Upon arrival at the airport, time to organize and refresh then load your motor coach and proceed to the docks to take a private boat across the Venice Lagoon.  Upon docking, disembark and walk into captivating San Marco Square. With late morning arrival anticipated, you will be oriented to the area then have free time for lunch and personal exploration. The Grand Canal, also site of famed Rialto Bridge, is not too far away and can be an ideal location for lunch. A small cafe or restaurant in a private courtyard is also a good place to dine. If a gondola ride is on your 'must do' list, try to get it completed by 2:30pm the latest.

Regather by 3pm to receive a guided tour of the 'City in the Sea', carefully navigating the narrow streets and countless canals as you learn about Venice's unbelievable construction, architecture, and its prominence in world history.

After the tour, we hope to provide a little more free time when hopefully you can have your first Italian gelato.

It will be a challenging first day, but we hope to provide as much time here as energy allows before moving on to your hotel to check in, refresh, have dinner, and then likely a much-needed night of sleep. What an outstanding first day in Italy!

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Though often overshadowed by the 'big three' of Venice, Florence, and Rome, travelers are consistently delighted by the many treasures of Bologna.  We anticipate a late morning arrival after breakfast and departing your hotels in Mestre.

Upon arrival,, be oriented in the town's main square then have free time to explore and thoroughly look over places for what can be an outstanding lunch.

Regather at 2:00pm for a guided tour taking in Bologna's unique architectural beauty, including the distinctive and extensive arcades, the 'leaning towers' of Garisenda, markets and outdoor cafes. Learn more of how this city and region have grown to prominence with their outstanding cuisine as well as their love of sports. With great consistency, Bologna thrills and pleasingly impresses our AFW travelers.

TBD, but late in the afternoon, motor coaches will be reboarded to continue further south and west toward a delightful 3-night stay in Montecatini Terme, Tuscany, a relaxing spa town just west of Florence. From this location you will conveniently transfer to some extraordinary locations.

Check-ins, refresh, and a later dinner - typical in Italy - at your hotels.

Travelers can gather in the comfortable and lively town center in the evenings.

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Be alert to motor coach departure time so as to have a good breakfast. With the elongated Italian boot dipping down extensively into the Mediterranean Sea, a seaside experience is integral in a visit to Italy.

Your destination today will be Italy's west coast and the small city of La Spezia. Here you will board the local train that serves a uniquely phenomenal area called Cinque Terre. The "Five Lands" is one of the most beautiful places to enjoy in Italy and adds appeal in being a 'step back in time' to a simpler way. Italian authenticity abounds. These small communities largely sit at the base of steep hills which lap at their shores, and one sits majestically above upon cliffs that rise from the Ligurian Sea (Corniglia).

After being oriented to Cinque Terre, visitors love to explore at least two, if not three, of these villages. Between exploring, shopping, lunch, and gelato, one may also want to, at the least, take time to put their 'toes in the water' of this special part of the world.

Instructions and a time will be provided late in the afternoon for regathering back at the La Spezia train station. Please be attentive to be on time. From here you will return to your hotel for dinner, and the spring evening in Italy is open per coach's instruction.

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After breakfast, the group will depart on an excursion to Florence.  Upon arrival, the group will have to walk into Florence center and from there receive a guided tour. Most likely starting in Piazza Signoria with its numerous famous sculptures, the group will move on to Ponte Vecchio Bridge above River Arno, and eventually to the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore and its magnificent dome and Baptistry as well. All along the way travelers will take in countless treasures.  

This tour should conclude in the noon hour and this day is now constructed to provide time for lunch then personal exploration. There may be an opportunity to visit one of Florence's famous art galleries, enter the Basilica and possibly climb to the top of his dome or tower.

Past travelers also like to invest time her in Florence's spectacular markets with leather and other goods or enjoying a refreshment at a cafe.

This evening provides for travelers to have a 'their choice' dinner in small groups at one of Florence's spectacular restaurants.  

