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

A $400 deposit is required to reserve your space. To make a reservation, simply register online by completing the booking form above. Your deposit will be charged to your credit card. If you prefer, you can call us and we will take your reservation information and credit card details over the phone.  When we receive your reservation, we will email 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 105 days prior to departure. The balance will be due roughly 90 days prior to departure.  You do not need to pay the balance until after you receive that package.  We prefer final payments in the form of a check.  Webb Tours also accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. A 2.5% fee applies to final payments made by credit card to cover a portion of the credit card company fees (which are now around 4%)

Cancellation Policy:

We understand that you may need to cancel your trip for unforeseen reasons.  If cancellation occurs 120 days or more before departure, your deposit is refundable.  If airline tickets are purchased prior to that time (with your permission), they are the responsibility of the traveler. In most cases, airlines will allow the value of airline tickets to be used for future travel.  If it is within 120 days, your deposit and other committed funds are non refundable.  

Travel Protection:

In today’s changing travel environment, it is important to protect your travel investment so you can relax and enjoy your trip. Unforeseen events such as flight delays, baggage loss or even sudden sickness or injury could impact your travel plans. For your convenience, we offer Travelex Insurance Services 360° Group Premier Protection Plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected.

Premium for this insurance depends on your age and trip cost and is priced as follows:

Trip Cost (per person)        Ages 0-59                 Ages 60-74                      Ages 75+

For coverage details and explanation of benefits, you can view or download the policy by going to  https://policy.travelexinsurance.com/GPZ-1023.

If you are interested in the travel insurance, please contact Webb Tours any time up until final payment for the tour.  You must be medically fit at the time you buy the insurance.  The insurance goes into effect once purchased.

This is intended as a general description of certain types of insurance and services available to qualified customers through the companies of Zurich in North America, provided solely for informational purposes.  Nothing herein should be construed as a solicitation, offer, advice, recommendation, or any other service with regard to any type of insurance product underwritten by individual member companies of Zurich in North America, including Zurich American Insurance Company, 1299 Zurich Way, Schaumburg, IL 60196. Your policy is the contract that specifically and fully describes your coverage, terms and conditions. Travelex Insurance Services Inc. CA Agency license #0D10209. Insurance coverages underwritten by individual member companies of Zurich in North America, including Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC # 16535).

Insurance 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 interruption – return airfare only – $1,000
• Trip Cancellation – 100% of insured trip cost (up to $20,000)
• Trip delay: $1,000 (minimum delay of 5 hours)
• Missed Connection: $1,000 (with a minimum delay of 3 hours)
• Baggage (for lost luggage): $1,500
• Baggage Delay: $250 (minimum of 12 hour delay)
• Emergency medical: $50,000
• Emergency Dental: $500
• Emergency Medical Evacuation: $250,000 (including $25,000 for escort expenses)
• Accidental death/dismemberment during travel: $10,000

For benefit and rate information, please review the Group Premier product flyer at https://partner.travelexinsurance.com/docs/premier

Unexpected flight cancellations or weather delays:  Webb Tours works diligently to cover all of the details associated with your travel. We make sure that all ground transportation, lodging, local tours, restaurants, specialists, etc, are in place and awaiting our arrival. We ensure that our directors are well prepared to provide you with an experience that exceeds your expectations.  One thing we do NOT control are the airlines. Significant problems can arise on a group tour due to canceled flights, weather delays or missed connections. In the case of a flight cancellation, Webb Tours will do all we can to work with the airline to move people to the next available flights. Any portion of the tour that is missed due to flight delays or cancellations is NOT the financial responsibility of Webb Tours. Refunds will not be given for hotels, ground transportation, activities or meals that are missed due to flight interruptions. This is another good reason to purchase the travel insruance which has a provision for missed connections (see Group Premier product flyer referenced above for details).  Your participation in the tour signifies that you understand and accept this policy.

Register for your tour on line or mail deposit and reservation details 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.