Ranney School Class of 2023 Italy Cultural Journey
| Travel Dates: | March 11, 2023 - March 19, 2023 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$2,490 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $1,009 |
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Program Tuition: $2,490
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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!
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 Siena's world-renowned cathedral and crypt
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, but given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but if inclement weather pushes us off course or an unexpected opportunity arises which travelers are excited about, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 11 | US - Italy | Fly from the US to Italy. | Airplane |
| March 12 | Milan - Florence | Upon arrival to Milan, we will transfer to Florence and meet our program leaders. We will check into our accommodations then start the adventure with a bang: The Uffizi, one of the world biggest and oldest museums in Italy. We will admire art from Botticelli, Micheangelo, Caravaggio and many more! We will then have a traditional Florentine dinner with a dessert of ice cream and head to bed early and be ready for an exciting week ahead touring central Italy! | Hotel Alinari |
| March 13 | Florence | We will have a calm morning with an orientation meeting and time to explore the area near our hotel. Lunch will be at the central market in Florence, where there will be many different food choices from all around Italy. After lunch, we will have a guided walking tour. Then, we'll visit Piazza Duomo and climb up the tower of Giotto and see Florence from a different perspective! We will then trek up to Piazza Micheangelo and see the sunset from the best place in town! | Hotel Alinari |
| March 14 | Florence - Siena | We will start off our day walking around and visiting the rest of the must see places in Florence like Ponte Vecchio, have a walk inside of the duomo and of course have some free time to do some shopping! We will then hop on our bus which will bring us to Siena where we will have a walking tour of the small but once very powerful city. We will then head to our farm stay for a relaxing home cooked dinner. | Azienda Agricola Le Vezure |
| March 15 | Siena | We will wake up at an organic farm which produces organic olive oil and wine. We will have a walking tour of the farm and the natural surroundings. In the afternoon, we will make our own pizza dough, bake it and eat it! | Azienda Agricola Le Vezure |
| March 16 | Siena - Rome | Today we will take our bus to the eternal city of Rome. We will head straight to the Colosseum and Forum, and have a guided tour of this historic wonder of the world. We will then go up a glass elevator in the Vittoriano, and view the Forum and the Colosseum from one of the most unique positions of Rome! We will then have a Roman pasta dinner and of course a Gelato for dessert. On our way back to the hotel, we will stop by the Trevi fountain and throw our penny into it. | Hotel Astoria Garden |
| March 17 | Rome | Today we will have a day to wonder around Rome and visit its highlights. We will visit pizza Navona, piazza di Spagna and its famous steps. We will admire the beautiful park of villa Borghes. We will enter the Pantheon and see its incredible architechture. We will have some time to go shoping and of course to have some gelato! We will then finish the day off with a wonderful pasta dinner. If we have time we will head to the Vatican and see St Peters light up at night. | Hotel Astoria Garden |
| March 18 | Rome | We will be heading to another country! The Vatican, we will be visiting its museum with its incredibly vast art collection which it accumulated thoughout the centuries. We will of course visit the Sistine Chapel and Saint Pauls Cathedral. We will then have a free afternoon for visiting the remaining attractions and some shopping. | Hotel Astoria Garden |
| March 19 | Rome - USA | Bus transfer to Fiumicino Airport, then say arrivederci to Italy as we board our flight home to the US! | 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 locally-operated, three-star equivalent hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe.
Hotel Alinari
Located just across the square from Florence train station, this hotel offers easy access to the airports and other places in Italy. The sights of the historic center, such as the Accademia Gallery, Uffizi Galleries and the Ponte Vecchio, are all easily reached by foot in less than 15 minutes. All the rooms have private bathroom, air-conditioning, colour tv. Free Wi-Fi keeps guests feeling connected at all times. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender.
Le Verzure Azienda Biologica
This farm is flanked by olive groves and vineyards, with a wonderful view of Montalcino and the Merse Valley. Located near the Etruscan ruins of Murlo, in the small village of La Befa and surrounded by Mediterranean bush. This farm offers walks in their vineyards, a stop in our small artisanal cellar and the tour of their wine and olive oil production. The farmhouse has two independent apartments furnished in a traditional Tuscan style, as well as the main house, recently renovated paying respect to the original structure, that can accommodate up to nine people. The property also counts with a swimming pool for guests.
Hotel Astoria Garden
This hotel is a 5-minute walk from Rome Termini Station and only 2 metro stops away from both the Coliseum and the Trevi Fountain . It offers air-conditioned rooms with TV and a private bathroom. The private garden is full of exotic plants and palm trees. The restaurant serves a buffet-style breakfast. Free Wi-Fi keeps guests feeling connected at all times. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to 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
We wanted our 16 year old son’s first experience traveling without the family to be a positive one. We wanted a true quality program and are so glad his school chose Walking Tree. Everything went absolutely smoothly on the trip. Our son has told us again and again how wonderful, informed, friendly, and absolutely critical to the success of the trip the Walking Tree staff was.
Tina
Parent of Leo Narbonne, traveler on Peru Service Adventure
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.