By mid-evening, the group will have return transportation to their nearby hotel. Be attentive to departure time

*Updated 4/21/26

Breakfast, check out, then board your motor coach heading south to Rome with a day stop in the hilltop town of Siena, which rivaled Florence for centuries. Be prepared for this charming small city's hilly terrain. Upon arrival, you will be led downhill strolling to the uniquely shell-shaped town square, called 'the Campo'. Tour managers will orient you here at this central location. Along the way and once in the Campo you will be highly impressed with the preservation of the medieval character of this small city. Time will be provided to explore the narrow, winding streets and have lunch. Before mid-afternoon, regather at a designated location

for a professionally guided tour that takes in the daunting Siena Cathedral. Also, learn more of the deeply entrenched neighborhood rivalries of Siena that go back centuries. These "mostly friendly" rivalries explode with passion and pageantry during the the bi-annual Palio horse race and festival. AFW travelers are always enthralled with this area and this event.

Late in the afternoon, regather to depart for Rome, your last long motorcoach ride of the tour. All are together at the same hotel in Rome. Check-in, dinner, and the evening in 'The Eternal City' is open per Coach's instruction. Tomorrow is Game Day!

*Updated 4/21/26

Breakfast and load all your needed game and fan gear. This is International Game Day! Be prepared for a most special, tremendously memorable day.

Transfer to Rome city center for a walking tour of Classic Rome. Beautiful Navona Square, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, hopefully the Spanish Steps, and more architectural highlights along the way. Be prepared to absorb and take in the immense history and impact of this city on Western civilization.

Around the noon hour, student-athletes and staff may head over to the sports center earlier for a pre-game meal, then have some time to relax and prepare for their friendly international contest with the Lazio Marines at the Dabliu Sports Center in southern Rome (Viage Egeo 98)

We hope to provide family members some additional free time before transferring over later for their lunch and tailgating, Italy style (small club at facility).

Anticipated 4PM kickoff and all should enjoy the unique, fun, friendly competition as the Carroll Pioneers play the Lazio Marines, from Italy's best senior league of American Football. Players from two different countries will bond in their appreciation and love for this great team game. Family members and fans should visit, share stories, and bond together in the stands as well.

After the game, there will be time for photos, stories, and exchanging contact information between members of both teams and family-fans as well.

Afterward, we will invite members of the Italian team to join us for a post-game meal, which will take place at restaurant in Rome.

After dinner, return to your hotel, and the later evening in Rome is open per Coach's instructions.

Breakfast, then depart for the independent nation-state of Vatican City.  People are routinely impressed with the prominence and beauty of St. Peter's Square.  From there, all travelers will receive tour into the majestic, awe-inspiring St. Peter's Basilica.  

Those with Vatican Museum tours will be prioritized for the first entry as they will have to make their later admission time into the museums.

As travelers wrap up their time in St. Peter's they can visit nearby shops for religious relics.

The noon hour and early afternoon will be open for lunch in small groups and to further explore the treasures of Vatican City and Rome.

A meeting point and time will be designated for the day and tours last major event.

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Wrap up this visit with entry and a guided tour of the architectural marvel that is the Roman Coliseum. Of course, the Coliseum stands as the preeminent landmark of the power wielded by the Roman Empire.  It is here that the original gladiators fought to the death. The Coliseum, 'Flavian's Amphitheater', also hosted countless other events to entertain - and at times control - the people of Rome. After exiting, we hope to take travelers into the adjacent Roman Forum, where much of the events of Western civilization were influenced and directed for nearly a millennium.

There will be a tour celebration dinner in Rome this evening.

Afterward return to the hotel for packing and preparation for tomorrow's departure flights home - some with very early departure times.

*Updated 4/21/26

Depart back home to the USA with incredible photos, indelible memories, an invaluable education, along with a new sense of togetherness as a team and amongst the greater Carroll Football Family as well.  Go Pioneers!