In Transit: Overnight flight crossing the Atlantic Ocean with arrivals the following day.

Note: Transfer to the hotel for check-in. Minimal exertion on neighborhood walk.

Arrive To: Arrival at hotel in Rome. Early arrivals might make it to St. Peter's Square for the Pope's noon blessing; or go to Rome's Porta Portese Flea Market in Trastevere (closes at 2). As we wait for all to arrive, feel free to explore the area just around the corner at Largo Argentina, where Julius Caesar was assassinated. The temples date from 4th to 2nd c. BCE.

Lunch: Lunch at Angoletto Romano, near the hotel.

Afternoon: An orientation session in the hotel meeting room is followed by a neighborhood walk pointing out the location of ATMs, pharmacies, grocery stores, and nearby attractions.

Dinner: Dinner at Ristorante Grotte del Teatro di Pomepo near the Campo de' Fiori.

Lodging: Hotel Tiziano

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Note: Walking on uneven cobble stone paths and a low hill requires stamina for a one and a half hour outing. To reach the upper level of the Colosseum there is an elevator. Feel free to take the stairs for a more authentic experience.The entrance fee to the Palatine, Forum and Colosseum is all inclusive, so this field trip takes place during a half day.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel restaurant.

Morning: An illustrated lecture on The History of Ancient Rome leads you from its geologic formation to its foundation as a small village to its supremacy which lasted nearly 1000 years. Many of the ancient institutions continue to the present.

Lunch: Lunch at Ristorante Angelino ai Fori on the Via dei Fori Imperiali.

Afternoon: Expert led visit to the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum. The word "palatial" is related to the Palatine, because wealthy leaders of Rome built their palaces there. Visit the Imperial palaces. Descend and continue walking in the Roman Forum, the civic, religious and political hub of ancient Rome. The expert will build mental pictures of the walls now lacking from the foundations. See the two remaining arches, that of Septemius Severus and of Titus. The Arch of Constantine contains friezes and bas-relief sculptures recycled from other arches and monuments. Once in the Colosseum imagine 50,000 spectators watching drama unfold.

Dinner: Dinner at Ristorante Sant'Anna, a characteristic trattoria near the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Tiziano

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Capitoline Hill and Museum/Renaissance and Baroque art lecture / Picturesque Trastevere district

Note: Pretty taxing, the two mile walk includes ascent of the Capitoline hills and visit through two branches of the Capitoline Museum. Descend the back side toward the Cattle Market and Jewish Ghetto

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel restaurant.

Morning: Visit the Capitoline Hill and Museum where the expert will comment on major pieces in the collection, including the Dying Gaul;The Etruscan She Wolf with the Renaissance addition of Romulus and Remus; the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius and the foundations of the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. Cross to the other wing of the museum through the Tabularium, ancient Rome's archives. There is a commanding view of the Forum from that vantage point. Descend the back side to make our way to the old cattle market and the Mouth of Truth, walk back to the hotel through the Jewish Ghetto.

Lunch: Lunch at Taverna Cairoli, a modern style eatery that serves savory Roman dishes.

Afternoon: A lecture on Renaissance and Baroque art will prepare you for the visit to the collection of art in the Vatican Museums, including the Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and a visit of St. Peter's Basilica. Stretch your legs with a visit to the Pantheon, the temple/celestial observatory engineered by the Emperor Hadrian around 122 CE. The painter Raphael's tomb lines the far most left niche from the main entrance. The walk continues to Largo Argentina and the Republican era temples discovered there. Julius Caesar was assassinated as he exited the portico for the Theater of Pompey which opened up to this temple complex.

Dinner: Enjoy pizza Roman style at a local pizzeria.

Lodging: Hotel Tiziano

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Coach to destinations, Borghese Gallery is small and occupies two floors, ascend/descend by spiral staircase.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel restaurant.

Morning: Free morning, suggest St. Peter's Square for Papal Audience; Caravaggio walk or Farnesina for Raphael fresco cycle of Love and Psyche.

Lunch: Lunch on your own.

Afternoon: Expert led visit to the Aventine, the southern most hill. It was a populist area, now upscale with a number of foreign embassies. St. Dominic resided at S. Sabina and brought oranges from Spain as a gift to his patron, Pope Honorius III. The Orange Garden adjacent to the church is now a park offering a splendid morning view of the city. Proceed by coach to the Borghese Gallery for an expert led visit of the collection begun by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of the Pope. In addition to being the patron of young Bernini, he collected paintings by Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio and Botticelli.

Dinner: Dinner at Trattoria della Torre Argentina.

Evening: After dinner an optional stroll to the Spanish Steps.

Lodging: Hotel Tiziano

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel restaurant.

Morning: Starting at S. Mary Major on the Esquiline, your expert will talk about the wonderfully preserved mosaics that span 800 years of workmanship. The artist Bernini is entombed near the main altar. In the church of S. Peter in Chains to see the cenotaph (funerary monument) of Pope Julius II by Michelangelo. The central statue of Moses is the main attraction. The activities continue to the Ancient Roman House museum, that is decorated with frescoes dating to the 3-4th centuries.

Lunch: Lunch at Trattoria da Luigi.

Afternoon: Lecture on Contemporary Italian and Roman Society by a resident professor.

Dinner: Dinner on your own.

Lodging: Hotel Tiziano

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: The museum is crowded and requires being able to walk up 3-4 flights of stairs. We schedule a reserved entrance time. The time in the museum will be spent standing while listening to an explanation or walking. There are few opportunities to sit and rest.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel restaurant.

Morning: Coach to the the Vatican. The Museum complex is comprised of a number of collections starting from Egypt and Mesopotamia, Greek, Etruscan and Roman. In the Pinacoteca gallery paintings by DaVinci, Raphael, Caravaggio, Reni adorn the walls. Michelangelo's frescoes on the ceiling with scenes from the book of Genesis and the Last Judgment behind the main altar are the greatest draw. The led visit continues into the Basilica of St. Peter. In the first chapel on the right you can see Michelangelo's early work, the only piece he signed. There are countless historical references and events associated with this Basilica, once the largest in the world. Stepping out onto the front porch, you will admire the colonnade designed by Bernini, evocative of the welcoming embracing arms of church.

Lunch: Lunch on your own.

Afternoon: Coach to the hotel. Free time after your visit of the basilica to remain in and around the area of St. Peter's or take leisurely walk to Castel Sant'Angelo, cross the Angel Bridge and work your way to the hotel passing by the Piazza Navona along Via dei Coronari, noted for the antique shops.

Dinner: Dinner at Ristorante Angoletto Romano.

Lodging: Hotel Tiziano

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Leisurely walk along level ground, descend the Quirinal Hill to the Trevi Fountain.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel restaurant.

Morning: Lecture will pull together all the themes of the program and illuminate Rome's lasting influence on western civilization. Visit the Quirinal, the last of the hills, see Bernini's famed oval design in the church of S. Andrea al Quirinale and his rival, Borromini's oval S. Carlo. Culminate the walk at the famous Trevi Fountain.

Lunch: Select a place to have lunch from the many options available.

Afternoon: Unscheduled free time will allow you to search for mementos, re-visit a special place, begin packing or simply relax with a gelato.

Dinner: Bid 'arrivederci Roma' and to fellow travelers at the farewell dinner at the Hotel Tiziano.

Lodging: Hotel Tiziano

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Coach to airport and check in with airline and clear security.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel or packed meal for those that depart early.

Morning: Departure back to USA from Rome.

Meals Included: Breakfast