October 16-27, 2024 | 12 Days in Italy with option to visit the ROME LDS Temple

For good reason, Italy is near the top of many “Bucket Lists”. For those with interest in the new LDS Rome Temple, there is now even greater interest. One of the world’s great travel destinations is now even better. But that is only a small part of this exciting 12 day itinerary that will take you through Rome, Umbria, Florence, Tuscany, Venice, Verona, Milan and the beautiful Lakes District. We will fly into Rome and home from Milan.

And we’ll do it in the fall which is a perfect time to be there. The summer heat is gone and the temperatures are perfect.  Temperatures in Rome in mid October are around 75 degrees. In Venice and Milan it is comfortable in the lower 70’s. It is a lovely time to be in the region.  So read on! We hope you’ll join us as celebrate again the many wonders of Italy!

October 16:  This morning we gather for our flights to Rome, Italy arriving the morning of the second day (reflecting the 8 hour time change) – Dinner and breakfast are served on the flights. D, B

October 17:  Arrive in Rome, generally in the late morning.  Our private coach will be waiting for us. We will make two very interesting stops on the way in to Rome: The first is a visit to a church called “St. Paul’s Outside the Walls”. Paul’s remains (he was martyred in Rome) are thought to be here. After lunch at the church, we continue to the Catacombs of San Sebastian for a one hour visit. This is a monument to the early Christians – many of whom gave their lives for their beliefs. It is a very interesting place to visit. We continue to our hotel to rest and freshen up. A welcome dinner is included at our hotel tonight.  B, D

October 18: The history in Rome is breathtaking and our exceptional local guide will spend the morning with us as we visit the Colosseum, the massive amphitheater built in 70 AD.  You will be impressed.  We’ll then stroll up the adjacent Palatine Hill where, as legend has it, Rome began.  It was also home to the palaces of Caesar Augustus, Tiberius and others.  The fabulous Roman Forum is right below us and the view is breathtaking.  We’ll descend the stairs and enjoy some time in the Forum. We’ll also visit the famous Piazza Navona and the inspiring Pantheon.  After a fun, included lunch at Eataly, we’ve scheduled a visit to the fabulous Borghese Gallery, housed in a former villa in a lovely park setting.  The art and sculpture are among the best in Italy – and it’s small so it isn’t overwhelming.  B, L

October 19:  Today you have an option. You can remain in Rome to visit other attractions or museums in the city. OR you can visit the Rome Temple and Visitor’s Center, and have plenty of time to take it all in. We have a session reserved for our group. We’ll spend the morning there enjoying the temple and the Visitor’s Center houses a fabulous Christus statue and sculptures of the original 12 apostles – made from Italian Carrara marble (where we’ll visit later).  We’ll then return to the hotel to change our clothes and rest.  In the afternoon, all will have a chance to visit the Vatican Museums (with our guide), ending in the fabulous Sistine Chapel.  As we exit the Sistine Chapel, we’ll enter St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest in the world – featuring the Pieta and other contributions from Michelangelo (who also designed the dome).  It is stunning. If time permits, join your guide for a visit to Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps.    B

October 20:  Today we leave Rome, making our way toward Florence.  On our way, we’ll make a stop in the charming medieval town of Orvieto, built on the top of a massive natural rock formation. A funicular will take us to the top and we’ll have a local guide show us this scenic and very interesting town followed by lunch and some shopping time.  The colorful façade of the Duomo (church) anchors the pedestrian area with narrow streets, sidewalk cafes, and ancient towers.  We’ll take in the views of the surrounding Umbrian countryside and show you some very interesting history here. We then head for Florence arriving at Piazza Michelangelo in time to enjoy the sunset over Florence. It is a beautiful sight. We stay for 3 nights in Florence. B, D

October 21:  Welcome to the cradle of the Renaissance, and one of the world’s most historic cities.  To appreciate Florence, you need to be with competent guides that can bring the history to life.  Our directors and our local guides will do just that.  We’ll spend the morning on an interesting walking tour.  No cars allowed in the historic district. We’ll see the impressive Duomo (perhaps the most famous church in Italy), the famous Baptistry, Piazza della Signoria (with its outdoor sculpture displays), Palazzo Vecchio, the River Arno and the famous Ponte Vecchio (“Old Bridge”). And of course, the star of the show will be Michelangelo’s David in the Academia Museum. Until you have seen the original, up close and in this place, you haven’t seen it.  You’ll then have some time for shopping in the outdoor markets and a fun lunch on your own in the Centra Market. This afternoon you can do what you wish in Florence. You can rest at the hotel, stroll through the Pitti Palace and Biboli Gardens, or visit the famous Uffizi Museum, one of the greatest art museums in the world.  All are within walking distance.  B, D

October 22:  Today, we depart for an interesting day trip from Florence to visit Pisa and Carrara.  Pisa is about an hour away and we’ll see the famous “Leaning Tower” and the exquisite Baptistry.  There is some very important history to share about Pisa (it’s about much more than a crooked tower).  After 40 minute drive, we arrive in Carrara where we’ll see this stunning range of WHITE MARBLE mountains along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. After lunch in a quaint local restaurant, we then transfer from our bus to jeeps and we drive up to top of the Carrara quarry. Michelangelo’s masterpieces came from here. The Christus in the Rome Temple came from here. The marble used for the great Roman sculptures came from here.  It is a fascinating afternoon. We then return to our hotel in Florence.  B, L

