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Contact UsDeparture from the US for an overnight flight to Florence. There are no non-stop flights to Florence.
Arrival Florence via London, Paris, Rome or other European city depending on the airline carrier.
Accommodations at University apartments (College own arrangements)
Services provided for today limited to airport assistance on arrival.
Coach and accommodation provided by College own arrangements.
No services
Florence Sightseeing tour of Florence to see the city’s top highlights, including entrance fees to the Galleria dell’Accademia & the Uffizi Gallery.
Afternoon: Visit to PromoFirenze.
Services Needed: half-day tour guide, entrance fees to the 2 museums, arrangements to visit the PromoFirenze.
Excursion by coach bus to Cinque Terre – drop off group in La Spezia & they will spend the day at leisure traveling around the villages with a transportation card for the local train. Drive through Pisa on the return and have a photo stop at the Leaning Tower. Coach bus will drop off group at accommodations upon return to Florence.
Services Needed: Full day coach bus, Florence – La Spezia – Pisa – Florence;and transportation pass for local train in Cinque Terre.
Depart Florence Santa Maria Novella train station at 8:30 AM for Venice Island. Participants will only bring their carry-on or a backpack for the journey. Arrive to Venice at 10:30 AM and have private transfer by boat to the Hotel Belle Arti.
At 1PM, starts a 2-hour guided walking tour of Venice to see the highlights of the city (i.e. St. Mark’s Plaza, Bridge of Sighs, the Doge’s Palace, etc.). Entrance fee is included for St. Mark’s Basilica. Also attend a glassblowing demonstration near St. Mark’s Plaza. Rest of the day at leisure.
Services Needed: private boat transfer to hotel; Venice guide (2 hrs); entrance fee to St. Mark’s and glass blowing demonstration at a nearby shop.
Morning at leisure in Venice. The group will meet in the hotel lobby. Transfer by private boat to the train station. Train departs Venice at 3:25 PM and arrives to Florence Santa Maria Novella at 5:30 PM. Group walks back to their apartments on their own.
Services Needed: Venice local assistant; private boat transfer from hotel to train Station
Coach bus to Rome departs Florence around 10 AM. Upon arrival to Rome, the group will have a 3-hour guided orientation tour: Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona. No entrance fees are included. After the tour, the group will be dropped off at the hotel to check in.
Services Needed: coach bus transfer to Rome + 3-hr orientation tour; guide for orientation tour.
Morning guided tour of the San Sebastiano Catacombs (coach bus transportation). The coach bus will drop off the group near the Colosseum (end of coach service). Group will have lunch at own arrangement. Afternoon – guided tour of Antiquity Rome (Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum)
Services Needed: Half day coach bus for Catacombs visit; guide services at both sites; entrance fees to San Sebastiano Catacombs & Antiquity Rome sights.
10 AM – Papal Audience (faculty may reserve these but we should be prepared to have them) In the afternoon, the group will have a local company visit arranged by the College.
Services needed: Full day coach bus; papal audience tickets, local company visit.
8 AM – Corpus Christi Parade (own arrangements) – no transportation needed.
12 PM – 4 PM: coach bus picks up group near Vatican City & drives to
Johnson & Johnson in Rome. Group will return to hotel by 4 PM.
Services Needed: coach bus service from 12 PM to 4 PM
Morning visit of the Vatican City. The tour includes the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Coach bus transportation is needed for half-day. Coach will drop off group near Borghese Gallery (end of services) Group has time for lunch & then an afternoon guided tour of the Borghese Gallery.
Services Needed: Entrance fees for the Vatican City & Borghese Gallery;
guide services for visits; half-day coach bus service for morning
Full day excursion to Naples & Pompeii:
Depart Naples at 6 PM; arrive Rome at 7:10 PM.
Group farewell dinner at a local restaurant, near Termini or Colosseum (i.e. close to the hotel). Group will walk directly to the restaurant upon arrival to Termini Station. Reservations should be made around 7:30 PM.
Services Needed: coach bus transportation from 10 AM to 5 PM (6 hrs); guide services – Naples Orientation tour + Pompeii sites; entrance fee to Pompeii site; restaurant reservations & group dinner (prix-fixe with 3-4 options per course to choose from, 30 Euros per person max.)
Day at leisure to explore Rome. No services are needed.
Transfer to Fiumicino airport to take your return flight to the US.
This sample tour is just an example of a specific itinerary related to the country we just described to give you an idea of what is available in that country when you travel.
All our trips are tailor-made and we are at your disposal to plan your trip in consideration of how many people will be traveling, how many days you wish to travel, the season, the standard and the location of the hotels, the amount of meals you wish to include, the guided tours or experiences which will show you not only the “must see” landmarks but also the special interest sites and events you will love that are off the beaten track.
Francoise is the president and founder of Celestial Voyagers. She graduated with a tourism degree at Nice University in France and has worked as a tour director and operations manager in France, Australia and Mexico. Settling in New York City, she founded Celestial Voyagers with the aim of creating uniquely curated group travel for adults and Academia.