Italy
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Italy - Whispers of the Etruscans


October 09-16, 2026
Double Occupancy: $5150 per person
Single Occupancy: $5450 per person
Airfare is not included.

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Whispers of the Etruscans

Come with us into the heart of central Italy to discover an ancient civilization that once flourished and helped shape the foundations of Italian culture. On this immersive journey, we’ll uncover the stories the Etruscans left behind in their art, architecture, and enduring influence, inviting you to feel the past as vividly as the present.

This experience goes far beyond sightseeing. In the evenings, we’ll meet with our trip leader Giuliana Marple and guest archaeologists to learn more about the Etruscan culture and reflect upon what we’ve discovered each day. With a small group, private transportation, and a carefully curated itinerary, this incredible 8-day experience offers a unique glimpse inside Italy’s ancient history and culture.

Cerveteri Cemetary

Cerveteri Cemetary

Tour Highlights Include:

  • Eight immersive days exploring the mysterious world of the Etruscans near Viterbo.
  • Walk the ancient streets of the Banditaccia Necropolis in Cerveteri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and discover its monumental tombs.
  • Explore the painted tombs of Tarquinia’s Monterozzi Necropolis and visit the National Museum housed in Palazzo Vitelleschi.
  • Enjoy a free day in Viterbo’s medieval San Pellegrino district, relax at the Terme dei Papi thermal baths, and savor an aperitivo in a cozy piazza.
  • Descend into Orvieto’s underground tunnels, and cave systems, explore the Crocifisso del Tufo Necropolis, and admire the stunning Duomo.
  • Participate in a hands-on Italian cooking class at a private farm just outside of Civitavecchia.
  • Explore Civitavecchia and celebrate with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
  • Staying at the Hotel Niccolò V, an oasis of well-being in the heart of the Terme dei Papi thermal park.
  • Engage in evening reflections and lectures led by University of Utah faculty and guest archaeologists, deepening your understanding of Etruscan culture.
  • All lodging, private transportation, guided tours, museum entries, daily breakfasts, select lunches and dinners, and enriching lectures are included.

Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Friday, October 9, 2026 - Arrival & Orientation – Welcome to the Land of the Etruscans

Welcome to Italy! You’ll arrive at the Fiumicino airport in Rome and take a private transfer to the Hotel Niccoló V, our home base for the entire trip. After settling in, we’ll take the shuttle into Viterbo for a short walking tour, where the incredible medieval architecture offers an unforgettable first look at the city. That evening, we’ll gather for a welcome dinner where we can discuss the things we’re most excited about in the coming days.

Hotel: Hotel Niccoló V opens a new window
Meal: D
Activity Level: Low

Hotel Niccolo
Hotel Niccolo

Day 2: Saturday, October 10, 2026 - Cerveteri – The City of the Dead

We’ll start the morning with a short 45‑minute drive to Cerveteri, home to the vast Banditaccia Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most extraordinary glimpses into Etruscan civilization. Here, we’ll explore the tumulus tombs and walk along the ancient “streets of the dead,” a remarkably preserved landscape that reveals how the Etruscans honored their ancestors. Our visit continues at the National Etruscan Museum of Cerveteri, where artifacts from the necropolis help us understand these early Mediterranean communities better. We’ll enjoy a trattoria meal before taking some time for a reflective activity: “What can tombs tell us about life?” Later in the afternoon, we’ll return to Viterbo, where you’ll have the evening free to relax and enjoy dinner.

Hotel: Hotel Niccoló V opens a new window
Meals: B, L, D
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous

Cerveteri Cemetary
Cerveteri Cemetary

Day 3: Sunday, October 11, 2026 - Tarquinia – The Painted Tombs

Tarquinia is known to be one of the oldest and most important Etruscan cities. After breakfast, we’ll take a short drive to Tarquinia, home to some of the most famous painted tombs of the ancient world. Our guided tour of the Monterozzi Necropolis will bring us face‑to‑face with vivid murals depicting hunting scenes, banquets, dancers, and the rituals that shaped Etruscan beliefs about death and the afterlife. We’ll then continue to the National Museum of Tarquinia, within the Palazzo Vitelleschi. We’ll enjoy lunch at a local trattoria and afterward, you’ll have free time to explore Tarquinia on your own. This is a perfect time for sketching, journaling, or simply exploring the hilltop town at your own pace. In the evening, we’ll come together for a group discussion and dinner.

Hotel: Hotel Niccoló V opens a new window
Meals: B, L, D
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous


Tarquinia - Lionesses Tomb
Tarquinia - Lioness Tomb

Day 4: Monday, October 12, 2026 - Free Day

Enjoy a free day in Viterbo by wandering the medieval San Pellegrino district, visiting the Papal Palace, and enjoying a relaxed lunch in a local trattoria. In the afternoon, feel free to unwind at the Terme dei Papi thermal baths before ending the day with an aperitivo in one of the old town’s piazzas.

Hotel: Hotel Niccoló V opens a new window
Meals: B
Activity Level: Moderate

VIterbo
Viterbo

Day 5: Tueaday, October 13, 2026 - Orvieto – Underground Etruria  

After an early breakfast, we’re in for quite a day of exploration! We’re headed to Orvieto, where we will be guided through Orvieto Underground which reveals a hidden network of tunnels, wells, and ancient Etruscan cave systems carved deep into the earth. From there, we’ll continue to the Etruscan Necropolis of Crocifisso del Tufo, a remarkably organized city of the dead that offers a striking contrast to the monumental tombs we’ve seen earlier in the week.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit the home of one of Italy’s most important Etruscan collections, the Museo Claudio Faina, and visit the stunning Duomo of Orvieto, with its dramatic façade and richly decorated chapels. We’ll return to the hotel for dinner and a lively discussion about all that we experienced this day.

