2005 Itinerary Tuesday, May 31 to Saturday, June 11 San Antonio - Rome - Perugia - Assisi - Florence - Siena - Lucca - Bologna - Venice - San Antonio
Tuesday, May 31 - San Antonio Wednesday, June 1 - Rome Thursday, June 2 - Rome/Vatican City Friday, June 3 - Rome/Assisi/Perugia Saturday, June 4 - Perugia Sunday, June 5 - Perugia/Florence Monday, June 6 - Florence/Siena/Florence Tuesday, June 7 - Florence/Lucca/Florence Wednesday, June 8 - Florence/Bologna Thursday, June 9 - Bologna/Venice Friday, June 10 - Venice Saturday, June 11 - Venice/San Antonio
All photos by Catherine Learoyd
Tuesday, May 31 San Antonio/En route ——————————————————————————— 5:15 am - Assemble at the San Antonio Airport and check in for your United Flight #734 to Chicago. 7:15 am - Board plane and depart San Antonio. 9:59 am - Arrive Chicago and proceed to your connecting flight, United # 944 to Frankfurt. 2:30 pm - Board plane and depart Chicago, Back to Top
Wednesday, June 1 Rome, ITALY ——————————————————————————— 5:45 am - Arrive in Frankfurt and proceed to your connecting flight, Lufthansa #3840, to Rome. 9:00 am - Arrive in Rome. Claim your luggage and clear customs. Meet your Ambassador Tours tour managers and coach drivers. Board coaches and transfer into central Rome Afternoon - Independent lunch 3:00 pm - Reassemble and commence the first of two guided sightseeing tours of the "Eternal City" (the second one will be on Thursday). During these two tours, you will see the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, the Palatine, the Pantheon, some of the city's beautiful churches, and the Spanish Steps. The exact program for each tour will be determined by your licensed tour guides and in compliance with the new city traffic regulations. Your first tour will be somewhat abbreviated with a minimum of walking. Check into your hotel. 7:30 pm Dinner at Grotta Azzura Back to Top
Thursday, June 2 Rome/Vatican City ——————————————————————————— Morning Breakfast at your hotel 9:00 am - Board coaches and begin your second sight-seeing tour of Rome. Tour ends at your hotel. Afternoon Independent lunch 1:30 pm - Reassemble and transfer to the Vatican City. Meet your guides and begin a tour of the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel (entrances included). 5:00 pm - The FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OFKERRVILLE CHOIR will participate in mass at St. Peter's Basilica. Evening Independent dinner. Evening at leisure. Back to Top
Friday, June 3 188 kms/116 miles Rome/Perugia /Assisi/Perugia ——————————————————————————— Morning Breakfast at your hotel. Board coaches and depart Rome for the region of Umbria, known as the "Green Heart" of Italy. Arrive in Perugia. Check into your Perugia hotel. Afternoon Independent lunch in Perugia. 3:30 pm Transfer by coach to Assisi. Free time to visit the St. Francis Basilica, one of the great Christian shrines receiving vast numbers of pilgrims throughout the year. You will also want to wander through the winding narrow streets of this old town. 6:00 pm - The FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF KERRVILLE CHOIR may perform during mass at St. Francis Basilica. 8:00 pm - Dinner at your hotel. Back to Top
Saturday, June 4 Perugia —————————————————————————— Morning Breakfast at your hotel. Entire day at leisure to enjoy Perugia. Or simply enjoy the fantastic views of the Tuscan countryside and the winding roads of the town. Afternoon Independent lunch. OPTIONAL An afternoon excursion will be offered to Lake Trasimeno. This will include a boat ride from Passignano sul Trasimeno to the island of Maggiore, located in the middle of the lake. The island's charming village is known for lacemaking. Evening Independent dinner in Perugia. Back to Top
Sunday, June 5 155 kms/96 miles Perugia/Florence ——————————————————————————— Morning. Breakfast at your hotel. 9:00 am - A stop will be made at Michelangelo Piazza for a fine view of the city and the Arno River below. Then proceed to the historic old quarter, meet your guides and begin a sight-seeing tour to include the majestic Cathedral and Baptistery with its famed bronze doors by Ghiberti and the beautiful bell tower. You will also see the Piazza della Signoria where Michelangelo's David originally stood (now on display in the Galleria dell' Accademia) and the Ponte Vecchio. Afternoon Independent lunch. Check into your centrally-located hotel. Remainder of day at leisure . 7:00 pm - Dinner at the Il Cavallino on Piazza Signoria. Back to Top
