2022 Graduation Tour

map of italy in green with tour cities marked and the words "central & northern italy graduation tour" superimposed.

Join us for the inaugural Villa Le Balze Graduation Tour. This fast-paced tour of Italy organized by Villa Le Balze and the Office of Global Services is for graduating seniors and alumni who graduated within the last 5 years. The tour will explore central and northern Italy starting in Italy’s political capital – Rome – and ending in its fashion capital – Milan. Over the course of nearly three weeks we will visit roughly 20 different cities and countless monuments, museums, and amazing sights.

Trip registration will open in January 2022, along with a more detailed itinerary. In the meantime, you can express your interest by completing our form and we’ll notify you when registration opens.

Express Your Interest

Day 1: Welcome to Italy

Day 2: Ancient Rome & the city’s Piazzas

Day 3: Vatican City & Free Afternoon

Day 4: Northern Lazio, Umbria, & Montalcino

Day 5: Florence & Free Afternoon

Day 6: Florence & Fiesole

Day 7: Arezzo & Siena

Day 8: Pisa & Lucca

Day 9: Northern Tuscany & Emilia Romagna

Day 10: Bologna

Day 11: Ferrara & Padua

Day 12: Venice

Day 13: Murano

Day 14: Verona & Wine Tasting

Day 15: Lake Como & Torino

Day 16: Torino

Day 17: Milan

Day 18: Milan

Day 19: Departure for home!

* The itinerary is subject to change due to frequently changing COVID-19 restrictions.

Central & Northern Italy (full 18 nights, 19 days)

Arrive on May 25, 2022 in Rome

Depart on June 12, 2022 from Milan

$5,000 per person in a double room

Central Italy (9 nights, 10 days)

Arrive on May 25, 2022 in Rome

Depart on June 3, 2022 from Bologna

$2,500 per person in a double room

Includes Day 1-9 of the itinerary with a departure for home on Day 10.

Northern Italy (9 nights, 10 days)

Arrive on June 3, 2022 in Bologna

Depart on June 12, 2022 from Milan

$2,500 per person in a double room

Includes Day 10-19 of the itinerary with arrival in Italy on Day 10.

* These costs do NOT include airfare. All travelers will be making their own travel arrangements to Italy. See flights section below.

The cost for the tours include accommodations in double occupancy rooms, all guided tours and group excursions, continental breakfast at your hotel everyday, all of your lunches, and most of your dinners. It also includes all group transportation from city to city on a charter bus.

You are responsible for your airfare to and from Italy, cost of meals that are not included (about 6 dinners), free-time sightseeing expenses, personal souvenirs and other purchased items.

Itinerary specifics may be subject to change due to frequently changing COVID-19 restrictions.

The tour doesn’t include airfare, so your flight arrangements and transfers are completely up to you.

If you are doing the full tour, we encourage you to arrange to fly into Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and out of Milan Malpensa (MXP) — choose “multicity” on flight-booking websites. Booking round-trip to one city will require a connecting flight, train trip, or additional overnight stay in Italy at your own expense.

If you are doing only the Central Italy tour, we encourage you to arrange to fly into Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and out of Bologna Marconi (BLQ). Booking round-trip to one city will require a connecting flight, train trip, or additional overnight stay in Italy at your own expense.

If you are doing the Northern Italy tour, we encourage you to arrange to fly into Bologna Marconi (BLQ) and out of Milan Malpensa (MXP). Booking round-trip to one city will require a connecting flight, train trip, or additional overnight stay in Italy at your own expense.

This tour is physically active! As a part of this tour you will need to happily…

  1. …carry/roll your own luggage over uneven pavement and possibly up stairways to reach your hotel or hotel room.
  2. …be on your feet, walking and standing, for several hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions.
  3. …comply with all Italian COVID-19 regulations leading up to and during the trip.

For questions about the graduation tour, please email mep92@georgetown.edu.