GREECE AND ITALY: 14 DAYS SPRING STUDY TOUR
Major sites of Roman and Classical times are visited such as the Acropolis, Corinth, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi, Forum, Colosseum, Vatican Museums and Pompeii.
The March spring breaks are ideal opportunities for a two (2) week period, visiting Greece and Italy in a short period of time.
High schools prefer those study trips that provide a vivid outdoor “classroom” for their students! Below is a sample itinerary that we have created for St. Paul’s School and their students.
Itinerary
Day 1: Depart Boston.
Day 2: ATHENS. Upon arrival, private transfer with assistance from Athens El. Venizelos airport to hotel in Athens. Orientation. Welcome Dinner. Overnight with breakfast at Hotel Herodion (D)
Day 3: ATHENS-SOUNION Morning guided visit of the Acropolis, one the world’s UNESCO cultural sites, pass by the Agora (suggested times: 830am-1100am) and also visit the Acropolis Museum (suggested time: 1130am-1230pm) . After quick lunch, depart at 100pm for afternoon visit by bus and your guide to Cape Sounion at the Temple of Poseidon (open until sunset, suggested visit 230pm-330pm). Optional: visit a local Monastery In Lavrion, where nuns are open to discuss their monastic life and religion in general (suggested time: 400pm-500pm). Optional dinner near the seaside in Varkiza or Glyfada at extra cost. Return to Athens for overnight with breakfast at Hotel Herodion (B)
Day 4: ATHENS -CORINTH- NAFPLIO Early morning departure with private bus and your guide to visit the National Archaeological Museum and then continue to visit site of Ancient Corinth and museum, with its historical and religious significance. Late lunch on your own. Drive to Nafplion, a picturesque seaside town, once the capital of liberated Greece, for overnight with breakfast at Hotel Marianna (B)
Day 5: MYCENAE- EPIDAURUS- OLYMPIA Early morning departure with private bus and your guide to explore the famous sites of the area, starting a visit of the ancient theater of Epidauros, famous for its accustics. Continue to visit Mycenae, the site of the remnants of the Palace of Agamemnon with the famous Lions Gate. Drive to Olympia. Dinner with performance of Greek dances and overnight with breakfast at Hotel Europa (B, D)
Day 6: OLYMPIA-DELPHI Morning visit of the ancient site of Olympia, the site of the Olympic Games and the Arch. museum. Lunch in Olympia on your own. Depart for Delphi, another UNESCO World heritage site, via the Rion-Antirion bridge. Overnight with breakfast in Delphi at Hotel Leto or similar (B)
Day 7: DELPHI-ATHENS Early morning visit with your guide at the site of the oracle in Delphi at an impressive location, once the “center” of the world, and the Archeological Museum. Optional visit of Ossios Loucas Monastery, with impressive golden mosaics and continue into Athens. Dinner at selected restaurant in Athens . Overnight in Athens (B,D)
Day 8: ATHENS -ROME Boxed breakfast. Early morning transfer to Athens airport for flight to Rome. After a 2 hour flight arrive in Rome. Transfer by private bus and assistant to centrally located near Trastevere and historical center. Orientation walk in the historical center with your private guide, visit Fontana di Trevi, Pantheon, Piazza Navona. Welcome dinner at selected pizzeria. Overnight with breakfast in Rome (B,D)
Day 9: CAPITOLINE MUSEUM- FORUM- COLOSSEUM Early morning departure on foot with your private guide to visit the Capitoline Museum, Forum, Palatine Hill, Colosseum. Overnight with breakfast at centrally located hotel (B)
Day 10: VATICAN Early morning departure with public transport and with your private guide to visit Vatican Museum and its art treasures, famous for the Sistine Chapel painting by Michelangelo. Continue your guided visit to St. Peter’s Basilica with unique paintings (reservation required). Group dinner at selected restaurant. Overnight with breakfast at centrally located hotel (B,D)
Day 11: POMPEII Early morning departure with your escort and driver to reach Italy’s Campania region. Visit the site of Pompeii, once an amazing city with the forum, the temples, the baths, houses and public buildings buried under ash and pumice after the Vesuvius eruption at 79 AD. It is a unique and impressive site. Dinner and overnight in Pompeii at hotel Forum or similar. (B, D)
Day 12: HERCULANEUM-NAPLES MUSEUM Early morning departure with your guide and driver for a visit Herculaneum, another significant excavated town and site destroyed by the volcano eruption. Then continue to visit Archeological Museum of Naples with impressive collections of the wall paintings and mosaics from Pompeii. Short orientation around Naples. Overnight with dinner in hotel Forum in Pompeii or similar(B,D)
Day 13: TIVOLI- ROME Early morning departure with private bus and escort towards Rome. Stop at Tivoli, to visit the impressive Hadrian's villa for a guided visit. Continue to Rome for overnight with breakfast at centrally located hotel and farewell dinner at selected restaurant.(B,D)
Day 14: ROME-USA Depart with private bus to FCO airport for return flight to the US. (B)
We provide:
Accommodation for twelve (12) overnights in three 3***or four-4****star hotels in Athens, Nafplion, Olympia, Delphi, Rome, and Pompei, in mostly twin rooms, with private facilities, air conditioning and all modern comforts (single accommodation for faculty)
Daily buffet breakfast
English speaking guide/lecturer in Greece throughout the tour and all her/his expenses
Local guides in Italy as specified in Rome and Pompeii
Tour escort throughout the tour in Italy (from day of arrival until day of departure)
Eight (8) meals, dinners or lunches including welcome and farewell dinners in Greece and Italy
Air ticket Athens – Rome economy class including taxes estimated at present rate
Group bus transfers to/from the airport and port upon arrival and departure by private bus and assistant
A/C Motor coach for land tour with professional driver as per itinerary, including his expenses (max hours of driver’s usage time, by law, 8-10 daily)
Earpieces for all students and professors throughout the trip
Reservation fee and entrance tickets for Vatican & reservation fee for Coliseum
Assistance in obtaining free entrance passes in Greece for from local authorities for teachers, based on proper documentation.
Free admissions to all state museums and arch. sites in Greece and Italy for pupils under 18 years old (except Vatican and Acropolis Museum, extra costs)
Free cell phone with start-up minutes for the teacher /leader’s use while in Greece
24-Hours Assistance from local reps in Greece.