European Tradition – 15 Days

Upon arrival in London, you’ll meet your Tour Manager and begin your trip with an unforgettable, professionally guided city tour of London! Sights will include Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, London Bridge and more!

This evening you will rest and relax for the exciting days ahead.

-Overnight in London-

This morning you’ll visit one of the world’s most famous fortresses. The Tower of London has been a royal palace, a prison, an armory, a zoo, and is currently home to Her Majesty’s Crown Jewels.

You’ll visit the Tower Bridge and cross the Thames River. Constructed in 1894, Tower Bridge is a suspension bridge which provides a roadway across the Thames for over 40,000 people on a daily basis.

Next, you’ll take a tour of the iconic Globe Theatre. The modernized Elizabethan open air theatre that you’ll tour will transport you back in time with the engaging and informative look at the life of William Shakespeare, the London where he lived, and the theatre for which he wrote.

Before dinner, you’ll get a bird’s eye view of London when you take a ride on the London Eye! It’s a breathtaking feat of design and engineering that allows passengers to see up to 25 miles in all directions.

This evening you’ll have some free time to explore the area around Piccadilly Circus. This vibrant area is bustling with activity and shopping!

-Overnight in London-

Today you’ll enjoy a guided walk through the nearby city of Oxford. Established in the 9th Century, this city has been home to many prestigious universities and colleges for over 800 years. Some of the well known settings from the Harry Potter films were modeled from locations in Oxford.

This afternoon, you’ll visit Oxford Castle, a castle with a prison at its heart. The site has been a place of incarceration since 1071, continuing until the closure of Her Majesty’s Prison Oxford in 1996. You will learn about the real people and events from the site’s turbulent past.

-Overnight in Oxford-

This morning you’ll travel to the city of Bath. Your first activity here will be a visit the site of the Ancient Roman Baths and a self-guided audio tour. Bath was founded upon natural hot springs, which have played a key role in the city’s history. You’ll tour the remains of the excavated bath houses built thousands of years ago by the Romans.

Next, indulge your curiosity at Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England that has been shrouded in mystery for thousands of years. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge consists of the remains of a ring of standing stones believed to have been constructed anywhere from 3000 BC to 2000 BC.

After dinner you’ll dive back to London.

Tonight, you’ll see a show at the West End in London’s theatre district.

-Overnight in London-

This morning you’ll take the Eurostar from London to Paris.

Welcome to the City of Light! Today you’ll enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour featuring the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the Champs-Elysees and the majestic Arc de Triomphe, the impressive Place de la Concorde and the ornate Opera House.

-Overnight in Paris-

This morning you’ll visit the Louvre, one of the largest art museums in the world. The Louvre is one of the signature destinations in Paris and houses a magnificent collection of art from around the world including, most notably, Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

Next, you’ll enjoy a visit to the Marais Neighborhood. Once a marshland (‘marais’), it has been inhabited ever since it was drained back in the 12th century. This historic area is now one of the most visited districts of the French capital, for its architectural heritage as well as its unique vibe. The district is shaped like a triangle, bordered respectively by Place de la Bastille, Place de la République and the Hôtel de Ville.

Next, you’ll take a narrated river cruise on the Seine.

This afternoon you’ll visit Notre Dame Cathedral, one of the most famous landmarks in Paris. Located on the small island of Ile de la Cite in the middle of the Seine, the cathedral is a stunning example of French Gothic Architecture.

This evening you’ll visit the Eiffel Tower. This iron lattice structure located on the Champ de Mars needs no introduction, as it is the quintessential symbol of Paris.

-Overnight in Paris-

Today you’ll experience the most magical place on Earth at Disneyland Paris. Have a blast on the rides and see the amazing attractions.

-Overnight in Paris-

This morning you will travel to Caen, located on France’s Northwestern coast.

You’ll visit the Caen World War II Memorial Museum. Built on the site where many lives were lost in World War II, this museum delivers the message of peace while retelling the events of two world wars to the 1989 symbolic day when the Berlin Wall was brought down.

Next, you’ll visit the fortified German gun pits and observation bunkers of Pointe du Hoc, the capture of which played a major role in the D-Day landings.

You’ll then visit one of the landing sites of the Normandy invasion, Omaha Beach. After, you’ll explore the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944 as the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II. It contains the graves of 9,386 of our military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations.

-Overnight in Caen-

This morning you’ll board your bus and begin the drive back to Paris.

