Highlights:

• Rome, Italy

• Vatican City

• Florence, Italy

• Pisa, Italy

• Bologna, Italy

• Venice, Italy

• Milan, Italy

• Matterhorn, Italy

• Mont Blanc, Italy

• Geneva, Switzerland

Rome is the capital of Italy, a sprawling and cosmopolitan city with nearly 3,000 years of globally influential art, architecture, and culture on display. Ancient ruins such as the Forum and the Colosseum evoke the power of the former Roman Empire. Vatican City, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, is home to St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, which house masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes.

We will pick you up at the airport in Rome. Depending on your flight, the first day will be spent introducing you to Rome's metro and bus systems, followed by a stroll through the historical neighborhood and its surroundings. We will meet in the hotel lobby to discuss your vacation plans.

You will enjoy dinner in the evening at a local restaurant, and the rest of the evening will be your free time to relax or go out for a casual walk in the historical city of Rome.

After breakfast, you will spend the day on a hop-on-hop-off bus that covers the city's major attractions, allowing you to plan your sightseeing adventures at your leisure. You may hop on and hop off at any of the designated stops for sightseeing, shopping, and dining. While on board, you will learn about Rome’s history with the help of audio commentary available in 8 languages.

You will see the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill and the Palatine Museum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and many more historical sights. You will also visit St. Peter's Basilica, St. Peter's Square, the Vatican Museums & Courtyards, the Sistine Chapel, and the Castle of the Holy Angel (Castel Sant'Angelo). We will get off the bus and tour each site listed on the itinerary. 

You will have front-of-the-line privileges at the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Palatine Museum; the Roman Forum; the Sistine Chapel; and the Vatican Museums.

Later, you will enjoy dinner, and the rest of the evening will be spent relaxing.

Today, you will spend the day in Vatican City. You will tour St. Peter's Basilica, St. Peter's Square, the Vatican Museums & Courtyards, the Sistine Chapel, and the Castle of the Holy Angel (Castel Sant'Angelo).

St. Peter's Basilica is considered one of the most significant buildings in the world, spanning over 15,000 square meters. The inner capacity of St. Peter’s Basilica can accommodate up to 60,000 people. The dome of St. Peter's Basilica can be reached in approximately 537 steps and is the largest self-supporting brick structure in the world. The internal diameter of the dome is 42,34 meters and is carried by four pentagonal pillars. From the dome, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Rome and the Vatican.

The Sistine Chapel in the Vatican is one of the top attractions to see in Rome! This Sistine Chapel was built from 1475 to 1483 under the command of Pope Sixtus IV, the namesake of the chapel.

Fourteen different museums are part of the Vatican in Rome. The collection features classical antiquities, pieces from the Orient, as well as Etruscan-Italian, Early Christian, and Medieval Art. Artworks by artists like Raffael, Da Vinci, and Michelangelo are displayed in museums.

The Castle of the Holy Angel is one of the top sights to see in Rome. Initially, it was built to serve as an imperial mausoleum, but it also functioned as part of the city wall and a fortress for some time. Later, it was converted into a prison and also a place of refuge. Today, the Castle of the Holy Angel serves as a national museum.

In the evening, you will enjoy dinner, and the rest of the evening will be yours to relax.

Florence is the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region and is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. During the Renaissance period, the city of Florence reached the height of its power, and talented artists such as Brunelleschi and Michelangelo left their mark with magnificent buildings and artwork.

You will enjoy a 2-hour walking tour with an experienced guide that will begin at Santa Maria Novella Church, pass by the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Ponte Vecchio, and conclude at Palazzo Pitti.

After dinner, you will have free time to relax, take a casual walk in beautiful Florence, and enjoy some amazing pastries.

On any trip to Italy, one must visit Pisa, renowned worldwide for its iconic Leaning Tower. Construction of the Tower of Pisa, which stands 180 feet in height, was completed in 1372. Due to its faulty foundation on unstable soil, the tower leans precariously more than 14 feet out of line. You will visit the Cathedral Square, Campo Santo, and the Pisa Baptistery, and then have free time to explore the area and enjoy local pizza and pasta.

Later in the evening, you will enjoy dinner, and the rest of the evening will be yours to relax.

Venice is located in northeastern Italy, situated on a group of 117 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges. It has no roads, just canals, including the Grand Canal, a thoroughfare lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The central square, Piazza San Marco, features St. Mark’s Basilica, which is adorned with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower, offering panoramic views of the city’s red roofs. Venice is renowned for the beauty of its setting and is one of the world's most important tourist destinations for its celebrated art and architecture. With all of the sites and things to see and do, you will have 2 days of sightseeing in the beautiful city. All travel in Venice is either by walking or by water bus.

Later that day, you will enjoy a dinner, and the rest of the evening will be yours to relax or have a drink at a local tavern.

Italy - Rome and Swiss Alps Escorted

14-Day Vacation in Europe:

Cost:   Adults / $6,995*

            Students (ages 6-12) / $3,495

            Children 5 and under / Free

*Children under the age of 12 are required to share a room with an accompanying adult. There is a maximum of two children per adult.

Prices are based on Double Adult Occupancy.

Single room supplement of $1,500 per person

Private tour supplement of $2,500 per person

The tour includes:

• Breakfast each morning.

• Dinner each evening with two free drinks (Excluding mixed drinks).

• All ground transportation from flight arrival to departure.

• Tour in private auto/minibus, with transportation to and from all tours and restaurants on the itinerary.

• All accommodations are in a clean, comfortable hotel, bed-and-breakfast, or country inn. (German 3-5 star standards)

• Free alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, along with European snacks, are available while traveling between cities and on tours.

• Entry and tour fees for all sights are mentioned in the itinerary.

The tour does NOT include:

• Airfare to Italy and from Switzerland.

• Meals other than those indicated in the itinerary.

• Beverages other than those indicated in the itinerary.

• Free time transportation or sightseeing.

• Personal expenses for shopping, etc. 

Optional tours:

We have carefully selected our tours to provide you with the must-see sites in a relaxed and enjoyable vacation experience. We understand that some people have different interests from others. We will try to accommodate special requests, such as customized tours, visits to historical sites, river cruises, or special dinners. Please feel free to contact us.