12 Days Jewish Heritage tour - ITALY
DAY 1
FLIGHT TO ITALY
Board your overnight flight to the capital city of Italy "Rome", which is the starting point of your Jewish Heritage Tour!
DAY 2
BENVENUTI A TUTTI! WELCOME TO BELLA ROMA!
On arrival at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino airport, you will be warmly greeted by your English speaking tour representative, who will escort you to your hotel. Check in begins at 2.00PM, depending on your arrival time, you may have some time to familiarize yourself with some of city's highlights. Don’t forget to take your camera. This evening, dine at one of the local Kosher restaurants. Overnight in Rome. Hotel Palatino or Similar
Buona Notte!
Meal: Dinner
DAY 3
ROME
After a sumptuous buffet breakfast, visit the Vatican Museums, one of the cornerstones of Rome. After a special Jewish reading in the Sistine Chapel, take a few minutes to look for the seven Hebrew prophets in Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes. Lunch on your own in a local restaurant or visit one of the best, yet least known attractions in the city, the walled and crowded Ghetto of Rome. Moving along, we arrive at the ornate and massive Tempio Maggiore di Roma, the principal synagogue of Rome, one of the largest synagogues in Europe built between 1901 and 1904. Beneath the Great Synagogue is the Museo Hebraic di Roma, the Jewish Museum of Rome, host to several exhibits highlighting the connection between the Jewish people and Rome. Their history is depicted in its magnificent collection of silverware and precious textiles from all over Europe, marble carvings that once decorated the Cinque Scole, the five synagogues of the Ghetto demolished in the 19th century as well as miniature parchments. Our day ends with dinner in a Kosher restaurant in the ghetto area.
Meal: Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 4
ROME DAY AT LEISURE
After breakfast, a day at leisure for everyone. Time to do some great shopping and some exploring on your own.
Dinner at local restaurant for the group. Overnight Rome.
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 5
ROME | OSTIA | ROME
Venturing from Rome, we head to Ostia Antica close to the town of Ostia to joined by our local tour guide and archaeologist. The Ostia Synagogue is an ancient synagogue located in ancient Ostia Antica, the seaport of Imperial Rome. It is one of the oldest synagogues in the world, the oldest synagogue in Europe and the oldest mainstream Jewish synagogue yet uncovered outside Israel. The synagogue building dates from the reign of Claudius (41-54 AD) and continued in use as a synagogue into the 5th century AD.
Let your imagination take you back over 2000 years to a time, when Ostia Antica was a lively and thriving commercial center. As you wander the ruins peeking at the remains of arcades, baths, mansions and warehouses, you will get an idea of what Roman lifestyles was like then. By entering the time machine see how civilizations advanced, how everyday life was well-organized and why this city is still amongst the best preserved in the world. Then spend a few minutes trying to guess what was for sale in the shops behind each 2nd century mosaic sign. Lunch on your own in a local restaurant. Wearing Samsung Gear Virtual Reality glasses uncover the history and culture of Ancient Rome experiencing the Colosseum like never before. Relive the history of the ancient world while a multilingual narrative voice coupled with epic background music brings it all to life. See the Roman Forum, the marketplace of ancient Rome and the nearby Palatine Hill, the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome.
Meal: Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 6
ROME | PARMA | MODENA | BOLOGNA
After breakfast, transfer to the Rome Railway Station to board the fast train to Bologna (about 2h30m). On arrival, a private coach transfer to Parma (famous for its Parmesan cheese).
Lunch on your own.
In the afternoon, a local guide joins us as we visit the Synagogue, Comunita' Ebraica Di Parma and the Biblioteca Palatina, home to the largest collection of Hebrew Manuscripts in Italy. Although the community is small today, it is active. Proceed to Modena on the south side of the Po Valley to see the recently restored emancipation Synagogue opened in 1873, the remains of the Jewish Ghetto and the Este Library housing important Jewish manuscripts. Arrive back in Bologna for dinner and overnight in Bologna. Starhotels Excelsior or Similar
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7 - SHABBAT
BOLOGNA
Optional walking tour: For those observing the Shabbat we will offer an optional walking tour on this day.
After breakfast, our day starts with a morning lecture by Prof. Mauro Perani, one of the most important experts in Jewish studies in Italy followed by lunch on your own in a typical trattoria. Mangiare. In the afternoon, you will visit the Bologna historical center and Jewish quarter, walking through the narrow streets full of history.
Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Bologna.
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 8
FERRARA | VENICE | THE GELATO EXPERIENCE
A private coach takes us to the Carpigiani Museum, a Gelato Museum, the only one of its kind in the world, where we will learn about the history of artisan gelato. The “smaller explorers” have time to create their own ice cream masterpieces according to ancient recipes as members of the Maestro Gelato University. Parents learn the basic techniques of ice cream production and test their skills on how to make it at home!
