Venice to Athens

Discover Venice, a city built on more than 100 islands in a lagoon off the Adriatic. Begin in St. Mark’s Square and tour St. Mark’s Basilica, completed in 1094 and home to the relics of Venice’s patron saint. Continue with a guided visit of the Gothic Doge’s Palace with its ornate arches before continuing to a glass-blowing demonstration, showcasing the centuries-old tradition of Venice’s most famous craft.

Discover Verona, famed as the setting of "Romeo and Juliet." Visit Casa di Giulietta to see the famous ivy-draped balcony and statue of Juliet, then stroll through Piazza delle Erbe, the lively square once home to the city’s Roman forum. Continue on to the Verona Arena, a massive 1st-century amphitheater where gladiators once fought and opera performances still captivate audiences today.

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.

Stop in Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower, which began tilting when builders discovered the ground beneath was too soft. Attempts to straighten it only made the lean more pronounced. The tower is part of the Campo dei Miracoli, where the baptistery, duomo, and tower together exemplify Pisan Romanesque style, clad in intricately carved black-and-white marble that gleams in the sun.

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.

From the Bay of Naples, the island of Capri is less than an hour away by boat. Weather permitting, you’ll visit the Blue Grotto, where sunlight reflecting beneath the water bathes the cave in a shimmering silver-blue light.

Stop in Pompeii, the city where time stood still. Once home to 20,000 residents, it was buried by Mount Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago and lay hidden under 30 feet of ash and mud. Excavated over centuries, the site reveals daily Roman life through public spaces, political graffiti, taverns, and street signs.

In Athens, history is never far away. Walk with your Tour Director through the Plaka district, where winding streets reveal balconies filled with flowers and tavernas alive with traditional dancing. Then visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus, begun in the 6th century BC and finished by Hadrian in AD 132, and see Hadrian’s Arch, once marking the divide between ancient and imperial Athens.

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.

The Parthenon Sculptures, taken by the British Earl of Elgin in the early 19th century, are now housed in the British Museum. Their presence continues to spark debate over whether they should remain in London or be returned to Greece.

Take an expedition to mystical Delphi, once considered by the ancient Greeks as the center of the earth. On Mount Parnassos overlooking the Gulf of Corinth, this sacred site was home to the Delphic oracle, the most prestigious in the Greek world. Here you will also see the Sanctuary of Apollo, where pilgrims once sought guidance.

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.