Itinerary in Italy

Join the Yuma Youth Choir as they tour the sights of Italy and sing in some of the most beautiful and historic churches of the world, incuding St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.  Here's your itinerary, complete with links to various Websites and videos on the historic landmarks, to follow along on this whirlwind tour:

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Depart from Phoenix, AZ via scheduled air service. The destination is Milan, Italy. (9-hours ahead from Arizona time)

Thursday, July 1, 2010 - Milan / Padova / Venice

Arrive in Milan. Meet Flavio Nicoletti, your MCI Tour Manager, who will assist the group to awaiting chartered motorcoach for sightseeing of Milan, including La Scala, the best-known opera house in the world.

Continue to Padova. The older part of the town has a medieval aspect with its narrow arcaded streets, ancient bridges over the many arms of the River Bacchiglione and the Byzantine domes of its churches. Sightseeing in Padova includes entrance to Cappella degli Scrovegni (with its frescoes by Giotto) and Basilica del Santo (with its famous equestrian statue by Donatello).

Finally reach Venice for dinner and overnight at hotel.

Friday, July 2, 2010 - Venice

Transfer to the main island of San Marco via private boat. A morning walking tour includes St. Mark's Square. See the soaring Bell Tower, incredibly rich Basilica of St. Mark and the Palace of the Doges where the powerful and prosperous dukes of Venice ruled their far-flung empire at its height during the 15th century.

Saturday, July 3, 2010 - Venice / Ravenna / Florence

Transfer to Florence via Ravenna. Sightseeing in Ravenna includes visits to both the Basilica de San Vitale and also the Basilica de Sant’ Apollinare in Classe. Northwest of the Piazza del Popolo in Ravenna is the church of San Vitale, an externally unadorned octagonal structure with an octagonal dome, begun in 526 during the reign of Theodoric and consecrated in 547. The principal interest of the interior lies in its stunning mosaics in the Byzantine style. South of Ravenna, on the road to Rimini, stands the fine church of Sant' Apollinare in Classe, the only preserved building of the town of Classis, with a porch and a round campanile. Enjoy the restored mosaics in the apse and on the triumphal arch both of which date from the sixth-seventh centuries.

Continue to Florence for dinner and overnight at hotel

Sunday, July 4, 2010 - Florence

Morning visit to the Academia, the Academy of Fine Arts, to see Michelangelo's original 'David' and other sculptures by the great master (using the whisper system).

Continue with the Piazza della Signoria, a lovely square in the heart of the city, towered by the lofty Palazzo Vecchio. Visit the Ponte Vecchio, the bridge across the Arno lined on both sides with goldsmiths, silversmiths and Florence's best jewelers.

Then drive to Fiesole overlooking Florence before driving back into the city. Proceed along the Viale dei Colli to Piazzale Michelangelo for another panoramic view of the city.

Return to the central area of the city to see the Baptistry with Ghiberti's 'Gates of Paradise', the Campanile, and outside viewing of the Duomo. Afternoon at leisure for additional sightseeing, shopping or other planned activities.

 - Dinner in a local restaurant: Ristorante II Cantastorie
 - Evening concert confirmed in S.M. de Ricci Church as part of the American Celebration of Music in Italy
 - Return on foot back to the hotel

Monday, July 5, 2010 - Florence / Rome

Morning visit to the Duomo (non guided interior visit). Afternoon transfer to Rome via San Gimigano.

Wine/olive tasting visit included to the Fattoria Voltrona.

Arrive at hotel for dinner and overnight

Tuesday, July 6, 2010 - Rome

Take a half-day guided tour of Religious Rome. Visit Vatican City, the home of the Pope and the center of Roman Catholicism, as well as the Vatican Museum (using the whisper system), St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel (featuring Michelangelo's Ceiling Frescos and The Last Judgment).

 - Timed entrance into Vatican Museum.
 - Afternoon at leisure
 - Dinner in a local restaurant: Grotta Azzurra
 - Attend opera - L’Elisir d’Amore by Donizetti
 - Return to hotel via one-way motorcoach

Wednesday, July 7, 2010 - Rome

Half-day guided tour of Imperial Rome, including entrance to the Roman Forum and Colosseum. Also view the Pantheon, Baths of Caracalla, Palatine Hill, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, and Trevi Fountain.

 -  Timed entrance into the Colosseum
 -  Sing a late afternoon Mass confirmed in St. Peter’s Basilica.
 -  Dinner in a local restaurant: Restaurant La Cabana
 -  Evening concert confirmed in St. Eustachio Church as part of the American Celebration of Music in Italy.
 -  Return to hotel via one-way motorcoach

Thursday, July 8, 2010 - Rome - Pompeii & Naples

Take a full-day excursion to Pompeii and Naples. Visit the ruins of Pompeii which was buried by an eruption by Mount Vesuvius in August, 79 AD. The excavations, begun in the 18th Century have unearthed some of the best artifacts of Roman life. Return to Rome

 -  Evening Farewell Dinner and overnight at hotel

Friday, July 9, 2010 - Depart for home

Breakfast at hotel. Hotel check-out and board motorcoach.
Transfer to Rome’s International Airport
Depart from Rome via scheduled airline service
Arrive in Phoenix, AZ