SCHOLA ITALY TOUR 2007




Welcome! The third annual Schola Mediterranean Tour to Italy is open to all Schola alumni and their families, current students and their families, and other friends of Schola (those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian). If you're interested (and we hope you are!) please contact Schola.
 

ITINERARY

MAY 29    TUESDAY    ROME
Arrival at Rome International Airport "Leonardo da Vinci" in Fiumicino and pick-up by private air conditioned deluxe motor-coach. Transfer to the Hotel for check-in. Time at leisure for relaxing. Dinner; overnight at the Hotel.

MAY 30    WEDNESDAY   ROME (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Full-Day Guided City Tour: in the morning visit of the Imperial Rome: the Colosseum (with entrance), the Roman Forum, the Arch of Titus; in the afternoon visit the Catacombs of St. Sebastian, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and the Quo Vadis Domine Chapel along the Via Appia. Dinner; overnight in Hotel.

MAY 31    THURSDAY ROME (B)
Breakfast. Full-Day Guided City Tour: in the morning visit of the Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel included) and St. Peter's Basilica; in the afternoon visit of the Basilica of St. Mary Major and the Basilica of St. John in Lateran plus the Holy Stairs. Dinner; overnight in Hotel.

JUN 01    FRIDAY ROME (B)
Breakfast. In the morning Half-Day Guided City Tour to visit the most famous fountains, the Pantheon and squares in Rome. Afternoon at leisure for personal activites and visits. Dinner; overnight in Hotel.

JUN 02    SATURDAY ROME / MONTECASSINO / POMPEI / NAPLES (229KMS)(B)
Breakfast. Check-out. In the morning departure to Montecassino to visit the Benedectine Abbey, then on to Pompeii for a Half-Day City Tour of the ancient excavations in the afternoon. Continue to Naples for check-in at the hotel. Dinner, and overnight.

JUN 03    SUNDAY NAPLES / ASSISI (374KMS) (B)
Breakfast. Check-out. In the morning panoramic Half-Day City Tour of Naples. Then departure to Assisi. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Dinner; overnight.

JUN 04    MONDAY ASSISI/ FLORENCE (MONTECATINI TERME)(222KMS) (B)
Breakfast. Check-out. In the morning Half-Day Guided City Tour to visit the Basilica of St. Francis, the Basilica of St. Clare and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. In the afternoon departure to Montecatini Terme near Florence for check-in, dinner, and overnight at the  Hotel.

JUN 05    TUESDAY  MONTECATINI / FLORENCE / MONTECATINI (103KMS)(B)
Breakfast. Transfer to Florence for a Half-Day Guided City Tour to visit the Santa Croce Basilica, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with the magnificent dome by Brunelleschi, the Baptistery with the golden bronze doors by Ghiberti and Piazza della Signoria with the Palazzo Vecchio. At the Galleria dell' Accademia, you will view Michelangelo's most famous work, David. Afternoon at leisure for personal activites and visits. Return to Montecatini Terme for the overnight at hotel.

JUN 06    WEDNESDAY MONTECATINI / PISA / MONTECATINI (117KMS) (B)
Breakfast. In the morning transfer to Pisa for a Half-Day Guided City Tour to visit the famous Piazza dei Miracoli, including the Duomo, the Baptistry and the Leaning Tower (outside view only). Some time at leisure for personal activites. Return to Montecatini for dinner and overnight at Hotel.

JUN 07    THURSDAY MONTECATINI TERME / PADUA (246KMS)(B)
Breakfast. Check-out. In the morning departure to Padua. Arrival and in the afternoon panoramic Half-Day Guided City Tour to visit the Basilica of St. Anthony and the city centre. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner; overnight.

JUN 08    FRIDAY PADUA / VENICE / PADUA (90KMS)(B)
Breakfast. In the morning transfer to Venice Island by private steamer (vaporetto) and Half-Day Guided City Tour to visit the Golden Basilica of St. Mark, St. Mark's Square, the Bridge of Sighs and the Doges' Palace (external visit). Afternoon at leisure for personal visits. Dinner, and return to the Hotel for the overnight.

JUN 09    SATURDAY PADUA / ROME (506KMS)(B)
Breakfast. Check-out. In the morning departure to Rome. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Time at leisure for relax. Dinner and overnight at Hotel.

JUN 10    SUNDAY ROME (B)
Breakfast. Whole day free for shopping, browsing, discovering the streets and sights of the Eternal City on your own. Dinner; overnight at the Hotel.

JUN 11    MONDAY DEPARTURE FROM ROME (B)
Breakfast. Check-out. Bus transfer to Rome Airport International Airport "Leonardo da Vinci" in Fiumicino for your return departure flight.
 

COST OF THE TOUR

The fee for this trip will be between $2,000 and $2,600 USD, depending on how many participants finally register. If we reach our desired number of participants the cost will be at the lower end; if we only reach our minimum, it'll be near the higher end. Plan for the higher end. A deposit of $500 per person will be required at time of registration, until 29th April, with the full prepayment of the total balance due by 15 May 2007. When we near that deadline for payment of the balance, your total will be calculated for you.

Deadline for registration for this trip is 15 May 2007, because of the hotel bookings in Italy.

WHAT THE FEE COVERS

- Tourist-Class (3-star) hotels with breakfasts and dinners.
- Double or triple rooms (supplement for single room available at 360 euros, currently around $480).
- Our English-speaking Italian tour-escort for the whole tour;

- Entrance tickets to:
1) the Vatican Museums in Rome (including the Sistine Chapel)(13 Euros per person);
2) the Colosseum in Rome (Euro 10,50 per person, with necessary pre-booking);
3) the Catacombs of St. Sebastian in Rome(6 Euros per person);
4) the ancient excavations in Pompeii (11Euros per person);
5) the Santa Croce Basilica in Florence (4 Euros per person);
6) the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence (10,50 Euros per person with necessary pre-booking);
7) the Cathedral and the Baptistry in Pisa (8 Euros per person);

- Private headphones for the visit of the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome;
- Private headphones for the visit of the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi;
- 1 Roundtrip ticket for the private steamer(vaporetto)in Venice;
- Hotel taxes and service charges;
- 1 gratuity in double/twin room for each 15 full paying pax.

WHAT THE FEE DOES NOT COVER

- All airline tickets to/from Rome,
- All airport & security taxes, fuel surcharges,
- Lunches and beverages;
- Baggage handling in/out at the hotels;
- Tips, other entrance tickets to other sites
- All personal purchases;
- Health, travel & medical insurance,
- Baggage insurance,
- Excess baggage.

Note that all students must hold a valid 2007 international student identity card.

HOW TO PACK AND PREPARE FOR THE TRIP

Coming soon!