Saturday, May 6
Depart San Francisco for Rome.

Sunday, May 7
Upon arrival at the airport in Rome you will be met at the airport. Your luggage will be transferred to your bus and soon you will be in your way to the Residenza Paolo VI, just at the Vatican City. Free time for lunch on your own and the afternoon at leisure for exploring the sights of the Vatican City and Rome. At 5:00 pm attend Vespers with Gregorian chant in St. Peter’s Basilica. Dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Monday, May 8
Begin your morning of sightseeing with a visit to the Vatican Museums to admire wonderful works by artists such as Giotto, Raphael, Da Vinci, Caravaggio. Visit the Sistine Chapel, with Michelangelo’s frescoes, and end your guided tour in St. Peter’s Basilica to admire the magnificent Pietà. Independent lunch. In the afternoon leisure time for browsing, shopping or exploring the sights of Rome. Overnight at the Residenza Paolo VI. Dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Tuesday, May 9
A private Holy Mass at the Tomb of St. Peter will be celebrated by Father Aidan. After lunch, visit the magnificent Basilica of St. Paul, the Cathedral of St. John Lateran and the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Complete your tour of Christian Rome with a visit to the Catacombs. Overnight at the Residenza Paolo VI. Dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Wednesday, May 10
In the morning attend the audience with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.
After lunch, free time for browsing and shopping. Overnight at the Residenza Paolo VI. Dinner at a nearby restaurant.
 
Thursday, May 11
After breakfast, begin a guided tour of Romantic Rome, with a visit to the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, Piazza Farnese and Piazza Navona. As an alternative you can visit the main sites of interest of Ancient Rome, such as the ancient Roman Forum, the Arch of Constantine and the Coliseum. Return to your guest house. Your Farewell to Rome Dinner will be in a traditional restaurant, where you will experience an atmosphere of hospitality and taste the typical Roman cuisine. Overnight at the Residenza Paolo VI.

Friday, May 12
Breakfast at the hotel and departure transfer by private bus to Assisi: as soon as you arrive you see it, on a mountaintop, with its typical pink stoned houses and the world-famous Basilica of S. Francesco where the Saint was buried. Visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli with the shrine of the “Porziuncula”.
After the check in at the hotel you will enjoy some time at leisure before you will visit the Basilica of St. Clare, the first and most important heroine of the Franciscan movement. Then visit the Basilica of St. Francis. This Basilica was begun in 1228, 2 years after the Saint’s death; over the next century its Upper and Lower Churches were decorated by the foremost artists of their days, among them Cimabue, Simone Martini, Pietro Lorenzetti and Giotto. Dinner and overnight will be at the Hotel Giotto (or similar).

Saturday, May 13
After breakfast, you may want to enjoy some time to stroll down the city on your own before you leave Assisi on to Florence in the afternoon. After the arrival and the check in at your hotel you will be given some time to relax before dinner. Overnight at the Mediterraneo Grand Hotel (or similar).

Sunday, May 14
After breakfast begin your day with a city tour of Florence will show you the beauty of this town and its treasures: Duomo square, with the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistry and its world-famous Gates of Paradise as well as the Bell Tower, Giotto’s Campanile; the visit continue to Piazza della Signoria where you will admire a copy of the Michelangelo’s David, until the Ponte Vecchio, the unique bridge dating from 14th century, lined with several jewelers’ shops. Independent lunch. In the afternoon you may want to enjoy some time to stroll down the city centre on your own or to enter one of the most famous Museum of the city, such as the Accademia or the Uffizi. Dinner and overnight at the Mediterraneo Grand Hotel (or similar).

Monday, May 15
After breakfast board your comfortable motorcoach to leave Florence and drive north to Venice. On your way to Venice, you will stop in Padua for a short visit to this charming town and its treasures, such as the Basilica of Sant’Antonio. This is an exotic church with minaret-like spires and Byzantine domes, and it is also know as “Il Santo”; it was built in 1232 to house the remains of St. Anthony of Padua. Some time at leisure in Padua for lunch on your own and to have a walk in the city centre before traveling on to Venice, where the arrival is scheduled in the late afternoon. You will be transferred by water taxi to your hotel. Check in at the Hotel Belle Arti (or similar), where you will also enjoy dinner and overnight

Tuesday, May 16
After breakfast enjoy a guided walking tour to Piazza San Marco, Venice’s hub of activity, which is lined with galleries, luxury shops and charming cafés. You will see the magnificent Basilica San Marco where the mixture of styles- Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic – and ornate decoration reflect Venice’s history. Continue to the Bridge of Sighs, which connects the Doge’s Palace and the Piombi Prisons. Independent lunch and leisure time. Don’t miss out on the optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Belle Arti (or similar).

Wednesday, May 17
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight. It is time for you to return home and bring with yourself all the wonderful memories you have acquired during your stay in Italy.

Trip includes:

• Airfare San Francisco-Rome/Venice-San Francisco
• 5 overnights in Rome at Residenza Paolo VI
• 1 overnight in Assisi at 3 star hotel, incl. dinner (drinks not incl.)
• 2 overnights in Florence at 3 star hotel, incl. 2 dinners (drinks not incl.)
• 2 overnights in Venice at Hotel Belle Arti
• 4 dinners at local trattoria in Rome (no drinks included)
• Farewell dinner in Rome with wine and music
• 2 dinners in Venice at local trattoria (drinks not incl.)
• Entrance fees for Vatican Museums, Catacombs
• Transportation by private water taxi to / from Venice
• Transportation by deluxe motorcoach as per itinerary
• Full time tour escort during the whole stay, traveling with the group including all expenses
• Daily breakfast at the hotels/guest houses
• Dinners as specified in the program (3 course menu, drinks not included, except for welcome dinners, where ¼ bottle wine and ½ bottle mineral water are included)
• 3 half day guided tours in Rome
• Half day guided tours in Florence, Assisi and Venice
• Porterage at the hotels
• Transportation of luggage by water taxi to / from Venice
• All tips to guides, driver, and hotel staff
• Roundtrip bus from Walnut Creek to San Francisco
• Local taxes and service charges