Arrival,

Campo dei Fiori, San Luigi dei Frances

Rome is your destination; a wide-bodied jet is your vehicle. Swoop down over the Alps and touch down on the wide concrete runway at Fiumicino. You've arrived.

Proceed to your centrally-located hotel, settle in and get ready to explore your surroundings.

Time permitting, start with a visit to the colorful Campo dei Fiori, where a daily open-air market has been held ever since the times when cardinals and noblemen resided in this elegant district. Browse through stalls displaying fruit, vegetables and freshly-caught fish.
Follow with a visit to the church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome's French church. It houses notably a chapel decorated with Domenichino frescoes related to the legend of St. Cecilia and three Caravaggio paintings depicting the life of St. Matthew, which are a perfect illustration of the artist's mastery of chiaroscuro.
Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Visit to the open-air market at Campo dei Fiori  (time permitting)

Visit to the church of San Luigi dei Francesi (time permitting)

This morning, in the company of your courier, make your way to the Vatican, where you will meet the local guide who will spend this day with your group.

Your guided tour begins with the Vatican Museums to view outstanding collections of masterpieces. You'll see exceptional statues from antiquity and stunning Renaissance paintings in the Raphael Rooms. Then, marvel at Michelangelo's Last Judgment and brightly-colored ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. Your guided tour continues with a visit to the magnificent St. Peter's Basilica, which houses priceless works of art, in particular Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's Dove of the Holy Spirit.

In the afternoon, you'll see with your guide some of the best-known monuments of Ancient Rome, including the Colosseum (entrance included) and the Arch of Constantine. You will visit the Roman Forum. Once the heart of a vast empire, the Forum was filled with extravagant buildings and crowded with people from all over the known world.
Then, enjoy a stroll in the district surrounding the Pantheon, the Temple to All the Gods, which you will visit. This is one of the better-preserved and most harmonious monuments of antiquity. In the vicinity, you'll find Piazza Navona, built on the site of Domitian's stadium and adorned with trendy bistros, statues and monuments, notably Bernini's Fountain of Four Rivers.

Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Full-day, professionally-guided tour of Rome, including visits to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica with whisper headset, and visits to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

Stroll in the Piazza Navona district, with a visit to the Pantheon.

Borghese Gallery,

Church of Santa Maria del Popolo,

Travel to Florence

This morning, go to Villa Borghese (Rome's most famous park). There, admire the art collection of the Galleria Borghese, in particular the room with paintings by Caravaggio: David with the Head of Goliath, Youth with a Basket of Fruit, St. Jerome in his Study, St. John the Baptist, Madonna and Child with St. Anne and his self-portrait as Young Sick Bacchus. You will also see Bernini's David and Apollo and Daphne, and Canova's famous statue of Pauline Borghese, the sister of French emperor Napoléon Bonaparte.

Then, visit the church of Santa Maria del Popolo. Remodeled during the Baroque era, this church is a repository of great artwork, in particular its Cerasi Chapel with two dramatic paintings by Caravaggio: The Conversion of St. Paul and The Crucifixion of St. Peter.
This afternoon, travel up and over the rolling hills of Tuscany, to Firenze, the "jewel of the Renaissance."

This evening, stroll along the River Arno, or over it, using the shop-lined Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence, built in 1345. This medieval bridge is especially attractive at sunset when it reflects the warm Italian light.

Dinner and overnight in Florence.

Visit to the Borghese Gallery.

Visit to the church of Santa Maria del Popolo.

Florence CIty Sightseeing, Accademia,

Uffizi Gallery

This morning, hear about the Medici family, and the art of politics, as a local guide leads you on a city tour including the Duomo, the Baptistry with Ghiberti's Doors of Paradise, Giotto's Bell Tower and the Piazza della Signoria. In the church of Santa Croce, see the final resting places of Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo. A visit is also included to the Accademia, where you'll admire the best known of all Florentine treasures, Michelangelo's David, a compelling expression of Renaissance man's rediscovery of himself. You will also visit the Leonardo Leather Workshop, where a craftsman will demonstrate steps used in the manufacture of the world-renowned Florentine leather goods.

This afternoon, visit the gallery known as the Uffizi, home to the world's most impressive private collection of Italian Renaissance art. See masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Lippi, Giotto, Raphael and Tintoretto.

