10-Day Journey to Rome & Northern Italy

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10-Day Adventure to Italy

DAY 1: BEGINNING OF TOUR  Leave the USA to follow Paul’s final journey to Rome and experience the best of Italy. Prepare for an inspiring, life-changing adventure.

DAY 2: ARRIVAL Arrive in Rome. Meet with the tour guide and take private transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

DAY 3: ANCIENT ROME Begin the day at the Church of Santa Prisca on the Aventino Hill where the apostle Paul once lived. This church is dedicated to Priscilla, Paul’s dear friend from Corinth (Romans 16:3-4) whom he reunited with upon arriving in Rome. Visit the church built over the ruins of Paul’s home where he lived nearby. Continue to the heart of the Roman Empire. Behold Trajan’s Column and the Forum of Tajan, the largest and most splendid of all marketplaces. Walk on the Via dei Fori Imperiali and see the various Imperial Fora that played an important role in the religious and political life of Rome. Be captivated by the remnants of temples, basilicas and triumphal arches constructed over a millennium as you stroll through the Roman Forum. Reach Capitoline Hill, the former political and religious center of the town. Gaze at the Piazza del Campidoglio, Michelangelo’s masterpiece of design. Admire the panoramic view of Palatine Hill, the origin of Rome. Stand in awe of the towering Coliseum, the enduring symbol Rome’s greatness. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Day 4: CHURCHES OF ROME/CATACOMBS After breakfast, proceed to the Basilica of San Celemente, the location of one of the first house churches in which Paul taught and preached. Study the magnificent frescoes and the mosaic of the cross as the Tree of Life. Continue to the Basilia of San John di Lateran on the property donated by Constantine’s family. Visit the Lateran Baptistery, the oldest continuously used monumental baptistery built by Constantine. Next, explore the Abbey of the Three Fountains, the traditional place of Paul's martyrdom. Continue to St. Paul Outside the Walls, a basilica and abbey built to commemorate and mark the burial place of the Apostle Paul. End the day with a tour through the Catacombs of Santa Domitilla located on the ancient Appian Way. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

DAY 5: VATICAN CITY: The day begins with a visit to Vatican City and a tour of the Vatican museums. Meander through the galleries, observing the exquisite tapestries that line the hallways. Enter the Apostolic Palace and stand in awe of the renowned Sistine Chapel. Continue to the Basilica of St. Peter, one of four papal basilicas in Rome, which boasts famous works from artists such as Bernini and Michelangelo. Admire the basilica’s ornate architecture and majestic dome from St. Peter’s Square. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure. You may choose to take an unguided walk through the eternal city, visiting the captivating Trevi Fountain, the picturesque Spanish Steps, and the historic Pantheon. Bask in the spellbinding beauty of Baroque Roman architecture and the fountains that adorn the Piazza Navona. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

DAY 6: ASSISI Journey to Assisi, relishing the views of the countryside. Roam the narrow streets of the ancient town on the slopes of Monte Subasio. Visit the Basilica of Saint Clare, built to honor and house the remains of Saint Clare of Assisi. Continue to the childhood home of Saint Francis. Spend time at the Piazza del Commune admiring the medieval, Roman architecture. Appreciate the arresting beauty of the Basilica of Saint Francis and see the tomb of the venerated saint. Visit the Rose Chapel built over the home where Saint Francis spent his later years. Proceed to the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels to marvel at the exquisite craftsmanship and visit the Portiuncula chapel, a small place of worship given to Saint Francis. See the nearby Cappella del Transito, marking the site where St. Francis lived and died in 1226. Journey through the Umbrian hills covered in olive groves and vineyards on the way to Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance. Dinner and overnight in Florence.

DAY 7: FLORENCE Spend the day exploring Florence, the city of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli. Visit the Baptistery of St. John with its distinctive octagonal design and gilded bronze doors dubbed “the Gates of Paradise” by Michelangelo. Stop by the Piazza della Signoria, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Basilica of Santa Croce with masterpieces from Italian artists like Michelangelo and Machiavelli. See the eloquent Giotto’s Bell Tower and the stunning Duomo, a magnificent display of Gothic architecture.  Spend time at the Academia Gallery where Michelangelo’s “David” is showcased among other Florentine masterpieces. Explore the outdoor Market of San Lorenzo and the historic Ponte Vecchio, known for the jewelry shops that have covered the bridge for centuries. Dinner and overnight in Florence.

DAY 8: PISA Begin the day with a drive through the heart of Italy to Pisa. Visit the famed Leaning Tower. Experience the city through a walking tour featuring the Pisa Cathedral and Baptistery of St. John, a brilliant blend of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. In the afternoon, continue to Venice for dinner and overnight.

