Italy and Greece

WorldStrides
Explore the historic sites, magnificent piazzas, artistic masterpieces, architectural gems and natural wonders of Florence, Venice, Rome, and Sorrento before journeying to Athens to uncover the sacred treasures of Ancient Greece. In the historic precincts of Olympia, Mycenae and Epidaurus, students will be privy to the secrets of ancient amphitheatres and temples that have remained standing for thousands of years – and continue to yield archaeological discoveries today!
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Day 1 Overnight flight to Italy (Venice)
Day 2 Ciao Venice
Dinner
Day 3 Venice
Breakfast
Venice guided sightseeing tour
St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace guided visit, Glass-blowing demonstration
Dinner
Details: Venice guided sightseeing tour
Bubbling up on more than 100 islands in a lagoon off the Adriatic, Venice is an absolutely unique and unquestionably beautiful city. Step into Piazza San Marco, an airy expanse of arches, sunlight, and pigeons. The multi-domed Basilica on one end, completed in 1094 but decorated for centuries afterward, is the final resting place of the apostle St. Mark, Venice’s patron saint. The mosaics beneath the basilica’s outside arches depict the arrival of St. Mark’s body, stolen from Egypt in 828 by Venetian traders. The frothy Venetian Gothic Doge’s Palace stands next door. Continue on to a glass-blowing demonstration. Venetian glass has long been considered the best in the world, and its production was such a state secret that during the Middle Ages, any Venetian glassblower who attempted to ply his trade outside the city was immediately arrested.
Details: St. Mark’s Square
Stroll through St. Mark's Square. Bordered by Venice's greatest historic buildings, St. Mark's Square is the center of both the city and its water transportation system, as well as a popular tourist attraction.
Details: Doge's Palace guided visit
Discover the Doge’s Palace, once the seat of government and justice in the Venetian Republic. Its lavish rooms, monumental artwork, and intricate architectural details reveal the wealth and influence that defined Venice at its height.
Day 4 Venice--Florence
Breakfast
Travel to Florence via Verona
Verona tour director-led sightseeing
Castelvecchio Bridge, Verona Arena, Piazza delle Erbe
Traditional Italian pizza dinner
Details: Verona tour director-led sightseeing
Brush up on your Shakespeare before visiting Casa di Giulietta, where you can look up at the balcony long associated with the story of Romeo and Juliet. Learn how many versions of this tragic tale existed well before Shakespeare gave it its most famous form. From this legendary setting of star-crossed love, continue on to Verona’s Roman Arena, a remarkably preserved 1st-century B.C. amphitheater. Still used for performances today, it is the third-largest arena of its kind in Italy.
Day 5 Florence
Breakfast
Florence guided sightseeing tour
Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo, Leather Workshop, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Dante's House
Pisa guided excursion
Baptistery visit, Leaning Tower
Dinner
Details: Florence guided sightseeing tour
Immerse yourself in the charms of old-world Firenze. The birthplace and focal point of the Italian Renaissance, Florence still has the masterpieces to prove it. Brunelleschi’s monumental cupola (dome) atop the city's renowned Duomo dominates the skyline. Your local licensed guide will take you to Giotto's Bell Tower and the aptly named Gates of Paradise, the bronze east doors of the Baptistery that spurred the burgeoning Renaissance. Don’t overlook the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli at the Chiesa di Santa Croce, or Florence’s amazing leather goods. You can check them out when you visit one of the area’s famed workshops!
Details: Piazza della Signoria
Spend time in the Piazza della Signoria, the political stage of Renaissance Florence and an open-air museum of sculpture.
Details: Ponte Vecchio
Stroll along the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest of Florence's six bridges and one of the best-loved sites of Florence. Lined with numerous shops, visitors often do not realize they are on a bridge until the reach the center arches that look out over the Arno.
Details: Pisa guided excursion
Stop in Pisa to see the famous leaning bell tower. It was already partly finished when builders realized that -- surprise! -- the ground beneath was too soft to support it. They tried to correct the tilt by putting a slight bend in the structure, but the extra weight just made it tilt more. Famous as it is, the leaning tower is just one component of Pisa’s Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles). Rising from an immaculate green lawn, the baptistery, duomo, and tower are fine examples of Pisan Romanesque architecture. All three are clad in intricately carved black and white marble, and on bright summer days their brilliance can be blinding.
