College Program -France, Italy and Greece

Program Length:

18 Days

Program Dates:

Enrollment Closed for Summer 2023. Please view our Summer 2024 Programs.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 - Overnight Flight
Board your overnight flight bound for Paris.

Day 2 - Paris
Arrive at Paris' Charles DeGaulle Airport. After collecting your luggage and clearing customs, you will be met by your Travel Director. Board your private motor coach and transfer to your hotel. Get your first impressions of Paris during an orientation walk this afternoon.

Day 3 - Paris
Enjoy a guided visit of Paris focusing on important Parisian sights such as the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysées and the Opera House. Finish your tour with an ascent of the Eiffel Tower to marvel at the views of the city. In the afternoon meet a local chef who will teach you how to make local specialties for your dinner in a cooking class! In the evening enjoy a stroll around Montmartre and the spectacular Basilica of Sacré-Coeur.

Day 4 - Versailles - Overnight Train
Morning visit to the Palace of Versailles. Learn about life in the court of Louis XIV, Le Roi Soleil as you walk around the palace and the opulent gardens. Grab a picnic lunch in the gardens before returning to Paris to board your overnight train bound for Venice.

Did You Know?

There are multiple replicas of the Stature of Liberty in Paris. You may spot the one pictured here when you ascend the Eiffel Tower. It is located on the Île aux Cygnes (Isle of the Swans) and was donated by Americans living in Paris. She faces west, gazing towards New York City.

Day 5 - Venice - Padua
This morning arrive in the beautiful city of Venice, the Queen of the Adriatic. Here you will enjoy a guided sightseeing which will include St. Mark’s Square where you can see the Basilica of St. Mark and the Doges Palace. You will also walk along canals and bridges such as the famous Rialto Bridge. In the afternoon, enjoy some free time in Venice. Continue to Padua for overnight.

Day 6 - Florence
This morning drive to Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance in Italy. A local expert will guide you around the highlights of the city such as Ghiberti's Baptistry Doors, Santa Croce and the beautiful Duomo. Enjoy free time for some shopping in the local market places.

Day 7 - Florence
Travel to the town of Pisa. You’ll visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the world famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Return to Florence for dinner and a free evening in the city.

The Floating City

Built on 118 islands, the floating city has 150 canals and 400 bridges, forcing residents to rely mostly on boats for transportation. Locals get around on foot or *vaporetti* (water buses). But for tourists, being serenaded by a gondolier is a ‘must do’ activity. The Venetian gondolas once regularly used by the upper class, at one time numbered 10,000. Today there are only about 400.

Day 8 - Umbria
This morning drive south to the region of Umbria where you will participate in a river rafting trip on the River Nera (a tributary of the Tiber). Your overnight will be in the Umbria region.

Day 9- Rome
This morning drive to Rome. Upon arrival a local expert will guide you through St. Peters Basilica as well as the Vatican Museums to see highlights such as the Sistine Chapel. Free afternoon to explore Rome. This evening a local chef will demonstrate how to make your own pizza for your included dinner.

Day 10 - Rome
Today’s focus will be on on the monumental vestiges of the Roman Empire. A local expert will guide you around the Colosseum and the Forum. This afternoon, enjoy a walk around the Piazza Navona and the Spanish Steps. After dinner, see the city lit up at night and be sure to through a coin into Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to Rome!

Day 11 - Sorrento
This morning, depart for Sorrento, a coastal town in Southwestern Italy. Spend some time in Piazza Tasso for some shopping and people watching from one of the many cafes, then take a walk along the cliffs overlooking the Bay of Naples and end your day relaxing on the beach.

The Trevi Fountain

Legend has it that if you throw a coin over your shoulder into the Trevi Fountain that you will return to Rome. Throw two and you will fall in love, throw three and you’ll get married. This legend is so popular that every day over 3,000 Euros are collected from the water and given to a local charity that supports families in need throughout Rome.

Day 12 - Pompeii - Overnight Ferry
Start the day with a guided visit of the ruins of Pompeii. See the villas of the ancient Romans, the cobblestone streets and temples of this once bustling city. After lunch drive east to board an overnight ferry bound for Greece.

Day 13 - Delphi
Welcome to Greece! Disembark the ferry and drive to Delphi. Upon arrival a local expert will show you the ruins of the site where the ancient Greeks asked for insight from the famous Oracle. You will see the Apollo Temple and the Delphi Museum.

Day 14 - Nafplion
Drive to the Peloponnese peninsula via the famous Corinth Canal for a brief photo opportunity. Continue to the ruins
of Epidaurus for a guided visit including one of the world's best preserved amphitheaters. Dinner and overnight will be in Nafplion - a beautiful sea port town on the Argolic Gulf. Evening walk around the old quarter of the town.

Day 15 - Nafplion
This morning climb up the steps to the beautifully situated Palamidi Castle. The views of Nafplion and the Argolic Gulf from the top are spectacular. Spend the afternoon on one of the local beaches and swim in its crystal clear waters.

Did you know?

Delphi was believed to be the center of the Earth. According to legend, Greek deity, Zeus released two eagles from the two ends of the world, one flew toward the East and the other toward the West. Flying at the same speed, the birds crossed at Delphi and this is where Zeus placed the Omphalos (navel) stone.

Day 16 - Athens
Your first stop this morning is in Mycenae, where a local guide will show you the highlights such as the Lion Gate, Royal Tombs and the Acropolis. Spend the afternoon at a local beach for free time. Continue to Athens for dinner and overnight.

Day 17 - Athens
A guided tour shows you the glories of ancient Greece. Climb to the top of the Acropolis and visit the famous Parthenon. Then view the Agora, followed by a visit to the Acropolis Museum. The afternoon is free to explore the central Plaka district. Join your farewell dinner.

Day 18
Transfer to the airport for return flight to the USA.