Hotel: Hotel Niccoló V opens a new window
Meals: B, D
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous

Underground Etruria
Underground Etruria

Day 6: Wednesday, October 14, 2026 - Viterbo – The Forgotten Tombs

Today will be full day of exploring beautiful Viterbo. After breakfast, we’ll spend some time exploring the Medieval quarter known best for its well-preserved 13th-century atmosphere, narrow cobbled streets, stone archways, and iconic peperino stone fountains. We’ll also visit the Palazzo dei Papi, a Gothic fortress-like architecture and the former residence of Pope Alexander IV in 1257–1281. You will have time to grab lunch on your own and explore a bit, before we head back to our lovely hotel for dinner.

Hotel: Hotel Niccoló V opens a new window
Meals: B, D
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous

San Pelligrino
San Pelligrino

Day 7: Thursday, October 15, 2026 - A Taste of Italy 

Today we’ll enjoy a relaxed morning with a late start, before we head out to a gorgeous farm in the countryside. Here, we’ll experience a hands‑on cooking class where we’ll learn how to create authentic Italian dishes alongside an incredible local chef. You are free to wander the farm, meet the animals, and enjoy the atmosphere, with local music adding to the sense of celebration.

After sharing the meal you’ve created together, you’ll have the afternoon free to explore the shoreline town of Civitavecchia at your own pace. A perfect time for a walk along the harbor or a final bit of shopping.

In the evening, we’ll gather one last time for our farewell dinner before returning to our hotel. After a week filled with discovery, good food, and plenty of laughter, we’ll have a chance to reflect on how much we’ve learned and how much fun we’ve had exploring the world of the Etruscans together.

Hotel: Hotel Niccoló V opens a new window
Meals: B, L, D
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous

Cooking Class
Cooking Class

Day 8: Friday, October 16, 2026 - Departure - Until Next Time 

This is our final morning together. We’ll enjoy breakfast and check‑out of the hotel before a private transfer takes you to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport for your departure. We hope you leave with new insights, new friendships, and memories that will stay with you long after the journey ends.

Hotel: Hotel Niccoló V opens a new window
Meals: B
Activity Level: Low

Rome
Rome

Giuliana Marple

Giuliana Marple

Giuliana has been an international tour director for many years. She has directed programs for the university of Utah Learning abroad for more than a decade and she leads tours to Italy every Spring and Summer. One of her greatest passions is to teach. For the last 23 years as an educator she has been teaching Italian culture and society in many different kinds of settings. At the university of Utah she teaches Italian, Italian literature and civilization. Giuliana believes that traveling enriches the heart and soul, and opens the mind to new ways of seeing and living life.



Details and What to Expect

Pre-Departure

Like all Go Learn journeys, the adventure begins at home. We'll make sure you have all the information you need before you arrive in Italy, we'll answer questions about what to pack, how to get around, and our daily itinerary. We want you to arrive in Italy ready to learn!

This trip will also offer a pre-trip lecture by Giuliana to help prepare us for what we’ll see and experience in Sardinia.

Post-Return

Like all Go Learn journeys, the adventure begins at home. We'll make sure you have all the information you need before you arrive in Italy, we'll answer questions about what to pack, how to get around, and our daily itinerary. We want you to arrive in Italy ready to learn!

Weather

October is a great time to visit Viterbo, with fall weather that is usually mildly cool and breezy, and high’s reaching around 71° F and lows between 62° and 53° F. We can expect a mix of sunshine and low humidity, with occasional light rain possible. As is common with fall weather in Utah, light jackets will most likely be needed for mornings and evenings, with temps rising during the day. Good walking shoes and socks are a must for our daytime adventures and while evenings may call for something a little more polished for the dining rooms.

Activity levels and restrictions

This trip includes multiple walking tours of various historical sites and towns. We may average 5 miles of walking per day, some with a significant incline, uneven surfaces, cobble stones, and stairs. Most group travel is by private coach; however, participants must be able to handle their own luggage, board the coach unaided, and navigate tour sites on their own.

Our exciting itinerary and daily learning adventures will keep you happily exhausted. This is an Activity Level 2 trip. Learn More about our activity levels.
Learn more about our .

Starting in 2025, U.S. travelers will need a UK ETA 'visa' for travel to or through the UK, including transfers and layovers. In the last quarter of 2026, U.S. travelers will need an ETIAS 'visa' for many European countries.

The Square of San Pellegrino

The Square of San Pellegrino

Dates
October 9 - 16, 2026

Size
Tour is limited to 20 participants

Cost
Double occupancy: $5,450.00 per person
Single occupancy: $5,150.00
Payment options are available upon request. Contact golearn@utah.edu for information.
See for payment and cancellation details.

Included

  • Hotel accommodations in the beautiful Italian countryside
  • Private transportation to historical sites listed in Itinerary
  • Private tours with local guide
  • All breakfasts, as well as lunch and dinners that are noted in itinerary
  • Entrance to historic and cultural sites noted in itinerary
  • Transportation to and from Fiumicino airport in Rome
  • All gratuities for local guides, drivers, and included meals
  • Comprehensive trip insurance, including sick and emergency evacuation insurance

Not included

  • Airfare to and from Italy
  • Meals that are not specifically noted in itinerary
  • Museums and historical sites not noted in itinerary
  • Cancellation and lost luggage insurance
  • Any costs outside of the itinerary