WELCOME • BENVENUTI
In search of Michelangelo on the Rick Steves' Europe Best of Italy Tour - October 2025
Rick Steves' Alumni
Hello! We are Teri & Kevin Ehrenhardt. The Best of Italy in 17 Days was our 8th Rick Steves' Europe (RSE) tour and our 3rd trip to Italy. Needless to say, we love the Rick Steves' vibe and we love Italy!
We invite you to come along as we share our journey to some of Italy's captivating destinations, including the heart of the Renaissance, all the while in search of Michelangelo!
WHY RICK STEVES' EUROPE?
THE ITINERARIES
Rick Steves' Europe (RSE) tours are well organized for you to experience metropolitan and cosmopolitan areas plus captivating countrysides and rural hideaways. The practical itineraries include culturally immersive experiences often without the long lines.
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THE RESOURCES
When you book a tour, you will receive a Rick Steves guidebook plus additional accessories. There is a wealth of information in the book, including where to eat and sleep, sites to visit, maps and transportation details. The books, audio tour downloads, a travel forum, luggage and other accessories are available on the Rick Steves website and ought to be checked out! For years, many travelers have utilized Rick's resources in planning their European vacations. Visit www.ricksteves.com and see
for yourself!
THE SMALL GROUP SIZE
Group sizes are less than 30, including your RSE guide. It is easy to get to know your fun, like-minded travel mates and sightseeing is not cumbersome. The group can spread out on the bus and be relaxed. Because of our smaller size, boutique hotels and quaint restaurants can more easily accommodate us.
THE TRANSPORTATION
You will travel between destinations on a full-size, comfy bus with a friendly, experienced driver who will maneuver the bus through tight spaces you never thought possible! Your driver will keep you safe and on schedule.
Your journey is strategically planned with comfort breaks and sites of interest so the bus ride doesn't become arduous.
Along the way, you may also utilize public transportation, taxi's (water taxi's), ferries and trains.
Additionally. . .
THE FRIENDLIEST GUIDES
I can tell you, without hesitation, that you will love your guide! Each one, including the local guides, is personable, inspiring, knowledgeable, and extremely patient with all questions and requests. They will take good care of you and make your travel experience memorable and
worry-free.
THE SURPRISES
You are sure to experience unexpected "Wow" moments throughout your RSE travels. Perhaps it will be the grandeur upon walking into an ornate cathedral, or the overlook view while ascending the mountain switchbacks, or the pageantry of colors of an evening sunset. It might be the artisan demonstration in a small workshop, or your first taste of authentic Italian gelato. It could even be the cows and their clanging bells grazing on a alpine hillside as you round a bend in the Dolomites!
. . . Rick Steves' Europe is a very well respected tour company across Europe and we feel they offer the best value for our money. It's a good choice for single travelers and anyone who appreciates having the planning done for you. If you book a tour, you will enjoy having all your breakfasts included at the hotels, which are cozy, unique and often family-owned. About half of the dinners or lunches are included and often the local cuisine is spotlighted. You may even get spoiled with a food tour or home-cooked meal!
WHY THE BEST OF ITALY?
La Dolce Vita
That seems like a silly question!! It's ITALY for heaven's sake!
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As noted earlier, we have been to Italy twice before. Our very first RSE tour was the Best of Venice, Florence and Rome tour we took in the fall of 2014. There was so much beauty, art and history to absorb that the trip just whet our appetite to see (and eat) more. We had an amazing time in Sicily in 2024 so when it came time to decide where to go last year we prioritized another journey to our beloved Italy. We especially wanted to see new areas of the country and experience their unique cultural ambiance.
It also felt like a chance of a lifetime to be in Italy for the Catholic Church's Jubilee Holy Year 2025. This was most meaningful to me, along with the opportunity to see more religious art and architecture. Kevin primarily looked forward to the food and drink!
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Take a look at the full details of the tour below.
WHY MICHELANGELO?
We decided to fly into Milan instead of Venice for the opportunity to see an iconic Italian city we haven't been to before. As an artist and art lover, I was first hoping to see Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper," which is in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. Well that wasn't going to be possible for various reasons. However, I discovered that Michelangelo's last sculpture, the Rondanini Pietà, is located in Milan's Castello Sforzesco. The castle was a ten minute walk from our hotel!
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In addition, I had just finished an audiobook biography entitled, "Michelangelo, God's Architect" by William E. Wallace. I had forgotten about his influence in architecture and, while I had seen a few of Michelangelo's incredible sculptures and the Sistine Chapel on a previous trip, I realized how much more of his art there was to see in Italy.
It was decided to go in search of Michelangelo!
LOOK FOR THIS STAMP TO INDICATE A MICHELANGELO TREASURE HAS BEEN FOUND!
Every block of stone has a statue in it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.
MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI
Venice • Dolomites • Lake Como • Florence • Italian Riviera • Siena • Umbria • Rome •
