Program number: 2616933SM
Group Leader's name: Erin DeHart
Requested departure date: 5/8/2024
Requested return date: 5/20/2024
Departure gateway: Lincoln (NE)
13 days
Florence, Rome, Delphi region, Athens, extension cruise to Greek Islands
Program designed to: Facilitate exploration of the roots of Western Civilization and the impact of classical Greek and Roman culture on modern history, philosophy, art and cuisine. Visit breathtaking ancient ruins, explore medieval neighborhoods untouched by time, and marvel at Renaissance masterpieces in world-renowned museums. Throughout your journey you’ll connect with locals and get an insider’s view of contemporary Mediterranean life in Italy and Greece.

Highlight: Enjoy the traditions of the Mediterranean diet—listed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity—while you explore the cultural identities of Italy and Greece.

🔹 Curated experiences: Every program is intentionally designed to feature guided learning, cultural engagement, and independent exploration experiences to drive global competency development, denoted on each itinerary with a blue diamond. Learn more about these experiences.
  • Day 1: Fly overnight to Italy

  • Day 2: Florence

    Meet your Field Director at the airport

    Take a walking tour of Florence, Tuscany’s charming capital city, which began as a Roman settlement and is now known for its classic artistry and famed craftsmanship, including Michelangelo's David, Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, and the towering Duomo

    Enjoy dinner in Florence

  • Day 3: Florence

    🔹 Guided learning: Take a guided tour of Florence

    With your expert local guide you will see:

    • Piazza della Signoria, which is lined with classic statues
    • Ponte Vecchio, a medieval bridge where many of Florence’s famed leather and gold artisans still keep shop 
    • Basilica of Santa Croce, where Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo and others are buried 
    • Gates of Paradise, bronzed doors that depict scenes from the Old Testament and are considered an icon of the Renaissance 

    Visit Palazzo Pitti, a palace built in the 15th century and occupied primary by Florence's prominent Medici dynasty

    Visit the Boboli Gardens, the first Italian-style garden filled with statues, grottos, fountains, and terraces

    🔹 Independent exploration: Spend a half day exploring Florence on your own

  • Day 4: Florence • Rome

    Travel to Rome, Italy's historic capital where the Roman Empire flourished and left an enduring mark with its intellectual, artistic, spiritual, and physical achievements

    Take a guided tour of Rome

    With your expert local guide you will visit:

    • Roman Forum, marking the former heart of the Roman Empire where Julius Caesar gave many of his political speeches
    • The Colosseum, the world’s most famous arena used for gladiatorial combat

    Enjoy a pizza dinner in Rome

  • Day 5: Rome

    Take a guided tour of Vatican City, the headquarter of the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope

    With your expert local guide you will visit:

    • Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s breathtaking frescoes
    • St. Peter’s Basilica, a site of religious and historical significance over which the Pope presides

    🔹 Cultural engagement: Take a self-guided walking tour of Rome

    You will see:

    • Trevi Fountain, Rome's iconic landmark
    • Pantheon, built to honor all the gods of Rome
    • Piazza Navona, a lively square lined with restaurants and shops
    • Spanish Steps, Europe's widest staircase
  • Day 6: Rome

    Add this in-depth excursion
    Ostia Antica

    Ostia Antica

    Visit the archaeological site of Ostia Antica, Rome's seaport located at the mouth of the Tiber River. Once inhabited by 100,000 people, the town is remarkable for many of its ancient features, from a lighthouse, to frescoes and mosaics, to numerous taverns and inns.

  • Day 7: Rome • Athens • Delphi

    Fly to Athens, the capital city of Greece known for being the birthplace of democracy, the Olympic Games, and the achievements of the Greek Empire

    Travel to Delphi, site of the famed Oracle, which stands as one of the most important landmarks of antiquity

    Enjoy dinner in Delphi

  • Day 8: Delphi • Athens

    Visit the Delphi Archaeological Museum, dedicated to the Oracle of Delphi and housing a variety of artifacts dating back to 550 B.C.

