Italy: North to South

Arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) where you’ll meet your Rustic Pathways Flight Leader, who will help get you checked in and through security before traveling with your group to Italy. Get acquainted with fellow Rustic travelers before boarding your flight. Arrive into Venice Marco Polo International Airport (VCE) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the weeks ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture.

Settle into your hotel for the first night in Venice, relaxing after your long flight. You’ll share rooms with your fellow Rustic travelers with private bathrooms.

After a light breakfast, spend the day exploring one of the world’s most unique and architecturally stunning cities. Built upon over 100 small islands separated by a series of waterways and canals and linked by over 400 bridges, “The Floating City” will not disappoint. Take a walking tour of Venices’ historic streets, viewing sights such as Saint Mark’s Basilica, the Rialto Bridge, and Doge’s Palace. Take a trip to the morning market to see where Venetians have shopped for their food for centuries. Complete the day with a once-in-a-lifetime gondola ride along the Grand Canal.

After learning about Venices’ historical side, its time to enjoy the cultural aspects which make Venice so unique! Immerse yourself in Venices’ most famous celebration, Carnival, as you take part in a mask-making workshop. In the afternoon, take a trip to the nearby island of Murano and participate in a glassblowing activity, lead by the most famous glassblowers in the world.

Wake up early and catch a high-speed train south to the city of Florence. As the capital city of Tuscany and the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is known for its art, architecture, and as the center of modern-day Italian fashion. Meet your local guide from Florence who will take you around to the city’s most famous sites. Stare in amazement at the city’s masterpieces including The Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and of course Michelangelo’s sculpture of David.

After a traditional Italian breakfast, make your way out to the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside. Enjoy a full day exploring the surrounding medieval towns such as Siena, San Gimignano, and Pisa. Stroll through their century-old streets to admire the terracotta roofs and indulge in the delicious food of the region. Take in the breathtaking nature of the area traveling its world-famous vineyards and farms. Marvel at the Leaning Tower of Pisa before heading back to Florence to enjoy yet another dinner of the country’s famous mouthwatering cuisine.

Start your day early and continue south on a train ride to Italy’s capital, Rome. Spend the day taking in the centuries of culture that once made Rome the center of the world. Participate in a Rome Art Safari as you search for the interesting details represented on ancient monuments all across Rome’s city streets. End the day enjoying gelato while strolling down the Spanish Steps.

After breakfast, be transported back in time to the age of the Roman Emperors and their gladiatorial games. Walk in the footsteps of the original gladiators and their thousands of spectators as you are guided through the almost 2,00-year-old walls of the Colosseum. After lunch, it’s your turn to try out the techniques and skills it took to be a gladiator as you participate in a class at the Roman Gladiator School.

Wake up early for another train ride south to the city of Naples. Be guided through the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (National Archaeological Museum of Naples). This collection holds some of the most important remains of lost cities of the ancient Roman empires. In the afternoon, learn how to make authentic Neapolitan pizza in the birthplace of everyone’s favorite dish. Discover the art of freshly made dough and use only the freshest local ingredients. Following dinner, take a private transfer to your hotel in nearby Pompeii.

After breakfast, be guided through Italy’s most impressive Roman ruins and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Pompeii. Discover what life was like before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD and see the remains of this tragically lost city frozen in time. Return to your hotel to reflect on the thousands of years of history you have come face-to-face with over the past week.

After a week of touring the historical highlights of Italy, it is time to get off the grid as you transfer to the small rural province of Matera. This area set between two canyons carved by the ancient Gravina River is home to a complex of cave dwellings that are often cited as “one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.” Here you will get to learn about people who have lived off the land here for centuries as you get your hands dirty conducting traditional agricultural practices that have been past down through generations.

Continue southeast until you reach the Adriatic coast and the port city of Bari. Enjoy strolling its maze-like old town streets and spend the afternoon taking a dip in the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Enjoy the slower pace of life along the coast before a delicious dinner and a relaxing evening with your group

After a relaxing morning in Bari take your final train ride back to Rome. Arrive in Rome just in time for a final dinner and your last night in Italy. At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure and say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.