Day 2 • Rome
Day 5 • Siena
Day 7 • Venice
Day 11 • Mainz
Day 1 • Departure from the USA
Today we begin our adventure as we board a giant jet for an evening flight over the Atlantic. The night is short as we fly towards the rising sun.
Day 2 • Arrival Rome
After arrival in the Eternal City of Rome, we are met by our friendly Signature Tours International Manager who assists us in transferring to our hotel. En route, we enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour. There is time for lunch on our own and an afternoon at leisure for exploration. We have dinner and stay the night in Rome.
Day 3 • Rome
Today we take a sightseeing tour of Vatican City. We see one of the greatest collections of art in the world – the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel with the work of Michelangelo. We also visit St. Peter’s Basilica. Constantine, the first Christian Emperor, decided in 324 AD to build a basilica on the site where St. Peter was buried after he had been martyred in Nero’s circus. There is time for lunch on our own before an afternoon at leisure under the guidance of our Tour Manager. Dinner and the night are in Rome.
Day 4 • Rome
Day 4 • Rome
Our day begins with a sightseeing tour of Ancient Rome, including a visit to the Coliseum. Originally called the Flavian Amphitheatre after its builders, the Coliseum began construction around 70 AD in a low-lying area that had once formed the pond of Nero's Domus Aureus. The amphitheater probably came to be called the "Coliseum" because a colossal statue of Nero once stood near it. It was completed in 80 AD and seated more than 50,000 spectators. Its opening was celebrated with 100 days of games. There is free time for lunch on our own and an afternoon at leisure to explore Rome under the guidance of our Tour Manager. Enjoy the shopping and many sights to see!! We have dinner and stay the night in Rome.
Day 5 • Rome/Siena/Florence
We leave Rome today and travel to Florence, home of the Renaissance. Enroute we stop in Siena, self-contained and still part-rural behind its medieval walls, Siena's great attraction is its cityscape, a majestic Gothic ensemble that could be enjoyed without venturing into a single museum. The physical and spiritual heart of the city is the great scallop-shaped piazza il Campo, loveliest of all Italian squares and scene of the thrilling Palio bareback horse-race. Siena's Duomo and Palazzo Pubblico are two of the purest examples of Italian Gothic architecture, and the best of the city's paintings – collected in the Museo Civico and Pinacoteca Nazionale – are in the same tradition; the finest example of Sienese Gothic is Duccio's Maestà, on show in the outstanding Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. We continue to Florence for dinner and overnight.
Day 6 • Florence
During the Renaissance, inventors and men of science were encouraged to base their research on the reinterpretation of the achievements of the Classic civilization and on the expansion of the new scientific horizons. Florence was home to many, including Dante, Giotto, Lorenzo the Magnificent and Michelangelo. We tour the amazing Accademia of Fine Arts, where we see their fine collection of Michelangelo sculptures, including the original David. Our next stop is the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Liore. With origins dating back to 1296, it is one of the largest cathedrals in the Christian world. There is free time for lunch on our own and an afternoon at leisure to explore Florence under the guidance of our Tour Manager. Dinner and overnight are in Florence.
Day 7 • Florence/Venice
After breakfast we depart Florence, driving on to Venice. On arrival this afternoon we have a sightseeing tour of Venice Island. Venice is a unique city built on water in the middle of a lagoon. Venice is one of Italy's most beautiful and romantic cities as well as one of the most popular for visitors to Italy. The heart of Venice is Piazza San Marco with its magnificent church. There are many museums, palaces, and churches to visit and wandering along Venice's canals is interesting. Venice is in the northeast of Italy and historically was a bridge between East and West.. Dinner and overnight in Venice.
Day 8 • Venice/Innsbruck/Oberammergau
This morning we depart Venice for the highlight of our trip. We stop in Innsbruck where we see Maria Theresa’s Golden Roof, the court palace, and the church. We continue to King Ludwig’s Linderhof Castle, where the gilded splendor begins at the fountains and continues through every room. Our destination for the day is the little village of Oberammergau, the site of the famed Passion Play.
Day 9 • Passion Play
Day 9 • Oberammergau/PASSION PLAY
Today we attend the world-renowned Passion Play. This spectacle has been performed almost every decade without interruption since 1634. It is a perpetual sign of gratitude to God for the cessation of the Black Plague, which took so many lives but stopped just short of this village.
Day 10 • Oberammergau/Heidelberg
This morning we drive pass richly forested mountains, rivers, and small market towns to the delightfully romantic city of Heidelberg, known as the “Student Prince” city. We stop to see its much-photographed bridge over the Neckar River and the fascinating castle ruins and bustling city streets. We visit Heidelberg Castle, known as the Schloss, is one of Germany’s most romantic locations, with a long and turbulent history. First constructed in the early 15th century as a residence for the Palatine princes, it was destroyed twice during war times and was once struck by lightening. Stones have even been removed to construct other buildings, thus it has a variety of architectural styles.
Day 11 • Heidleberg/Mainz/Heidleberg
After breakfast, we drive through beautiful scenery to lovely Mainz to visit the Gutenberg Museum. This museum is a unique memorial to the city's most famous son. In the rebuilt Gutenberg workshop, visitors can trace the history of printing, beginning with Johannes Gutenberg's hand press, on which he printed his 42-line-per-page Bible from 1452 to 1455. We will then stop in Worms to see the Reformation Monument. Dinner and overnight in Heidleberg.
Day 12 • Heidleberg/Frankfurt/U.S.A.
Today our tour ends as we board the plane for our flight back to the U.S. We return with memories of exciting and inspiring experiences that will last a lifetime!