October 23:  About 30 minutes away, we are in the Tuscan hilltop town of San Gimignano, my favorite place in Tuscany.  The whole town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an interesting place to explore.  The views of surrounding Tuscany, the medieval towers that are perfectly intact, and the interesting history make this a highlight.  After our visit, we’ll have lunch at a local restaurant overlooking the rolling Tuscan hills and the incredibel fall scene.  Our afternoon drive today takes us into the Venice area where we’ll stay for two nights in Mestre.  Dinner is included tonight.  B, D

October 24:  We get an early start today as we are in one of the most interesting places on earth.  Our route is carefully chosen.  Our PRIVATE boat takes us first to the island of Murano, home to the famous glass-making operations.  We’ll see a brief demonstration.  We continue by private boat to the colorful town of Burano with its bright colored houses, narrow canals and fabulous hand-made LACE products.  You’ll have time for lunch and browsing here and it is CHARMING!  We then return to the heart of Venice and walk you through the maze of narrow streets with our local guide. We’ll start at famous San Marcos Square and end at “Rialto Bridge”.  We’ll share the interesting history as we take in the sites. You’ll then have time for dinner on your own in that perfect little Italian restaurant in Venice. We then return back to our hotel.  B

October 25:  Today we head west.  Within an hour, we arrive in Verona, a prosperous modern town and an interesting historical town.  We’ll walk by the Colosseum (a mini version of the one in Rome), through the pedestrian area to the medieval center.  You can even take a look at Juliet’s Balcony (from Romeo and Juliet).  We’ll give you time for lunch and browsing in this quaint place.  Lunch is included in Verona. We then continue on to Milan where we’ll take you on a short walk from the Milan Castle to the fabulous Duomo – perhaps the most stunning church in Italy (from the outside). Our hotel is in Milan.  B, L

October 26:  Today is a day to enjoy nature.  About 90 minutes away, is the town of Stressa, on beautiful Lake Maggiore.  We’ll take a boat ride visiting the Borromean Islands with their interesting villas, gardens, markets and just plain charm.  The mountain backdrop (as we are close to Switzerland), steep hills and beautiful water make this a magnificent place.  We will tour inside the opulent Borromean Palace with its exquisite gardens. You’ll have time for lunch on the waterfront with this impressive backdrop. We continue back to Milan for a brief rest. A farewell dinner is included in Milan this evening.  B, D

October 27: Transfer to the airport for flights home. B

Registration Information:

To make a reservation, simply fill out the attached reservation form and send it to us with a deposit of $400 per person.  When we receive your deposit, we will mail you a receipt confirming that you are registered for the tour.  A letter with instructions, hotel itinerary flight information (if applicable) and luggage tags will be sent roughly 60 days prior to departure at which time the balance will be due.  You do not need to pay the balance until after you receive that packet.  We require final payments in the form of a check.  If that is not possible, arrangements can be made to use a credit card.  Webb Tours accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. A 2% fee applies to final payments made by credit card.

Cancellation Penalties

We understand that you may need to cancel your trip for whatever reason.  If it is 120 days or more before departure, all money will be refunded.  If airline tickets are purchased prior to that time (with your permission), they become the property of the traveler and are not refundable.  All other funds will be returned if cancellation occurs outside of 120 days.  If it is within 120 days, we will charge you only what Webb Tours cannot recover.  In some cases, we can recover all of it.  In others, we cannot.  Cruise lines, airlines, hotels and other service providers require funds in advance and have their own rules about what will be refunded once paid.  We must follow their guidelines.  For airlines, specifically, tickets are generally non refundable when purchased.  However, most airlines will allow the value of the canceled tickets to be reused for future travel, though a penalty may be assessed to reuse the tickets.  If you have to cancel, Webb Tours will work with other providers to obtain as much refund as possible for our travelers.  Our travelers know us to be very fair in this regard.

Cancellation Insurance: 

Cancellation insurance is also available should you be interested.  The insurance provider that we us is Travelex Insurance.  You can learn about them at www.travelexinsurance.com.  With this insurance, most of your money will be returned to you in case you have to cancel for covered reasons (illness or death of an immediate family member) at the last minute.  The price for the insurance varies based on the price of the trip and the age of the participant (at the time the insurance is purchased). 

If you are interested in the insurance, you can purchase it through Webb Tours at any time. The insurance goes into effect once purchased.  If you have any pre-existing conditions, it is best to purchase the insurance within 14 days of making your initial deposit as that will cover an illness that may result from a pre-existing condition. If you don’t have pre-existing conditions, you can purchase the insurance any time between now and the time you make your final payment.  Insurance cannot be purchased after your final payment is made.  Webb Tours is not the insurer and acts as agent for Travelex.  To activate your insurance, we need your premium and your birth date.  Insurance also includes the following items:

Trip interruption up to 150% of the cost of the trip (if you have to leave in the middle of the trip)

• Trip delay: $750
• Missed Connection: $750
• Baggage & Personal Effects (for lost luggage): $1,000
• Baggage Delay: $200
• Emergency medical/dental expenses: $50,000
• Emergency Medical Evacuation: $500,000
• Accidental death/dismemberment during travel: $25,000

Per person prices are as follows:

Price and Currency Fluctuations: The tour price was set based on December, 2019 exchange rates. If the exchange rates change by more than 10%, the tour will be repriced accordingly. In addition, please be aware that there will be NO discounts given on this tour.

Mail deposit and enclosed reservation form to:

WEBB TOURS

2378 Evergreen Avenue

Salt Lake City, UT  84109

Tel. (801) 278-3101

or Toll Free 1-800-658-8519

Or call us and register over the phone.  We hope you can join us.