Italy and Switzerland History Tour

The returning morning light washes over the marble steps shaping the famous Scalinata di Spagna, the Spanish Steps, connecting the forecourt of the Trinità dei Monti church with the Piazza di Spagna, which was named for the presence of the Spanish Embassy. After breakfast, your guide greets you in the hotel lobby and escorts you to the stunning collection of artifacts on display in the Vatican Museums. Vatican City is one of the smallest independent states in the world encompassing 110 acres with approximately 1,000 permanent residents.

The museums were first established in the 16th century during the papal reign of Pope Julius II and then enlarged by successive pontiffs over the following centuries. The halls and corridors of the museums overtake over four miles consisting of artifacts contributed to the Egyptians, Etruscans, and Greeks, as well as captivating works by Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque artists from Italy. Your guide takes you to the often-overlooked papal picture gallery, which displays the final work of Raphael, La Trasfigurazione, painted between 1517 and 1520. The work embodies the Italian High Renaissance by depicting an allegorical narrative of Jesus in glory between Moses and Elijah above a meeting of the Apostles. After exploring the Vatican and its stunning collections, you return to the heart of ancient Rome to visit the Forum.

The impressive ruins highlight the grandiose history of the capital city within the confines of the political, religious, and social center erected over an Etruscan burial ground. The Basilica Fulvia Aemilia has foundations dating back to 179 BC and once contain a 328-foot long public hall and faced with a two-story tall portico. Bases of the 16 massive columns supporting the façade, as well as pillars acting as bolsters to the interior gallery are all that remain of the former opulence of the building once possessing African marble, bronze coins, and precious artistic merit.

The marvelous city of Florence crosses the banks of the River Arno and retains the lavish décor of the Medieval architectural design embellished by the incredible artistic achievements of the Renaissance. After breakfast, you travel by fast train to the city that acted as the Cradle of the Enlightenment supporting artists, architects, and poets like Michelangelo, Vasari, Micholozzo, and Leon Battista Alberti. The medieval city walls continue to wrap around the historic city center while the dramatic dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore adds luster to the fascinating skyline.

Brunelleschi designed the remarkable feat of architectural engineering in the 15th century by using a catenary arch for support resulting in the largest unreinforced brick dome ever built. The dramatic image stands nearly 375 feet tall supported by elegant walls of green, white, and pink marble. You can hear your footsteps echo through the soaring vaulted ceilings in the nave. A painting by Domenico di Michelino from the 15th century depicts the epic poet Dante standing in front of Florence with images from the Divine Comedy taking place in the background.

You stand underneath the dome and notice the stunning detail of The Last Judgement fresco wrapping around the cupola. The elaborate work encompasses 38,750 square feet. You continue to Piazza Santa Croce, where the elaborate blue and white marble façade stands elevated over the public square. An elegiac but poignant statue of Dante Alighieri watches over the piazza. The church has become a center for art, as well as a mausoleum for some of the city’s greatest names, Michelangelo, Galileo, Ghiberti, and Machiavelli among them.

For a unique and serene view of Florence, you wake before dawn to watch the sunrise over the city from the stunning vista of Piazzale Michelangelo. The hidden church of San Miniato al Monte sits above the piazza behind a verdant wall of cypress trees. You have views to the tranquil vineyards and rolling hills of Tuscany on the outskirts of the main city as well as a sweeping panorama of Florence’s historic towers, tiled-rooftops, and regal dome of the Duomo. After breakfast, you board the luxury car of the fast train to Venice for a different perspective on the aesthetics of historic charm.

The iconic gondolas wind through the twisting canals and beneath the walkways arching over the water. Palaces with opulent marble facades glisten along the twisting waterway of the Grand Canal, which stretches approximately two miles until reaching the lagoon. The scent of fresh produce overtakes the seafood aroma emanating from the Rialto Market. Your guide introduces you to the grace and grandeur of Piazza San Marco, home to the glistening façade of the eponymous basilica and the mixture of white and pink hues washing across the Doge’s Palace. The mixture of colors and masterful Venetian Gothic architecture creates a soft pattern resembling lacy lattice made of Istrian marble columns pink marble from Verona.

The original palace was made of wood and acted more like a fortress for the Doge instead of the Byzantine-style opulent complex erected between the 14th and 15th centuries after the original structure burnt down. You enter the Hall of the Great Council, which acted as the seat of power for the lower house of parliament during the Republic. The harmonious proportions accommodated as many as 1,800 spectators and participants discussing the necessary decisions of the Republic. The immaculate wall behind the high officials’ seats contains Tintoretto’s Paradise, which remains one of the world’s largest oil paintings.

