2019 Henderson Italy Cultural Journey
| Travel Dates: | June 19, 2019 - June 30, 2019 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$3,490 USD
- or -
$3,390 USD with discount if paid in full
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $1,000 |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free installment plan. Follow whichever works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.
Program Tuition: $3,490
Pay in Full
Pay in full at the time of enrollment and receive a $100 discount off your program tuition! Payment with the discount would be:
$3,390.00
due today
Payment Plan
Pay a $500 deposit at the time of enrollment and establish an interest-free monthly payment plan. If you enroll today, your estimated* monthly payments would be:
$53.40
per month
All prices in United States Dollars.
Italy Cultural Journey
Italy is a traveler’s dream and an item on everyone’s bucket list. No other country in the world contains as many historical sites and artifacts that provide a glimpse at the very root of western civilization. Where else can you stand and see the place where the basis for modern government was forged? Where else can you see so many timeless and priceless pieces of ancient art and architecture in just a few days?
Natural history, as well as human history, is on full display in the massive peninsular nation with stunning views of the Dolomites and Alps in the north, idyllic Mediterranean countryside along the coast, and broad pastoral landscapes of rolling hills in between. Italians are an incredibly varied and diverse people, but the one constant is their openness and sense of hospitality towards travelers. And, of course, once you have tried true Italian food, there’s no going back to anything else!
Cultural Journeys
Cultural Journeys allow travelers to gain insights into the heritage, history and modern realities of their destination by offering a broad diversity of experience. We rely on the expertise of our local staff to plan itineraries which not only explore the prominent sites but also make time for the lesser-known local gems and are intentional about regular interaction with local people.
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Visit Siena's world-renowned cathedral and crypt
Spend a night on a farm in the Tuscan hills
Tour a local olive farm
Head to Murano Island and witness Venice's famous glass blowing
Visit Mt. Vesuvius and tour the ancient ruins of Pompeii
Explore La Basilica di Santa Croce, where greats like Niccola Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei, and Michelangelo are buried
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers and given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Date | Location | Activity | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 19 | Philadelphia, PA - Milan, Italy | Fly from Philadelphia to Milan, Italy. | In Flight |
| June 20 | Milan - Venice | Upon arrival in the morning, we will board our bus to visit The Last Supper and the beautiful church that sits adjacent. Afterwards we will continue onward to Venice, arriving in time for our first Italian meal of the trip. After a long travel day, we will settle in to our hotel for some much needed rest. | Venice Hotel |
| June 21 | Venice | We will begin the day with a walking tour of this unique city. We'll visit Piazza San Marco, have a ferry boat ride in Canal Grande, visit the Palazzo Ducale, and get a feel of the city. | Venice Hotel |
| June 22 | Venice - Florence | This morning we head to Murano Island, a series of islands linked by bridges dedicated to the manufacture of Venice's world renowned art of "blowing glass," which we will see live. After a delicious lunch, we'll enjoy the views on our way to Florence! | Florence Hotel |
| June 23 | Florence | After the beautiful train ride through the Tuscan alps we'll arrive in Florence and start our day with a guided walking tour, visiting the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and many other piazze and monuments. Then we will head to the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest and most important art museums in Europe and the world. We'll also make time for the Galleria dell' Accademia, which hosts the original David. | Florence Hotel |
| June 24 | Florence | This morning we will have breakfast at the hotel and continue our exploration of the capital of the Rinascimento (Renaissance). We will enter the monuments like Cupola del Brunelleschi, which is the tallest building in Florence and was designed by Giotto and Brunelleschi. We will then visit the famous market, eat some delicious street food, then head to La Basilica di Santa Croce, where people like Niccola Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei, and Michelangelo are buried. Not only will we see the tombs of these Italian greats, but also will view paintings by Giotto. Finally, we will head to see the copy of the David of Donatello, which is situated in front of one of the most beautiful public offices in the world, Palazzo Vecchio, which is actually the city hall of Florence. | Florence Hotel |
