Our morning begins with a visit to the National Archaeological Museum (Naples), with our local guide. At the museum, we will see artifacts uncovered throughout Italy, but especially from Pompeii and Herculaneum. These artifacts, frescoes, and mosaics provide windows into the first century world of Paul and the early Jesus movement against the backdrop of the Roman world.  

From Naples we travel to Pozzouli (ancient Puteoli; Acts 28:13) and visit the ancient harbor of the city and its excellently preserved arena. Our day concludes snorkeling exploring the sunken city of Baia. Baia was the Riviera of the Roman world. Wealthy Romans had palatial houses which, over time, have sunken into the Bay of Naples. We explore these ruins snorkeling through them. We then return to our hotel in Pompeii for dinner and overnight.

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, as well as the palatial Villa Oplontis. These sites became time capsules, enabling us to touch the first century Roman world with its idols and temples, decadence and entertainment, and daily life. We begin our morning at Pompeii exploring this magnificent city with its streets, stores, homes, bathhouses, forum, and brothel. We make our we next to Herculaneum to explore this city. Our day concludes visiting the breathtaking Villa Oplontis. Having stepped back in time, we understand the world of Paul and his communities. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Pompeii.

Our journey today takes us along the stunning Amalfi Coast. As our bus winds along the twisting coastal road, we stop in the villages to explore and taste the local beauty. Our day concludes at Paestum, the area where buffalo mozzarella originates, and the best-preserved Greek temples in the world. We return to Pompeii for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we checkout of our hotel and drive (approximately three hours with a stop) to Ostia Antika, a port city for Rome. Our visit explores this city, its homes, shops, and the Jewish synagogue (one of the oldest in the world). We then drive into Rome and have a walking tour of the Piazza Navona; passing by the Temple to the Deified Hadrian, we enter the Pantheon, a magnificent Temple built by the Emperor Hadrian to the pantheon of Roman gods. We then walk to the famous Trevi Fountain, where you can make a wish and toss a coin over your should and into the fountain, and then we make our way to the renowned Spanish Steps. We will then meet our motor coach and drive to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Rome.

Our journey today takes us into the heart of ancient Rome, the city and the empire. We begin at the Colosseum, built by the Emperor Vespasian. We then walk to the Palatine Hill where the palaces of the Caesars, including the homes of Augusts (Luke 2:1) and Livia resided. We continue on into the Roman Forum and Imperial Forum where we will see the Arch of Titus, the Curia (Senate House), the place of Julius Caesar’s pier, the Mamertime Prison, and more. In the Imperial Forum, we visit the Forum of Trajan, Trajan’s Column and Markets. We then walk up the Capitoline Hill and visit the Capitoline Museums with its stunning artifacts. Our day concludes with a visit to Rome’s large chariot track, the Circus Maximus, and the public Baths of Diocletian. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Rome.

This morning, we drive out of Rome to Tivoli to visit Hadrian’s Villa, an incredible monument to imperial Rome. On our way back to Rome, we explore one of the ancient underground cemeteries of Rome, the Catacombs. These burials tell the ancient history of Rome, including the emergence of Christianity within the empire’s capital. We return to Rome visiting the Campus Maritus, which includes the Mausoleum of Augustus and Ara Pacis. We then visit Largo Argentia, the place of Julius Caesar’s assignation. Our day concludes at the brilliant museum Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, where we will see stunning sculptures and frescoes providing an awe-inspiring look into the ancient Roman world. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Our morning today is taken with visiting the Vatican. The papal state provides a kaleidoscope of Rome’s history and the history of the Church. Our visit takes us to the Vatican Gardens, the Rooms of Raphael, the Belvedere Courtyard, the Gallery of Maps, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basillica. After our morning tour, the afternoon is free to explore Rome. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Depart from Rome Fiumicino (FCO) - Leonardo da Vinci Airport and return home challenged and encouraged in your faith! Hotel checkout will be at 10:00am. One group transfer to the airport will be offered and departure timing will be determined based on when the majority of participants' flights will be departing. Private airport transfers can be reserved at additional cost.