roaming in rome & discovering tuscany
Benvenuti in Italia! Welcome to Italy! And welcome to Rome. This trip is about new friends, Romans and working alongside countrymen. You will be getting to know the locals by helping out on a sustainable farming project and living like a true Italian.
And when not doing the project, there’s plenty of time for yummy food and fun activities. Pizza making, cookery classes, seeing the Colosseum, bike rides/tuk-tuks around Tuscany and Rome’s beautiful Villa Borghese park. In essence, this tour is about helping out, making a difference and learning about Italy through activities.
On this project, you will be involved in sustainable farming. Environmentally this project focuses on maintaining and improving the vegetable garden, cultivating aromatic plant and maintaining collections of Mediterranean plants.
Socially this project focuses on aiding social integration of the marginalised community (migrants, refugees, people with disabilities) that live in the neighborhood. In other words, it is dedicated to equipping local residents with valuable professional skills.
Another important aspect of this initiative is the economic impact. The profits generated are channeled toward non-profit organizations that address social issues.
By engaging in this comprehensive project, students actively take part in an initiative rooted in multiculturalism, sustainability, ecology and social justice. This participation offers a profound insight into the connections between diverse issues and their corresponding solutions.
Day 1: Arrival into Rome
Today you can enjoy getting to know Rome in the company of your knowledgeable and entertaining tour manager who will pick you up from the airport.
Welcome to the eternal city. Home to the Pantheon, to the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona and the Vatican. Our favorite parts of Rome however, aren’t those. We love the intimacy of the smaller neighborhoods such as Trastevere, where you can wander the little streets, visiting the small shops, cafes and beautiful churches.
This evening, enjoy your first taste of delicious Italian food before an early night, ready for the adventure ahead.
Overnight: Rome
Day 2: cycling in the villa Borghese/along the via Appia Antica & a picnic in the park
Today it’s time to enjoy either a cycle around the Villa Borghese or the Via Appia Antica (Rome’s oldest road) followed up by a picnic lunch (if the weather permits) where you can sample some delicious Iocal food.
This afternoon it’s time to head to the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s. Then enjoy a meal in the Trastevere neighborhood with time for gelato after. No day in Italy is complete without gelato!
Overnight: Rome
Day 3: sustainable farming & pizza making
This morning you will be volunteering on the project. You could be sowing seeds, planting, harvesting or helping make honey and various other products. All vitally important to the local community.
This afternoon it’s time to get some more hands on experience of Italy, as you learn how to make that most famous of Italian of foods: pizza. And of course the best part is, you get to eat the fruits of your labor! Buon appetito!
Overnight: Rome
Day 4: volunteering & gladiator school
This morning once again you will be involved in project activities. This afternoon it’s time to embrace your inner Russell Crowe as you learn how to become a gladiator or gladiatrix. Fortunately for you, you will be permitted to live on to continue the day visiting the Colosseum from the outside.
This evening, enjoy an evening walk around Rome and throw your coin in the Trevi fountain to ensure you come back!
Overnight: Rome
Day 5: siena
As the famous song goes, it’s time to say ‘Arrivederci Roma’ and head to the stunning Tuscan city of Siena. Siena is a medieval, walled city, best known for the Palio horse race which takes place in the impressive Piazza del Campo (central square) twice a year. This is an event watched on TV all over Italy and the entire town’s existence is connected into this event, with year round banquets, parades and ceremonies attached to the two summer races. The city is divided up into different neighborhoods, all represented by a symbol and then they have a horse which competes in the race on their behalf.
Upon arrival, you have the chance to explore with a local guide before having some free time to do the same. Enjoy your first Tuscan meal this evening, although you might want to ask for non-Tuscan bread (Tuscan bread, by tradition, has no salt…).
Overnight: Siena
Day 6: florence, a city with a view…
You will drive from Siena to the capital of Tuscany, Florence. You’ll have a guided visit around this fascinating place, including entering the church of Santa Croce, where Machiavelli, Galileo and Michelangelo are all buried. Then enjoy a walk up to Piazza Michelangelo where you can view Florence in its entirety, before heading back down for some more exploration time and another delicious meal. Later on, head to Florence’s oldest and most beloved gelateria to finish off your day traditionally!
Overnight: Florence
Day 7: under the tuscan sun
Enjoy a day out in Tuscany, visiting the nearby town of San Gimignano (the Medieval Manhattan, so-called because of its many towers arranged on a beautiful skyline). Here you will learn some more Italian cookery: how to prepare pasta and a proper Italian meal!
It’s then back to Florence for some further exploration of this lovely city, or perhaps a visit to Bargello Museum.
Overnight: Florence
Day 8: fresco making
You now have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the Masters who went before you and create your own frescoes at the Palazzo Vecchio, where the famous Medici family (patrons of the Renaissance artists) once lived.
This afternoon it’s time to catch a train down to Rome, a mere 1.5 hours away, before enjoying a final night ready for your departure tomorrow.
Overnight: Rome
Day 9: Departure
Time to say arrivederci Roma and goodbye to Italy, but let’s hope your coin in the Trevi worked and we see you back here soon!
What is included:
Activities & entrances:
Pizza Making
Italian cookery lesson
Bike Tour
Gladiator School
Accommodation and services
A 24/7 tour manager accompanying you throughout the trip
Private transportation throughout the trip
Post project accommodation is in 3 and 4* hotels
Project accommodation in project center
All meals (please note we can cater to all dietary requirements)
Medical insurance up to $50,000 and baggage insurance
tickets and tours:
Vatican Museums
The David
Guided tours of Siena, Florence and Rome
Project:
Contributing to the sustainability project by:
Helping create new products from the produce
Planting seeds and caring for the plants
Practice your Italian by working alongside locals
Not included in this Trip
International flights (we can set these up for you)
Visa costs
Cancellation insurance (Medical insurance up to $50,000 and baggage insurance are included)