Quick Details
Italy is renowned as a tourist destination with its landscapes that will take your breath away, rich history, artistic treasures and delicious food. Ancient Greek and Roman ruins or Baroque and Renaissance architecture stand proudly in many of Italy’s towns and cities.
“Best of Italy” is instructive and faith-building tour that will help you to discover the biblical history and charm of Italy. Your journey begins in Rome and ends in Venice.
Our tour includes hop-on/hop-off sightseeing tours (Rome), visit to the Tuscan countryside, visit to the world’s top museums (Vatican Museums and Uffizi Gallery) and Venetian lagoon boat trip.
Open for Delegates and Non-Delegates. Delegates can add before or after 2024 Special Convention!
NOTE: Our tour is physically active. We believe the best way to get to the heart of a city is on foot, surrounded by the people and the culture. For this reason, we do walking tours through most of the cities we visit. It will be a vigorous pace with a great deal of walking on ancient pavements, up and down stairs, and hilly terrain. Expect to be on your feet, walking and standing, indoors and outdoors, and in all weather conditions. It is not recommended for physically challenged travelers who need assistance walking or those with limited stamina or mobility.
DAY 1 – ARRIVE ROME, WELCOME AND ORIENTATION
After settling into the hotel, meet in the hotel lobby for a welcome and orientation meeting with your tour leader and fellow travelers.
Overnight: Rome
Note: Dinner is not included
DAY 2 – ROME – PIAZZAS AND FOUNTAINS WALKING TOUR
Breakfast at the hotel
Daily text discussion
Enjoy walking tour of Rome, while learning about the culture, first Christians and history of Rome. Visit Piazza di Spagna, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona.
Overnight: Rome
Included: Breakfast
DAY 3 – ROME – COLOSSEUM AND ROMAN FORUM
Breakfast at the hotel
Daily text discussion
This morning we have a guided tour of the Colosseum, one of the most famous of Rome’s ancient monuments, and Circus Maximus, the place in Rome where the first Christians died.
We continue our walking tour of the Roman Forum, the heart of ancient Rome, stopping to visit Milliarium Aureum, Via Sacra, Curia Julia, Temple of Peace, Arch of Titus and Arch of Constantine.
Evening at leisure.
Overnight: Rome
Included: Breakfast
DAY 4 – ROME – VATICAN AND VATICAN MUSEUMS
Breakfast at the hotel
Daily text discussion
This morning we have a guided visit of the Vatican Museums, followed by free time for individual exploration. Our tour takes us to the Christian Museum, Pius-Christian Museum, the rooms of Raphael and Sistine Chapel.
In the afternoon, we meet again to tour St. Peters Basilica where you will find the four places where God’s name appears in Tetragrammaton form and “Pieta”, the only work of Michelangelo actually signed by him.
Evening at leisure.
Overnight: Rome
Included: Breakfast
DAY 5 – ROME TO FLORENCE
Breakfast at the hotel
Daily text discussion
Travel in the morning towards Florence by fast train. Travel time is about 1,5 hours. Your hotel is in Florence is in walking distance of Florence Central Station.
After check into hotel, we begin to explore Florence. We will visit the Mercato Centrale (part of the San Lorenzo Market), Florence’s historic food and produce market, a cultural center for culinary traditions throughout Italy.
The evening is at leisure, . Or you may visit the Rose Garden (optional). The Rose Garden is the ideal place for a romantic promenade while enjoying a marvelous panoramic view of Florence.
Overnight: Florence
Included: Breakfast
DAY 6 – TUSCANY – SAN GIMIGNANO
Breakfast at the hotel
Daily text discussion
Today we take an excursion by private coach to the beautiful walled town of San Gimignano (Unesco World Heritage Site). San Gimignano contains within itself the essence of Tuscany – a perfect combination of local art and architecture, which harmonizes perfectly with the variety of enchanting landscapes, flavours and tastes.
In the afternoon we visit the Guicciardini Strozzi winery, the oldest winery in Tuscany. Enjoy a fantastic winetasting experience.
Evening at leisure.
Overnight: Florence
Included: Breakfast
DAY 7 – FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING
Breakfast at the hotel
Daily text discussion
This morning we enjoy the guiding tour of Florence. Our route will take you to the most important sights in the old town (Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria). The walking tour will help you to get a sense of Florence, the Cradle of the Renaissance.
In the afternoon, we visit the Uffizi Gallery – one of the most important collections of Western painting in the world. The Uffizi Gallery hosts works of art by great Italian artists such as Botticelli, Giotto, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raffaello.
Evening at leisure.
Overnight: Florence
Included: Breakfast
DAY 8 – FLORENCE TO VENICE
Breakfast at the hotel
Daily text discussion
Travel in the morning towards Venice by fast train. Travel time is about 2 hours. Your hotel is in Venice is in walking distance of Venice Central Station.
We arrive at our hotel and settle in before we begin our walking tour of Venice (Rialto Bridge, Grand Canal, Piazza San Marco). Enjoy a gondola ride.
Evening at leisure.
Overnight: Venice
Included: Breakfast
DAY 9 – VENICE
Breakfast at the hotel
Daily text discussion
Today we gain a sense of the geography of the Venetian lagoon and the city’s appearance in its earliest days. We travel by ferry to the peaceful lagoon islands of Burano and Murano, whose fascinating history extends beyond glassmaking.
In the evening we enjoy farewell dinner in a fine restaurant.
Overnight: Venice
Included: Breakfast
DAY 10 – DEPARTURE
Breakfast at the hotel and departures. End of Tour
NOTE: All itineraries are subject to adjustment as required. Confirmed, final, and detailed itineraries (and additional important travel details) are posted on your Personal BCT Travel Desktop, approximately one month from departure.
Land Package prices signify that…
BCT will provide your transportation during the tour but you will be required to arrange your own transportation (be that airfare or train or car) at the beginning and after the tour.
Unless the arrival and departure hotels provide complimentary hotel/airport shuttle service Land Package travelers will need to arrange their own airport/hotel transportation.
BCT is not responsible for any cost associated with the cost of your transportation (be that airfare or train or car) at the beginning and after the tour. Including penalties, fees, and/or rebooking costs when a trip is canceled or moved.
A 6% convenience (secure processing) fee will be added for reservations made online and a $30/person discount will be added. Booking over the phone, no convenience fee will be added, nor will you receive a $30/person discount.