Day 1

Let the excitement build on your overnight flight to begin your tour adventure.

Day 2

Once you arrive in Munich and join the YMT group, you’ll enjoy an evening city tour of the third most populous city in Germany and capital city of Bavaria, Munich. Although it is renown for its world-famous, annual Oktoberfest beer celebration, Munich’s cultural scene is second to none in Germany, offering a wide assortment of museums that rival Berlin’s offerings. Many travelers to Munich are absolutely stunned by the quality of the architecture; although heavily damaged by allied bombing during World War II, many of Munich’s historic buildings have been rebuilt and the city centre appears mostly as it did in the late 1800’s. Today’s Mass will be coordinated by your tour manager. Enjoy your included dinner and overnight in Munich area. (D)

Day 3

After an included breakfast, you’ll enjoy a city tour to Salzburg, Austria. A delightful and elegant city of music, Salzburg is known throughout the world as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Witness the city’s wide open plazas, narrow medieval lanes, and impressive monuments from the 18th century in Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque style. Marvel at the magnificent fortress of Hohensalzburg, constructed in 1077 under Archbishop Gebhard and finally completed in the 17th century. Also enjoy a guided walking tour of the “Old Town;” with its world famous baroque architecture, it is one of the best-preserved city centers in the German-speaking world and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Today’s Mass will be coordinated by your tour manager. Enjoy another included dinner and overnight in Munich area. (B, D)

Day 4

Enjoy an included breakfast before your ride into the Bavarian Alps to picturesque Oberammergau. After an included light brunch/lunch, you’ll witness the highlight of this vacation - the original Oberammergau Passion Play - from the comfort of covered seating. Created in the 1600s, the play depicting the life and death of Jesus found its origins after the villagers made a vow to God that it would be held every ten years if they were spared from the disasters of the bubonic plague. Performed by over 2,000 performers, musicians, and stage technicians–all of whom are Oberammergau inhabitants–the passion play draws more than 500,000 visitors over the 5 months the nearly 7-hour play is performed. Dinner will be served during the play’s 3-hour intermission in a restaurant in Oberammergau; after the play is finished, you will return to your hotel for the evening. (B, L, D)

Day 5

Once your included breakfast is finished, say farewell to Oberammergau and enjoy a scenic trip to Verona. On the way, get the chance to see the home of the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics, Innsbruck. After, enjoy some time in Bolzano, offering you unique Italian-Austrian flair with its narrow cobblestone streets, Habsburg-era churches, and bilingual signs. Then, arrive in Verona, home to a multitude of preserved Roman ruins, including the Arena, for an included dinner and your overnight. (B, D)

Day 6

Enjoy breakfast, then explore beautiful Verona on a city tour. If you are keen on art history, Verona offers a golden opportunity to see the transition of Western European art from late medieval to early renaissance styles with its rich offering of 12-Century churches and art museums. Still enclosed by ancient walls, Verona conserves an atmosphere that evokes a past of medieval and Renaissance splendor. The main monuments you will visit are: Cuomo, Piazza delle Erbe with the famous high tower Torre dei Lamberti, and Piazza Bra. Commonly known as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Verona is also the location of the house of Juliet, with its famous balcony. Today’s Mass will be coordinated by your tour manager. (B)

Day 7

After an included breakfast, you may opt to explore more of the sights of Verona or partake in an optional tour to Venice, one of the most interesting and lovely places in the world. This sanctuary on a lagoon is virtually the same as it was six hundred years ago, which adds to its fascinating and lovable character; although the years of heavy tourism have taken their toll on Venice, the romantic charm remains. Fall in love with Venice’s unique civil engineering achievements as well as the harmony of Eastern and Western artistic styles that have flourished here over the centuries, enjoying visits to St. Markus square and the Byzantine Basilica, lavish doges palace, the Clock Tower, and the bridge of sighs–even get a chance to watch skilled glass blowers fashion their delicate objects in an age old traditional manner. Back in Verona, enjoy an included dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Day 8

Once your included breakfast is finished, your tour manager will coordinate Mass prior to departing for Florence. Located in the heart of Tuscany, a stunning province of hills and mountains, the Renaissance capital of the world–with its famous sons like Leonardo, Dante, Machiavelli and Michelangelo–is a sightseeing highlight! Witness the world-famous Duomo with the Brunelleschi cupola and the marble clad baptistery, the narrow and dark streets of the historic town centre, and the robust and almost intimidating palaces. Take some time to enjoy the squares: wonderful Mediterranean places where you will like spending hours sitting down, having a coffee and just watching people passing by. Experience Florence on a tour of the city, including visits to the Duomo and the Baptistery, the Piazza della Signori, the Ponte Vecchio, and the Accademia Gallery. After your tour, enjoy an included dinner before your overnight in Florence. (B, D)

Day 9

After your included breakfast, say farewell to Florence as you make your way to the “Eternal City” of Rome. According to legend, the city of Rome was founded by the twins Romulus and Remus in 753 BC. During your guided city tour you will see the highlights of Rome, including the Coliseum - the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire, originally capable of seating 60,000 spectators and used for gladiatorial combat. Another highlight will be the Forum Romanum which served as a city square and central hub where the people of Rome gathered for justice and faith. Other key monuments you will see are the Forum of Trajan, Palatino Hill, the Baths of Caracalla and Piazza Venezia. Afterwards, enjoy some free time for dinner or take advantage to explore even more of the city on your own. You may wish to plan in your explorations the Trevi Fountain - the most famous and arguably the most beautiful fountain in Rome. You might also want to see the Spanish Steps, named after the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See, the steps lead to the French church Trinita dei Monti. In the 18th century the most beautiful women and men of Italy gathered along the steps, waiting to be chosen as an artist’s model. Other sights are the Pantheon, the Circus Maximus, Castel Sant’Angelo, the Mausoleum of Augustus, the Ara Pacis, the Arch of Constantine, the Pyramid of Cestius, and the Bocca della Verita. (B)

Day 10

After your included breakfast you will meet your English-speaking tour guide and visit the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. Visit San Pietro Basilica whose colonnade by Bernini seems to embrace you as you enter the square. Witness the beauty of the world famous dome by Michelangelo which tops this magnificent Temple of Christianity and celebrate mass at the Crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica. This afternoon is free to discover more of the many Roman sights, do some shopping or just enjoy Italian specialities in one of the many cafés or restaurants. Enjoy your included farewell dinner and final overnight in Rome. (B, D)

Day 11

Say farewell to new-found friends, take your memories and great souvenirs, and depart for home.

Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations.

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