Canadian War History: Venice, Florence, Ortona, and Rome

Discover Venice, a city built on more than 100 islands in a lagoon off the Adriatic. Begin in St. Mark’s Square and tour St. Mark’s Basilica, completed in 1094 and home to the relics of Venice’s patron saint. Continue with a guided visit of the Gothic Doge’s Palace with its ornate arches before continuing to a glass-blowing demonstration, showcasing the centuries-old tradition of Venice’s most famous craft.

Explore Bologna’s historic heart on a guided walk through Piazza Maggiore, the city’s main square since the 13th century and a centre of civic life framed by medieval landmarks. Admire the dramatic Fountain of Neptune, a 16th-century masterpiece of Renaissance design, then stroll beneath Bologna’s iconic Porticoes of Bologna, which have sheltered daily life here for centuries.

Discover Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Admire the Duomo with Brunelleschi’s dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Baptistery’s famed Gates of Paradise that inspired generations of artists. Visit Palazzo Vecchio on Piazza della Signoria, once the seat of Florentine power, and step inside Dante’s House to learn about the poet’s legacy. At Santa Croce, see the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Conclude your day by crossing the Ponte Vecchio and visiting a leather workshop to see one of Florence’s most famous crafts.

Stop in Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower, which began tilting when builders discovered the ground beneath was too soft. Attempts to straighten it only made the lean more pronounced. The tower is part of the Campo dei Miracoli, where the baptistery, duomo, and tower together exemplify Pisan Romanesque style, clad in intricately carved black-and-white marble that gleams in the sun.

Stop in Pisa to see the world-famous Leaning Tower, which began to tilt even before it was completed. Builders tried to correct it by adjusting the structure, but the extra weight only made it lean more. The tower, along with the baptistery and duomo in the Campo dei Miracoli, showcases stunning Pisan Romanesque architecture in gleaming black and white marble.

The Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi was first built in 1228 when Pope Gregory IX laid the cornerstone of the Lower Basilica. St. Francis’s body was secretly moved here in 1230 to prevent looting. The Upper Basilica followed after 1239, and both churches were consecrated in 1253.

In 1943, Ortona was the site of the bloody Battle of Ortona, often called the “Italian Stalingrad.” The fighting involved Canadian troops from the 1st Canadian Infantry Division under Major General Christopher Vokes.

Journey through this historical complex’s fourteen themed pavilions to see an extensive collection of artifacts and exhibits spanning from World War II to rural life in 20th-century Italy.

Experience a specialist-guided tour of the Vatican City, including the Museums, home to one of the world's most impressive collections of art. Our tour includes the map tapestry rooms, the magnificent Raphael Rooms, and the spectacular Sistine Chapel, highlighted by Michelangelo's ceiling and his Last Judgment. We will continue into St. Peter's Square to visit St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the western world and the centre of Catholicism. Highlights of our visit include Michelangelo's Pieta and Bernini's magnificent Baldacchino over the high altar.