Overview
Our program brings you the best of both worlds: the consistency you rely on and the flexibility your group needs.
Bring your students to discover one of the most prominent Christian destinations in the world: Italy. You'll explore the Vatican, a variety of cathedrals throughout Italy, and learn more about famous Italian saints, including Catherine of Siena and Francis of Assisi.
Itinerary
Day 1
Overnight flight to Italy (Rome)
Day 2
Arrive in Rome
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Day 3
Ancient Rome guided sightseeing tour
Step inside the Colosseum with a licensed guide, once the stage for gladiators, naval battles, and wild beast hunts, and explore the underground chambers where animals were kept. Continue to the Forum Romanum, the hub of Roman politics, religion, and commerce. Conclude at Piazza Venezia, framed by its grand palaces and the striking Victor Emmanuel Monument.
Trajan Market visit
Enjoy views of Trajan’s Column and Trajan’s Market, completed in 113 AD as a monument to Emperor Trajan. The column is best known for its detailed spiral bas-relief and stands beside the market, the ancient equivalent of a shopping centre with more than 150 shops and offices. From here, stroll past the Victor Emmanuel Monument, built to honour Italy’s first king after unification.
Mamertine Prison
See the Mamertine Prison, originally created as a cistern for a spring. It later became a prison reserved for high-profile prisoners who posed a threat to Rome’s security, including its most famous inmate, Saint Peter.
Pantheon visit
Rome’s best-preserved ancient monument, the Pantheon is a masterpiece of engineering, best known for its massive hemispherical dome. Inside are the tombs of Italy’s kings as well as the burial place of the artist Raphael.
Dinner in Piazza Navona
Day 4
Vatican City guided sightseeing tour
Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, with its vast colonnades that seem to embrace the world. Inside, admire Michelangelo’s soaring dome, rising 452 feet above the ground, and his renowned Pietà. Then step into the Sistine Chapel, where the artist reluctantly painted frescoes that today stand among the world’s greatest masterpieces.
Travel to Siena
Once a capital to rival Florence, Siena is arguably Italy’s prettiest medieval town, and still possesses the grandeur of the age when it was at its peak.
Day 5
Siena guided sightseeing tour
A guided sightseeing tour highlights the historic city of Siena and its rich artistic and spiritual heritage. It includes a Duomo visit, known for its distinctive striped marble interior, plus the Piccolomini Library, created to house illuminated manuscripts and decorated with frescoes depicting key moments in the life of Pope Pius II. The tour also includes the Sanctuary of St. Catherine, once home to St. Catherine of Siena, one of Christianity’s most influential mystics and a key figure in Church history.
Day 6
Florence guided excursion
This guided excursion introduces Florence, often called the “Cradle of the Renaissance” for its central role in art and literature. Walk through peaceful piazzas to see the architecture and sculpture that shaped this artistic capital. Highlights include time near the Florence Cathedral, a visit to Piazza della Signoria, once the political heart of Renaissance Florence, and a stop at Piazzale Michelangelo for sweeping views of the city skyline.
Day 7
Travel to Assisi
A small town of narrow streets and medieval walls, Assisi might never have been famous had it not been the birthplace of St. Francis, the founder of the Franciscan order. Today it is a major destination for religious pilgrims and art lovers alike. You’ll explore the Basilica of St. Francis, built in the 13th century to hold the saint’s body. Ironically, the body was hidden so well in the basilica that it took 600 years of digging to find it.
Assisi guided sightseeing tour
The medieval town of Assisi is closely tied to the legacy of St. Francis of Assisi. Carefully restored after the 1997 earthquake, Assisi’s narrow streets, hillside views, and lively piazzas reflect its lasting spiritual character. The guided tour includes visits to the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, built in the 13th century to house the saint’s remains; the Basilica of Saint Clare, home to St. Clare’s tomb and St. Francis’s crucifix; and the Portiuncula, where the Franciscan movement began.
Day 8
Travel to Rome
Appian Way visit
Built in 312 BC, the Appia Antica, or Appian Way, was the most famous road leading to Rome. It eventually stretched to the port of Brindisi, serving as a key route for trade with Greece and the eastern Mediterranean. Explore the road’s earliest stretch in Rome, lined with ancient tombs and monuments built by prominent Roman families.
