Compare Bella Italia: Rome, Florence & Venice With Your Family by Road Scholar vs Italy: Venice, Naples & Rome by Travel for All

Day 1
In Transit to Program
In Flight

Day 2
Arrival & Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location: Venice Meal: D Hotel: Hotel Abbazia

Activity note: The hotel check is at 3:00 pm.

Morning: The group leader will be in the lobby of the hotel to greet arriving travelers. Leave your luggage with the desk clerk and join the group leader for a walk in the neighborhood late morning to identify ATMs, pharmacies, stores, restaurants, etc. Guest check in is available from 2:00 p.m.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: Check in and settle in. The Group Leader will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Please note that the order of visits and activities may be different from what is described in this preliminary itinerary. Except breakfast, meals will be plated (each dish served to guests by a wait staff) from a set menu unless otherwise specified. Water is included with all meals and other beverages such as soft drinks, wine, tea and coffee will be available for purchase unless otherwise specified. In Rome, transportation will primarily be provided by motor coach; in Venice by vaporetto, or public boat. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Please note that program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through personal independent exploration, attending performances or other events, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. The Group Leader will always be happy to offer suggestions. Before dinner, the group leader will greet everyone and lead introductions with a Welcome Cocktail (or fruit juice).

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant. Fixed menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night's rest for the day ahead.

Day 3
Artisan Workshop

Location: Venice Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Hotel Abbazia

Activity note: Venice has no vehicular traffic. In addition to the Grand Canal, there are 177 smaller canals and about 400 bridges. Vaporettos (bus boats) travel up and down the Grand Canal as it winds from the Santa Lucia train station to Piazza San Marco. There are 15 stops along the route. All walks in Venice, even the shortest, entail crossing bridges, some of which have ramps and others steps. As the only alternative to walking, vaporettos are frequently crowded with both tourists and locals.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel. Each day the dining room is set up buffet style with fresh fruit, cereals, muesli, pastries, cakes, breads, a sliced meat and cheese platter, yogurt, jam and honey, juice, coffee, tea, whole milk, and water.

Morning: The Group Leader will distribute vaporetto passes that are valid for our stay in Venice. Especially for the kids: a workshop creating your own Venetian memento. The type of activity will be revealed closer to the departure date.

Lunch: At a local restaurant/pizzeria. Salad and choice of pizza. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We ride the vaporetto back to the stop nearest the hotel. In the meeting room a local expert presents Welcome to Venice, an introduction to the city known as the Serenissima, the 'Most Serene.' Neighborhood walk follows.

Dinner: At a local restaurant. Set menu, plated table service. Water and soft drink included; glass of wine for the adults.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Rialto Bridge, St. Mark's Basilica, Gondola Ride

Location: Venice Meal: B,L Hotel: Hotel Abbazia

Activity note: Getting on/off vaporetto. Walking up to 4 miles. Walks in Venice involve crossing multiple bridges that span the canals. The view from the top of the Rialto bridge is worth the effort of climbing up and down 40 steps. Assistance is offered getting on and off the gondola.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Explore Venice with a local expert who takes us on a special walk off the beaten path. The walk ends at the Rialto District, Venice's original food and fruit market.

Lunch: At a local restaurant. Fixed menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Our exploration of Venice continues with an expert-led visit of Piazza S. Marco — St. Mark’s Square.The Byzantine style S. Mark's Cathedral was built during the 13 C. There are more than 45,000 square feet of mosaics adorning the church, giving the impression of streets of gold. On the second floor is the original "Quadriga" — a team of four gilded bronze horses that was looted from the fall of Constantinople. Replicas now stand in the elements above the entrance to the Basilica. The loggia has display cases with illuminated manuscripts and other documents related to the church. Then, experience Venice from another perspective on a gondola ride through the back canals of Venice.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy the food and restaurant/trattoria/café of your choice. The group leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 5
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Ducal Palace

Location: Venice Meal: B,L Hotel: Hotel Abbazia

Activity note: Getting on/off vaporetto. Walking up to 4 miles. Walks in Venice involve crossing multiple bridges that span the canals. The permanent collection of the Guggenheim museum is displayed on a single floor of the Palazzo Venier with a few steps at the entrance and leading to the wing with special exhibitions.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Having been surrounded by ancient and Renaissance masterpieces and structures, enjoy the modern art at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Relax in the courtyard of the Palazzo Venier on the Grand Canal while the docent introduces the life and times of the wealthy American collector. The adults will have a guided visit led by a museum docent. Especially for the kids: young visitors will have their own docent who facilitates the discovery of form and expression in modern art.