You’ll take a walk around the fashionable Saint Germain des Pres neighborhood and explore the trendy shops and cafes. You’ll continue on to the Luxembourg Gardens to see the Luxembourg Palace, Medici Fountain and pristine landscaping of the 17th century gardens.

You’ll also visit the iconic church built at the highest point of the city in Montmartre, the Sacre Coeur.

This evening you’ll board an overnight train from Paris to Florence.

-Overnight on train from Paris to Florence-

When you arrive in Florence you’ll take a guided walking tour this fantastic Renaissance city. You’ll see the Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore. You’ll continue on to Piazza della Signoria to admire the statues under the Loggia dei Lanzi in the square. You’ll walk towards Ponte Vecchio on the same route as the Vasari corridor, which was built to take the Medici family from the municipality in Palazzo Vecchio to their home in Palazzo Pitti without ever needing to touch the ground. You’ll end outside of Santa Croce, the final resting place of Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo Galilei.

Next, you’ll get a closer view of the Duomo, the Florentine cathedral known for it’s distinctive Renaissance dome. This magnificent gothic structure built in the 1300’s features with an impressive pink, green and white marble facade and includes artwork by Giotto and engineering by Brunelleschi.

You’ll visit Accademia Museum, home of Michelangelo’s famous sculpture of the Biblical hero, David. Originally on display in the Piazza della Signoria, the statue was moved to its current location at the Accademia Museum in 1873. A replica of David stands in the Piazza della Signoria marking the original location.

This evening you’ll also visit Basilica di Santa Croce, which houses extraordinary works of art as well as the tombs of some of Italy’s most elite citizens such as Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli.

-Overnight in Florence-

Today you’ll take a day trip to Cinque Terre, a string of five stunning seaside villages along the Italian Riviera coastline. Wander the cliff side trail that connects these villages and experience the breathtaking views and the delicious local specialties.

-Overnight in Florence-

Today’s adventure will be a day trip to the hilltop town of Siena. Visit its most important sights including the Duomo, the headquarters of the oldest bank in the world, Monte Paschi di Siena and Piazza del Campo.

You’ll stop at the hilltop town of San Gimignano known for its unique skyline, formed by a dozen medieval towers that have survived the centuries. You’ll stroll through the narrow streets and have time to visit the many shops selling gourmet food, souvenirs, artwork in this picturesque town.

-Overnight in Florence-

This morning you’ll board your bus and drive to Rome.

Today you’ll have a full day exploring the capital city of Italy! You’ll see the Coliseum, the largest amphitheater in the world and one of the greatest feats of Roman engineering. You’ll continue on to the Roman Forum, the epicenter of the Roman Empire and the heart of public life. You’ll see the remnants of Roman public buildings and squares where parades, elections and commerce took place.

Next, you’ll visit the Trevi Fountain, one of the most famous places in ancient and modern history. Test the legend by throwing two coins in the fountain, one to ensure a return trip to Rome and the other a promise of new romance!

This afternoon you’ll see the Pantheon, which gave Michelangelo his inspiration for St. Peter’s Basilica. Experts see the Pantheon as an icon of Roman architectural perfection. It was built as a Roman temple and later converted into a church when Christendom entered Italy. Marvel at the 20-ton bronze doors and look up to see a perfectly round oculus in the dome’s center! The Pantheon is an important burial place for several noted figures, including artist Raphael. Still an active church, the Pantheon is a popular place for weddings.

This evening you’ll visit the popular Piazza Navona. It is built on the ancient Stadium of Domitian, also known as Circus Agonalis-built in 85 AD. This square could hold up to 30,000 spectators watching the contests just a few feet in front of them. Today Piazza Navona is a charming place with shops, restaurants and vendors. Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers sits in the center of the Piazza.

-Overnight in Rome-

Today you’ll have a guided tour through Vatican City, including St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums. You’ll see the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio and Raphael right next door to the residence of one of the world’s spiritual leaders. You’ll have an up close look at masterpieces like the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo, the Chapel of Beato Angelico, the collection in the Raphael Rooms and Loggia and the Borgia Apartments.

You’ll make a stop at the Circo Massimo, an ancient Roman sporting complex where chariot races and public sporting activities took place.

Your final activity of the day will be a visit to the Catacombs of Rome. Consisting of over 40 catacombs, this labyrinthian system of tunnels was the burial place for Christians in Ancient Rome at a time when burials within the city walls were prohibited by law.

-Overnight in Rome-

This morning you will depart for your return trip home, or continue onto Itinerary 2 of your summer European Exploration