What to Expect

Accommodations
During our time in Rome, accommodations will be at the beautiful Hotel Ponte Sisto, ideally located among the city’s most treasured sites, including Piazza Navona, Campo de’ Fiori, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Vatican, and the Roman Forum. Guests enjoy well-appointed, air-conditioned accommodations and a spectacular courtyard garden, where colorful flowers and trickling fountains abound.

In Tuscany, our base is the 15th-century farmhouse Fattoria La Loggia. Located in the heart of rural Chianti and surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, our location is still remarkably convenient –- only about 10 miles outside of Florence. The historic stone structures feature fully renovated rooms with private facilities, a dining room, meeting space for lectures and activities, and a sparkling swimming pool. The outdoor spaces of the farm feature a permanent exhibition of sculptures and installations by some of Italy’s greatest contemporary artists. Our group intends to take over the entire villa to set the tone for this family experience.

Student Ambassador Program
Learning need not stop when school breaks for the summer. As a parent or grandparent, you will be able to observe and participate in a rewarding educational adventure with your children or grandchildren. The Student Ambassador Program provides a unique opportunity for children to learn about a different culture in the company of other youngsters. Led by an experienced children's educator, the Student Ambassadors (ages 7 –17) participate in a full range of age-appropriate educational and recreational activities designed to stimulate curiosity, enhance appreciation of the sites visited, and foster an understanding of Italian history, art, and tradition. Throughout the program, children are encouraged to keep a journal record of their experiences and impressions and are coached in the conduct that makes one a good ambassador while in another country. Although Student Ambassadors are supervised during scheduled activities, children are the sole responsibility of parents and grandparents at all times during the trip.

CITIES AND SIGHTS

Rome:
Few cities in the world can rival the beauty and history of Rome, the Eternal City.Founded more than 2,700 years ago, monumental buildings like the Pantheon and the Colosseum are reminiscent of the era when emperors like Nero, Trajan, and Hadrian ruled the Roman Empire. However, today’s Rome owes much of its attractiveness to the Renaissance period, when new squares such as the Campidoglio were developed and new buildings were constructed. The most famous of these buildings is the largest church in the world, Saint Peter’s Basilica.

One day in Rome is spent exploring the antiquities of this supremely fascinating city, while the other is devoted to a visit to the Vatican and its museums, including the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel, where we enjoy special access without waiting in lines.

Tuscany:
Tuscany, with its scenic landscape of cypress-covered rolling hills, vineyards and medieval towns, is an ideal location for a family learning adventure. The combination of memorable art, glorious scenery, and superb food and wine make this trip special for the entire family. Throughout the program, there will be activities specially designed for both children and adults.

Florence:
In the 16th century, Italy’s intellectual and artistic life was concentrated in Florence, the capital of Tuscany. Today, the city retains a distinctive atmosphere and abounds with museums and galleries containing incomparable works of art. Explore the city’s medieval core, including the graceful Ponte Vecchio that spans the River Arno; the imposing Duomo, flanked by Giotto’s Campanile and the Baptistery; the greatest works of the Renaissance period, housed in the Uffizi Gallery; and the Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s famous statue, David.

Pisa:
Originally the cathedral's bell tower, construction on Pisa’s tower began in 1173. Soon after, it began leaning due to subsidence of the ground underneath. A project to keep the tower from leaning more and tipping over finally reached a successful conclusion in 2001, and the tower is again open to those wishing to climb it. While the Leaning Tower is the most famous image of Pisa, it is only one of many stunning works of art and architecture in the city’s monumental “Campo dei Miracoli,” or “Field of Miracles,” to the north of old town center. This area also houses the Duomo Cathedral, the Baptistery, and the Camposanto cemetery.

Siena:
A hilltop city surrounded by massive walls, Siena rose to prominence in the 12th century based on its production of textiles, saffron, and wine. Today, Siena still retains its medieval ambiance. Bordered by a bell tower, 13th-century government buildings, palaces, and outdoor cafés, the fan-shaped Campo still serves as an arena for key events, including the thrilling races of the Palio, a bareback horse race that has been held since the 14th century.

Lucca:
Situated on the River Serchio in a fertile plain near the Tyrrhenian Sea, the charming city of Lucca is famous for being perhaps the largest Italian city with its massive medieval city wall still entirely intact (though the city has expanded well past the original wall boundaries). There are many richly built medieval basilica-form churches in Lucca with rich arcaded façades and campaniles, some dating as far back as the eighth century.