A week from today, I will visit St. Peter's Basilica and will see the Pope make his noon appearance. As I sit at my desk in Bethany, it's hard to believe that I will be in such a far away place so soon. I am excited to go someplace like Rome and Florence -- it will be much different than my family excursions to the lake, but I am ready.
Itinerary Italy 2007
January 4 Leave OKC
At 8:30 a.m. we will assembly in the Sawyer Parking lot. At 9:00 a.m. SHARP, we leave for DFW. On the way, we will eat at The Golden Corral, Grapevine. At 4:20 p.m. we will depart on British Airways Flight 2192
January 5 Arrive Italy
7:00 a.m. is our arrival time at Gatwick Airport, London. At 9:10 a.m. British Airways Flight 2600 will take us to Pisa, Italy arriving at 12:15 p.m. The bus picks us up and takes us to Rome, where we will arrive in early evening.
January 6 Ancient Rome: the City of the Caesars.
We begin our Italian adventure with a visit to the Colosseum, the Forum, the Mamertine Prison, Trajan’s Column and Markets, Vittorio Emmanuelle Monument, and the Pantheon. (I hope we can have time to visit the Christmas Market at Piazza Navona)
January 7 Sunday at St. Peter’s and a Peek at the Pope.
We will visit St. Peter’s Basilica and wait for the Pope to make his noon appearance before visiting the Basilica itself. The remainder of the afternoon will be free to explore or shop in Rome at our leisure.
January 8 Rome: City of Popes.
The day will begin with a specialist guided tour of the Vatican and the Vatican Museums, including the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. The afternoon will again be free for exploration.
January 9 Etruscan and Sculptural Treasures.
On this day, we visit the Museo Borghese located in the Borghese Palace. After a walk through Borghese Park, we will view the Piazza del Popolo. Afterwards, there will be free time for the rest of the day
January 10 Day trip to Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii.
We take our coach south and start our day with an ascent of Mt. Vesuvius. Then, we visit the excavations of Pompeii, including the Basilica, Forum, Baths, Theater and Amphitheater, and Villa of Mysteries.
January 11 The Catacombs and Tivoli – Florence
Our journey to Florence will begin with a trip just outside of Rome to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus. Then, we will continue to Tivoli to visit Hadrian’s Villa. After these two visits, we will travel on to Florence for two nights.
January 12 Florence: The Cradle of the Renaissance
We begin our day in Florence with a visit to the Academia Gallery to view Michelangelo’s David. We will continue to the Piazza del Duomo where we will visit the Duomo. You can choose to go up the Bell Tower of the Duomo or visit the Baptistery. Continue the day strolling through Florence to the Ponte Vecchio and visit the Uffizi Gallery. Do some world class shopping!
January 13 Ciao! Arrividerci! to Italia la Bella!
We leave Italy at 7:15 a.m. on British Airways flight 2559 Bologna to London, arriving at 8:30 a.m. at Gatwick Airport London. At 10:05 a.m. we depart London on British Airways Flight 2193 to Dallas-Ft Worth, arriving at 2:20 p.m. Our bus picks us up for a ride to OKC.
Itinerary Italy 2007
January 4 Leave OKC
At 8:30 a.m. we will assembly in the Sawyer Parking lot. At 9:00 a.m. SHARP, we leave for DFW. On the way, we will eat at The Golden Corral, Grapevine. At 4:20 p.m. we will depart on British Airways Flight 2192
January 5 Arrive Italy
7:00 a.m. is our arrival time at Gatwick Airport, London. At 9:10 a.m. British Airways Flight 2600 will take us to Pisa, Italy arriving at 12:15 p.m. The bus picks us up and takes us to Rome, where we will arrive in early evening.
January 6 Ancient Rome: the City of the Caesars.
We begin our Italian adventure with a visit to the Colosseum, the Forum, the Mamertine Prison, Trajan’s Column and Markets, Vittorio Emmanuelle Monument, and the Pantheon. (I hope we can have time to visit the Christmas Market at Piazza Navona)
January 7 Sunday at St. Peter’s and a Peek at the Pope.
We will visit St. Peter’s Basilica and wait for the Pope to make his noon appearance before visiting the Basilica itself. The remainder of the afternoon will be free to explore or shop in Rome at our leisure.
January 8 Rome: City of Popes.
The day will begin with a specialist guided tour of the Vatican and the Vatican Museums, including the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. The afternoon will again be free for exploration.
January 9 Etruscan and Sculptural Treasures.
On this day, we visit the Museo Borghese located in the Borghese Palace. After a walk through Borghese Park, we will view the Piazza del Popolo. Afterwards, there will be free time for the rest of the day
January 10 Day trip to Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii.
We take our coach south and start our day with an ascent of Mt. Vesuvius. Then, we visit the excavations of Pompeii, including the Basilica, Forum, Baths, Theater and Amphitheater, and Villa of Mysteries.
January 11 The Catacombs and Tivoli – Florence
Our journey to Florence will begin with a trip just outside of Rome to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus. Then, we will continue to Tivoli to visit Hadrian’s Villa. After these two visits, we will travel on to Florence for two nights.
January 12 Florence: The Cradle of the Renaissance
We begin our day in Florence with a visit to the Academia Gallery to view Michelangelo’s David. We will continue to the Piazza del Duomo where we will visit the Duomo. You can choose to go up the Bell Tower of the Duomo or visit the Baptistery. Continue the day strolling through Florence to the Ponte Vecchio and visit the Uffizi Gallery. Do some world class shopping!
January 13 Ciao! Arrividerci! to Italia la Bella!
We leave Italy at 7:15 a.m. on British Airways flight 2559 Bologna to London, arriving at 8:30 a.m. at Gatwick Airport London. At 10:05 a.m. we depart London on British Airways Flight 2193 to Dallas-Ft Worth, arriving at 2:20 p.m. Our bus picks us up for a ride to OKC.
