Ciao Italia! Shalom Italy!
Sample Itinerary
— (Subject to Change)

Day 1: Monday – Venice: Welcome to Italia! 

• Arrive at Venice Marco Polo International Airport (VCE)  
• Make your way to Hotel Cavalletto (private transfers can be arranged). 
• After check-in, enjoy a short walk to San Marco Square.  
• Time to explore the city and eat lunch at leisure. 
• In the late afternoon, we will gather at our hotel for an introduction and  
• orientation session.  
• Enjoy a sunset gondola boat ride.  
• Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.  

Overnight: Hotel Cavalletto, Venice

Day 2: Tuesday – Venice: Two Steps Up, One Step Back – Jews, Venice and the Emergence of the Ghetto 

• Breakfast at the hotel.  
• Guided walking tour: San Marco’s Square, Basilica of San Marco, the Bridge of Sighs, and the Doge’s Palace.  
• Group lunch at a local restaurant in the Jewish ghetto area. 
• Tour Jewish Venice: the medieval ghetto and its beautiful synagogues, as well as the Jewish Museum.  
• Evening and dinner at leisure.  

Overnight: Hotel Cavalletto, Venice

Day 3: Wednesday – Venice: God’s Palette – Artisans and Artistry  

• Breakfast at the hotel.  
• Visit to the islands of Murano and Burano.  
• Lunch at leisure. 
• Dinner and evening at leisure.  

Overnight: Hotel Cavalletto, Venice

Day 4: Thursday – Venice – Ferrara – Bologna: The Absence of Presence and the Presence of Absence 

• Breakfast and checkout at the hotel, departing the hotel by water taxis.  
• Travel to Ferrara.  
• Walk through the city’s medieval ghetto area. 
• Lunch at leisure. 
• Afternoon tour of Ferrara’s newly opened MEIS (Museum of Italian Judaism and the Holocaust). 
• Continue to Bologna.  
• Check-in to our hotel.  
• Dinner and evening at leisure.  

Overnight: Aemilia Hotel, Bologna

Day 5: Friday – Bologna – Florence: The limits to Italian tolerance 

• Breakfast and checkout at the hotel.  
• Tour of Bologna’s Jewish Museum and historic center, where you will also have a chance to see Europe’s oldest university.  
• Lunch at leisure. 
• Depart for Florence.  
• Visit the Great Synagogue and the Jewish Museum.  
• Enjoy a Shabbat dinner together.  

Overnight: 25 Hours Hotel, Florence Piazza San Paolino

Day 6: Saturday – Florence: Thou shalt not make a graven image...

• Breakfast at the hotel.  
• Shabbat services (optional).  
• Early afternoon optional guided tour of the Piazza della Signoria, magnificent Uffizi Gallery and The Academy Gallery, famous for its awe-inspiring statue of Michelangelo’s David.  
• Dinner and evening at leisure.  

Overnight: 25 Hours Hotel, Florence Piazza San Paolino

Day 7: Sunday – Florence – San Gimignano – Sienna – Florence – Hiding in Plain Sight: the Jews of Siena 

• Breakfast at the hotel.  
• Depart for San Gimignano.  
• Lunch at leisure. 
• Visit Siena on a guided tour of its former ghetto area, including a tour of the Siena Synagogue. 
• Visit a Chianti winery for a wine tasting and aperitivo (Italian light dinner with focaccia, Italian cheeses, olives…).  

Overnight: 25 Hours Hotel, Florence Piazza San Paolino

Day 8: Monday – Florence – Arezzo – Rome  

• Breakfast and checkout at the hotel.  
• Morning study session.  
• Depart for Rome, stopping along the way in the beautiful and enchanting city of Arezzo for a guided tour of the city center.  
• Lunch at leisure. 
• Continue to Rome.  
• Dinner and evening at leisure. 

Overnight: Hotel Saint John, Rome

Day 9: Tuesday – Rome – A Clash of Civilizations? Jews and the Roman Empire 

• Breakfast at the hotel.  
• Morning study session.  
• Guided tour of Vigna Randanini Catacombs. 
• Visit Rome’s Great Synagogue and its ghetto area.  
• Group lunch at a local restaurant.  
• In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of Rome’s ancient Forum and the Colosseum.  
• Dinner and evening at leisure.  

Overnight: Hotel Saint John, Rome

Day 10: Wednesday – Rome – The Papacy and the Jews, from persecution to reconciliation 

• Breakfast at the hotel.  
• Guided tour of the Campo di Fiori and the Pantheon.  
• Lunch at leisure.  
• Guided tour of the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and the “Angels Unawares” sculpture, a monument to migrants and refugees.  
• Remainder of the day and evening at leisure.  
• Reflection session.  
• Farewell dinner. 