Day 6 Florence--Rome
Breakfast
Travel to Rome via Assisi
St. Francis of Assisi Basilica visit
Rome city walk
Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona
Dinner
Details: St. Francis of Assisi Basilica visit
The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is one of Italy’s most important pilgrimage sites, built soon after the saint’s canonization in the early 13th century. The complex includes both a Lower Basilica, created as a space for prayer and devotion, and an Upper Basilica, known for its early and influential fresco cycles. Together, these two churches form a UNESCO World Heritage Site and stand as a major landmark of medieval spirituality, architecture, and art.
Details: Rome city walk
Take a walk past Rome's most beautiful and unusual Baroque fountains. At the foot of the Spanish Steps, elegant cafes surround the central fountain. The water pressure here was so low that the artist had to sink the fountain into the ground to get any water going through it, so he went ahead and designed the fountain to look like a sinking ship. There's no shortage of water pressure at the nearby Trevi Fountain, a Baroque extravagance designed by master sculptor Bernini.
Details: Trevi Fountain
View the Trevi Fountain, where it is traditional to toss a coin into the fountain to ensure a safe return to the Eternal City.
Details: Piazza Navona
We will spend some time in the Piazza Navona area. Built on the foundations of Domitian's Circus, this magnificent square was designed by Borromini in 17th century. It is full of life and is highlighted by one of Rome's most spectacular fountains, the Four Rivers designed by Bernini. The square is often filled with local artists. The surrounding neighborhood is also one of the best places in Rome to get a tasty tartufo or gelato ice cream
Day 7 Rome
Breakfast
Vatican City guided sightseeing tour
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit
Authentic trattoria dinner
Details: Vatican City guided sightseeing tour
Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, with its vast colonnades that seem to embrace the world. Inside, admire Michelangelo’s soaring dome, rising 452 feet above the ground, and his renowned Pietà. Then step into the Sistine Chapel, where the artist reluctantly painted frescoes that today stand among the world’s greatest masterpieces. Please note that the Sistine Chapel portion of the visit is unguided and will be explored independently.
Day 8 Rome
Breakfast
Ancient Rome guided sightseeing tour
Colosseum visit, Forum Romanum visit, Piazza Venezia
Dinner
Details: Ancient Rome guided sightseeing tour
The ultimate symbol of Ancient Rome, the Colosseum still dominates the modern city. Tour the amphitheatre with your local licensed guide. Built by the emperor Vespasian in A.D. 72, the structure held almost 50,000 spectators but was so well organized that the entire place could be emptied within 15 minutes. Inside, the spectacles varied from gladiator battles to immense naval contests to wild beast shows, in which thousands of exotic animals like giraffes and ostriches were popped into the stadium through trap doors and left to fight Roman hunters. See the system beneath the floor that operated the trap doors and housed the animals, then continue on to the relative calm of the Forum. Ancient Rome’s commercial, religious and political center, the Forum held markets, temples and the Senate House. Near the Rostra, or speaker’s platform, you can still see game boards scratched into the marble by bored politicians--anyone up for a game of tic tac toe?
Details: Forum Romanum visit
Tour the ruins and excavations of the Roman Forum, which features the remains of magnificent temples, basilicas, and triumphal arches that once formed the heart of the Empire.
Day 9 Rome--Sorrento region
Breakfast
Travel to Sorrento region
Capri & Blue Grotto excursion
Dinner
Details: Capri & Blue Grotto excursion
From the Bay of Naples the island of Capri is less than an hour away by boat. Weather permitting, you will take a boat to the Blue Grotto, where sunlight reflected from beneath the water bathes the cave in a silver-blue light.
Day 10 Sorrento region--Patras
Breakfast
Travel to the port
Pompeii guided visit
Overnight ferry to Patras
Details: Pompeii guided visit
Pompeii is a vast archaeological site located in southern Italy’s Campania region. Once a thriving and sophisticated Roman city, Pompeii was buried in metres of ash and pumice after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Near the coast of the Bay of Naples, the well-preserved site features excavated ruins that visitors can freely explore.