Monday, June 6 146 kms/91 miles Florence/Siena/Florence ——————————————————————————— Breakfast at your hotel. 9:00 am - Board coach for a day excursion to Siena, accompanied by a licensed guide. You will have a guided walking tour of Siena to view the city's principal sites. Then free time to explore independently. Afternoon Independent lunch in Siena. Afternoon at leisure in Siena. 5:00 pm - Late afternoon return to Florence Evening Independent dinner. Back to Top
Tuesday, June 7 122 kms/75 miles Florence/Lucca/Pistoia / Florence ——————————————————————————— Morning Breakfast at your hotel. The morning is free to explore Florence independently. You will want to visit one or more of the city's fantastic museums: the Uffizi, the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Galleria dell'Accademia, Bargello, and/or the Palazzo Pitti. Independent lunch. 12:30 pm - Reassemble at your hotel and depart for Lucca. 1:30 pm - Upon arrival, you will have a guided walking tour of the town to include Piazza Napoleone, San Michele is Foro, San Martino, and Puccini's home, as well as the remains of the Roman amphitheater and ramparts. Free time to explore Lucca. 5:30 pm - Depart Lucca to Pistoia. 6:00 pm - Dinner at Autogrill Serraville Pistoiese. 7:30 pm - Rehearse at San Bartolomeo Church in Pistoia. 9:30 pm - This evening, the FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF KERRVILLE CHOIR will give an evening performance at San Bartolomeo Church in Pistoia. Back to Top
Wednesday, June 8 99 kms/62 miles Florence/Bologna ——————————————————————————— Morning Breakfast at your hotel. Board coach and depart Florence for Bologna. 11:00 am Immediately upon arrival, meet your guide and begin a sightseeing tour of the historic center with its red brick buildings and charming clustered around the two central squares, the leaning towers, Santo Stefano which is actually a collection of four medieval churches, San Petronio, the unfinished cathedral, and the university. Transfer to your hotel and check into your rooms. Afternoon Independent lunch. 4:30 pm - Board coach for transfer to the church. 5:00 pm - One hour rehearsal. 6:30 pm - Dinner at a restaurant near the church. 9:00 pm - The FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF KERRVILLE CHOIR will give an evening concert at Santa Maria de Servi Church in Bologna. The Santa Maria de Servi Church will also sing during the concert. Back to Top
Thursday, June 9 152 kms/95 miles Bologna/Venice ——————————————————————————— Morning Breakfast at your hotel. 10:00 am Load luggage on coach, then transfer to the Music Museum in Bologna where you will have a guided tour. You will be split into three separate groups for the tour. Before or after your tour, take time to explore the area and have lunch. (tours are 1 hour each at 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00) 1:00 pm - Board coach and depart Bologna. 3:00 pm - Arrive in Venice at Piazzale Roma and transfer to a water taxi which will transport you to St. Marc's Square. Your luggage will be transported separately on another water taxi and delivered to your hotel. 4:00 pm - Begin a guided walking tour of the city to include San Marco Square, the Basilica and the Doges' Palace (exterior). 7:00 pm - Dinner at Trovatore. Walk to your hotel and check into your rooms. Back to Top
Friday, June 10 Venice ——————————————————————————— Morning Breakfast at your hotel. Entire day at leisure to enjoy Venice! Afternoon Independent lunch. OPTIONAL An optional excursion will be planned to the island of Murano, known the world round for its glassmaking industry. You will have a tour of a glassmaking factory with time to visit their gift shop. Evening Festive Farewell Dinner at your hotel. Back to Top
Saturday, June 11 Venice/San Antonio ——————————————————————————— Group #1 Morning Breakfast at your hotel. 3:15 am - Board your private water taxi for transfer to the Venice Airport. 4:15 am - Check in for your flight, LH #430 to Frankfurt. 6:15 am - Board plane and depart Venice. 7:40 am - Arrive Frankfurt. Proceed to connecting flight, LH #430 to Chicago. 10:10 am - Depart Frankfurt. 12:05 pm - Arrive Chicago. Proceed to connecting flight, UA #493 to San Antonio. 2:44pm - Depart Chicago. 5:31 pm - Arrive San Antonio Group #2 Morning Breakfast at your hotel. 7:45 am - Board your private water taxi for transfer to the Venice Airport. 8:55 am - Che3ck in for your flight, LH #4081 to Frankfurt. 10:55 am - Board plane and depart Venice. 12:25 pm - Arrive Frankfurt. Proceed to connecting flight, LH #446 to Denver. 1:25 pm - Depart Frankfurt. 3: 20 pm - Depart Denver. Proceed to connecting flight, UA #706 to San Antonio. 7:30 pm - Depart Denver. 10:20 pm - Arrive San Antonio.