Lunch: At a local trattoria.

Afternoon: Vaporetto to St. Mark's Square. Expert-led visit of the Palazzo Ducale or Doge's Palace. Walk through the many rooms of the palace, seat of civic and political power. Doges embellished the Palazzo to demonstrate their wealth and importance. From the grand halls of the palace, the visit concludes with a walk through the narrow passages over the Bridge of Sighs to the Prisons. It is said that those condemned sighed at knowing it would be their last sight of the sky.

Dinner: On your own. The Group Leader will have suggestions.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check out and departure in the morning.

Day 6
High Speed Train to Florence, Renaissance Art
Location: Florence Meal: B,D Hotel: Hotel Albani

Activity note: Walking up to 4 miles. High speed train to Florence covers 160 miles and takes 1.5 hours.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Check out of your room. Our luggage will be delivered directly to the hotel in Florence by boat/van. We set out on foot for the train station. The high speed train to Florence reaches speeds reaching 120 mph. Short walk to the hotel.

Lunch: On your own. The Group Leader will have suggestions.

Afternoon: After checking in and settling in, an art historian presents Renaissance Art in the meeting room of the hotel.

Dinner: At a local restaurant. Sample some typical Tuscan dishes. Fixed menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: With the group leader, stroll the historical section of Florence to orient yourself on the layout of the city, locate landmarks, find ATM's and pharmacies.

Day 7
Free Time, Uffizi Gallery
Location: Florence Meal: B,L Hotel: Hotel Albani

Activity note: Walking up to 4 miles throughout the day. Sidewalks and streets in the pedestrian center are stone or cobblestone paved. Extended standing and unavoidable stairs in the Uffizi Gallery. Small elevator (cap. 4 persons) for disabled visitors may be available.

Breakfast: The buffet at the hotel choices include a hot egg dish, cereal, bread, pastries and cakes, cheese and cold cut platter, yogurt, fresh fruit and a selection of hot and cold beverages.

Morning: Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in Florence, or return to the hotel to rest. You can consult your list of suggested Free Time activities in your program materials.

Lunch: At a restaurant in the Piazza della Signoria. Fixed menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We cross the piazza to the Uffizi for our reserved entrance to the Gallery. The visit is self-directed; stay as long as you want. At the end of the second corridor is a refreshment bar for snacks. The balcony has a wonderful view of Brunelleschi's Dome and the watch tower of Palazzo Vecchio.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 8
Duomo, The David
Location: Florence Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Hotel Albani

Activity note: Walking up to 5 miles over uneven stone paved sidewalks.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Set out on foot with the Group Leader to Piazza del Duomo where we meet our local expert and visit Santa Maria del Fiore, the magnificent cathedral of Florence. The expert-led visit continues to the Duomo Museum. The highlight of the collection is a Pieta' by Michelangelo and the original (newly restored) panels of the Gates of Paradise by Lorenzo Ghiberti. There is a model of the cupola that shows the ingenious way to disperse the weight of the brick structure.

Lunch: At a restaurant at the foot of the Duomo's cupola. Set menu, antipasto served family style, entree plated. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We set out on foot for the Accademia for our reserved entrance. We meet our expert who enhances our appreciation of Michelangelo's David, who stands steadfast under his own cupola. Some free time to visit the Accademia's small musical instrument collection or browse the bookshop. Walk back to the hotel.