Day 11 Patras--Tolo
Travel to Tolo via Olympia
Ancient Olympia guided visit
LEAP Faster, Higher, Stronger - Inspire!
Dinner
Details: Ancient Olympia guided visit
Once one of the most important sites in Greece, the former locale of the Olympic games now has some of the most picturesque ruins in the country. Surrounded by shady olive trees and flowing rivers, the stones of the original temple and stadium still inspire awe – and the occasional victory lap.
Details: LEAP Faster, Higher, Stronger - Inspire!
The Ancient Olympic Games were a major event for the Greeks, showcasing athletic competitions and values of excellence, respect, and friendship. Debate their impact on legacy, politics, diplomacy, and global controversies.
Day 12 Tolo--Athens
Breakfast
Travel to Athens
Mycenae & Epidaurus guided excursion
Corinth Canal
Greek dinner in Plaka
Details: Travel to Athens
Athens is one of the oldest and greatest cities of Western Civilization, with a recorded history that extends back 3,400 years. During the Classical Era, Athens was a center for the arts, learning, and philosophy. It was the home of Plato's Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum. Modern Athens is still a vibrant city with a rich culture that takes great pride in its long and complex history.
Details: Mycenae & Epidaurus guided excursion
See the sacred precinct of Epidaurus, a former health clinic and spa with a 4th-century BC amphitheater. Continue to Mycenae. Framed by twin mountains and looking out over the plains, Mycenae was a palace, a workshop, and a grave. Gold cups, jewelry, bronze armor, swords, and daggers, as described by Homer, were discovered here. Walk up to the remains of the citadel. Look out over the rolling hills. Imagine the bonfires blazing in all directions, signaling that Troy had fallen to Agamemnon.
Day 13 Athens
Breakfast
Athens guided sightseeing tour
Parthenon, Acropolis site visit, Temple of Athena Nike, Omonoia Square, Syntagma Square, Panathenaic Olympic Stadium
Athens city walk
Plaka district, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch
Dinner
Details: Athens guided sightseeing tour
Athens has grown from the birthplace of democracy into a lively modern capital. With a licensed local guide, explore the city’s ancient highlights, beginning at the site of the first modern Olympic Games and the Acropolis, the heart of classical Athens. The Parthenon, dedicated to Athena, dominates the hill, while the nearby Erechtheion stands out for its Caryatids, the sculpted women supporting its porch. From here, the views over today’s Athens are remarkable. Back in the modern city, stop at Syntagma Square to see the Parliament building and the Changing of the Guard, a ceremony marked by the traditional uniforms with pleated skirts and pom-pom shoes. Continue on to Omonia Square, another major meeting point, surrounded by shops, cafés, and everyday city life.
Details: Acropolis site visit
Visit the Acropolis, which has overlooked Athens for over 2,000 years; habitation traces indicate that it was occupied as early as the Neolithic Age. View the Temple of Athena Nike, and its successor, The Parthenon. The Parthenon is the crowning achievement of the Doric order, built to demonstrate the wealth of Athens in tribute to its patron goddess, Athena.
Details: Syntagma Square
Syntagma Square, located directly in front of the Old Royal Palace, is the central square of Athens.
Details: Panathenaic Olympic Stadium
The Panathenaic Olympic Stadium is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble and the site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It was also used during the 2004 Athens Olympics for events such as the marathon finish and archery competitions. Its horseshoe shape follows the layout of the ancient stadium that once stood here, making it one of the city’s most iconic historic venues.
Details: Athens city walk
You’re never more than a few steps away from the past in Athens. Accompany your Tour Director to the Plaka, the historic district that borders the Acropolis. In its twisting narrow streets you’ll catch glimpses of an older city, from wrought-iron balconies bursting with geraniums to traditional Greek dancing in basement tavernas. Continue on to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, begun in the 6th century B.C. and finished in A.D. 132 by the emperor Hadrian. Its enormous columns provide a sense of the scale of the original temple. Nearby, the elaborate Hadrian’s Arch separated the ancient and imperial sections of the city.
Details: Hadrian’s Arch
View Hadrian's Arch, an enormous triumphal arch built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, which is still a symbolic entrance to Athens.
