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Detailed Itinerary (back to top)
Day 1 Flight from Australia to Rome
Day 2 Rome (D) Your tour leader Mario will meet you at the Rome International Airport. You will be then transferred to your hotel in the centre of Rome where you will check-in and have time to freshen up or have a rest. Before dinner, Mario will guide you on an educational stroll through some of the famous ‘piazze’ of Rome. The guided walking tour will include Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza Barberini, Piazza di Spagna, Fountain of Trevi, Piazza della Rotonda, Piazza Navona and finally Campo de’ Fiori. The walk will end with an early dinner in a family restaurant.
Day 3 Rome (BD) After breakfast we continue to enjoy and experience more of the fascinating sites of Rome. We start with the important church of Santa Maria Maggiore, proceeding to the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele, Campidoglio and the Mayoral Offices. In the afternoon, a guide will take the group through Ancient Rome, visiting the Roman Forum, followed by a special visit to the Colosseum. Dinner will be at a traditional Roman restaurant.
Day 4 Rome/Pompeii/Sorrento (BD) Today will be an early morning start. Our tour bus will take us south along the Autostrada del Sole to Pompeii, which was destroyed and preserved by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. A local guide will lead us through the ruins of this truly magnificent Roman city. We then travel to Sorrento for a short tour of the city and the beautiful Bay of Naples. Dinner will be at the hotel in Sorrento followed by an optional passeggiata around the historical part of the city.
Day 5 Sorrento/Amalfi Coast/Mondavio (BD) After breakfast, we travel by bus through one of the most beautiful coastlines of the Italian peninsula: the Amalfi Coast. Then we head north east crossing the Central Apennines to the City of Mondavio in Le Marche Region. We will travel in air-conditioned comfort through some of the most beautiful countryside of Central Italy with spectacular views of the Adriatic Sea and surrounding countryside. We should reach Mondavio by late afternoon. Mondavio will be our stay for the next 5 nights. There will be a welcome ceremony headed by the teachers of “Scuola Dante Alighieri” who will give a brief explanation of the activities for the coming days. The students will be introduced to the families they will be staying with for the duration of their Italian language experience. Dinner with your billeted family.
Day 6 Mondavio (BD) After breakfast with your family, you will have a short walk through the City of Mondavio to start your first of four language classes at “Scuola Dante Alighieri” which is situated in the heart of the historical centre. All classes begin at 9.00 AM and finish at 12.30 PM with a break of 20 minutes around mid morning. In the afternoon, there will be a special visit to the Rocca di Mondavio and other important historical sights. There will be a “Caccia al Tesoro” an Italian treasure hunt within the historical centre of the city. There will also be an arranged meeting with students from the local secondary school. Dinner with your family.
Day 7 Mondavio/Urbino (BD) Second language class starts at 9.00 AM. In the afternoon, we travel to the nearby University City of Urbino and explore the land once ruled by the medieval lords of Montefeltro. After Florence, Urbino was the second most important centre of the Italian Renaissance. A conducted tour of the magnificent Ducal Palace will give you an insight into the magnificence of the great Duke Federico and how he created a centre of learning famous throughout Italy. Dinner with your family.
Day 8 Mondavio (BD) Third lesson at “Scuola Dante Alighieri”. After lunch the students will learn all about pizza making and will be given the opportunity to make their own pizza. In the evening students will be attending a screening of an Italian movie with local students. Dinner with your family.
Day 9 Mondavio/San Marino (BD) Last language class at “Scuola Dante Alighieri” In the afternoon we cross over Le Marche border for a visit to the tiny Republic of San Marino. It is an afternoon for shopping as San Marino is jammed with heavily discounted shops. Apart from souvenirs, you will be able to pick up perfumes, watches, leather goods and gifts at very reasonable prices. San Marino is also worth a visit for its history and pageantry and its magnificent hilltop setting, which offers excellent views of the countryside.
Day 10 Mondavio/Florence (BD) Today our journey takes us through some of the richest parts of the Italian countryside and on to Florence, the capital of Tuscany. Upon arrival in the city the group will check in at the hotel and the rest of the day will include a walking tour, which features Piazza del Duomo and its Cathedral with the Giotto Campanile and the magnificent East Door of the Baptistery known as the ‘Gate to Paradise’. Dinner at the hotel in the centre of Florence.
Day 11 Florence/San Gimignano/Siena (BD) Today after breakfast we travel to San Gimignano. A tiny historical city perched on a hill, famous for its numerous towers and art treasures. In the afternoon we visit Siena to admire the Cathedral and the Piazza del Campo, one of the most beautiful squares in Europe and learn about the famous race the Palio. Dinner in a traditional restaurant in the centre of Florence.
Day 12 Florence/Venice (BD) After breakfast we travel to Venice by train. After check in at our hotel, we take a vaporetto ride along the Grand Canal. We will experience the sights of Venice including Piazza San Marco and the Basilica, the Bridge of Sigh, Ducal Palace and the Rialto Bridge. We then walk back through the small streets of Venice to our hotel for dinner.
Day 13 Venice/Murano (BD) Today after breakfast we take in the sights again along the Grand Canal to the island of Murano where Venice’s world famous glass is made and visit several glassblowers creating their masterpieces. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 14 Venice (B) Today after breakfast the group departs for Venice Airport for the flight back to Australia.
Day 15 Back in Australia
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