| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| Fly to Rome | Arrive in Rome | Rome | Rome | Rome Cruise Starts | Naples, Italy | |
| At Sea | Crete (Chania), Greece | At Sea | Kusadasi, Turkey (for Ephesus) | Mykonos, Greece | Athens Cruise Ends | Athens |
| Fly Home |
Day 0 – Fly to Rome
Day 1 – Rome
Morning- arrive at rome airport
Afternoon – getting to rome
Booking a private driving tour of the Appian Way or hidden Rome, staying mostly in the car with optional short stops (catacombs, aqueduct park views, or Piazzas)
We’ll Check in at our hotel, Hotel Mancino 12, and relax for a bit.
evening – walk & dinner
We’ll take a walk from the hotel to:
- Basilica of Saint Mary of Minerva (open 2 – 7:30pm)
- Pantheon (open until 7pm)
- Church of Saint Louis of the French (open 2:30 – 6:30pm)
- 3 Caravaggio masterpieces
- The Calling of Saint Matthew: A scene depicting Christ calling Matthew to follow him.
- The Inspiration of Saint Matthew: A work showing an angel dictating to Saint Matthew as he writes the Gospel.
- The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew: A dramatic depiction of Saint Matthew’s death, with a self-portrait of Caravaggio included in the background.
- 3 Caravaggio masterpieces
- Piazza Navona (for dinner)
- Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini
- Sant’Agnese in Agone Church by Francesco Borromini
- Fontana del Moro by Bernini
- Stadium of Domitian (closes at 6:20pm)
- Fountain of Neptune by Bernini
4 Star Restaurants on Piazza Navona are 4 Fiumi – Piazza Navona or Ai Tre Tartufi. We’ll walk back to the hotel along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II (about a 1/2 mile) and stop by the Templo Fortuna del gioro site – Where Ceasar was murdered.
Day 2 – Rome
Morning – Vatican Early Access
- Early Morning Vatican tour – Alone in the Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museums with Breakfast at in the Pinecone courtyard and followed up by a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica
- 6:30 AM – 11:00 am
Afternoon – Castel Sant’Angelo
From the Basilica walk down the Via della Conciliazione to the Castel Sant’Angelo and St. Angelo Bridge built in 134 AD by Hadrian.
Take a bus back to Piazza Venezia to spend the afternoon relaxing
Evening – Colosseum Night Tour
Seven days in advance, tickets for the night tours of the Colosseum go on sale. https://ticketing.colosseo.it/en/eventi/una-notte-al-colosseo/
Day 3 – Rome
morning – piazza venezia & roman forum
Afternoon Pasta-making class – Make Pasta & Gelato in Rome’s Best Cooking Class $90 per person
Lunch – Piazza del Popolo
evening – Trevi fountain WALK
Then lets finish off our special time in Rome with a rooftop drink at Notos to start the evening off!
Around the corner we’ll check out to the Galleria Sciarra (closes at 8pm)
And then dinner at Don Pasquale Restaurant & Bar and after a walk to see the Trevi Fountain in the moonlight
Day 3 – Rome – Start Cruise
Day 4 – Naples
Day 5 – At Sea
Day 6 – Chania, Crete
Embark on an unforgettable day tour that dives deep into the heart of Cretan culture through its rich and celebrated culinary traditions. Perfect for food lovers, culture seekers, and curious travelers, this experience offers an authentic taste of Crete’s heritage, nature, and warm hospitality.
Tour Highlights:
A Step Back in Time: Marvel at the ancient Olive Tree of Vouves, the oldest known olive tree in the world, estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000 years old. Its gnarled, sculptural trunk tells the story of Crete’s timeless relationship with nature and tradition.
Local Bakery Visit: Witness the art of traditional Cretan baking firsthand. See how rusks, breads, and other savory treats are made, and savor their irresistible flavors.
Olive Grove & Honey Experience: Stroll among ancient olive trees and learn the fascinating story behind Crete’s prized olives and golden honey.
Cheese Factory: Step inside a renowned, multi-awarded cheese factory. If cheese production is underway, observe the process; if not, enjoy an engaging introduction before indulging in an exclusive cheese tasting experience.
Family-Owned Winery Tour: Explore the Pnevmatikakis Winery, where you’ll discover the secrets of Cretan winemaking. Taste a variety of celebrated local wines, paired perfectly with delicious Cretan delicacies. (Children are also warmly welcomed with a specially crafted platter and beverages!)
A Taste of Cretan Nature: Indulge in a traditional tasting platter featuring the best of Crete’s natural bounty—olive oil, fresh tomatoes, olives, cheese, honey, and more—offering a true feast for your senses.
Day 7 – At Sea
Day 8 – Kusadasi, Turkey
http://ekoltravel.com/tour/kus-tour-4/
Meet with your Private Professional Licensed Guide at Kusadasi Port with your name sign and start the trip with a beautiful landscape drive to reach The House of Virgin Mary, the place where she is believed to have spent her last years. It is recorded that St. John brought Virgin Mary to Ephesus after the death of Christ and that a small house was built for her on Bulbuldagi Mount. On July 26, 1967, Pope Paul VI visited The House of Virgin Mary and declared one of the pilgrimage center.
Continue on to Ancient Ephesus which has been a religious center of the early Christianity in ancient time– Apostol Paul and Apostol John stayed and preached in Ephesus! Our days, one can see the extensive ruins including the The Odeon, State Agora, The Prytaneion, Domitian Square, Hercules Gate, The Fountain of Trajan-one of the finest monuments in Ephesus, Temple of Hadrian, walk through the Curetes Street, Celsius Library-was the third largest library with the capacity of 12,000 scrolls, The Gymnasium, The Grand Theatre-most magnificent structure in Ephesus, The Arcadian Way..and much more monuments remained preserved till our days, constantly reminding us the great history of this ancient city.
Our next stop is at The Basilica of Saint John. Saint John who came here with the Virgin Mary and wrote his Gospel. Emperor Justinian believed that a tomb dating from the 300s was Johns and he built a great church above it. The last stop is The Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders on the Ancient World, a famous temple build for the goddess Artemis, known as Diana in ancient world.
After the tour,drive back to Kusadasi Port.
NOTE!
The Terrace Houses section is located inside of Ancient City of Ephesus and has an extra entrance fee – 15 USD per person. So called as the houses of rich, the oldest building dates back into the 1C BC. You will be able to see fine mosaics and frescoes and the famous heating system thru clay pipes. Inside this section are over 100 steps and glass scaffoldings. Not recommended for people with physical disabilities. Minimum require time to visit is 30 minutes.
Recommended to inform us prior the tour date if you want to add its visit!
Ancient city of Ephesus it’s an open air museum and includes 1.5 km. walking.
Program order: The order in which visits are mentioned might be changed and/or adjusted, according to circumstances.
Day 9 – Mykonos
Walking around Mykonos
- Holy Church of Agios Nikolaos of Kadena
- Mykonos Castle (Ruins) & Church of Panagia Paraportiani
- Windmills of Mykonos
- Il Forno di Gerasimo Bakery – Best Baklava & Spanakopita, Carrot Cake
Day 10 – Athens – End Cruise
Day 11 – Athens
Day 12 – Fly Home
Organized Travelers 