| June 25 | Siena | We will spend the day in Siena. Our country director, originally from Denver, but a resident of Siena for more than 15 years will start us off with a lesson about Siena's historic Palio horse race. Then w'll tour the city and even get to see some behind the scenes areas where the city is working with students on a service project on a medieval wall. We'll end the day with a dinner at an organic farm located inside Siena's ancient walls. | Siena Lodging |
| June 26 | Siena - Rome | This morning we'll take the train to Rome. Upon arrival we'll visit the autonomous exclave of the Vatican City, where we will explore the Sistine chapel and the Vatican Museum. We will walk by Hadrian's Tomb, eat some traditional pasta and go for an evening stroll in the Eternal City, in Rome's elegant Prati neighborhood. | Rome Hotel |
| June 27 | Rome | Today, we will wake up early and enjoy a full day experience of Rome. We will start with a walking tour of the city before lunch. After lunch, we can either visit a museum or continue our walking tour and see more of the ancient ruins of the city. We will certainly see the Coliseum, The Roman Forum, Trajan's Forum, the Trevi Fountain, the steps of Piazza di Spagna, The Pantheon, il Gesù and finish the day off with dinner as we enjoy a beautiful view of Rome. | Rome Hotel |
| June 28 | Pompeii | We will spend the day in Pompeii today! We'll also see the remains of the Forum and the Teatro Grande. And maybe best of all, you'll eat pizza in the birthplace of pizza! We will head back to the capital after a busy but rewarding day and if we have time we'll visit the Coronaro Chapel. | Rome Hotel |
| June 29 | Rome | Today we'll have a discussion about our program and reflect on everything we have seen and learned. We'll start our day by seeing Piazza del Popolo. We will then walk through Villa Borghese park, and up to the Catacombs of Priscilla where we'll explore Rome underground! Afterwards we can take one last stroll through Rome seeing Piazza Navona and the Campo de fiori before our last Italian dinner. | Rome Hotel |
| June 30 | Rome - Home | Today we will take a bus transfer to Fiumicino Airport, then say arrivederci to Italy as we board our flight home to the USA! Addio! | Your Own Bed! |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe. We vet and inspect the accommodations to ensure they uphold the ethos of our programs, are great values for our travelers and nice places to rest after enriching days of travel.
Hotel Casa Valdese Roma
The Hotel Casa Valdese Roma is a historic hotel in the Prati district of Rome, near the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica, of which there is a beautiful view from a large terrace on the fifth floor. Students will be split by gender between double or triple rooms based on availability. Wifi and air conditioning are standard, and students will enjoy breakfast each morning at the hotel.
Hotel Moderno a Siena
Hotel Moderno is a family run hotel located in the center of Siena. The hotel is located just steps away from the historic center of town and students will feel transported back to old-world Italy. Students will be grouped by gender in double or triple rooms based on availability. Each room has Wifi and air conditioning. Breakfast will be provided at the hotel each morning.
Hotel Al Piave
Located in the heart of Venice, Hotel Al Piave is just steps away from St. Mark’s Square. This three star hotel has a truly Italian feel and offers a comfortable place to relax after a long day. Students will be divided by gender between double or triple rooms based on availability. There is free Wi-Fi and breakfast is included each morning.
B&B Hotel Firenze City Center
This quaint bed and breakfast is located in the heart of Florence, allowing the group to easily access the main sites of the city on foot. The B&B comes equipped with Wifi and air conditioning. Breakfast will be served each morning at the hotel. Students will be roomed in double or triple rooms and split between gender.
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
I was very concerned about my daughter who has a peanut allergy travelling to a foreign country for the first time without us. Walking Tree was very sensitive to my concerns and reassured me that this is something they could handle and they did! I would send her again in a heartbeat. Thank you Walking Tree.
Kerry
Parent of Emilie, traveler on 2018 Service Program to Costa Rica
Your Adventure Includes
Estimated Airfare
In order to give our travelers the best possible price, we break out airfare from the Program Tuition. We will still handle all booking and ticketing via our flight partner who has access to special fares not available to the general public. Once confirmed, you will be invoiced for the flight roughly 75 days prior to travel.
Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.
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Resource Center
Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.