscany. Our tour will start in the Religious City Centre - the Piazza del Duomo where we will discover the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, one of the most beautiful campanile in Italy Giotto's bell tower and the cathedral's octagonal Dome design by Filippo Brunelleschi. We will continue to the Renaissance Palace - Palazzo Medici, the first Medici palace, the home of Cosimo the Elder and Lorenzo the Magnificent and the workplace of such artists as Donatello, Michelangelo, Paolo Uccello, Benozzo Gozzoli and Botticelli. The Medieval Area of the town will be introduced by the House and Church of Dante Alighieri and The Tower houses of the Guelphs and Ghibellines. The history of Roman times and the 19th Century will be discovered at the Piazza della Repubblica - one of the main squares in Florence. Piazza della Signoria represents the Political Centre: Palazzo Vecchio which is the main symbol of civil power for the city, Statue of David, Biancone (Fountain of Neptune), La Loggia dei Lanzi with many statues, including The Rape of the Sabines, Hercules and Centaur by Giambologna, Benvenuto Cellini’s Perseus. Passing the Uffizi Gallery – the world's top art museums and the place where many Renaissance masterpieces are housed to the Ponte Vecchio or Old Bridge, that joins the centre with the district of Oltrarno on the south bank of the river Arno, is surely one of the great icons of Florence and one of the most famous bridges in the world.

5. Transfer to hotel. || 43.773016682076275, 11.249705818990323

6. Free time

7. Night in Florence

1. Breakfast at the hotel. || 43.772915969127816, 11.24972727666296

2. 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM - San Gimignano. || 43.467405209623394, 11.043584248501812 

San Gimignano is an Italian hill town in Tuscany, southwest of Florence. Encircled by 13th-century walls, its old town centers on Piazza della Cisterna, a triangular square lined with medieval houses. It has a skyline of medieval towers, including the stone Torre Grossa. The Duomo di San Gimignano is a 12th-century church with frescoes by Ghirlandaio in its Santa Fina Chapel.

3. 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM - Visit Siena. || 43.31806178173851, 11.33030913795653

Siena, a city in central Italy’s Tuscany region, is distinguished by its medieval brick buildings. The fan-shaped central square, Piazza del Campo, is the site of the Palazzo Pubblico, the Gothic town hall, and Torre del Mangia, a slender 14th-century tower with sweeping views from its distinctive white crown. The city’s 17 historic “contrade” (districts) extend outward from the piazza.

4. 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM - Bodega Visit, wine tasting and lunch (wine and lunch not included)

5. Transfer to hotel. || 43.77300893493243, 11.249695090154004

6. Free time

7. Night in Florence

1. Breakfast at the hotel. || 43.77300893493243, 11.249566344118188

2. 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM - Pisa || 43.72123806502966, 10.401039747153124

Pisa is a city in Italy's Tuscany region best known for its iconic Leaning Tower. Already tilting when it was completed in 1372, the 56m white-marble cylinder is the bell tower of the Romanesque, striped-marble cathedral that rises next to it in the Piazza dei Miracoli. Also in the piazza is the Baptistry, whose renowned acoustics are demonstrated by amateur singers daily, and the Caposanto Monumentale cemetery.

3. 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM - Lucca. || 43.843400785898346, 10.509062248670523

Lucca is a city on the Serchio river in Italy’s Tuscany region. It’s known for the well-preserved Renaissance walls encircling its historic city center and its cobblestone streets. Broad, tree-lined pathways along the tops of these massive 16th- and 17th-century ramparts are popular for strolling and cycling. Casa di Puccini, where the great opera composer was born, is now a house museum.

4. Transfer to hotel. || 43.77293146343861, 11.249673632481368

5. Free time

6. Night in Florence

1. Breakfast at the hotel. || 43.7729624520482, 11.24972727666296

2. 9:20 AM - 11:45 AM - High speed train to Venice

3. Arrival in Venice. || 45.4912610644292, 12.245147779603208

Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city’s red roofs.

4. Transfer to hotel. || 45.43404091544109, 12.33079310373425

5. Free time

6. Night in Venice

1. Breakfast at the hotel. || 45.43410114536786, 12.330728730716341

2. 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Saint Mark's Basilica. || 45.43469232274165, 12.339739219079519

The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark, commonly known as St Mark's Basilica, is the cathedral church of the Patriarchate of Venice; it became the episcopal seat of the Patriarch of Venice in 1807, replacing the earlier cathedral of San Pietro di Castello.

3. 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Doge's Palace. || 45.43383522474267, 12.340384032570581 

The Doge's Palace is a palace built in Venetian Gothic style, and one of the main landmarks of the city of Venice in northern Italy. The palace was the residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the former Republic of Venice. It was built in 1340 and extended and modified in the following centuries.