Church of Domine Quo Vadis visit
Visit the small Church of Domine Quo Vadis, located along the Appian Way. Tradition holds that after fleeing Rome to escape persecution, Saint Peter experienced a vision of Jesus here, which led him to return to Rome and face martyrdom.
Catacombs visit
Visit the enormous St. Paul Outside the Walls, built over the traditional tomb of Saint Paul. Then descend into nearby early Christian catacombs dating from the 1st to 4th centuries, where thousands of Christians were once buried. Inside, see lasting signs of early Christianity, including frescoes of fish and doves and inscriptions carved into the tombs. Above runs the Appian Way, the world’s first true highway, stretching more than 350 miles from Rome.
San Pietro in Vincoli visit
Founded in the 5th century, San Pietro in Vincoli was built to house the chains believed to have bound Saint Peter in Palestine, now preserved under glass. The visit also includes the tomb of Pope Julius II, crowned by Michelangelo’s renowned sculpture, "Moses."
Day 9
Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano visit
As the cathedral church of the Diocese of Rome, Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano holds a central place in the Catholic Church. The interior was redesigned by Borromini, and remains believed to have been painted by Giotto have also been discovered within the basilica.
Church of Saint Alphonsus Liguori visit
Step inside the Victorian-Gothic Church of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, home to the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The shrine preserves a famous Marian icon first venerated in Rome in 1499, believed to have originated on the island of Crete and saved during periods of conflict.
Santa Maria Maggiore visit
Dating to the 5th century, Santa Maria Maggiore is one of Rome’s four major basilicas. Known for its Baroque interior and Romanesque bell tower, the church also features remarkable 5th-century mosaics decorating the nave and arch with biblical scenes.
Galleria Borghese visit
Housed in a former mansion, the Borghese Gallery was first opened in the 1600s by the nephew of Pope Paul V. The museum contains an exceptional collection of priceless artworks, some dating back to the 1st century AD.
Day 10
Return home
TourFlex: Your Experience, Your Way
With TourFlex, available for tours departing October 2027 or later, you get the flexibility to shape an itinerary that's as unique as your group. Dial your trip up or down for more choice, more control, and more unforgettable hands-on moments, all while getting the right experience at the right value. Available options vary by program and destination.
Explore Your Way
- Add experiences like theatre tickets or unique excursions
- Swap activities for ones that better serve your group
- Extend the learning through go-aheads or stay-behinds
Go Your Way
- Choose the most accessible departure airport for your group
- Opt for 2-, 3-, or 4-star hotels that are centrally located or a convenient ride to major itinerary attractions
Dine Your Way
- Opt for pre-selected meals or encourage exploration by dining on your own
- Enjoy 2-3 course, culturally representative meals or opt for 3-course, authentic dinners at local restaurants
Already Included
WorldStrides Tour Director: A dynamic destination expert who makes learning come to life by leading your group's activities and discussions.
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Daily meals, with options varying by program (ask your Program Consultant for details)
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
Tips for local guides and drivers (excluding full-day bus drivers and Tour Director)
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Focused time for devotionals, prayers, and scripture throughout the program
Scenes from Italy
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
Through the WorldStrides Canada Financial Assistance Program (FAP), we provide travel grants to elementary and secondary school facing financial hardship. These grants, which can be up to $250 for coach tours and up to $1,000 for flight tours, are designed to make our programs more accessible to students from all backgrounds. Interested families are encouraged to speak with their school to learn more about our confidential application process.
Payment Plans
Monthly Automated Plan
Enroll with a deposit of $99 plus the cost of your travel protection plan (if included). We’ll automatically debit the rest of your tour fee from your chequing account in equal monthly payments, with the final payment due 35 days before you travel.
Please note: If two consecutive payments are declined, your account will be moved to the 4-Step Manual Plan.
4-Step Manual Plan
Manage your payments manually with a $249 initial payment plus your travel protection plan costs (if included). You’ll then make three more payments at key milestones as your departure date approaches. The final balance is due 65 days before your trip.
Please note: Payments on this plan are not automatically deducted and must be made manually.
Fundraising Tools
We are committed to helping you make your educational travel dreams a reality. We offer a comprehensive Fundraising Guide packed with creative ideas, tips, and resources to help you and your students reach your fundraising goals. From setting a timeline to brainstorming innovative campaigns, our guide provides a structured approach to make fundraising a fun and engaging experience for everyone involved.
