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"Masterpieces of Italy"
Following the success of the inaugural Alumni Travel Program to Ireland in 2007, the Stonehill COllege Office of Alumni Affairs is pleased to present our second educational destination: Italy.

“Masterpieces of Italy” is a 9-day, 7-night excursion through Italy. The trip will feature Florence, Venice, Assisi, San Gimignano, Siena, Rome and more!

With Assistant Professor Allyson Sheckler serving as our faculty guide, many of the trip’s highlights will include museum and cathedral visits to view famous works of art.

The forty-five participants will depart for Italy on October 5th and will use this blog to chronicle our journey. Below is a brief description of our itinerary.

Day 1
We will depart from Boston's Logan Airport, fly overnight, change planes in Dublin and arrive in Rome.
Day 2
We will be greeted by our local guide and motor coach driver upon arrival in Rome. From the airport we will begin our sightseeing with a half-day Anient Rome excursion. We will then check into our hotel, the Grand Hotel Tiberio, take some time to rest and then enjoy a Welcome Dinner.
Day 3
We will rise early, eat breakfast and enjoy the Modern Rome tour with our guide. Travelers will take the afternoon to explore the city on our own. We will gather back at the hotel for a group dinner followed by an Evening Tour of Rome on the motor coach.
Day 4
After breakfast we will head straight to Vatican City. The local guide will show us some of the highlights and we hope Pope Benedict XVI is not traveling so that we can participate in the weekly Papal Audience. We will enjoy lunch and dinner on our own to allow for final exploration of Rome before we depart in the morning.
Day 5
After an early breafast we will head north for Florence. Along the way there will be stops including Assisi. Upon arriving in Florence we will check into The Hotel Grifone and enjoy a group dinner with some of the Stonehill students studying there for the semester.
Day 6
We will spend the entire day sightseeing in Florence with time for individual activities and shopping.
Day 7
After an early breakfast we will head northeast to enjoy a full day of sightseeing in Venice with a group luncheon in the heart of the city. After time for individual sightseeing we will baord the moto coach for a late drive back to Florence. A boxed dinner will be provided on the drive back.
Day 8
A full day of the Tuscan landscape and italian wine country with stops in Chianti, Siena and San Gimignano. There will be opportunity to attend Sunday Mass at the Basilica of San Domenico in Siena. Upon return to Florence we will enojy our Farewell Dinner.
Day 9
After breakfast we will check out and make our way to Milan, where we will board our plane and begin our trip home.

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