Echoes of Empire: Italy & Croatia

Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure. You’ll also have a private coach and driver while touring .

Take a walk past Rome's most beautiful and unusual Baroque fountains. At the foot of the Spanish Steps, elegant cafes surround the central fountain. The water pressure here was so low that the artist had to sink the fountain into the ground to get any water going through it, so he went ahead and designed the fountain to look like a sinking ship. There's no shortage of water pressure at the nearby Trevi Fountain, a Baroque extravagance designed by master sculptor Bernini.

View the Trevi Fountain, where it is traditional to toss a coin into the fountain to ensure a safe return to the Eternal City.

We will spend some time in the Piazza Navona area. Built on the foundations of Domitian's Circus, this magnificent square was designed by Borromini in 17th century. It is full of life and is highlighted by one of Rome's most spectacular fountains, the Four Rivers designed by Bernini. The square is often filled with local artists. The surrounding neighborhood is also one of the best places in Rome to get a tasty tartufo or gelato ice cream

Gods and gladiators, glory and gore. Ancient Rome lives on in its spectacular monuments, flavoring the frenetic present with tastes of the past. Don a space-age Whisper headset to get the inside scoop on the most spectacular, the Colosseum, a grisly battle arena that seated more than 45,000. An enormous retractable roof awning system kept spectators cool on sunny days. The nearby Forum provides a glimpse into everyday ancient life, with markets, meeting places, and temples all combined into one vast space. Move into Christian Rome at St. Peter’s Basilica, the triumphal Renaissance church flanked by rows of columns radiating outward like welcoming arms. Within the church Michelangelo’s masterpieces are on display, the “Pietà” in the main church and the recently restored ceiling frescoes and “Last Judgment” in the Sistine Chapel. Continue your trek through time at Piazza Venezia, site of the enormous monument to Victor Emmanuel II, Italy’s first king, and of the Palazzo Venezia, where Mussolini set up his headquarters and from whose porch his mother was said to eavesdrop on citizens below. (The Sistine Chapel is closed on most religious holidays and Sundays, except for the last Sunday in each month).

Tour the ruins and excavations of the Roman Forum, which features the remains of magnificent temples, basilicas, and triumphal arches that once formed the heart of the Empire.

Stop to see the city where time stood still, literally. Once an important Roman city with 20,000 residents, Pompeii was frozen in time nearly 2000 years ago, when Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the city under 30 feet of mud and volcanic ash. Forgotten for centuries after the eruption, Pompeii was discovered in the 1600s and is now completely excavated. On your tour you will learn how Romans of all classes lived their lives--not only from large public structures, but from details like political graffiti, bars, and street signs.

Surrounded by Medieval walls, entering the city of Dubrovnik is like stepping back in time. Once inside, you’ll first visit the historic Dominican monastery, followed by a stop at the picturesque Franciscan monastery—home to the third oldest European pharmacy, open continuously since 1317. Next on the agenda is Onofrio’s Fountain, a 16 sided drinking fountain built in 1438, and still in operation today. Finally, the ornate beauty of Rector’s Palace provides a perfect exclamation point to the rich culture of this ancient city.

Located on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, the ancient city of Split represents the historical and cultural magnificence of Croatia’s storied past. Perhaps the most splendid and well-known attraction to be seen in this enchanting city is Diocletian’s Palace. Finished in 305 AD, the Palace today represents the world’s most complete remains of a Roman Palace. Further heightening your experience is a visit to Peristil Square, coupled with a stop at the impossibly beautiful Cathedral of St. Duje. As a true testament to the importance of the historic center of Split, the entire area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

One of Croatia’s biggest attractions, Plitvice Park is known for its grand collection of waterfalls, lakes and forests. You’ll be entranced by the continually changing colors of the park’s sixteen lakes, and you’ll feel at peace as you soak in the natural beauty of the region. The park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979, a tribute to its unique and stunning beauty.