Dinner: At a local restaurant. Fixed menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 9
Explore Medieval Florence, Free Time
Location: Florence Meal: B,D Hotel: Hotel Albani

Activity note: Walking up to 4 miles over uneven urban stone sidewalks in the traffic-free heart of Florence.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Explore Medieval Florence with a local expert. The walk ends at the Mercato di San Lorenzo, Florence's colorful fresh produce market. A lively food court specializes in farm to table menus. Much variety of small plates, vegetables, pizza, pasta, snacks and beverages.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: Free Time

Dinner: At a local restaurant. Set menu, plated table service. Water is included for all; a glass of wine for the adults and a soft drink for the young guests.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for the next day's departure for Rome.

Day 10
High Speed Train to Rome, Welcome to Rome
Location: Venice Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Hotel Pace Helvezia

Activity note: Getting on/off train. Walking up to 5 miles throughout the day. We will be on our feet most of the afternoon Piazza Walk along uneven paths and original pavement of cobblestone.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Check out of the hotel. Your checked luggage will be sent by van and delivered to the hotel in Rome; keep your carry on bag with you. We set out on foot for the train station to board a high speed train to Rome; the trip is 1.5 hours. Coach or van to the hotel.

Lunch: At a nearby restaurant a set menu with plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Check in and settle in. At the hotel meeting room a presentation Welcome to Rome introduces you to the Eternal City. Neighborhood walk follows.

Dinner: At a local restaurant to sample Roman cuisine. Fixed menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: Especially for the kids but adults will enjoy the show as well: Walk to the Forum of Augustus. Learn about daily life in ancient times through a spectacular laser light show with English narration. The show begins at sunset and lasts about an hour. During the show we sit on bleachers in front of the suggestive ruins of the Forum. Walk back to the hotel.

Day 11
Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Mosaic Workshop
Location: Rome Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Hotel Pace Helvezia

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach or van; drop-off point for Vatican Museums is about 500 feet along stone paved sidewalks to entrance; standing in line while museum-issued listening devices are distributed; walking 2 long corridors (1/2 mile each); riding an escalator; climbing 3 flights of stairs: one at entrance, one to access corridor to Sistine Chapel, one to enter Sistine Chapel; marble floors; crowded conditions; extensive standing throughout field trip, no public seating.

Breakfast: Each day the buffet will have fresh fruit, cereal, sliced meat and cheese platter, deviled eggs or boiled eggs, yogurt, pastries, cakes, breads, jams, juice, coffee, tea, whole milk and water.

Morning: Coach or van to the Vatican Museums for our reserved entrance time. Meet the local expert who will lead us through some of the galleries in the vast collection where we will learn about singular artworks such as the Laocoon, Apollo Belvedere, and gilded Hercules. We walk down long corridors surrounded by precious artwork as we make our way to the main attraction, the Sistine Chapel. The visit continues to the "new" S. Peter's Basilica (only 500 years old) to see Michelangelo's Pieta' and works by Bernini.

Lunch: Walk to the Mosaic Workshop for a buffet lunch. Water and soft drinks are included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Especially for the kids: Inside S. Peter's Basilica, we learned this morning that what appear as paintings are actually micro-mosaics. Come to appreciate this art form as we create our own mosaic with instructors at a mosaic workshop. Keep your decorated piece as a memento. Coach back to the hotel.

Dinner: At a restaurant near the hotel. Water is included for all; a glass of wine for the adults. Other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 12
Forum and Colosseum

Location: Rome Meal: B,L Hotel: Hotel Pace Helvezia

Activity note: Walking up to 5 miles throughout the day; extended periods of standing; uneven paths, original cobblestone pavement. At Colosseum, steep, uneven steps to reach upper level; elevator available.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Walk to the Colosseum. Reserved entrance for expert-led visit of the Flavian Amphitheater, commonly known as the Colosseum, capable seating up to 50,000 people. Imagine watching gladiatorial games and the pageantry. Guided visit continues to Via dei Fori Imperiali.Our expert-led field trip will continue onward to the Roman Forum, which dates back to the 7th century BCE and was the religious and civic center of the city.

