France, Italy, and Greece Vacation: Beacons of Western History & Culture

The majestic city of Paris welcomes visitors with a blend of grandiose history and familiar contemporary culture that winds along the quaint, cobblestone streets and wide boulevards. Cafes from the Belle Époque fill the air with the scent of frothy cappuccinos, and colorful traditional bakeries emanate the aromas of chocolate, croissants, fresh baguettes, and delicious macarons. Your private transfer will greet you at Charles de Gaulle Airport upon your arrival as they whisk you into the heart of the captivating city known for its famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and dome of the Sacré-Coeur.

After settling into the comforts of your hotel, your guide will meet you in the lobby, eager to introduce you to the marvels of Paris by showing you the Île de Cité, home to Notre Dame de Paris. The foundations of the cathedral were constructed in the twelfth century and give rise to the famous 230-foot tall spire and intricate rose window. You will notice the detailed gargoyles that are perched on the balcony, depicted with unique, grotesque features to scare away evil spirits and to act as water spouts. The interior shines with colorful, gem-like light that filters through a thirteenth-century rose windows. The West Front window of the cathedral depicts the Old Testament in 80 spectacular scenes.

The monuments of Paris have become iconic symbols of greater France with instantly recognizable beauty and historical significance that are captured in images like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and the Seine River. Your guide will greet you in the hotel where the scent of fresh croissants will fill the dining room.

You will then make your way, first, to the greenery of the Champs de Mars, an open park that leads to the stunning figure of the Eiffel Tower. The tower was designed and erected as the entrance to the 1889 Paris Exhibition of the World’s Fair and represents progress while also commemorating the anniversary of the French Revolution. Three hundred sixty steps lead to the first level of the tower, but an elevator will take you to the top at 905 feet above the city streets for the most spectacular panorama of the French neighborhoods and the Seine River.

The elegant architecture and long history of political, social, and artistic expression will create a unique ambiance for which Paris is celebrated. Your guide will meet you at the iconic glass pyramid that was added to the Louvre complex in 1917. The vast exhibit space displays 30,000 works of art crafted by European masters between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries, in addition to antiquities from around the Mediterranean Sea that date back as many as 9,000 years.

You will then follow your guide along a selected portion of the 645,834 square feet museum to view masterpieces such as the Mona Lisaand The Coronation of Napoleon. The eighteenth-century Neoclassical sculpture Psyche Revived by the Kiss of Lovewill captivate you with the intricate details that were given to the facial features and bodies. The museum gallery also hosts The Cheat with the Ace of Diamondsby George de la Tour. The unique painting depicts a flamboyant member of the aristocracy unaware of a card cheat and his compatriot serving wine. The card cheat also breaks the fourth wall by looking directly at the viewer, as if letting the audience in on the scheme.

Florence is a city of wonder that inspired the likes of Dante, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo. The goldsmiths on the Ponte Vecchio continue in the tradition of crafting intricate metalwork that dates back to the fourteenth century, crossing the waters of the Arno River. The elaborate dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore soars above the cobblestone streets and adorns the skyline with a symbol of the Florence at more than 375 feet tall, standing as the largest unreinforced brick dome in the world. The city embodies the creativity, experimentation, and grandeur of the Renaissance as it hosts enchanting works of master artists like Donatello, Botticelli in the Uffizi, and the captivating sculpture of Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia.

Your guide will meet you at the hotel ready to immerse you in the rich history of Florence that is known for constant fighting between the Guelfs and the Ghibellines. Exploring the Duomo at the heart of the antique city will provide a deep immersion into the marvelous iconography that is displayed in the niches along the city wall that boast natural red, white, and green hues. Your guide will then take you beneath the dome to view the marvelous fresco that depicts the Last Judgement.

In the morning, your private escort will greet you at the hotel in the heart of Florence ready to lead you to the charming Umbrian town of Assisi on your way to Rome. The scenic ride will highlight the similarities between the rolling hills, lush plains, and sporadic, dramatic mountainous crags that shape the Tuscan and Umbrian landscapes. The city of Assisi was the birthplace of St. Francis and has retained much of its medieval charm. The castle of Rocca Maggiore will crown the summit with powerful walls and the remains of a tower as it stands over 4,232 feet above sea level.

The main draw of Assisi is the remarkable basilica that was erected in the thirteenth century and combines the architectural aesthetics of Romanesque and Gothic design. Your guide will lead you on a tour through the two distinct levels of the religious complex. The tomb of St. Francis is located in the lower chapel, which was hidden for nearly 600 years until the early nineteenth century.

After settling into your gorgeous accommodations in Rome, you will continue on a tour of the city’s fabulous monuments that include the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and the Piazza Navona for a classic introduction to the historical city center. The elegance of the art once celebrated around the city will radiate from Bernini’s seventeenth-century Fountain of the Four Rivers.

History and culture permeate every corner of Rome with piazzas, palaces, and gardens with hidden pasts, encouraging mysteries, and fascinating artifacts. You will set out with your guide after breakfast for a deeper discovery of what makes Rome the Eternal City, beginning with a tour of Vatican City. The Papal State once ruled over the greater region of Lazio before separating from Rome and the nation of Italy in 1929, becoming one of the smallest independent states in the world.

