Switzerland and Italy

Day 1:

Overnight flight to Zurich

Day 2:

Welcome to Switzerland!

• Meet your Tour Director at the airport
  
• Travel to Lucerne
  

Day 3:

Explore Lucerne

• Explore Lucerne on foot with your Tour Director, crossing the covered Kapellbrücke, tracing the lakeshore promenade, and pausing at the Lion Monument carved into the rock
• Free time or Optional Excursion to Mt. Pilatus
• Opt to ascend Mount Pilatus by gondola for breathtaking alpine views above Lucerne, where snowcapped peaks rise over lakes and valleys

Day 4:

Lucerne - Venice

• Travel via Lake Como to Venice
  
• Stop to see Lake Como, where mountains meet the water in one of Italy’s most iconic landscapes
  

Day 5:

Explore Venice

• Guided by a local expert, explore Venice’s layers of power and artistry. Visit St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, walk through St. Mark’s Square, and watch a live demonstration of Murano glassblowing
• Enjoy a gondola ride along Venice’s iconic canals and experience the city from its most timeless perspective
  
• Explore Venice on your own, from quiet canals and artisan shops to hidden corners beyond the main squares
  

Day 6:

Venice - Florence

• Travel via Verona to Florence
  
• Explore Verona on foot with your Tour Director, winding past Roman ruins and Renaissance facades to the Verona Arena and the balcony said to have inspired Shakespeare’s Juliet

Day 7:

Explore Florence

• Guided by a local expert, explore Florence where art, politics, and genius shaped the world. Cross the Ponte Vecchio, stand beneath Brunelleschi’s soaring dome, and see Santa Croce and the Baptistery’s Gates of Paradise
• Free time or Optional Guided excursion to Pisa
• Opt to take a guided excursion to Pisa. See the iconic Leaning Tower, visit the baptistery and cathedral, and explore the Field of Miracles set against a classic Tuscan skyline

Day 8:

Florence - Rome

• Travel to Rome
  
• Guided by a local expert, explore Ancient Rome, exploring the epicenter of a vast empire where emperors ruled, gladiators fought, and temples anchored everyday life
• Visit the Colosseum, stepping into the arena where thousands once gathered to witness gladiator battles and Roman spectacle on a monumental scale
  
• Visit the Roman Forum, walking pathways once traveled by Julius Caesar and Cicero, surrounded by the remains of temples, basilicas, and the heart of public life in ancient Rome
  

Day 9:

Explore Rome

• Guided by a local expert, explore Vatican City, the world’s smallest country and a sanctuary of Renaissance genius.
• Visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo’s ceiling continues to awe.
  
• Step into St. Peter’s Basilica to see masterpieces like the Pietà and Bernini’s towering Baldachin.
  
• Explore Rome on foot with your Tour Director, walking from Piazza Navona to the Pantheon, tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain, and climbing the Spanish Steps with views over the Eternal City
• Enjoy a special farewell dinner to celebrate your journey and share a final meal with your group
  

Day 10:

Depart for home