US to Venice, Italy

Today we depart the US and fly overnight to Venice, Italy. Our Italian experience begins upon arrival at the airport when we are greeted by our local tour director to Italy. 

We will transfer to our hotel in the mainland for check-in and to freshen up after the long journey. Latter this afternoon we will transfer to the boat terminal where we continue by private boat to central Venice for our Welcome Dinner in a local restaurant. As we transfer back to the hotel we get our first glances or Venice at night.

Venice

After breakfast we will return to Venice for a delightful walking tour of this ‘City of Islands’.  On our tour we will see St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, the Bell Tower, and the Bridge of Sighs. Our tour will conclude at the Doges’ Palace, which you can visit at your leisure.  This afternoon is yours to enjoy Venice on own. Later afternoon transfer back to our hotel for dinner and overnight. 

Murano & Burano Island Tours

After breakfast we'll board the coach to the boat terminal and then board a private boat for a cruise past the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, the Public Gardens, the tip of Sant'Elena and the Lido famous beach resort to Murano Island. Known worldwide for its colored glass, you’ll see mouth-blown glass-making in progress and enjoy a factory tour. Next stop is Burano Island. This picturesque island is famous not only for its lace, but also for the fishermen's houses painted in bright colors.  Enjoy the place before cruising back to your hotel in the main island.

Venice to Florence via Ravenna

This morning we will leave Venice and begin our scenic journey to Florence. We’ll stop in Ravenna to visit this treasure chest of art, history and culture. The richest heritage of mosaics in the world, preserved in the basilicas and baptisteries of the city, is a clear evidence of that extraordinary period. For their universal value and the uniqueness of their mosaics, eight monuments of Ravenna have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Continuing south we’ll arrive in Florence, known as the Cradle of Renaissance.

Siena and San Gimignano

Today we will enjoy a full day in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. Our excursion will include a guided tour of Siena and its stunning gothic cathedral. We will have a group lunch in a charming local restaurant to taste the regional food and on the way back, enjoy a stop in San Gimignano, the city of hundred towers and its unmistakable skyline. Evening at leisure and overnight. .

Florence City

Today is all about exploring the treasures of Florence with a guided walking tour through the old town including many city highlights as Piazza del Duomo with the Cathedral and Baptistery, Piazza della Signoria with the Palazzo Vecchio, the scenic Ponte Vecchio bridge and much more.  We will end the tour at the Academia to see Michelangelo’s David with the balance of the day at leisure to explore this historic city on your own. 

Pisa and Carrara 

Today we’ll have an early breakfast and head out to see the wondrous leaning tower they have in Pisa.   We’ll have time for a few great pictures before we continue to the town of Carrara. Here we enjoy a jeep ride up the hill to the quarry opening where Michelangelo, and other famous sculptors of his day and today have picked their marble that we marvel at today.  This is the marble used for the Rome LDS Temple building We get to try our hand at the chisel and see many works of art.  We will visit the famous a local Marble workshop studio before return to Florence for our last evening to explore.

Orvieto and Rome

After breakfast we check out and depart to Orvieto, one of the most striking and panoramic hill towns in central Italy.We will stop and  and explore with our Tour Manager this beautiful Etruscan city on its suggestive setting on a massive tufa rock. We will see the beautiful Gothic Cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and other buildings of medieval and Renaissance times. Break for lunch to taste delicious local food of the Umbria region. Later in the afternoon we continue our journey to our final destination, Rome. After check-in we will join another Morris Murdock group lead by Tom Holdman, the amazing art-glass artist who created the stained glass mural displayed in the Visitor's Center of the Rome Temple. Both groups will have dinner together at nearby Hotel Mediterrnaeo.

Vatican & Old Town walking tour

After breakfast, tour the Vatican, the world's smallest independent state. Your guide will start with an overview of the history of the Vatican Museums.  The highlight of the tour will be the Sistine Chapel, where the ceiling is covered with Michelangelo's most famous paintings.  Then we explore St. Peter's Square, with Bernini's 284 columns, before entering St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in Christendom. After the visit, we will meet with Tom Holdman's group again, to share comments about the morning visit.

After a lunch break,we will explore the old historical city highlights with a walking tour to see famous Piazzas and monumental Fountains such as Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Evening at leisure.

LDS Temple Tour  & Ancient Rome

This morning is one of our highlights of the tour as we transfer to the Rome LDS Temple and enjoy time to serve in the temple and explore the visitors' center.  After our LDS activities board your transfer back to the hotel for a lunch break. In the afternoon, we will explore the ancient heart of Rome with a guided tour of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

Rome

After breakfast we transfer to a local church to attend Sacrament Meeting. Afternoon at leisure to explore the city on your own or take the Optional Walking Tour**.

Tonight we will say “Arrivederci” to Italy and share memories of the trip during a Farewell dinner in a nice local restaurant with music entertainment. Transfer back to hotel to pack and prepare for our journey home.

**Optional Tour: For those who would like, our local LDS Tour Director, Ugo Perego will be offering an optional walking tour to several religious sites in Old Rome that relate to the time of the apostles Peter and Paul (Cost 20 Euros approximately for entrance fees).

Return to the USA

Board your private coach to the airport for your homebound flight. Arrive in the USA on the same day.