In your free time, you may want to visit the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo to see splendid artwork, in particular the original Ghiberti door panels, Donatello's Mary Magdalen and a Pietà by Michelangelo.
Or, check out the leather shops and the boutiques where you can acquire beautiful reproductions of Florentine artwork. Take home some posters, or buy colorful postcards to send to friends. Don't miss a visit to Vivoli, the best place to purchase a cone of genuine gelato. See if this isn't the richest, creamiest and most flavorful ice cream you have ever tasted.

Dinner and overnight in Florence.

Professionally-guided walking tour in Florence, including visits to the Accademia, the Duomo, the church of Santa Croce and a leather workshop.

Prato,

Parma,

Milan

Your first stop today is in Prato, a small town located just outside Florence. Established as a textile center in the Middle Ages, Prato has continued with this industry until today, becoming one of the most important textile manufacturing centers in Italy. During your visit to the Textile Museum, learn about the highly involved processes employed to produce Florentine fabrics. The museum houses a collection of original, high-quality samples of materials that document textile history from the early Christian era to modern times. You'll also see machinery and equipment used in the production of textiles.

Take time to browse through the shops, which offers anything from 14th-century replica clothing to a variety of contemporary styles for men and women that are inspired by the most famous designers and reflect the most current market demands.

This afternoon, travel through the Emilia-Romagna region, known throughout Italy and the world as a great gastronomic center. The delectable spaghetti al ragù originated there. The main city, Bologna is known in particular for mortadella, whose distant American bears the name of "bologna." Gelato is also a Bolognese specialty.
Travel on, bypassing Modena, the hometown of the operatic star Luciano Pavarotti and the capital of precious balsamic vinegars (aged for up to 25 years, their and whose retail prices can reach $200 for 3.5 oz!).

Your next stop is in Parma, a city famous as the birthplace of the composer Giuseppe Verdi, fine hams known as Prosciutto di Parma, and Parmesan cheese (Parmigiano Reggiano). A visit to a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory is included to get better informed about the manufacture of the prized wheels of Parmesan (each gets branded to certify its origin.). Tasting is included!

Today's journey ends in Milan, a thriving metropolis which once was the capital city of the ancient province of Lombardy, ruled for centuries by the powerful Visconti and Sforza families. Nowadays, Milan is one of the world's capitals of fashion and design.

Dinner and overnight in Milan.

Visit to the Textile Museum in Prato.

Visit to a parmesan cheese factory in Parma

Milan Free Day

Options: Brera and Fashion Districts

Today is free to plan as you wish. You may want to head to the Brera district, a bohemian section of the city hosting a variety of high-quality eclectic shops as well as some of the interior design establishments.
Here in Milan, home to designer Laura Biagiotti, Italian chic can be seen in the cluster of top-name shops that occupy the Quadrilatero, the parallelogram of streets delineated by Via Monte Napoleone, Via Sant'Andrea, Via della Spiga and Borgospesso. Unlike other fashion districts, Milan is understated in its style: well-cut suits, feminine dresses and elegant accessories. In a sense, the Quadrilatero merely reflects an upscale version of the fashions seen in the streets of Italy; but the astronomical prices serve as a reminder that this is the shopping terrain of the glamorous and very well-heeled. Explore the Quadrilatero. Be sure to keep an eye out for Milan's most notable shops: Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo.
Dinner and overnight in Milan.

Today's excursion takes you sixty miles east of Milan to the rolling hills of Franciacorta. Blessed with an optimal climate and a mineral-rich soil with good drainage, this region has been producing wines for centuries. It is now known around the world for its sparkling wines.
The region itself is worth a visit for its scenic landscapes, medieval villages, abbeys, castles and villas, as well as its outstanding culinary tradition.

Return to Milan, where the remainder of the afternoon is your to spend as you wish.

Dinner and overnight in Milan.

Full-day coach excursion to the Franciacorta region, including a visit to a winery.

Ciao, Europa! The pilot of your scheduled jet puts Milan's airport under your right wing as you fly west, into the sun. Race the sun westward, arriving home later today, eager to share your experiences with family and friends.

Dr. Deborah Sullivan

Professor of Family and Consumer Sciences

202 Kates Center

419-289-5290

dsulliv@ashland.edu

Eileen Ptacek

Adjunct of Family and Consumer Sciences

eptacek@ashland.edu

Rebecca Parillo

Director of Global Education

7th Floor Library

419-289-5870

rparillo@ashland.edu