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Rome for the Holidays December 19, 2015 –December 26, 2015
-an STE immersion program
The Eternal City means different things to different people. For history aficionados it is the birthplace of the Roman Empire that shaped much of the western world. For Catholics it is the home of the Vatican State and the Pope. For fashionistas it is Via Condotti or Via Frattini. For food lovers it is the highly stylized restaurants of the Via Veneto or the more authentic cuisine in Trastevere. But for romantics of all ages and interests it is standing by the floodlit Trevi Fountain and tossing in a coin to assure a quick return. What better way to celebrate Christmas?
8 Days: $895 per person inclusive of accommodations in a centrally located hotel, 8 meals, 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner, private transfers, guided sightseeing as indicated. International airfare is additional and estimated at $970 from New York and we can assist. An optional single supplement of $329 is available for those not wishing to participate in our roommate matching guarantee. Guaranteed Departure
Day 1: Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 Depart USA
Today you board the aircraft for your overnight flight to Rome, the Eternal city, Home to the Vatican and an excellent place to spend the Christmas holiday
Day 2: Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015
Upon arrival in Rome, you clear immigrations and customs and are driven into Rome and your hotel where the rest of the day is left open
Day 3: Monday, Dec. 21, 2015 Vatican Special Access
This morning you will join your fellow travelers as you head to the Vatican where you skip the line and get an overview of St. Peter’s Basilica. Based on our contacts you will be getting in fifteen minutes before other tour groups and an hour and fifteen minutes before the general public. With the aid of a map of the museums and pre-recorded DVD in your audio guide with over 400 commentaries you have a head start on viewing some of Michelangelo’s masterpieces and viewing Leonardo’s Sistine Chapel with only a few other people. The pace is up to you and you can stay all day if you like and take a “Vatican Treasures” DVD as a great souvenir. Breakfast
Day 4: Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015 Christmas Time in Rome
This morning is left open for you to explore Rome in whatever way suits you. Window shopping on some of the fashionable streets is an option, Via Condotti (Ferragamo), Via Borgognona (Fendi) and Via Frattini (Versace). If you are into art you should visit the Borghese Gallery but if you are in the Christmas spirit a visit to the Christmas Market at Piazza Navona is a must. It’s also a good place to have lunch. After lunch you join a small group for a tour of Ancient Rome with a knowledgeable guide. You get special access to the Colosseum and the chance to get a spectators view of the events at the time of Imperial Rome, you see the Arch of Constantine walk the via Sacra and climb the Capitoline Hill (one of the Seven Hills of Rome), before returning to your hotel Breakfast
Day 5: Wednesday, Dec 23, 2015 Do As the Romans Do
After breakfast you follow the example that the Romans have set dating back to the time of the Roman Republic, you head out to Castelli Romani, not really castles but quaint villages sitting atop hills outside the city and known for their great food and wine both of which you will taste. You will stop in the town of Castelgandolfo, which is the summer retreat of the Pope. You will also visit Ariccia, Genzano and Albano, tasting local delicacies and enjoying the refreshing Frascati wine Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6: Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015 Christmas Eve
Today, Christmas Eve is left open for you to pursue your own activities either with all or a few of your traveling companions. In the evening we will make reservations at a restaurant where you can enjoy the typical Christmas Eve meal, known as the Feast of the Seven Fishes. The meal can involve fish, seafood, fried fish, shrimp and Pasta and a wide variety of other dishes. Those who don’t like fish can order something else. After dinner you can walk the streets sometimes running into carolers and musicians. If you want, head to St. Peter’s Square for the Christmas Eve mass. You won’t be able to get inside but the Vatican sets up large screens so you get to share in the ceremony along with thousands of others. You don’t have to be Catholic or even Christian to enjoy the ceremony. Breakfast
Day 7: Friday, Dec. 25, 2015 Christmas Day and a Roman Finale
The morning is left open but we recommend that you make your way over to St. Peter’s Square to hear the Pope’s Christmas Message which will be delivered from the balcony of the Vatican apartments. In the evening you take a tour of illuminated Rome along with dinner near the Trevi fountain. You finish the tour with a walk in the Trastevere area; a nice way to say Arreviderci Roma. Breakfast and Dinner
Day 8: Saturday, Dec 26, 2015 Return to USA or Head to Florence
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for the return flight to the USA. If you are continuing on to our New Year’s Eve program in Venice we offer our Florence Connection program listed below. Breakfast
Accommodations
Rome: Hotel Portamaggiore
Great and renowned hotel located in the center of Rome, opposite the square of the same name dating back to 1st Century A.D. 215 rooms equipped with TV, telephone, air conditioning. Two elevators connect the lobby with five floors of the hotel. The hotel includes two restaurants, meeting rooms, two fully stocked bars open until late at night, one of which is located in the beautiful garden terrace open in spring and summer. Lobby-area with Wi-Fi and "The Mediterranean", a well-stocked gift shop selling jewelry and fashion accessories. A multilingual concierge service is available to assist with restaurants, shows, nightclubs, theaters and more.
The Florence Connection December 26, 2015- December 27, 2015
If you are planning on extending your stay in Italy to celebrate New Year’s in Venice we offer an overnight in Florence to connect the two cities. It allows you to enjoy a walking tour of the heart of this Renaissance city and time the following morning to visit either the Uffizi Gallery or the Accademia housing Michelangelo’s masterpiece “David”. It also gives you an evening to indulge in some great Tuscan food
2 Days: $599 per person inclusive of accommodations at a centrally located hotel, 1 breakfast, private transfers, 1st class rail tickets, Florence sightseeing tour. An optional single supplement of $65 is available for those not wishing to participate in our roommate matching guarantee.
Day 1: Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015 Introduction to Florence
After breakfast you will be transferred to the railway station where you board a train for Florence. No place exemplifies the heart of the Renaissance better than Florence for in this place lived the creators of the art, literature and architecture that gave it its focus and the Medicis who gave it the funding Upon arrival in Florence you will be met by an Ultitude guide. Your bags will be taken to your hotel while you commence on a walking tour of the city’s core. Your guide will provide a view of the city, the buildings and what they represent to the history of the city and, indeed, mankind. You will visit the Piazza del Duomo and learn the history of the dome created by Brunelleschi and the nearby bell tower by Giotto. A visit to the Ponte Vecchio will be followed by a tour of Franciscan Santa Croce church and its masterpieces by Giotto, Donatello and Brunelleschi. Within its walls are the burial sites of the Renaissance greats, Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. You complete your tour in the Piazza della Signoria, one of the most beautiful squares in the world. You are then taken to your hotel where you have the rest of the day to explore and select a nice place for dinner Breakfast
Day 2: Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015 Florence to Venice
After breakfast you have the morning at leisure and then you are transferred to the station where you board a train to take you into Venice where you are met and taken to the hotel to join the new travelers just arrived from the USA Breakfast
Accommodations
Florence: Hotel Club
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