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Holy Cross Travel Trip to Florence and Rome
On November 8, 52 members of the Holy Cross Community set off for a whirlwind 9 day tour to Italy, exploring Tuscany, Assisi and Rome. Dianne Harrison ’04, assistant director of Alumni Relations, kept a journal of the trip’s exciting and busy itinerary:
Days 1 & 2 - The Trip and Arrival in Tuscany - After overnight flights from the United States, our group gathered at our hotel in Montecatini, Italy, for our Welcome Dinner. Our group got a chance to mix and mingle, and meet our fabulous tour guide, Helga.
Day 3- Pisa and Lucca - A beautiful, sunny day greeted us on our first full day of touring Tuscany. Our day began with a scenic bus ride to Pisa and a tour of the Square of Miracles, which features the famous Leaning Tower, the Baptistery and the Duomo. We toured inside of the Duomo and marveled at the architecture, including a nine foot carved marble pulpit, which took nine years to complete!
In the afternoon, we headed to Lucca, one of the wealthiest towns in Tuscany and the birthplace of the great composer, Giacomo Puccini. Our local guide brought us through the town’s narrow streets, surrounded by ramparts built in the 12th century.
Day 4 - Florence - The clouds had rolled in this morning as we headed for a full day in Florence. Our first stop in Firenze was at the Academia Museum, where we got to view Michelangelo’s The David. We continued on to the Piazza del Duomo to tour the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and ended our morning tour at Santa Croce (Holy Cross) Basilica.
The afternoon afforded us some free time, which allowed us to explore the city’s many other sites, including the famous Ponte Vecchio- built in the 14th century; it is the only bridge in Firenze to survive the bombings of World War II. Some of the group toured another famous part of Florence- their gold and leather shops! Ten members of our group took an Italian course, to bone up on some essential Italian phrases.
Day 5 - Siena and San Gimignano - In Siena, our guide, Helga, led us through the narrow streets, past Medieval towers and walls, to the Piazza del Campo, which is the square that holds the city’s famous horse race.
The drive to Siena brought us through the rolling hills of Chianti, the heart of Italian wine country, where we stopped for a vintner’s lunch and wine tasting. We sampled over different wines and dined on antipasto salad and homemade lasagna.
We ended our afternoon in the small town of San Gimignano. This charming town is built right into the Italian hillside, and features many medieval towers. In San Gimignano, the group found breathtaking views of the Tuscan landscape.
Day 6- Assisi and Rome - Day 6 marked our transition from Tuscany to Rome. The six-hour bus ride was broken up by a stop in Assisi. Through a consistent rain, we explored St. Francis’ Cathedral and the quaint streets and shops of Assisi. After lunch, it was back on the bus, where we continued to our hotel in Rome.
After dinner at our hotel, about half of the group enjoyed a nighttime tour of Rome. We saw Vatican City, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and the ancient baths, all lit up for the night.
Day 7- Vatican City and Rome- Our day began in the Vatican City, with a tour of the Vatican Museum. We toured ancient sculptures and tapestries that have been collected by the Catholic Church for the past ten centuries. Then we entered the Sistine Chapel, where we observed Michelangelo’s Creation and The Last Judgment. Our tour of Vatican City ended with a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square.
In the afternoon, we continued onto the outskirts of Rome, to see St. Paul’s Basilica and toured Rome beyond the ancient walls.
Day 8 - Ancient and Modern Rome - On our final full day in Italy, we had a day-long sightseeing tour, featuring the famous monuments and artifacts of Rome, including the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps! Our amazing week ended with a Catholic Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and dinner at our hotel.
Day 9- The Flights Home - After a wonderful week (and a very early morning), our group departed Rome and returned safely back to the United States.