    🔹 Guided learning: Take a walking tour of the sites of Delphi

    With your expert local guide you will visit:

    • Temple of Apollo where, according to legend, gods chose to communicate with mortals
    • Ruins of Delphi, where ancient military leaders were known to leave offerings here in the hopes of earning luck in battle

    Travel to Athens

    Enjoy dinner in Athens

  • Day 9: Athens

    Take a guided tour of Athens

    With your expert local guide you will see:

    • Olympic Stadium, where the first Olympic athletes displayed physical strength as a way to honor and entertain the gods of Mount Olympus
    • Syntagma Square, the central square of Athens

    Take a guided tour of the Acropolis

    With your expert local guide you will see:

    • Parthenon, an enduring symbol of Athenian democracy an iconic Greek landmark
    • Temple of Athena Nike, which once housed a gold statue of the goddess, her wings clipped to prevent her from deserting the city

    Take a walking tour of Athens, named for Athena, goddess of war and wisdom

    With your Tour Director you will see:

    • Plaka District, a hillside area of the city with cobblestone streets, whitewashed homes, and a Greek Island feel
    • Temple of Olympian Zeus, built in 515 B.C. to honor the most powerful of all Greek gods
    Add this in-depth excursion
    🔹 Cultural engagement: Cape Sounion with dinner

    🔹 Cultural engagement: Cape Sounion with dinner

    This afternoon, travel to Cape Sounion. According to legend this is the spot where Aegeus, king of Athens, leapt to his death off the cliff, thus giving his name to the Aegean Sea. Your guided tour will take you to the ancient Greek temple of Poseidon, the god of the sea in classical mythology. End your excursion with an included dinner as you take in the beautiful sunset.

  • Day 10: Greek Island cruise

    Set sail on your cruise ship for a three-day adventure filled with on-board activities and a three-island shore excursion package. Experience how Turkish, Roman, and Greek influences helped shape the unique blend of cultures you’ll encounter as you explore each coastal town.  

  • Day 11: Greek Island cruise: Santorini • Mykonos

  • Day 12: Greek Island cruise: Cesme

  • Day 13: Return to Athens & depart for home

  • Day 1: Fly overnight to Italy

  • Day 2: Florence

    Meet your Field Director at the airport

    Take a walking tour of Florence, Tuscany’s charming capital city, which began as a Roman settlement and is now known for its classic artistry and famed craftsmanship, including Michelangelo's David, Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, and the towering Duomo

    Enjoy dinner in Florence

  • Day 3: Florence

    🔹 Guided learning: Take a guided tour of Florence

    With your expert local guide you will see:

    • Piazza della Signoria, which is lined with classic statues
    • Ponte Vecchio, a medieval bridge where many of Florence’s famed leather and gold artisans still keep shop 
    • Basilica of Santa Croce, where Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo and others are buried 
    • Gates of Paradise, bronzed doors that depict scenes from the Old Testament and are considered an icon of the Renaissance 

    Visit Palazzo Pitti, a palace built in the 15th century and occupied primary by Florence's prominent Medici dynasty

    Visit the Boboli Gardens, the first Italian-style garden filled with statues, grottos, fountains, and terraces

    🔹 Independent exploration: Spend a half day exploring Florence on your own

  • Day 4: Florence • Rome

    Travel to Rome, Italy's historic capital where the Roman Empire flourished and left an enduring mark with its intellectual, artistic, spiritual, and physical achievements

    Take a guided tour of Rome

    With your expert local guide you will visit:

    • Roman Forum, marking the former heart of the Roman Empire where Julius Caesar gave many of his political speeches
    • The Colosseum, the world’s most famous arena used for gladiatorial combat

    Enjoy a pizza dinner in Rome

  • Day 5: Rome

    Take a guided tour of Vatican City, the headquarter of the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope

    With your expert local guide you will visit:

    • Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s breathtaking frescoes
    • St. Peter’s Basilica, a site of religious and historical significance over which the Pope presides

    🔹 Cultural engagement: Take a self-guided walking tour of Rome

    You will see:

    • Trevi Fountain, Rome's iconic landmark
    • Pantheon, built to honor all the gods of Rome
    • Piazza Navona, a lively square lined with restaurants and shops
    • Spanish Steps, Europe's widest staircase
  • Day 6: Rome

    Add this in-depth excursion
    Ostia Antica

    Ostia Antica

    Visit the archaeological site of Ostia Antica, Rome's seaport located at the mouth of the Tiber River. Once inhabited by 100,000 people, the town is remarkable for many of its ancient features, from a lighthouse, to frescoes and mosaics, to numerous taverns and inns.

