Chamber Trip to Italy 2024
What an adventure! Seven months ago, when we announced that the Plymouth Chamber would be starting a Chamber travel program, the biggest concern was being able to sell 20 seats.
With our initial information in March, we were excited by the interest and were optimistic that we could do it. A travel program is a great way for the Chamber to fundraise to help provide services and programs and still keep our dues affordable.
Within 10 days of opening up the sales of the seats, we had filled our 20 spots and had a waiting list to see if the travel company could secure more seats for us. Luckily, we were able to get six more travelers into the group for a total of 26.
Over the following six months, the group started communicating, even met for a pre-departure gathering to get to know everyone. We had veteran travelers, we had first time international travelers, we had kids as young as 13 and adults as old as 79.
The day finally arrived for our departure. We met at the Walmart parking lot for the bus ride to Chicago. We had 20 traveling in one group and the extra six on another flight. We left Chicago on our 7:15 pm flight for the overnight trip to our stopover in Zurich, then on to Rome. Unfortunately, the extra six ran into a flight cancellation and their rebooked flight got them in much later than the rest of us.
The next day, after all of us arrived and got a night's rest, we headed off first thing to our first tour. Our walking tour of Rome took us to the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, by the Coliseum and to some of the many piazzas and squares that are everywhere in Italy. After a bit of free time to explore and have a lunch, our group headed to the Vatican for a tour which included Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peters Square and the Basilica.
That evening we were transported to the Trastevere District for dinner. This area is filled with winding cobblestone streets and alleyways that open up into brightly lit, filled with music and people little streets full of restaurants, quaint shops and street vendors that are all open late into the night. The group all split up and found their own restaurant to enjoy.
The following day was open for all travelers to enjoy their day doing tours or activities of their choosing. Some toured the Coliseum, some did golf cart tours of the city and some experienced the train system which delivered them to the city center.
On Saturday, we all loaded on the motorcoach to begin our multi-city visits. Our first stop was in Assisi. Such an incredibly beautiful city situated on the hills in Umbria. Our tour for the day was at St. Francis Basilica where our tour guide was a Franciscan priest from upstate New York, who had a great sense of humor while sharing a reverent history. We finished the tour in the lower level where St. Francis himself was entombed. Lunch and shopping followed before we boarded the bus and were on to our next stop.
Perugia was up next. This beautiful medieval village, which is surrounded by a city wall, is known for its chocolate, especially the “Baci” made by the Perugina Company. The city is also known for its rich art history, including renaissance painter Raphael. After a walking tour the travelers were able to explore on their own shopping and enjoying dinner in the streets of the city before heading off to the hotel for the night.
The next morning, the group moved on to Siena, a city in Italy’s central Tuscany region. In the fan shaped, very large central square, the Piazza del Campo, a very historic traditional medieval horse race, the Palio di Siena, is run twice a year in July and August. Each of the cities 17 neighborhoods, or “contradas” hope their horse is selected as one of the 10 that run the race around the perimeter of the piazza. The winner receives a painted banner bearing an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The city also has the Siena Cathedral, which began construction in the 12th century with completion in 1380.
At the completion of this tour, it was time for the travelers to move on to Florence, or Firenze. The capital of the Tuscan region has many “must see” masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. One of the most iconic sights is the Duomo, a cathedral that towers above the city landscape. After a relaxing night in the city, and more wonderful food, the tour the next day brought the group to a walking tour of the unique streets and squares and fountains and architecture. So much to see.
Some of the group headed off to experience a wine and cheese tasting luncheon at a winery and farm in Tuscany, complete with a stop to eat the grapes off of the vines and to view the many olive trees that were almost ready to harvest. That evening all of the travelers were treated to a pizza and gelato making class. What a perfect way to end the day!
On the last full day of the trip, a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia where we saw Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture, made the trip to Florence complete. Once that tour was done, the group boarded the bus for the trip back to Rome to prepare for the departure the next day. While the six of our group were able to have a problem free return to the US, the remaining 20 were stranded in Zurich for the night with an extra stop in Frankfurt added the next day before the return to Chicago.
It was a trip filled with a few bumps, but mostly beautiful landscapes, incredible history, art and architecture. It was an experience that no one will soon forget, from the wonderful food we all ate, to the shopping that was had to the bonds that were formed amongst the travelers. For our first Chamber travel trip, it wasn’t without some lessons learned but we all came home feeling, despite the hiccups, that it was a success and we’re ready for the next trip. “Alla prossima volta” (until the next time).