Inside the museum galleries, there are approximately 70,000 works of art and artifacts, 20,000 of which are on display at any given time throughout the 54 galleries. The tour will end inside the breathtaking sala of the Sistine Chapel, which embodies the height of the Renaissance. The vibrant colors will highlight the Biblical scenes on display along the walls, and the ceiling will host the famous frescoes painted by Michelangelo in the sixteenth century. At the center of the montage, you will find the iconic image of the Creation of Adam.

Your guide will then lead you further back in time after exploring the Vatican by visiting the preserved ancient ruins of the Colosseum and Roman Forum, which have become emblems of Rome’s most enduring quality. The dramatic outer wall of the Colosseum demands attention as it stands over 157 feet tall and dates back to the first century. The remains of the interior stadium seating highlight the ability of the structure to contain up to 50,000 spectators beneath an awning that is supported by 240 masts.

The seductive beauty of the Amalfi Coast hides centuries of history as it reaches across the Tyrrhenian Sea to the edges of the Byzantine Empire. Your private transfer will escort you from Rome to the 25-mile long roadway that is nestled between the Maritime Mountains and the glistening waters of the Mediterranean. Majestic towns like Ravello, Positano, and Atrani will reflect the distinctive, yet similar cultures of the coastline that are connected by the once powerful rule of Amalfi. The main town on the coast shines with a cluster of white houses that resemble pearls climbing up the cliffs.

A promenade overlooks the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, combining the azure water with the colorful fishing boats that wade in the marina. Locals will linger along the sidewalk cafes as they sip espresso. The marvelous Duomo was erected between the ninth and tenth centuries combining Arab-Norma, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque elements by the end of the nineteenth century.

In the morning, you will venture around the Bay of Naples, traveling beneath the looming peak of Mount Vesuvius. Your guide will greet you at the gates of the ancient city, happy to lead you back in time while uncovering the hidden secrets of the former, thriving Roman colony and port city. The ruined city of Pompeii remains an enchanting destination due to its ability to provide a glimpse into the daily life of the ancient, Western World.

The sprawling site still retains a haunting ambiance with the active crater of Mount Vesuvius still lingering in the distance. You can wander the wide and open streets of the city leading to the former Roman Forum. You can also see the remains of the Temple of Apollo, which is the oldest building in Pompeii. The fragments of the complex date back to the second century BC with copies of the original statues placed alongside the porticos and depicting Apollo and Diana as archers. You will continue to the House of Menander. Here, the interior rooms contain elaborate frescoes that depict popular scenes from Homer’s famous epic poem, The Iliad.

The ruins of Delphi retain a stunning charisma that emanate from its position on a soaring plateau. The ancient city was famously the naval capital of the world and hosted the legendary sanctuary of Apollo with a shrine tended to by the oracle. Your guide will lead you along the remaining streets and fascinating remains of ancient Delphi, beginning with the Sacred Way, which is the main road that leads over 656 feet from the entrance gate to the sanctuary.

Iconic monuments and city treasures once lined the boulevard with columns and bases. The massive theater of Delphi was carved into the natural grade of the mountain in the fourth century BC and accommodated up to 5,000 spectators on 35 rows. Whether sitting on a front bench or the top row, the theater will offer a commanding view of the stage with a breathtaking backdrop of mountain ridges and the meandering valley floor.

In the morning, you will travel with your private transfer South to Athens, the symbol of Western Civilization. The illustrious history of the city spans more than three millennia and is featured in the preserved ancient temples and theaters. Dazzling Byzantine churches, gorgeous Neoclassical mansions, and charismatic contemporary cafes act like a living timeline that are accentuated by the narrow pedestrian lanes as they are lined with the whitewashed walls of antique houses. Your introduction to Athens will encompass a private guided tour of the National Archeology Museum that is located inside a Neoclassical structure with 86,111 square feet of exhibition space.

Artifacts on display will highlight the remains of prehistorical settlements to a comprehensive overview of classical to late period Greek antiquity. You will follow your guide to the fascinating highlights inside the galleries to view captivating artworks and artifacts like the Kore and Kouros statues. The freestanding pieces are the earliest discovered examples of Archaic Period sculptures that date back to the sixth century BC and stand over six feet tall. The female statue, known as Kore, is perfectly preserved and considered one of the most important archaic artworks ever discovered.

The neighborhoods winding around the Acropolis will host narrow streets that open to elaborate views of the summit, where the symbol of Western Civilization stands in the form of the Parthenon. You will meet your guide in the mid-level of the metro station beneath Syntagma Square to begin your comprehensive tour of Athenian history.

Your guide will take you along the marbled walkways that lead to the top of the legendary Acropolis to view the Parthenon up close. The stunning marbled remains stand on foundations set in the fifth century BC and create the ultimate sacred shrine to the goddess Athena. The fluted, Doric columns support the structure as it was engineered to create the optical illusion of a perfectly balanced building from every angle in the city.

In the morning, the scent of fresh Greek coffee will drift in from the cafes. The sunlight will wash over the 15 massive standing columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. The ancient Panathenaic stadium will continue to draw crowds that are eager to view the seating capacity for up to 60,000 spectators. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you in the hotel lobby and escort you away from the charms of the Plaka and ancient marvels of the Acropolis to reach Athens International Airport, where you will board your flight home.