Italy has its own special kind of magic. Chances are you’ve fantasized about eating hand-rolled pasta at least once in your life, or of drinking a glass of wine under the Tuscan sun, or of viewing masterpieces of human handiwork like Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, or countless other bucket list items found only in Italy.

When I thought about visiting Europe for the first time, I always imagined it would be to Italy. It wasn’t; and while it was an amazing trip, it did leave me with a feeling that I’d missed out.

I’ve always said, if you can only go to Europe once, make sure you go to Rome. It has a wild mixture of ancient and modern. It’s quite the head trip walking down its cobbled streets and realizing it’s very likely you are walking down the same streets as greats like the Apostle Paul, Julius Caesar and everyone in between. Just experiencing the vibrant city connects you to all those that came before and anyone else who has stood in that spot. It’s something no textbook can teach you. No wild story can prepare you for. It’s an instant conversation starter. I’ve yet to meet someone who has been to Rome and hasn’t felt star struck. It has everything! From the mighty Colosseum, to the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Spanish steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican. The list goes on and on. Take a journey to Rome and you will return a storyteller.

Our tour to Italy and Greece begins in the heart of Rome. You can check out the full itinerary by clicking here, but in the meantime I’d like to breakdown the adventures we will encounter on just the first day on the ground.

We will have technically spent our first day traveling on an overnight flight, which is an adventure in and of itself. I’m not being sarcastic. I LOVE the first flight day and all the anticipation it brings.

We will arrive in Rome at the Fiumicino Airport early in the morning on Day 2. Even the airport name is fun to try to pronounce. Say it with me. Fee-oo-me-chee-no. I encourage you to try wrapping your tongue around as many fun Italian phrases as you can. You will find the Italians pleased to watch you stumble through their E’s and O’s and quick to offer a helping hand and an encouraging word. They really are some of the friendliest people you will come across. Don’t believe me? Just wander into a fun neighborhood like the Piazza Navona during your free time and watch how many locals are ready and willing to help you.

Anyway, back to Day 2. From the airport we will hit the ground running with a morning tour of the might Colosseum. My favorite moment in tour history is our first trip group trip to Rome. The Colosseum was right around the next corner and none of the travelers knew. I turned around and walked backwards just so I could watch the look on their faces as they saw the might Colossus for the first time. It honestly takes your breath away and is one of the most surreal experiences. Whether it’s your first time in Europe, or your 12th time to Rome, this is one place that never disappoints.

We will take a guided tour and learn all about its construction, its bloody, violent and controversial past, how it marked Rome as a powerhouse of strength, and why the Emperor Vespasian gifted it to the Romans.

From here we will walk mere steps through the Arch of Constantine, Rome’s largest triumphal arch, commemorating the victory of Constantine, to Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, the center of day-to-day life in Rome and the birthplace of modern government. We will walk amongst the ruins and learn why this area was so historically significant not only to Rome, but the modern world as we know it.

Right next to the forum is the prison where the Apostles Peter and Paul were held during their imprisonment in Rome. Make sure to snap a picture as we go by.

From here we will take a scenic bus tour of the city of Rome, the eternal city. We will take in sights like the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, the Colosseo, Circo Massimo, Piazza Venezia, The Vatican City, Trevi Fountain and so much more. We will hit several of these sights on foot and in-depth on the following days as well, but the bus tour will give us some orientation to the city and wet your appetite for the days to come.

After this tour by bus, we will check in to our hotel, freshen up a bit and head out to the best part of the day, dinner! Try a hand-tossed pizza, homemade pasta, grandma’s meatballs, or whatever suits your fancy. One thing is for sure, this dinner will ruin you for “Italian” restaurants at home. You will leave your heart in Italy and come away with a new understanding about the phrase “the best way to someone’s heart is through their stomach.”