Follow the production of modern ice cream with tasting! Since this is a group activity, children must be accompanied by a parent. After wards we continue our journey northeast this afternoon and reach Ferrara, located in the Emilia-Romagna region, known as a City of Renaissance defined by the D’Este Dynasty. We will be visitng Jewish Ghetto and National Jewish Mueseum (guided tour). Our day ends in Venice, the city of canals. Transfer to hotel by water taxi. Dinner and overnight in Venice. Hotel Giorgione
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 9
EXPLORE VENICE
After a delicious buffet breakfast, we set off on a guided tour of the Jewish Ghetto featuring the Jewish Museum, Museo Ebraico di Venezia. Situated in the Campo of the Ghetto Novo between the two oldest Venetian synagogues, this little but very rich museum was founded in 1953 by the Jewish Community of Venice and showcases important examples of goldsmith and textile manufacture made between the 16th and the 19th centuries, ancient books and manuscripts and some objects used in the most important moments of the cycle of civil and religious life. Enjoy lunch.
In the afternoon visit of Jewish cemetery on Lido Island, jewel of medieval art. Return to the Venice city center for a guided tour of the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica.
Enjoy dinner this evening at a Kosher restaurant. Overnight Venice.
Meal: Breakfast Lunch & Dinner
NOTE - Kids below 18 must be accompanied by adults.
DAY 10
VENICE | CONEGLIANO | TRIESTE
After breakfast, board a private water-taxi to the parking lot where our bus is waiting for the drive to historic Conegliano, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance painter Giambattista Cima (XV sec.) who painted mostly religious subjects. Located close to the Treviso Alps, a small, but very important Jewish Community was established in ancient times. See the synagogue rebuilt with furniture transported to 25 Hillel Street in Jerusalem in 1954 and operates today serving the Italian Jewish community.
Enjoy lunch in a typical farmhouse in the Conegliano hills area before continuing to beautiful Trieste “Gateway to Zion”, home to one of Europe’s largest synagogue. Our local expert guide will join us for a guided tour of the historic city center. Afterwards enjoy an aperitif at Caffè San Marco a rendezvous for writers and intellectuals frequented by the Irish novelist James Joyce.
Dinner and overnight in Trieste. Hotel Continentale or Similar
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 11
LA BONBON TRIESTE | EXPERIENCE OF THE BOMBONIERA
A morning tour of Jewish Trieste takes us to the ghetto area where some of the buildings from the two Jewish ghettos survived and have been restored. See the Monumental Synagogue, the Jewish Museum and the Carlo and Vera Wagner Museum opened in 1993 as a museum to showcase objects of the community.
Now, time for something special. There are many ways to prepare “Merenda” the snack of peasants and workers. La Bomboniera, the last Liberty pastry shop has remained intact for over a century in Trieste. Its austere showcases are adorned by bonbon, fondant and confetti as originally prepared in the nineteenth-century amidst putizze (dried fruit, chocolate and nut spiral cake), presnitz (puff pastry filled with dried fruit, nuts and spices), pinze (a traditional desert flan) and homemade chocolate eggs.
Taste the Rigó Jancsi, a traditional Hungarian cube-shaped chocolate sponge cake and chocolate cream pastry at the Bomboniera, where this authentic Austro-Hungarian pastry has been made since 1850. Founded by the Hungarian Eppinger family, all desserts are cooked strictly in the original wood-burning oven dating back to 1850. It is the only pastry shop in Trieste to use this method). Enjoy lunch on your own at a restaurant in the center of the city.
In afternoon, visit the 19th century Miramare Castle on the Gulf of Trieste. Built for the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian and his wife Charlotte of Belgium, visitors can view their private chambers featuring the original furnishings.
Return to Trieste stopping at one of the renowned Gelaterie such as “Jazzin” Gelateria to taste this wonderful ice cream. Dinner this evening in a restaurant with its amazing view of the Gulf of Trieste. Overnight in Trieste.
Meal: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
DAY 12
TRIESTE | DEPARTURE
For those members of the tour departing early this morning, a transfer to the airport will be provided..
For those leaving later today, you have a chance to enjoy a free day in Trieste on your own. Check out from the hotel is between 11am - 12pm. Luggage can be stored with the bell boy until departure. Please ensure that you return to the hotel for your transfer in time for your flight. (Breakfast)
Arrivederci Bellisima Italia!
Price Includes:
- Welcome and assistance by an IBMT Tours representative upon arrival
- 10 nights at 4 - 4.5-star hotels accommodation based on double occupancy.
- Daily breakfast - Hot Buffet Breakfast
- One Lunch
- 9 Dinners as mentioned in itinerary
- Tour Guide as mentioned in Itinerary.
- All Transfers as mentioned in itinerary except Day 7
- Entrance/Booking Fees as per itinerary
Price does not Includes:
- Airfare & Departure taxes
- Drinks throughout the trip
- Tips to guide/drivers & hotel staff (porterage)
- Travel Insurance highly recommended
- Personal extras on meals not mentioned above
- Local City Tax
Four-star hotels
- Rome: Hotel Palatino or Similar
- Bologna: Hotel Starhotel Excelsior or Similar
- Venice: Hotel Giorgione or Similar
- Trieste: Hotel Continentale or Similar