DAY 9: VENICE After breakfast, take a private motorboat ride to the heart of Venice to spend the day discovering The Floating City. Begin at the core of the city in St. Mark’s Square. Tour the opulent St. Mark’s Basilica with its superb, detailed architecture and striking mosaics. Continue to historical Doge’s Palace where even the ceilings captivate. Explore the interrogation rooms and take in the spectacular scenes of Venice Lagoon from the Bridge of Sighs. Savor the city during a free afternoon. Take the opportunity to see the city from one of the charming gondolas. Catch a ferry boat back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.  

DAY 10: DEPARTURE Transfer to the airport for your return flight home with your luggage packed with keepsakes and your heart full of memories from your tour of Italy.

NOTE: Schedule is subject to change due to various factors and the tour guide’s discretion. 

PRICING:

• $5495 per person based on double occupancy. 
  
• Single room supplement - $1295
• $500 per person with registration to secure space.
• 50% of the total amount is due on or before June 1, 2023
• Balance due on or before September 1, 2023

FLIGHT SCHEDULE:

* Flight times, flight numbers, equipment, gates, and seats are subject to change. For the most current information check the airline website.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE REGISTERING

PASSPORTS: Passports must be valid with an expiration date of at least six months beyond the return home date of the tour. Participants with non-US passports are responsible for country-specific entry requirements. If you do not have a valid passport or need to renew your passport, enter "RENEWING" or "APPLIED FOR" when completing registration.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The $500 per person deposit is nonrefundable. Other payments exceeding the $500 per person are refundable in full up to ninety days prior to departure. After this date, refunds for unused accommodations and services will be limited to the amount received from and/or credited by all carriers, sightseeing operators, and hotels. All funds, including the deposit, are non-transferable.

AIR: The Standard Tour includes round-trip, economy-class airfare from the departure city listed in the itinerary. All group seating is assigned by the airline and cannot be changed by Signature Tours. Seat changes can only be made during check-in at the airport. Upgrades such as Comfort, Premium, Business, or First Class are not available with the standard tour. Participants who wish to upgrade or purchase a specific seat should choose the Land Only option when registering. Frequent flyer, TSA Precheck, and Global Entry numbers can only be added at check-in.

LAND ONLY: Participants who wish to arrange their own air should choose the Land Only option. $1000pp will be deducted from the standard tour price when selecting this option. Participants arranging their own air should notify Signature Tours at least 6 months prior to the departure date. Land Only Passengers arriving with or before the group are welcome to join the group bus at no additional charge. For those not traveling with the group, Signature Tours can provide contact information to arrange a private transfer.

GROUND/TRANSFERS: The group will be met on arrival by a Signature Tours representative and transferred to the hotel/airport. Land Only participants not traveling with the group are responsible for scheduling ground transfers.

HOTELS: Superior first-class hotels throughout. Priced based on two people per room with a private bath and shower.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: A limited number of single rooms are available at additional supplement prices. Signature Tours and/or the group leader will make every attempt to pair single participants requesting a roommate. However, the single supplement fee will be charged for each person occupying a single room, whether by choice or circumstance.

MEALS: Breakfast and dinner are provided daily. Lunch is provided on days as noted in the itinerary. 

SIGHTSEEING: Entrance fees to all places listed in the itinerary are included, as well as an expert English-speaking guide.

LUGGAGE: Space is limited on the tour buses. Participants are allowed one suitcase weighing 50lbs or less and will be transported in storage under the bus. Participants are allowed one backpack/daypack or personal bag to carry on the bus during the tour. These requirements will meet most airline carrier restrictions. See the carrier website for airline-specific baggage restrictions and requirements. Medical devices are not included in these restrictions. 

TIPS, SERVICE CHARGES, AND TAXES: Tips, service charges, and taxes ARE INCLUDED in the selling price. Taxes, as imposed by national and/or local governments, that are not included at the time of booking are the responsibility of the participant.

NOT INCLUDED: Excess baggage fees, passport fees, visa fees, food or drink items not listed on the regular table menu for included meals, and items of a personal nature such as room service, laundry, etc. Any service not indicated in the itinerary and/or the above list of included features.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS: This tour requires a substantial amount of walking. Many of the sites are not accessible by wheelchair, and the uneven terrain is not feasible for rollators. Signature Tours reserves the right to refuse individuals who may require special attention beyond what the tour guide and tour host can provide.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel Insurance is not included in the purchase price. For your convenience, we offer travel insurance through Travelex Insurance Services. For more information and rates, please review the product flyer or Click Here to enroll in the plan.
* Travelex Insurance Services, Inc CA Agency License #0D10209. Insurance coverages underwritten by Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC # 16535).

Signature Tours
PO Box 956817 Duluth, GA 30095
info@signaturetours.com