4. 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Bridge of Sighs (Puente de Los Suspiros). || 45.43413615155973, 12.34088121907954

The Bridge of Sighs is a bridge in Venice, Italy. The enclosed bridge is made of white limestone, has windows with stone bars, passes over the Rio di Palazzo, and connects the New Prison to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace.

5. Free time

6. 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Torcello and Burano. || 45.49652625532926, 12.41514034846637

Tiny Torcello island has few residents but it's often busy with sightseers in summer. They come to visit the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, with its Venetian-Byzantine mosaics and views of nearby Burano from the bell tower, or to check out the Ponte del Diavolo, a bridge with no parapets, and the stone seat known as Trono di Attila. A handful of eateries along the main canal serve lunch.

7. Transfer to hotel. || 45.43414631777075, 12.330739459552658

8. Night in Venice

1. Breakfast at the hotel. || 45.434176432685916, 12.330707273043704

2. Transfer from hotel to Venice Airport

3. Flight to Athens, Greece. || 37.98336724048831, 23.7285511218551

Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, commonly initialised as AIA, is the largest international airport in Greece, serving the city of Athens and region of Attica. It began operation on 28 March 2001 and is the main base of Aegean Airlines, as well as other smaller Greek airlines.

4. Athens Panoramic Tour

5. Ancient Agora of Athens. || 37.97513193803088, 23.722152334459242

The ancient Agora of Athens is the best-known example of an ancient Greek agora, located to the northwest of the Acropolis and bounded on the south by the hill of the Areopagus and on the west by the hill known as the Agoraios Kolonos, also called Market Hill.

6. Hadrian's Library (Biblioteca de Adriano). || 37.975650073862255, 23.72592847266423 

Hadrian's Library was created by Roman Emperor Hadrian in AD 132 on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens.

7. Temple of Olympian Zeus. || 37.96939723859718, 23.733062445681856

The Temple of Olympian Zeus, also known as the Olympieion or Columns of the Olympian Zeus, is a former colossal temple at the centre of the Greek capital, Athens. It was dedicated to "Olympian" Zeus, a name originating from his position as head of the Olympian gods.

8. Roman Forum of Athens (Roman Agora) (Ágora romana). || 37.97443936332095, 23.726046816845738

The Roman Agora at Athens is located to the north of the Acropolis and to the east of the Ancient Agora.

9. Archaeological Site of the Lyceum of Aristotle. || 37.974156276874815, 23.7431081745185 

The Lyceum was a temple in Athens dedicated to Apollo Lyceus. It was best known for the Peripatetic school of philosophy founded there by Aristotle in 334 BC.

10. Kerameikos Archaeological Site. || 37.97819438266977, 23.717277161027553 

Kerameikos also known by its Latinized form Ceramicus, is an area of Athens, Greece, located to the northwest of the Acropolis, which includes an extensive area both within and outside the ancient city walls, on both sides of the Dipylon Gate and by the banks of the Eridanos River.

11. Lunch (not included)

12. Visit Acropolis. || 37.971714112667044, 23.72586184939049

The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens, Greece, and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. The word Acropolis is from the Greek words ἄκρον and πόλις.

13. Transfer to hotel

14. Hotel check in. || 37.97388390503334, 23.731713961027268

15. Free time

16. Night in Athens

1. 7:00 AM - 7:30 AM - Breakfast at the hotel. || 37.97388390503334, 23.731713961027268

2. 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Walking Food Tour

3. Free time

4. 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Olive Oil Tasting Tour

5. Transfer to hotel

6. Free time

7. Night in Athens

1. 6:00 AM - 6:30 AM - Breakfast at the hotel. || 37.97388390503334, 23.731713961027268

2. 7:30 AM -8:00 AM - Transfer from hotel to airport

3. 10:00 AM - 10:55 AM - Flight from Athens to Santorini

4. Arrival in Santorini. || 36.4039478814771, 25.4482647256981

Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. It was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC, forever shaping its rugged landscape. The whitewashed, cubiform houses of its 2 principal towns, Fira and Oia, cling to cliffs above an underwater caldera (crater). They overlook the sea, small islands to the west and beaches made up of black, red and white lava pebbles.

5. Transfer to hotel

6. Hotel check in. || 36.46191316066402, 25.3823601014307

7. Oia Sunset Walking Tour

8. Night in Santorini

1. 7:00 AM - Breakfast at the hotel. || 36.46191316066402, 25.3823601014307

2. Free day 

Today will be a free day to relax at the hotel or discover Santorini on your own.

3. Night in Santorini

1. 7:00 AM - Breakfast at the hotel. || 36.46191316066402, 25.3823601014307

2. Transfer from hotel to airport

3. 8:30 AM - 9:25 AM - Flight from Santorini to Athens. || 37.98390844522347, 23.730267735666008

4. 12:50 PM - 9:21 AM - Flight back to USA. || 40.791170310864544, -111.97680929650845