Greece and Italy STEM

Explore Athens with your local guide, where ancient history and modern life meet. Visit the Acropolis, the heart of classical Athens, to see the Parthenon, dedicated to the goddess Athena, and the elegant Temple of Athena Nike. Admire sweeping views of the city before stopping at the 2004 Olympic site, a symbol of Greece’s enduring athletic spirit. Continue to Syntagma Square to watch the ceremonial changing of the guards at the Parliament, then to Omonoia Square, a lively gathering place surrounded by cafés and olive trees.

Take interactive learning to the next level with a Tour Director-led STEM scavenger hunt through Athens. Complete fun activities and solve clues, each designed to maximize on-tour experiential learning.

Visit the Temple of Poseidon, perched high atop the hill of Cape Sounion at the southernmost tip of Central Greece. Stand among its tall marble pillars rising from the rocky cliffs and gaze out over the calm Aegean Sea. Built between 450–440 BC, around the same time as the Parthenon, the temple offers a tranquil contrast to the bustle of Athens.

Explore the ruins of Delphi, once considered the center of the world. In the Temple of Apollo, a priestess inhaled vapors to deliver prophecies, inspiring leaders for centuries. Today, visitors may find their own inspiration in sweeping views from Mount Parnassus, rising more than 8,000 feet above.

Explore ancient temple architecture and its influence on modern design. Then bring history to life through a creative activity: build a scene from a panel image, considering its context, characters, and message, and perform it as a believable story judged by theater critics.

Discover Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Admire the Duomo with Brunelleschi’s dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Baptistery’s famed Gates of Paradise that inspired generations of artists. Visit Palazzo Vecchio on Piazza della Signoria, once the seat of Florentine power, and step inside Dante’s House to learn about the poet’s legacy. At Santa Croce, see the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Conclude your day by crossing the Ponte Vecchio and visiting a leather workshop to see one of Florence’s most famous crafts.

Explore a collection featuring Galileo’s telescopes, astronomical instruments, and manuscripts for a firsthand look at his groundbreaking experiments and theories.

Discover replicas of da Vinci’s groundbreaking machines, interactive displays, and original sketches that showcase his lasting impact on art, science, and engineering.

Step inside the Colosseum with a licensed guide, once the stage for gladiators, naval battles, and wild beast hunts, and explore the underground chambers where animals were kept. Continue to the Forum Romanum, the hub of Roman politics, religion, and commerce. Conclude at Piazza Venezia, framed by its grand palaces and the striking Victor Emmanuel Monument.

Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, with its vast colonnades that seem to embrace the world. Inside, admire Michelangelo’s soaring dome, rising 452 feet above the ground, and his renowned Pietà. Then step into the Sistine Chapel, where the artist reluctantly painted frescoes that today stand among the world’s greatest masterpieces.

Discover Rome’s iconic landmarks on a guided walk. At the Spanish Steps, see the “sinking ship” fountain, designed that way because of low water pressure that forced the artist to sink it below street level. Marvel at the Trevi Fountain’s Baroque grandeur, the Pantheon’s soaring dome, and Piazza Navona, where Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers anchors the bustling square.