Overnight: Hotel Saint John, Rome

Day 11: Thursday – Departure 

• Breakfast and checkout at the hotel.  

The Melton tour to Italy will be led by Avi Ben-Hur, scholar in residence of Classrooms Without Borders. Melton Travel is open to adults of all ages.

While Melton oversees the educational aspects of our tours, it's important to note that we are not a travel agency. For the logistics of this trip, our travel partners in Italy will be responsible.

Please note that Melton is not liable for any financial loss due to reasons beyond our control, such as health-related cancellations. We highly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance covering trip cancellation and health-related issues, including COVID, within a few weeks of paying your nonrefundable deposit.

Thank you for your interest in travelling with Melton. We eagerly await the opportunity to learn and explore together with you.

The Melton Travel Team

Receive notification when registration opens >

Price Includes:

• 11 days / 10 nights
• Meals per the itinerary (all breakfasts, and 5 additional group meals)
• Tips
• All entrance fees and programs as per the Melton itinerary
• Master educator and exceptional guides, artists, and teachers

Hotels:

• Venice: Hotel Cavalletto, 1107 Sotoportego del Cavallet, Venice. Tel: +39 041 520 0955
• Bologna: Hotel Aemilia, 16 Via Zaccherini Alvisi, Bologna. Tel: +39 051 394 0311
• Florence: 25 Hours Hotel, 1 Piazza di S. Paolino, Florence. Tel: +39 055 296 6911
• Rome: St. John Hotel, Via Matteo Boiardo, 30. Tel: +39 06 9799 7045

Note: We will do our best to assist you with extensions both before and after the seminar.

Not Included:

• International airfare and personal insurance 
• Meals not stated above
• Items of a personal nature

Need to Know

• Group rates are per person and a minimum of 15 fully paying participants. Should the number of participants drop below the minimum listed above, we may adjust the cost of the trip to reflect the additional expense of operating the program.
• Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, special dinners, sightseeing, admissions, luggage handling and the services of local guides, drivers, and the tour guide/educator are included.
• A non-refundable deposit of $1250 per person is due upon registration. If the trip is cancelled, the registration fee will be refunded. Final balance will be due 100 days prior to trip start date: January 18, 2025.
• Participants who reserve a double room and are sharing with a friend or family member will be subject to the single supplement if that person cancels prior to departure if final payment has not been paid.  
• There will be no refunds for unused services. All cancellations must be submitted in writing.
• Hotel Accommodations: The tour price includes all hotel accommodations, in hotel rooms with private bathrooms. Our standard is to provide the best available hotels while considering value. Although the level of the accommodation may differ slightly from hotel to hotel, we are committed to your comfort.
• Meals are kosher style and included as indicated in the itinerary. Participants may order Glatt kosher meals at prices set by our local vendors upon request.
• A Melton scholar & educator will be with the group throughout the tour.
• All gratuities are included.
• Baggage: Melton shall not be held responsible for any damage to or loss of luggage/personal items. All damage/loss must be reported at time of incident and documented in writing by local authorities for submission to the insurance company.
• About airline baggage allowance, different carriers have different regulations for business and coach, please check with your individual carrier with regard to permitted number of pieces, weights and dimensions. The tour operator is not responsible for fees levied by any air carrier for the transport of personal belongings of any kind.
• Porterage at hotels. Please note that room service is not included.

Not Included

• Flights and personal insurance are not included.
• Personal expenses, including meals not mentioned in the itinerary or drinks during meals, unless specified, or room service.

Melton Travel recommends Forbes Advisor for the most up-to-date travel insurance comparisons. Consider travel protection for:

• Trip Cancellation
• Trip Interruption
• Emergency Medical Expenses
• Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation of Remains
• Trip Delay
• Baggage & Personal Effects
• Baggage Delay

Please Note: To be eligible for the waiver of pre-existing medical condition exclusion, the protection plan must be purchased within 21 days (about 3 weeks) from the time you make your initial trip deposit, the entire non-refundable amount of the trip must be insured, and you must be medically able to travel at the time the premium is paid. However, the travel protection plan itself can be purchased any time prior to departure.

Additional Information

Airline Security Measures: Your name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket, or you may be denied boarding. If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S., you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification are required for that airport.

Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times. You may also wish to visit the Transportation Security Administration website at www.tsa.gov to obtain more information on acceptable identity documentation and prohibited luggage items.

Holidays and Museum Closures: Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or state and local holidays observed in the destinations being visited.

Photography During Tours: We will occasionally use photographs taken by fellow guests or your trip director for promotional purposes. If you prefer your photo not used in any marketing activities, please notify us at the start of your tour.

For more information, please contact us here.

Or call: 1–646–921–0747, Ext. 4