  • Day 7: Rome • Athens • Delphi

    Fly to Athens, the capital city of Greece known for being the birthplace of democracy, the Olympic Games, and the achievements of the Greek Empire

    Travel to Delphi, site of the famed Oracle, which stands as one of the most important landmarks of antiquity

    Enjoy dinner in Delphi

  • Day 8: Delphi • Athens

    Visit the Delphi Archaeological Museum, dedicated to the Oracle of Delphi and housing a variety of artifacts dating back to 550 B.C.

    🔹 Guided learning: Take a walking tour of the sites of Delphi

    With your expert local guide you will visit:

    • Temple of Apollo where, according to legend, gods chose to communicate with mortals
    • Ruins of Delphi, where ancient military leaders were known to leave offerings here in the hopes of earning luck in battle

    Travel to Athens

    Enjoy dinner in Athens

  • Day 9: Athens

    Take a guided tour of Athens

    With your expert local guide you will see:

    • Olympic Stadium, where the first Olympic athletes displayed physical strength as a way to honor and entertain the gods of Mount Olympus
    • Syntagma Square, the central square of Athens

    Take a guided tour of the Acropolis

    With your expert local guide you will see:

    • Parthenon, an enduring symbol of Athenian democracy an iconic Greek landmark
    • Temple of Athena Nike, which once housed a gold statue of the goddess, her wings clipped to prevent her from deserting the city

    Take a walking tour of Athens, named for Athena, goddess of war and wisdom

    With your Tour Director you will see:

    • Plaka District, a hillside area of the city with cobblestone streets, whitewashed homes, and a Greek Island feel
    • Temple of Olympian Zeus, built in 515 B.C. to honor the most powerful of all Greek gods
    Add this in-depth excursion
    🔹 Cultural engagement: Cape Sounion with dinner

    🔹 Cultural engagement: Cape Sounion with dinner

    This afternoon, travel to Cape Sounion. According to legend this is the spot where Aegeus, king of Athens, leapt to his death off the cliff, thus giving his name to the Aegean Sea. Your guided tour will take you to the ancient Greek temple of Poseidon, the god of the sea in classical mythology. End your excursion with an included dinner as you take in the beautiful sunset.

  • Day 10: Greek Island cruise

    Set sail on your cruise ship for a three-day adventure filled with on-board activities and a three-island shore excursion package. Experience how Turkish, Roman, and Greek influences helped shape the unique blend of cultures you’ll encounter as you explore each coastal town.  

  • Day 11: Greek Island cruise: Santorini • Mykonos

  • Day 12: Greek Island cruise: Cesme

  • Day 13: Return to Athens & depart for home

What's Included

  • Transportation

    Various modes of transport are tailored to your program. While some transfers are included, others may come at additional cost.

  • Accommodations

    Safe, comfortable lodging will be waiting for you at your destination.

  • Select meals

    Enjoy a combination of included meals and the freedom to explore local cuisine on your own.

  • End-to-end support

    Your dedicated EF team helps secure administrative approval and academic credit, provides enrollment tools, and helps establish your program’s ongoing presence on campus.

  • EF Global Learning Toolkit

    We offer various tools to help educators facilitate student growth abroad and on campus, including academically enriched travel programs, industry engagement opportunities, global learning resources, and a Global Competencies Assessment tool.

  • Field Director

    Your Field Director is on the ground with your group, providing deep local insights while handling program logistics.

  • Guided exploration

    Gain insider knowledge and cultural perspective from licensed local guides: natural historians who provide cultural insights to enhance learning moments throughout the program.

  • Field Visits

    Experience academics in action during engaging visits with relevant organizations, thought leaders, and partners.

Building skills for a global world

Whether you're aiming for a promotion, want to land your dream job, or hoping to leave your comfort zone, international experience gives you the skills you need to succeed in an increasingly global world.
 97% growth in the number of students who were confident navigating unfamiliar places post study abroad.1  93% of students who studied abroad and entered the workforce were employed within 6 months of graduation, compared to 49% who did not study abroad.2  Students who studied abroad saw 100% greater improvement in GPA.3

 

 

*Sources: 1: EF Study Abroad Program Impact 2018; 2: IES Abroad 2015; 3: Georgia Learning Outcomes of Students Studying Abroad Research Initiative 2010  

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