Тур По Италии По Армянским Следам

Day 1: NY-Rome

Day 2: Arrive in Rome & transfer to Naples

Arrive at Rome Fiumicino airport at 08.00 where a private coach is waiting for us to begin our journey in one of the most famous harbours in the Mediterranean, transfer to Naples to your hotel, check-in and accommodation. The guided tour will start from the Church of San Gregorio Armeno, the Church of San Gennaro, the Royal Palace, Piazza del Plebiscito, and the Galleria Umberto I.

At the end of the tour, transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Naples -Positano / Amalfi / Ravello

Visits start at 9:00 am in Sorrento

The program: Panoramic stops along the coastal road, Cathedral of Amalfi, Ravello Cathedral, Villa Rufolo

The tour lasts about 5 hours.

Return to the hotel from Sorrento to Naples.

Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4: Naples – Rome- Vatican Papal Audience & St. Peter After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Rome at 07.00, travel takes about 2 hours (200 km). Today in the morning after breakfast check out from the hotel and transfer to the Vatican for the Papal audience at 10.00. After the Papal Audience on St. Peter's Square with Bernini's colonnades, we will visit the Basilica of San Pietro, where you can admire Michelangelo's Pietà. This highly refined marble sculpture depicts the body of Jesus in the arms of Mary after the Crucifixion and is considered among the most interesting of all works of art in the world. Visit of the San Gregorio Armeno statue at the Vatican. Visit Rome and with a beautiful city tour in the centre along the river Tevere with some stops to see the Baroque Rome like, Fontana di Trevi, Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Venezia, Pantheon, Campidoglio. This evening, after the orientation tour we will dine in a hotel and overnight.

Day 5: Tour Ancient Rome After breakfast we will go to the Armenian church Surb Vlas "San Biagio della pancetta" (for mass and prayer with Armenian liturgical songs), dated before the tenth century and dedicated to the Armenian bishop, located in one of the oldest places in Rome. The day is dedicated to the discovery of "ancient Rome" and Christian Rome with a local guide in English who will take you to the Imperial Roman Forum, the political center during the Roman Empire, the triumphal Arch of Constantine, the Arch of Titus and the Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre built in the Roman Empire. Lunch in a local restaurant with typical Roman dishes, not included in the price. In the afternoon we will see the Armenian Rome as the Armenian church of Rome Santa Maria Egiziaca, born as a temple of Pontus dating back to the 3rd century BC very similar to the Garni in Armenia, this temple was converted into a Christian church and later dedicated to the Armenians by Pope Pius V in 1571-1916. Subsequently, the Vatican named Surb Nicoghos "San Nicola da Tolentino" is the main church for Catholic Armenians, located in one of the most prestigious areas of Rome. We would visit the Basilica San Giovanni and Santa Maria Maggiore. Then at 18.00 meeting with Mr. Roberto for the visit of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.

Day 6: Rome – Florence
After breakfast departure by bus to Florence, about 3.5 hours. (300km). Arrive in Florence, hotel accommodation and start visiting the historic centre of Florence with a guide in English.
Start the tour in the heart of Florence, at the base of the historic De Medici family, start visiting the Cathedral of Santa Maria in Fiore, Palazzo Vecchio and Santa Maria Novella. Walk to the Cathedral, celebrated for its magnificent dome designed by Brunelleschi, but built with the help of Armenian architects of Pisa, given the famous "Gate of Paradise" of the Baptistery of Santa Croce by Ghiberti. Continue to explore the open-air art museum in Piazza della Signoria which ends at Ponte Vecchio, known as the "Ponte Vecchio" dedicated to the ancient gold trade. Tonight, dine in an authentic Armenian ARARAT restaurant in Florence and overnight.

Day 7: Florence – San Miniato al Monte-San Giminiano-Borgo San Miniato -Florence

After breakfast, the visit to Florence continues with the Armenian footprints. Visit the Abbey Basilica of San Miniato al Monte dedicated to San Miniato degli Armeni, is located in one of the highest places in the city of Florence and is one of the best examples of Florentine Romanesque. The construction of the present church began in 1018, so the last year turned 1000 years. San Miniato was the first martyr of the city. He was probably an Armenian prince on a pilgrimage to Rome. It is said that around 250, have arrived in Florence began the life of a hermit and was beheaded during the anti-Christian persecutions of Emperor Decius. Continue to visit San Baslio degli Armeni. The former Episcopal Methodist Church, now the Seventh Day Adventist Church is a religious building in Florence, located on the corner of Via San Gallo and Via Guelfa. It was originally called the church of San Basilio, also known as the Armenian church.

The "Historic Centre of San Gimignano" is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The town is also known for saffron, the Golden Ham, and its white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, produced from the ancient variety of Vernaccia grape which is grown on the sandstone hillsides of the area.
Saint Geminianus (also known as Saint Geminian, or Saint Gimignano) was a fourth-century Deacon, and later Bishop of Modena. He is mentioned in the year 390 when he sent a delegate named Aper to participate in a council called by Saint Ambrose in Milan. From his name, it has been deduced that Geminianus probably belonged to the caste of Roman senators, of Armenian origin.

Visit San Miniato is a delightful village perched on a hill a short distance from the Arno and halfway between Florence and Pisa, the name of the town has come since its foundation was assigned to the name of the martyr Miniato, Surb Minas.

Short stop for lunch and meeting with the guide for a meeting and dinner in a restaurant and overnight at
the hotel.

Day 8: Florence - Milan

Breakfast and departure to Milan by train from Florence. Arrival in Milan, transfer to the hotel, accommodation and city tour of Milan. Visit Piazza del Duomo, the Duomo, Piazza Mercanti, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Piazza della Scala.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Milan.

Day 9: Milan

Breakfast, visit the Armenian Church of Milan, and visit the Upper Room to admire the masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Time for shopping in Via Monte Napoleone.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Milan.

Day 10: Armenian Venice

In the morning after breakfast we will continue by bus or train to Venice Mestre, the journey takes about 3 hours (300km). Arrival in Venice Mestre hotel accommodation, visit the beautiful Venice. Today it is dedicated to visiting the Armenian Venice, we will visit the Zenobio Palace, the Armenian college Moorat-
Raphael and the Church of Santa Croce of the Armenians of Venice. After lunch, he embarks to visit the island of San Lazzaro, the Armenian island of Venice where Lord Byron also stops from November 1816 to February 1817.
San Lazzaro degli Armeni is a small island in the Venice lagoon, 7,000 m2, which is located near the west coast of Venice Lido and is completely occupied by a monastery, the mother house of the Armenian Mekhitarist monk's congregation. The island is one of the world's first centres of Armenian culture. Visit the large garden surrounding the Gothic church rebuilt in the 19th century, annexed to the Church are the Monastery, the Museum and the Picture Gallery. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 11: Venice City Tour
Breakfast. Today begins with a visit to St. Mark's Square to begin a guided walking tour of romantic Venice. View the Golden Basilica of San Marco, the Bridge of Sighs and visit the Doge's Palace, whose facade features a massive late-Gothic gate, known as the Porta della Carta. Lunch is free in a local restaurant. After
lunch, we will visit the: Ponte Rialto, Canal Grande, Ponte dei Sospiri, and some time dedicated to shopping. Dinner and overnight in a hotel in Venice.

Day 12: Venice – N.Y.