On the way to Milan, you can stop in Verona, a serene town rich in archeology and legend located along a tight curve of the Adige River. A quick train ride has you within the historic city center looking up at the fascinating preserved arches of Roman amphitheater in Piazza Brà. The enormous structure was erected in the 3rd century AD and remains in use each summer during the Verona Opera Festival when the 44 rows of stadium seating can accommodate up to 22,000 spectators. The surprising feature is one of the best-preserved examples of a Roman amphitheater in all of Italy. Walking through Piazza delle Erbe, you find the sounds of a soothing fountain emanating from the center of the public square surrounded by charming cafes and elegant palaces.

The fountain was erected in the 14th century as the Madonna di Verona by repurposing an ancient marble statue originally placed on the Roman Capitol Hill in the city in the 4th century. You reach the home of Juliet Capulet located through a small passageway decorated with love notes and messages of support dedicated to the patron of love writ eternal in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. A bronze statue stands beneath the iconic balcony. Lovelorn, curious, and affectionate strangers continue to write letters Juliet answered by a committee of volunteers known as the Club di Giulietta. After exploring Verona, you will continue to Milan with the remainder of the day at your leisure.

In the morning, the trendy cafes along the banks of the Navigli Canal set out tables and chairs for their daily business. The charming neighborhood strung with lights fills with the scent of espresso and freshly baked pastries. You spend time at the heart of the city witnessing the stunning Gothic architecture of the Duomo. Over 3,400 statues and 135 spires texture the fascinating structure designed with the filigree of a fairytale castle. The extravagant detail culminates in the largest stained-glass windows of the Christian world bringing light and color into the nave.

You may have the opportunity to visit the Gothic brick church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which houses da Vinci's The Last Supper. The famous work decorates the refectory wall of the former monastery and depicts the last meal with fluid character that adds drama to the scene while also speaking to the transitioning artistic perspective of the time.

You will experience the beauty of Switzerland when you travel from Milan to Lucerne. As you travel between cities, a pastoral setting can give way to the historic center located on the shores of Lake Lucerne and the mouth of the River Reuss. The preserved medieval core of the city retains a sense of Old-World charisma emanating from the collection of historic buildings surrounded by the peaks of Mount Pilatus, Mount Rigi, Mount Titlis, and Jungfraujoch. Wander along the Spreuerbrücke, one of two covered wooden bridges in the city. Spreuerbrücke was erected in the 15th century and painted with 45 unique depictions of the danse macabre decorating the rafters.

You will continue to Zurich to find the charming capital of Swiss commerce. The city retains its historic allure in the form of the Old Town embodying enchanting narrow streets, sloping rooftops, and elegant spires. You can relax in the comfortable ambiance with a decadent hot chocolate before your guide leads you on a tour exploring the marvelous scenery and historic architecture.

After breakfast, you set out for Bern, the capital of Switzerland looking out over the verdant valley from atop a sandstone ridge. Bridges connect the city over the flowing waters of the Aare River joining the historic city center with the newer neighborhoods. Elegant arcades wind through the streets beside sloping roofs reflecting the prosperity of the city since the 17th century. The medieval charisma of the historic center retains winding cobbled lanes and hidden bookstores adding to the fairytale ambiance of old statues and over 100 trickling fountains.

You venture into the natural charm of Grindelwald, a village in alps at 3,392 feet above sea level. The history of the village dates back to documents written in the 12th century accentuated by the sparkling tongues of Oberer and Unterer Glaciers. Geraniums decorate the Alpine chalets bursting with color against the verdant pastures

The most famous fountain was erected in 1520 and depicts the ogre known as Kindlifresserbrunnen. Parents and grandparents of Bern used the allegorical figure as a threat to the children of the city who misbehaved. Local lore claims the 11 figures scattered around the city’s fountains represent vices and virtues who flow with wine at midnight on Christmas but possesses those who drink it. You continue to Meiringen, the birthplace of deliciously sweet meringues and the setting where Arthur Conan Doyle left the famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes to parish. The scent of pastries fills the streets of the 13th-century historic town situated at 2,000 feet above sea level on the valley floor of the Brünig Pass.

Zurich can feel familiar in the morning when the scent of pastries and coffee mix with the alpine air. The river can offer a quiet babble as the cafes open their doors as it winds beneath the medieval streets and squares of Old Town. On a clear day, the panoramas from the top of Uetliberg wash over the lake and offer views to the Black Forest in the distance. Whether you have an inclination to visit the Museum of Fine Arts or shop along the bustling boutiques of Bahnhofstrasse, your private transfer will greet you at the hotel when you are ready, and escort you to the airport for your flight home.