CONOSCERE L'ITALIA!

With Pilgrim Tours

15 Day First Class
     

Group Package - 20 Or More Persons

Conoscere L'Italia!
"Conoscere" means to know intimately. There is the Italy of the casual tourist ("been there; done that"), and there is the Italy for the inquisitive visitor who wishes to return home with more than just a bag full of souvenirs; who finds excitement in knowing the land, its people and its culture.

Day 1: Overnight Flight To Milan

Day 2: Milan, O Milano
We fly into Malpensa airport, and are immediately transported to our hotel in the center of the city. We will rest and freshen up, then, after an evening meal, you may go out to experience the bustling nightlife in the "centro."

Day 3: Milano Bis (encore)
Our day begins with a continental breakfast, and then on to the Duomo (main cathedral) with its 1500+ statues and spectacular panorama from atop (for those who wish to climb). We will also visit the excavations underneath, with the baptistery where St. Augustine was baptized. A quick side visit to the old marketplace with its little-known ancient "intercom" system will leave you with something to talk about. After a leisurely stop for a cappuccino in the Galleria (a covered shopping promenade), our walking tour continues through the Galleria to La Scala opera house, then back through the Galleria and we take the tram to see the Last Supper by Da Vinci. We then return to the Castello Sforzesco castle and museum, and you may take a leisurely stroll through the park behind the castle. Our meals will include typical Italian fare. We will seek to give you a genuine "taste of Italy" that will leave you wanting to come back for more!

Day 4: Verona, Wherefore Art Thou?
Often overlooked as tourists make a beeline for Venice, Verona has not only the lure of Shakespearean legend, featuring "Juliet's" house (Romeo's is doubtful), but also a beautiful Roman amphitheater (still in use for performances), quaint bridges, and a fascinating Natural History museum including some science oddities, and fossils of entire trees and other plants, animals, and fish, found in the fossil-rich environs of the city. A visit to the open market makes you feel even more acquainted with the life of the town. All of the sights are in easy walking distance, and we will begin and end our tour at the amphitheater.

Day 5: Venice, The Peaceful
"Streets" of water, peaceful and calm. Narrow alleyways filled with the works of artisans; St. Mark's square; the Rialto bridge; the Bridge of Sighs; the gondolas; (the pigeons!). After a ride on the Grand Canal, we can take a leisurely walk thorough La Serenissima and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells (and shopping) of this magical floating city. Beginning at Piazza San Marco, you will see the famous St. Mark's Cathedral, and, if you wish, climb the belltower for a dizzying but beautiful panorama of the city and the Grand Canal. Look down (or up, if you are not a tower climber) and enjoy the show on the hour as two bronze statues swing their hammers at a bell above an ornate portal. Then it's on to the indescribably ornate Doge's Palace. After lunch you can window shop or look for souvenirs, and be amazed at the works of the glass artisans. Which brings us to the next leg of the tour--a short boat ride to Murano to see its famous glass blowers, after which you are on your own to discover what you may--but watch out! because it is easy to get lost in the maze of alleyways in this magical town.

Day 6: Venice, The Beautiful
Today our itinerary takes us to San Giorgio Maggiore, a cathedral on an island of its own, across the Grand Canal. Continuing on our water excursion on the Grand Canal we pass the beautiful palaces and other "floating" buildings, and on to the Rialto Bridge, where we will disembark and see the shops and open markets in the area. The afternoon is free time to do what you wish.

Day 7: Ravenna/Parma
Byzantine mosaics and an unusual 5th century depiction of Christ's baptism by immersion grace this town where the poet Dante took refuge and is buried. Theodoric's tomb is a marvel of engineering, with a 300-ton capstone whose placement still defies understanding. Unusual also are the round belltowers of some of the church buildings. The church of San Vitale will be the centerpiece of the day, as it is important for its spectacular mosaics.
In Parma we will see the church which is said to be the original model for St. Peter's in Rome; the 11th century Duomo; Toscannini's birthplace; and the Parco Ducale. Parma is the home of the famous Parmigiano cheese, and we will visit one of its cheesemakers in the surrounding country.

Day 8: San Marino
A "country within a country" (actually an independent republic), this town is situated on two 700+ meter hills above the plains of Emilia Romagna. On a clear day it seems as though you really can see forever. Founded in 301 A.D. by Marinus, who was seeking refuge from religions persecution, San Marino has its own government, army, and coinage and postage stamps (it is famous for both). A visit to the castle museums starts our day, and then you can browse and shop for unusual souvenirs along the main promenade. No need to worry about traffic here, as we visit also the beautiful square at the Palazzo del Governo with its colorful guard, and stop for lunch at a pizzeria.