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Day 14 Athens
Breakfast
Delphi guided excursion
Delphi site visit, Temple of Apollo
Dinner
Details: Delphi guided excursion
Prophet from the past. Explore the impressive ruins at Delphi, which the Greeks considered the center of the world. Within the depths of the Temple of Apollo, a priestess would inhale intoxicating vapors that used to rise from the earth and, thus inspired, deliver the prophecies of Apollo. Modern visitors might find more inspiration in the view from Mount Parnassus, over 8000 feet high.
Day  Flight home from Athens
Breakfast
Depart on your flight home today. Return home date is subject to flight schedule.
  		• Or
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    Day  Start cruise extension (tours must depart Australia on Saturdays to do the extension)
    Breakfast
    Cruise for three days on the Aegean
    Your cruise includes three shore excursions.
    Details: Cruise for three days on the Aegean
    Set out to sea. Take three days to tour four islands of the Aegean and get to know authentic Greek island culture and some of the Aegean's best beaches. First is Mykonos, one of the Mediterranean's busiest resorts, with everything from a great museum filled with 7th-century artifacts to pure white, cubistic buildings, Crayola-colored boats, gourmet restaurants and...more beaches. Next stop is Kusadasi, known for its myriad of shops and historic sites. Then it is on to the hilly, seahorse-shaped Patmos, you'll see gold-leafed Byzantine frescos at the Monastery of St. John, the capital city of Hora, the busy port of Skala and beautiful beaches. Cruise on to Heraklion, the capital of Crete and a former Minoan seaport, for an unparalleled collection of Minoan archaeological artifacts. Finally, you’ll visit Santorini, where whole villages seem to cling to the side of the volcano, and mysterious black sand beaches stretch into the sea. Itinerary is subject to change. Your cruise includes two shore excursions.
    Details: Your cruise includes three shore excursions.
    The following three excursions are included on your cruise: Santorini: Spectacular Oia Village perched on the caldera rim, Ancient Ephesus through the ages: Hellenistic and Roman, and Heraklion: Minoan Palace of Knossos - 1st European Civilization. Note that depending on the departure date of your cruise, shore excursions are subject to change.
    Day  Aegean cruise
    Day  Aegean cruise
    Day  Athens
    Breakfast
    Arrive in Athens
    Delphi guided excursion
    Delphi site visit, Temple of Apollo
    Dinner
    Details: Delphi guided excursion
    Prophet from the past. Explore the impressive ruins at Delphi, which the Greeks considered the center of the world. Within the depths of the Temple of Apollo, a priestess would inhale intoxicating vapors that used to rise from the earth and, thus inspired, deliver the prophecies of Apollo. Modern visitors might find more inspiration in the view from Mount Parnassus, over 8000 feet high.
    Day  Flight home from Athens
    Breakfast
    Depart on your flight home today. Return home date is subject to flight schedule.
    Tour Includes:
    • LEAP – Learning through Exploring and Actively Participating increases engagement, critical thinking, understanding of diverse perspectives, and personal growth.
    • WorldStrides Tour Director: An experienced education and destination professional, trained in LEAP, who engages students with hands-on learning opportunities.
    • Return-trip airfare and transportation to activities in the itinerary
    • Hotel accommodations
    • Meals as per itinerary
    • Visits to select attractions as per itinerary
    • Guided sightseeing tours with high-tech headset as per itinerary
    • WorldStrides Tour Journal (available upon request)
    • WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
    • Tips for local guides and drivers are included (except multi‑day bus drivers). Tour cost doesn’t include optional pre‑paid tips for the Tour Director or multi‑day bus driver unless the pre‑paid tip option has been purchased.
    • Tips to staff on Greek cruise
    • Note: On arrival day only dinner is provided; on departure day, only breakfast is provided
    • Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees.
    • Note: Tour cost does not cover entry requirements or related fees. This includes, but is not limited to, passports, visas, and travel‑authorization fees.
    We are better able to assist you with a quote for your selected departure date and city over the phone. Please call 1.800.771.5353 to price this tour with your requested options.
    Please select a postal code
    9270.30 total fee
    Basic Options


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