10 days
Go back in time with all the modern amenities on this educational tour of London, Paris, Florence and Rome. Discover the most popular landmarks in London, from high in the sky on the London Eye and walking through the streets to Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden and Leicester Square. Explore London’s neighborhoods, picking up produce at the Borough’s Market*. Watch the Changing of the Guard, before taking the Eurostar to Paris. In the City of Love and Light, take a photo with the Eiffel Tower and see the Mona Lisa’s mysterious smile at the Louvre. Travel along the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Walk around the Latin Quarter to learn more about its academic history and literary culture. In the gently rolling hills of Florence, experience ornate architecture at Giotto’s Bell Tower and impressive art at the Gates of Paradise. Once we arrive in Rome, try the local flavors with a blind gelato tasting contest. Experience one of the oldest cities in Europe, visiting Rome’s preserved history at the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and the Spanish Steps. Drift away into ancient times on a visit to the Colosseum where gladiators fought. Imagine the emperor’s speeches from the Forum Romanum. See Michelangelo’s masterpieces, among many other exquisite artworks, where they are collected in the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, before the journey home, to ensure that this trip to Rome is the first of many.
Start at the biggest city in Western Europe, London, founded by the Romans nearly 200 years ago. Ride the London Eye to see the city from the sky. Walk along popular streets to Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden and through the middle of Leicester Square, where there’s a statue of William Shakespeare. Explore London’s cosmopolitan neighborhoods, including Borough Market*, set at the crossing point of the River Thames, the London Bridge. Watch the ceremonial Changing of the Guard, where the New Guard marches in, accompanied by a band of the finest military musicians, taking over the responsibility of guarding Buckingham Palace from the Old Guard.
Considered one of the most attractive cities, Paris is also admired as a place of education and intellect. Make the trip to the Eiffel Tower for an iconic photo. Tour the City of Light to see the monuments, including the Tuileries Gardens and Les Invalides. Drive along one of the most famous avenues in the world, Champs-Élysées, all the way to the Arc de Triomphe. See the Notre-Dame Cathedral, whose construction began in 1163 and has continued through multiple re-creations to this day. Let the literary culture and educational heritage settle in on a walk through Latin Quarter, named after the college that taught solely in Latin, the Sorbonne. Discover over 26 centuries of collected art in the Louvre Museum, including Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the Mona Lisa, treasures of French kings and Egyptian antiques.
Learn why Florence is known for its historical and architectural marvels on this tour. At the Basilica of Santa Croce lies the tombs of prominent Florentine scholars and artists. Find the Fountain of Neptune, among other prominent statues, in the Piazza della Signoria. View the Duomo, best-known for its mosaics and dome design. See the doors that Michelangelo called the Gates of Paradise, sculpted from bronze and depicting scenes from the Bible. Much of the architecture here took years to complete. Giotto’s Bell Tower alone was the work of three artists over 25 years. Florence is also the home of Dante, who is considered the father of the Italian language. Some of the historical landmarks in Florence span back to Roman times. One in particular is the Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno River. Perhaps the most important takeaways on this trip to Florence is that gelato was created here.
Travel back in time on a trip to Rome, first founded in 753 BC. Rome has been the center of multiple religious traditions, starting with temples to the gods to its current foothold as the center of Christianity. On foot, see the Pantheon, which began as a temple to the gods and is now dedicated to the Christian church – the architecture still influences our buildings today. Stop to admire the three famous fountains of the Piazza Navona and climb the Spanish Steps. Take a break from all this ancient history for a blind gelato tasting contest. Explore the glory of Vatican City, taking in the masterpieces of Michelangelo, one crowning the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and more in the various Vatican Museums. Notice how dramatically things can change at St. Peter’s Basilica, starting as a place where Christians were part of the entertainment in Nero’s games and now dedicated to the sanctity of Christianity. See the Colosseum, an amphitheater built to hold 50,000 spectators. View the setting of public meetings, gladiator combats and ceremonies at Forum Romanum. Before departing, be sure to toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, as it is widely believed that doing so ensures a return trip to Rome.
