Day 1 • Depart USA
We fly from the US to Rome today.  Sit back and enjoy the service while in flight.

Day 2: Arrive Rome
We arrive at the Rome airport where meet our tour manager and transfer to the the hotel for check in and some relaxation time before dinner. 

Day 3: Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter Basilica, Scala Santa
After breakfast you will begin a full day of site seeing. First visit Vatican City where you will see the Basilica at St. Peter, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums with stunning works of art at every turn. After some free time for lunch, you will visit the 4th century Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the traditional site of Paul’s tomb, and the Scala Santa, where Martin Luther made his stand against the practice of indulgences. This fascinating museum houses the Steps from Pilot's Judgment Hall in Jerusalem brought to Rome by Helena, the mother of Constantine. The practice today is to climb the steps on your knees, stopping to pray on each step.   Additional sights include the Arches of Constantine and Titus, Circus Maximus and the beautiful marble monument called the Wedding Cake.
 
Day 4:  Forum, Mamertine Prison, Coliseum, Catacombs
We begin our walking tour at the ancient Roman Forum, where our guide will divulge its secrets. We will visit the Arch of Titus which commemorated the sack of Jerusalem by Titus in AD 70.  We will step inside the Mamertine Prison, where tradition says the Apostle Paul was imprisoned. The Roman church would say that Peter was imprisoned here as well, but there is no imperial evidence that Peter was ever in Rome. Next, we visit the Coliseum, where thousands of people and animals perished during gladiatorial games. The Coliseum first opened in AD 80 and within 100 days of its opening, 5000 wild beasts perished here. The slaughter of both humans and animals continued for three more centuries. Historians believe the Coliseum could hold between 40,000 and 80,000 people depending on how close the seating was. The floor has recently had a plank placed over the middle making it accessible for people to walk over the labyrinth of brick cells, ramps, and elevators used to transport animals and gladiators into the arena. Hear the stories of the games that have fascinated people for years. We conclude our day at the Catacombs where thousands of Christians were buried in a remarkable tiered series of galleries. 

Day 5: Beautiful Florence, Michelangelo’s David
Grab an early breakfast, before we transfer to the station for an early train to Florence.  A guide will meet you for a walking tour of one of the world’s greatest artistic capitals, which will include the Piazza della Signoria, Duomo, Baptistry and a visit to the Accademia Galley, home of Michelangelo’s David. Part of the afternoon is at your leisure to enjoy shopping, visiting more galleries or strolling on the famous Pont Vecchio, the old bridge which spans the Arno River. Remember that Florence leather shops are the best in the world and bargains on excellent quality goods are abundant. It may be the time to purchase those special Christmas gifts. We return to Rome for the evening.

Day 6 •  Free Day - Rome
The day is free to visit  a multitude of famous churches, museums and sights galore.

Day 7 •  Pompeii
We depart Rome early this morning and travel a little over two hours south to the world famous excavation of Pompeii.  Pompeii is famous for the fantastic and ancient ruins uncovered from beneath volcanic ash, stone and mud evoke thoughts about life and death and how tenuous it all is. Buried just 6 years after the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, you can see cement casts of people as they were when they were buried, sometimes shielding themselves from the horror.   Our guide will share amazing stories of this ancient civilization.  We return to Rome late this afternoon.

Day 8 • Home
This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to the USA.