2023 Mullen Italian Renaissance Program

Dear Families, Friends, and Travelers – Welcome to the 2023 Mullen Italian Renaissance Program!  The Pre-Enrollment page is meant to share exciting highlights and important info that participants will want to know before signing up. If you enroll, you'll begin using the Post-Enrollment page which offers a greater level of detail.  Please be sure to review the information thoroughly and get excited for all that Italy has to offer!
Travel Dates: March 11, 2023 - March 20, 2023
Group Organizer(s):
WTT Contact:
Program Tuition: $2,690 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
Confirmed Airfare: $1,394

This program is currently at full capacity.

To be placed on a waitlist, enter your information below and we'll let you know if a spot opens up.
Thanks for your interest in traveling with us!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

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

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!

Witness your classwork come to life!

Wander the streets of Florence, one of the most charming cities in the world!

Explore the world's smallest country, Vatican City!

Have the adventure of a lifetime with your friends

Visit Mt. Vesuvius and tour the ancient ruins of Pompeii

Wander through the Roman Colosseum

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. 

DayLocationDescriptionAccommodation
March 11USA -Florence, ItalyToday the group will take their overnight flight to Florence.Airplane
March 12FlorenceWe arrive in Florence today and meet our program leaders at the airport. After checking into our accommodations, we will have lunch at the Market of Florence and then head to the heart of the city where we will see some of the most iconic sites Italy has to offer, including the Piazza Duomo and Ponte Vecchio. We will also visit Orsanmichele, where we'll marvel at Donatello's works, amongst many others. This evening we will attend mass at the Florence Baptistery. Ostello Bello Florence
March 13FlorenceAfter breakfast we will head to Basilica Santa Maria Novella where we will get a chance to appreciate the frescos that decorate the inside of this remarkable church. Then it's off to the Museo Nazionale del Bargello for sculptural masterpieces of the Early Renaissance. After lunch, we visit the Florence Cathedral and the Florence Baptistry, both famous for their world-class architectural design. Ostello Bello Florence
March 14FlorenceThis morning we'll wander the halls of the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most important museums in Italy. Masterpieces from Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Da Vinci adorn the walls to create one of the most memorable moments of the trip. There will be lunch, and a little time to rest, as well as some time for souvenir shopping! This afternoon, we will visit Palazzo Medici Riccardi. We finish the day with a visit to Piazelle Michelangelo to get a view of the city from above.Ostello Bello Florence
March 15Florence - RomeAfter breakfast we catch a train to Rome, the country's capital. Upon arrival we settle into our hotel, after which we can check out Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps. Then, our first dinner in Rome!Ostello Bello Rome
March 16RomeMaybe you didn't expect to visit another country today, but Vatican City is just that! We cross the border into the smallest country on earth and begin our visit by checking out the museums and their incredibly vast art collection accumulated throughout the centuries. We will also stop by the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter's Cathedral. The afternoon has some free time for some shopping.Ostello Bello Rome
March 17RomeToday we pause our exploration of Rome in order to participate in a service project with a local Lasallian school. Details of the work will be shared once finalized.Ostello Bello Rome
March 18Rome - PompeiiToday we escape the big city and head to Pompeii. The group will tour the archeological site with a local guide. Tonight we have Napoletan pizza to look forward to, the only real pizza if you ask our Country Director Devin. After dinner we will head back to Rome on the ultra fast train in time for bed.Ostello Bello Rome
March 19RomeHeading back in time, we will go  straight to the Colosseum and Forum, and have a guided tour of this historic wonder of the world. Then we ascend by glass elevator in the Vittoriano, to take in the view of the Forum and the Colosseum from an amazingly unique vantage point! There will be some free time for those final Rome souvenirs. This evening we'll attend mass at Il Gesu along with a celebratory dinner to toast everything we've seen and done! After, we  head back to the hotel, stopping by the Trevi fountain to toss a coin and make a wish.Ostello Bello Rome
March 20Rome - USASay arrivederci to Italy as we board our flight home to the US!Your own bed, eventually!

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.  

Below are the accommodations we anticipate using on your trip, subject to availability. 
Ostello Bello Firenze

Ostello Bello Firenze is ideally located in San Lorenzo neighborhood, in the heart of the Florence. From the hotel, you can easily access the entire city and enjoy the local area. This accommodation has air-conditioned standard rooms and private, in-suite dorms. In addition, the hotel has a beautiful terraces, a shared kitchen and a lounge area. A beautiful Italian breakfast is served to fuel a wonderful day of exploration.

Ostello Bello Roma Colosseo

Located in traditional building above cobble stone streets and near the Colosseum and Termini station, Ostello Bello Roma is a great place for travelers to rest after packed day of exploring Rome. Spread over five floors with a variety of rooms types and communal areas, the hotel includes a beautiful patio, terrace and quiet corners to support guest. The breakfast is top notch and the friendly staff are always available to support travelers.   

Safety and Support


 EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING

This was a great opportunity for [my daughter]. Thank you for being so professional and for teaching her things we never could. It was awesome to work beside Smithsonian scientists and learn. Travel is such an education that cannot be taught in a classroom.

Kim
Parent of Emily, traveler on 2017 program to Panama

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.

 

Need to Raise Money? We Have You Covered.

Walking Tree Travel is proud to team up with Equal Exchange, a worker-owned cooperative that distributes organic coffee, tea, sugar, bananas, avocados, cocoa, chocolate bars, and more.  There is no limit to the amount you can earn, so the sooner you can start, the better!

Learn more here.

WTT coffee
Resource center

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.

Learn More

Top