Take off from home, flying through the night to London.
Upon arrival in London, get familiar with the city on a walking tour. Explore places like Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden and Leicester Square on an orientation walking tour. Go up on the London Eye, high above the River Thames, for a bird’s-eye view of the city’s architecture.
On a guided tour of London, see Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge. Set off on a fun exploration of London’s neighborhoods, including Borough Market* for fresh produce. Among the 13th to 20th century paintings at the National Gallery, see the permanent exhibitions and find the art of Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet and Leonardo da Vinci.
*We visit a different market on Sundays, as Borough Market is closed.
Watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Dive under the English Channel on a Eurostar Train trip from London to Paris.
Explore the landmarks on a guided tour, starting at the iconic Eiffel Tower for a morning photo op. Continue on to see the military museums of Les Invalides, the lovely Tuileries Garden, drive along the Champs-Élysées and finish up at the famous Arc de Triomphe. Stop by Notre-Dame Cathedral to discover its history, dating back to the 12th-century. On a Latin Quarter tour, walk along the Seine River, down the Boulevard Saint-Michel, over to see the oldest tree in Paris at Square René Viviani and end at the historical Sorbonne university.
Discover endless works of art, from the original Mona Lisa to ancient Egyptian artifacts, at the world’s largest art museum, the Louvre. Have some free time in Paris, before traveling to Florence by night train.
Explore Florence on a guided sightseeing tour of to learn the Franciscan history of the Basilica of Santa Croce, the political center of Piazza della Signoria, the breathtaking Duomo cathedral, the bronze-sculpted Gates of Paradise, the magnificent architecture of Giotto’s Bell Tower, the iconography of Dante’s House and the medieval Ponte Vecchio bridge. Afterward, enjoy some free time in Florence.
Travel to the Eternal City of Rome. Guess the flavors and find a favorite in a gelato tasting contest in Rome. Get familiar with Rome on an evening orientation walk to the preserved Roman temple, the Pantheon, the elegant Piazza Navona and climb the Spanish Steps. Toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain in hopes to return to Rome.
Learn about Rome’s most iconic sights on a guided walking tour with Whisper headsets. Discover the glorious, historical collections in the Vatican Museums, Michelangelo’s masterpieces in the Sistine Chapel, the holy shrine of St. Peter’s Basilica, the giant amphitheatre of the Colosseum, the cultural hub of Piazza Venezia and the surviving structures of the Forum Romanum. Share a Trattoria dinner, enjoying traditional Italian cuisine.
Leave The Eternal City, flying home to share stories from the experience with family and friends.
In this London, Paris, Florence and Rome educational program, students immerse in cultural experiences as they tour museums full of artistic masterpieces. At each of these major European destinations, students are encouraged to take note of ancient to present-day architecture. There are many opportunities to learn more about religious history in context and identify geographical landmarks. In the process of navigating multiple cities and cultures, adapting to differing currencies and practicing language skills, students gain a greater understanding and appreciation of their global citizenship.
Quality, safe hotels with twin or triple occupancy corresponding to the destination.
All transportation is provided throughout the program.
Airfare covers round-trip flights from major airports.
Two meals are provided daily, breakfast and dinner, featuring local cuisine.
Interactive learning experiences designed to expand educational and career goals.
Customized experiences developed by travel experts to promote learning and engagement.
Scheduled activities, experiences and guided tours are all included.
Full-time Tour Directors are on site for the duration of the trip, for an all-inclusive experience.
Tips for bus drivers, guides, Tour Directors and meals.
Advanced student security software that integrates geofencing, logistics, communication and more optimized safety features.
Dedicated 24/7 staff availability, supporting students every step of the way.
International travel insurance is provided for protection in case of accidents, illness, flight interruptions or baggage loss.
