From Axis Power to Bastion of Resistance: Italy in World War II

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

United States citizens don’t need a visa for any of the countries you’ll be visiting. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

For additional health information, please visit the CDC page for Italy at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/italy In Italy, pharmacies are easy to spot by the illuminated green cross. Start there for minor health needs—pharmacists can provide basic medical advice, recommend over-the-counter remedies, and tell you when to see a doctor. Most pharmacies accept both cash and cards. In the hot, humid lowlands (especially parts of Tuscany and the Veneto), mosquitoes—including the tiger mosquito—are common. Take precautions: use repellent (DEET, picaridin/icaridin, or IR3535), wear light long sleeves and pants at dusk and dawn, and keep windows closed whenever possible. Window screens are not standard in Italy, so take extra care. Plug-in mosquito repellents are widely used; you can usually request one from the hotel front desk. Smoking is banned in indoor public places and on public transport. Many cities and venues also restrict smoking in some outdoor areas. Look for posted signs and follow local rules.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on September 22, 2027

Meet the group at Towers Hotel in Castellammare di Stabia

Start of Trip:  3:00 p.m. hotel check-in; 5:00 p.m. Neighborhood Walk; 6:45 p.m. Welcome Reception; 7:15 p.m. Welcome Dinner.

Getting to the site: To reach Castellammare di Stabia on your own, there are two options: A) From Naples International Airport (Capodichino), take a taxi to Napoli Centrale railway station at Piazza Garibaldi. The ride is short, roughly 15 to 20 minutes depending on traffic. Taxis are readily available at the airport's designated taxi stand. At Napoli Centrale, make your way to the Circumvesuviana regional railway, located on the lower level of the station (Napoli Porta Nolana / Garibaldi line). Board a train on the Napoli–Sorrento line and travel to the Castellammare di Stabia stop. The journey takes approximately 40 to 50 minutes. Confirm the train stops at Castellammare di Stabia before boarding, as some services run express. Upon arriving at Castellammare di Stabia station, take a taxi for the final short leg to the Towers Hotel. Taxis are typically available near the station. B) A private car and driver transfer directly from Naples Capodichino Airport to the hotel in Castellammare di Stabia can be requested and arranged through Sireon Tours (Sorrento) by email to RoadScholar@sireontours.com. The door-to-door service costs approximately €180 and must be prepaid by credit card. Please note that a €30 night supplement applies for services between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Getting to the site by train or bus: Napoli Centrale is on the main railway line that connects major cities in Italy.

Your trip ends on: Sunday, October 3, 2027 in Lucca at Albergo Celide

End of Trip: 9:30 a.m. after breakfast; 11:00 a.m. hotel check-out.

Getting to the airport: To travel from Lucca to Pisa Airport, take a taxi from your hotel to the Lucca train station (about € 12). From there, board a train to Pisa Centrale, where you can catch the Pisamover shuttle to the airport. Tickets for the train to Pisa cost € 4, and the Pisamover costs € 6.50. Be sure to validate your train ticket at the time-stamp machines before boarding. Alternatively, you can take a direct taxi from Lucca to Pisa Airport, which will cost approximately € 100 for the 20-mile trip.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Participants who have not purchased airfare through Road Scholar are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements to the first site at the beginning of the program, as well as from the last site at the end of the program. The Information Packet Road Scholar sends in advance of the program includes details needed to make your transfer arrangements. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.