May 26 - Your tour begins as you depart Houston Intercontinental Airport on your flight to Rome.

 May 27 - You will arrive in Rome, meet your escort and your private deluxe coach and drive to Sorrento. On the way you'll stop to visit the ruins of Pompeii, which in 79 A.D. was completely covered with hot ash and lava from the eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius, thus preserving the city until its rediscovery in the 17th Century.  Pompeii was a Roman city, which existed at the time of Christ and was ruled by the same powers that ruled in the land of Jesus at that time.  In this visit you will gain insight into daily life in Roman times and thus have new understandings of the prevailing culture at the time of Jesus.  Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

 May 28 - This morning you will go for a visit in the city of Naples to the National Archaeological Museum, one of the world's most important museums which houses the treasures of Pompeii and Herculaneum.  This afternoon you will explore the wonders of the Amalfi coast, one of the most scenic drives you can take anywhere in the world. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

 May 29 - Today after an early breakfast you will say farewell to Sorrento and begin the drive to Rome.  Once in Rome, you will proceed to the catacombs, burial place and meeting place of the early Christians.  They were forced to meet in secret, underground, to escape persecution during the time before Constantine.  You will proceed to check in at your hotel and have the balance of the day free to explore.  Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

 May 30 - This morning you will begin with a visit to St. Peter's Basilica.  This is Catholicism's most sacred shrine and holds hundreds of precious works of art, some salvaged from the origial 4th century basilica built by Constantine and others commissioned from Renaissance and Baroque artists.  From there you will go to the Vatican Museum, home to the Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms, as well as one of the world's most important art collections.  These are housed in palaces originally built for Renaissance popes.  Following your visit you will proceed to the church of St. Peter in Chains. At this church you will see Michelangelo's statue of Moses, which alone makes a trip to Rome worthwhile. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

 May 31 - Today you will be visiting Imperial Rome.  You will go to the Coliseum, Rome's greatest amphitheater, commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in 72 AD.  It was here that the Romans watched as the early Christians suffered and died as they were thrown in the arena with lions and other wild animals.  You will proceed through the Roman Forum, where you will see several ruined temples, triumphal arches, and basilicas.  The Arch of Titus was erected in 81 AD to commemorate the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.  After your visit to the Forum, you will proceed to the famous Trevi Fountain, and on to the Piazza di Spagna, where you can climb the Spanish Steps. From here you will be on your own for a free afternoon of last minute shopping or additional sightseeing. Tonight you will go to the famous Trastevere area where you will enjoy a special & typical Roman dinner.  Overnight at the hotel.

 June 1 - This morning you'll leave Rome on your way to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, the artistic and cultural awakening of the 15th century.  Along the way, you'll stop at Orvieto to visit this charming town and the beautiful Duomo.  Thomas Aquinas made Orvieto famous as a place of spiritual pilgrimage.  The cathedral was begun in 1290 and the famous sculptures, reliefs and mosaics of the façade illustrate the way of salvation for the faithful.  After lunch on your own you will proceed to Montecatini, a charming village outside of Florence, to check in at your hotel. Tonight the owner of your hotel will organize a cooking lesson AND WHAT YOU COOK WILL BE......your dinner at the hotel!!!

June 3 - This morning you will begin with a walking tour of Florence. During the time that the Medici family was powerful in this area (14th -16th centuries), Florence was at the cultural and intellectual heart of Europe.  You'll stroll along the Ponte Vecchio, the beautiful old bridge lined with shops spanning the Arno. You will then proceed to the Duomo, the spiritual, geographical and historical heart of the city.  This cathedral is the fourth largest in Europe and is still the tallest building in Florence, as well as one of the oldest.  We'll see the Baptistery with it's celebrated bronze doors by Pisano and Ghiberti, (Dante was baptized here), the Campanile, designed by Giotto in 1334, the great Dome by Brunelleschi and finished in 1463, as well as many other features and famous works of art at the Cathedral Works Museum near this amazing structure.   After lunch on your own, you will visit the Galleria dell'Accademia.  Founded in 1563, it was the first school established in Europe specifically to teach the techniques of drawing, painting, and sculpture.  The most famous work on display is Michelangelo's David, which established Michelangelo at the age of 29 as the foremost sculptor of his time.  Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

 June 4 - After an early breakfast, you will leave Florence and drive to Venice where you will go for a walking tour.  You will visit the Piazza San

Marco, the pigeon-filled square dominated by the Basilica San Marco, the cathedral of Venice. According to tradition, during the 9th century, the Venetians stole the body of St. Mark, which was buried in Alexandria. They then proclaimed St Mark as their patron saint and in that way, they became linked to the origins and spread of Christianity.  After the visit, you will check in to your hotel and relax for a while.  You will then go for a Gondola Serenade through the Grand Canal. Farewell Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

June 5 - After breakfast, you will go to the Venice airport for your flight back to Houston to contemplate all you've seen and learned about the history of Christianity and the culture of Italy. ancient and modern.