Departure from US  - Arrival in Rome

On Saturday we depart our US home cities for an overnight flight to Rome.  We will be greeted at the airport by our local tour director who will introduce us to Rome as we make our way to our hotel. Along the way we will enjoy a panoramic tour of the city, seeing many of the historic sites we will be visiting during our visit.  We will start exploring the historic sights of the city as we walk the narrow streets of the "old city" to discover the iconic Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, & quaint piazzas such as Piazza Navona.  We end our tour at our hotel where we will stay for the length of our tour.  Tonight, we will gather together for a welcome dinner at the hotel.

Old Town Rome Walking Tour - Footsteps of Paul

After breakfast, we meet our local guide and begin our discovery of historic Rome. We travel by coach to the Spanish Steps and begin a leisurely walking tour through the heart of the city. We take in the iconic Trevi Fountain, the perfectly preserved Pantheon, picturesque Piazza Navona, and more.

Following free time for lunch, we rejoin our coach and begin our Footsteps of Paul experience. We visit the peaceful Three Fountains Abbey, traditionally recognized as the site of Paul’s martyrdom. Then we continue to the stunning Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of Rome’s four major basilicas and the resting place of the Apostle Paul. After this inspiring afternoon, we return to our hotel for an evening at leisure.

Naples & Pompeii Tour  

Today we depart early for an exciting full-day excursion south to Pompeii. Here, our local archaeological guide leads us through the remarkably preserved ruins of this ancient Roman city, frozen in time by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Afterward, enjoy free time for lunch and souvenir shopping.

We then continue to Naples, one of Italy’s most vibrant coastal cities, famous for its grand architecture and volcanic history. With a local guide, we explore Naples’ monumental district before returning to Rome this evening..

LDS Rome Temple  - Vatican Tour

After breakfast, we travel to the beautiful Rome Italy Temple, where we participate in a temple session and spend time in the serene gardens and visitors’ center.  We then make our way to Vatican City, where we enjoy lunch on our own before meeting our guide for a spectacular tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. We stand beneath Michelangelo’s frescoes and walk through centuries of sacred and artistic history. Evening at leisure.

Florence, Italy     

This morning we walk to Rome’s train station and board our high-speed Frecciarossa train bound for Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance. Upon arrival, our guide leads us through Florence’s historic center, including the magnificent Duomo, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and Piazza della Signoria.

We then enjoy reserved entrance to the Galleria dell’Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s celebrated David—a breathtaking masterpiece. The afternoon is yours to explore, shop, or enjoy Florentine cuisine before we return to Rome by high-speed train.

Colosseum - The Forum & Ancient Rome City  Tour - Farewell Dinner

This morning we step back in time to Ancient Rome. Our local guide meets us at the mighty Colosseum, where we enter and explore the legendary arena of gladiators. We continue to the Roman Forum, once the heart of Roman public life, and then to Capitoline Hill and the grand Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II—the “Wedding Cake.”

We conclude our morning with a visit to the Mamertine Prison, traditionally believed to be where Peter and Paul were held before their executions.  The afternoon is yours to savor Rome one last time before we gather for a special Farewell Dinner at the charming Restaurant PapaRex.

Flights Home

With hearts full, and memory cards even fuller, we check out and transfer to the airport for our flights home. Arrivederci, Roma! Grazie, for the memories!