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. || 41.90435290531328, 12.48551953893982

4. Group Rome Walking Tour (arrive to meeting point on own)

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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".

9. Transfer to hotel. || 41.90435290531328, 12.48551953893982

10. Free time

11. Night in Rome

1. Breakfast at the hotel. || 41.90435290531328, 12.48551953893982

2. 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Group Visit to Vatican Museums (arrive to meeting point on own). || 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.

3. 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Group Visit to Sistine Chapel (arrive to meeting point on own). || 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.

4. Transfer to hotel. || 41.90377605564445, 12.494827788202436

5. Free time

6. Night in Rome

1. Breakfast at the hotel. || 41.90435290531328, 12.48551953893982

2. 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM - Group visit to Colosseum (arrive to meeting point on own). || 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 - Group visit to Roman Forum (arrive to meeting point on own). || 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. || 41.90435290531328, 12.48551953893982

5. Free time

6. Night in Rome

1. Breakfast at the hotel. || 41.90435290531328, 12.48551953893982

2. 9:10 AM - 10:45 AM - High speed train to Florence (arrive to train station on own)

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 - 5:00 PM - Group Walking Florence Tour (arrive to meeting point on own)

A 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 exterior Baptistery of San Giovanni, the exterior 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 exterior of the Renaissance Palace - exterior of 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 exterior of 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. 7:45 AM - 7:30 PM - Group Full day in Tuscany

Famous for its wealth of art, history, striking landscapes, delicious food and superb wines, Tuscany really does have it all! See the Best of Tuscany on this full-day guided coach trip from Florence! View Siena through the eyes of a local as you join a guided walking tour through the medieval city made up of yellow-ochre buildings, terracotta rooftops and green shutters. Learn about the world’s oldest bank, see Piazza del Campo, the site of the 600-year-old Palio horserace, and admire the interior of the Duomo, a treasure chest of artworks. Afterwards, explore Siena at your own pace with free time to browse the shops or relax in one of the many open-air cafes. Next, visit an organic family-run wine estate in the most gorgeous location overlooking stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Here, you will enjoy an informal wine-tasting lesson and an organic traditional Tuscan lunch with plenty of wine (only if you have selected that option). Take the opportunity to mingle with fellow travellers, as you feast on homemade pasta, cured meats (homemade prosciutto and salami), local cheeses, a real garden salad and Tuscan biscotti. This experience will no doubt be the highlight of the day! After lunch, head over to the enchanting hilltop town of San Gimignano where you have free time to roam the picturesque streets and squares, go shopping, try an award-winning gelato and walk among the town’s famous medieval towers. A scenic drive through the classic Tuscan countryside will take you to your final stop, Pisa. Here, take a closer look at the iconic Leaning Tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistery. Appreciate another side of the city with a brief tour of the historic heart of Pisa.

3. Transfer to hotel. || 43.77300893493243, 11.249695090154004

4. Free time

5. Night in Florence

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

2. 9:20 AM - 11:45 AM - High speed train to Venice (arrive to train station on own)

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 (on own). || 45.43404091544109, 12.33079310373425

5. Free time

6. Night in Venice

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

2. Group Venice Walking Tour

3. 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Saint Mark's Basilica (arrive to meeting point on own). || 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.

4. 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Doge's Palace (arrive to meeting point on own). || 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.

5. 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Bridge of Sighs (Puente de Los Suspiros) (arrive to meeting point on own). || 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.

6. Free time

7. Night in Venice

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

2. Transfer from hotel to Venice Airport

3. 8:00 AM - 11:10 AM - 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. 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Group Athens Panoramic Tour (arrive to meeting point on own)

Learn all about Athens’ ancient and modern history on this half-day tour of the city. Take a trip alongside expert guides, who will knowledgeably let you in on all there is to know and more about this fascinating city, in which past and present constantly blend. First, discover the breathtaking Panathenaic Stadium, a magnificent construction erected on the remains of an ancient Greek stadium. Here you will enjoy a 15-minute photo stop (approx.) at the astonishing site where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896. Then, as you continue, pass by the Royal Palace, the private residence of Greece’s Prime Minister. Keep a lookout for the Euzones, the Palace’s guards in their colourful uniforms! You will also be able to appreciate many incredible landmarks drenched in history, such as Hadrian’s Arch, the Greek Parliament in Syntagma Square and Athens’ Memorial to the Unknown Soldier. Also discover the beauty of world-renowned modern institutions such as the University, the National Library and the Academy, named after the famous Academy founded by the philosopher Plato in the classical Greek era. Last but not least, you will visit the Acropolis, an old plateau abundant with various symbols of ancient Greece, the most magnificent of which are the remains of the Parthenon. For roughly two hours, you will be able to contrast this wonder of antique architecture with its modern attaché, the New Acropolis Museum, also an aesthetically astounding construction, as is, perhaps, the whole city of Athens, or at the very least, its history. With about 90 minutes in the museum, you will have ample time to admire the timeless exhibitions.

13. Transfer to hotel

14. Hotel check in. || 37.97388390503334, 23.731713961027268

15. Free time

16. Night in Athens

1. Breakfast at the hotel. || 37.97388390503334, 23.731713961027268

2. Free day

Spend the day relaxing at the hotel or exploring on your own.

7. Night in Athens

1. Breakfast at the hotel. || 37.97388390503334, 23.731713961027268

2. Free day

Spend the day relaxing at the hotel or exploring on your own.

3. 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 (on own)

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 (on own)

6. Hotel check in. || 36.46191316066402, 25.3823601014307

7. Group Oia Sunset Walking Tour (arrive to meeting point on own)

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