Lunch: At a restaurant in Piazza del Colosseo. Fixed menu, water and soft drinks included.

Afternoon: Coach back to the hotel. Free time.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 13
Piazza Walk, Farewell Dinner

Location: Rome Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Hotel Pace Helvezia

Activity note: Walks in Venice involve crossing multiple bridges that span the minor canals. The view from the top of the Rialto bridge is worth the effort of climbing up and down 40 steps.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Vaporetto to the Accademia stop. Having been surrounded by ancient and Renaissance masterpieces and structures, enjoy the modern art at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Relax in the courtyard of the Palazzo Venier on the Grand Canal while the docent introduces the life and times of the wealthy American collector. The adults will have a guided visit led by a museum docent. Especially for the kids: young visitors will have their own docent who facilitates young visitors' discovery of form and expression in modern art.

Lunch: At a characteristic trattoria near the museum. Set menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Excursion to an artisan's workshop to learn about the carving techniques of making gondola oars and oar locks. Explore the area of the Rialto Bridge, Venice's original market area. Find many souvenir booths, food and fruit market. Some free time before dinner.

Dinner: Recap your adventures and share your favorite memories with your fellow participants at our Farewell Dinner at the hotel. Fixed menu, plated table service. Wine is included with this meal for the adults to toast new friendships.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check out and departure tomorrow.

Day 14
Program Concludes
In Flight B

Day 1: Welcome to Venice

An English speaking assistant with a name sign will be waiting for you in the Venice airport

You will transfer by private boat equipped with an accessible platform from Venice airport to the hotel in Venice city center

Hotel 5* in Venice Fully accessible room for 3 nights, in B/B *hotel city tax not included, clients will pay on the spot*

Day 2: At your leisure

Spend the day at your leisure exploring, shopping, or just relaxing after your flight.

Overnight in Venice

Day 3: Venice Walking Tour

Private boat equipped with a platform at your disposal for a half day including pickup and return to the hotel in Venice

Private English speaking local guide available for the half day tour.

Overnight in Venice

Day 4: Transfer to Naples

Transfer by private boat equipped with a platform from the hotel to Venice St. Lucia railway station

English speaking available for transfer

Train tickets from Venice to Naples(high speed train)

An English speaking assistant will meet clients in Naples railway station

Transfer by private vehicle equipped with a platform from Naples railway station to the hotel

Hotel 4* in Naples Fully accessible room for 2 nights, in B/B *hotel city tax not included, clients will pay on the spot*

Day 5: Naples

A private English speaking local guide will be with you for this half day walking tour in Naples and a guide will accompany you for an afternoon tour of Pompeii

Private vehicle at your disposal for the half day Pompeii tour including pickup and return to the hotel

Entrance tickets to Pompeii

Overnight in Naples

Day 6: Transfer from Naples to Rome

Transfer by private vehicle equipped with a platform from the hotel to Naples railway station

An English speaking assistant will help you in Naples railway station

Train tickets from Naples to Rome (high speed train)

An English speaking assistant will meet you in the Rome railway station

Transfer by private vehicle equipped with a platform from the Rome railway station to the hotel

Hotel 5* in Rome Fully accessible room for 4 nights, in B/B *hotel city tax not included, clients will pay on the spot*

Day 7: Colosseum and Vatican Museums

Private vehicle equipped with a platform at your disposal full day including pickup and return to the hotel

A private English speaking local guide at your disposal for the full day

Rental of a Whelly Trekky special chair including2 assistants

Entrance tickets to Colosseum and Roman Forum with reservation to skip the line

English speaking assistant available during Vatican museums tour

Day 8: Tour of Rome

Trevi Fountain, Navona Square, Pantheon and Spanish Steps half day tour

Private vehicle equipped with a platform at your disposal for the half day including pickup and return to the hotel

Private English speaking local guide at your disposal for the half day tour

Day 9: Day at Leisure

Day 10: Departure

Departure: Transfer by private vehicle equipped with a platform from the hotel to Fiumicino airport