Day 9: Florence, Andiamo! (Let's go!)
Few are they who are not enchanted by this city. You can not take a step in Florence without walking on history. From the Etruscans, to the Renaissance, through World War II to the flood of 1966, you will be treated to a learning experience--a feast for the eyes, mind, and soul, that no book or video or pictures could ever tell. The Duomo (cathedral) and Giotto's Belltower will be our point of departure, and are world-renowned for their beauty and as architectural marvels. See the famous doors of Ghiberti on the baptistery, and the frightening depiction of the Last Judgement inside, with a half body coming out of the mouth of Satan.
A more serene sight awaits us at the Accademia, wherein the statue of David by Michelangelo defines the limits of human artistic ability. Let your mind dwell also on the artists "Prisoners"--unfinished statues looking like they want to be released from their stone casings. Nearby we stop at St. Mark's church--a rival of the Franciscan Santa Croce church on the other side of town (we'll visit that tomorrow).
From St. Marks we take the bus to the hill town of Fiesole, to climb to the monastery of San Francesco and take in a panoramic view of Florence and an evening meal. Then back to our hotel for a restful evening.

Day 10: Florence Bis
Our morning begins at the Medici Chapels, with its statues by Michelangelo and ornate marble interior. Outside and surrounding the area is the San Lorenzo open market. Here one can find the leather goods for which Florence is famous, along with Florentine paper, inlaid wood music boxes, and even statues of Pinocchio with two noses. One is larger than the other; in case your kid (or you!) tell a lie, you can exchange it! The church of Santa Maria Novella, a short walk away, is famous for its pulpit from which Galileo was denounced. Onward, and we arrive at the Straw Market, well-known for its alabaster creations, and the wild boar whose nose you can rub to assure your return to the city of flowers (Florentia), but not so well-known as a place where criminals were once strung up and bounced up and down on their bottoms.
We will then visit the Pitti palace, full of art and archtectural treasures, with its surrounding Boboli Gardens (including the strange Grotta del Buontalenti), then stroll down to the famous Ponte Vecchio, and on to the Uffizzi art museum and Piazza della Signoria with its open-air cafes. Afternoon we go to the church of Santa Croce, where famous people such as Galileo, Michelangelo and Macchiavelli are buried in ornate sarcophaguses. If you have not had enough, you can hike up to the Forte di Belvedere for a soft early evening panorama of the city, awash in golden sunset. Enjoy the nightlife and have a gelato near the Ponte Vecchio, then back to our hotel for the night.

Day 11: Pi Sa
Just a short ride and we arrive at one of the wonders of the world--the leaning tower of Pisa. But there is more. The architecture of the cathedral is whimsical; and the bapistery is musical! Yes, there is a little-known acoustic phenomenon inside, and you will hear it! Pisa also has other leaning towers and buildings. See if you can find them! Our day will center mainly on the architectural marvel and its environs, including the Camposanto musem, housing frescoes made with a red earth pigment from the Black Sea.

Day 12: San Gimignano/Siena
More enchantment awaits us as we visit the city of Medieval skyscrapers, and then the town of the Palio--a horse racing contest re-enacted as in Medieval times. You will feel as if you have gone back in time. San Gimignano is a quiet town, but interesting for its Old World charm.
Then, there is a mysterious side of Siena that most visitors miss. The plague wiped out two-thirds of this city's population, and there is a skeleton of a cathedral as a monument to that catastrophe. The tower in the central square, if you dare to climb it , affords a spectacular view of the city and "Campo" (square) where the Palio is held. We will visit the adjoining Palazzo Pubblico, full of art treasures and artifacts of Medieval times, and then go on to the grand Cathedral.

Day 13: Rome
If we have not already seen and done enough, we will wrap up our tour with a grand finale. Rome is so full of history and sights that we can only touch the highlights, and hope that one day you will join us again, perhaps on our tour of ROME AND SOUTH.
Our first appointment is at the Colosseum, whose arches were once filled with statuary and many of whose stones were pilfered to build other edifices of the city. Nearby is the famous Arch of Constantine, whose coversion to Christianity revolutionized the Empire and ended persecution. From here the Palatine Hill is easily reached, and you will walk in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, marveling at the Rome that once was. We will treat you to little-known facts, such as the melted coins you can see in the stones of an ancient temple, from the time when the Goths burned it down to the ground. We will stop at the Mammertine Prison, where it is said the Apostle Peter was held.
To continue with the theme of sacred history, we will then visit the Circus Maximus, where it is said the majority of Christian persecutions took place, and then on to the Baths of Caracalla (where the famous 3 tenors sang) the Appian Way, and the Catacombs, which will leave you in wonder at the religious freedom we have in the West today.

Day 14: The Vatican
Most of today will be spent taking in the wealth of riches and history in this city within a city. You will visit the Basilica of St. Peter, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican museum. You may climb the cupola for a vista of St. Peter's square, see the Swiss guard, and visit the underground tombs. Finally we will stop at Castel Sant Angelo, the fortress guarding the Vatican. Optional sights, time permitting, include the Scala Santa, where it is said Luther was converted; the Spanish Steps; the Trevi Fountain; Piazza Navona with its beautiful fountains; and the Pantheon.

Day 15: Rome To Home
After a pleasant farewell breakfast, we head for the airport and our scheduled flight home. We are sure you will have had a learning experience, and not "just" a tour! Buon viaggio!!

Price Per Person:
Call 800.322.0788 for current pricing.

Price Includes: First class lodging, breakfast & dinner daily, baggage handling, admissions, sightseeing, Pilgrim escort services and local guides throughout, air fare from NYC (low add on fares nationwide).

Not Included: air taxes.