12-Day Sordevolo Passion Play, Waldensian History,
Gems of Italy, and German Reformation
August 10-21, 2027
**Itinerary subject to change while touring for the best interest of the group.**
Day 1 – Tuesday, Aug. 10: Depart USA from JFK Airport
Enjoy your overnight flight to Berlin with dinner enroute.
Day 2 – Wednesday, Aug. 11: Berlin
Upon arrival this morning, we will be met and taken on a brief tour of Berlin. View the remains of the Wall, drive by Brandenburg Gate and other sights before continuing on to our lodging for the next two nights in Berlin. The remainder of the day is free to do some exploring on your own, shop, and catch up on some needed rest.
Day 3 – Thursday, Aug. 12: Berlin
We enjoy an inspirational guided tour of this fascinating city including the “East Side Gallery”, the longest continuous and still standing section of the Berlin Wall, the infamous “Checkpoint Charlie”, the majestic main gate the “Brandenburger Tor” and nearby “Holocaust Memorial,” a memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. We continue on to the German Parliament (Reichstag) with a visit to the roof terrace, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the refurbished city center and Gendarmenmarkt, Alexanderplatz, the famous boulevard “Unter den Linden”. We arrive in Leipzig later this afternoon for dinner and overnight. We will lodge here for the next two evenings
Day 4 – Friday, Aug. 13: Wittenberg, Leipzig
Today we begin the Reformation Trail to Wittenberg where Martin Luther lived and taught for 36 years. You will see the Castle Church door where Luther posted his 95 Theses, giving birth to the Reformation. This beautiful church is also the burial site of Luther. We see the university where Luther taught and the Luther House which is the greatest museum of Reformation History in the world. We return this afternoon to the beautiful city of Leipzig, Bach's city, with free time and a visit to St. Thomas Church where Bach was choir master and organist.
Day 5 – Saturday, Aug. 14: Eisleben, Erfurt
This morning we visit Eisleben which is noted among the most significant in Luther's history; he was born here in 1483 and died here in 1546 and old manuscripts indicate that he felt a special affinity to Eisleben. We will see the house of his birth and death, St. Andrews Church where he preached his last sermon, the Luther Monument, and St. Anne's Church with the famous Biblical scenes hewn in stone and many other sites. We continue to Erfurt, where Luther attended the university. We will visit the Augustinian Monastery where he spent his early years as a monk. Any remaining time this afternoon is at our leisure; we can relax, explore further on our own, and maybe try some of the local cuisine. We are on our own this evening for dinner. We will overnight in Erfurt.
Day 6 – Sunday, Aug. 15: Eisenach, Coburg
Our first stop today is Eisenach, birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach. It was here at the formidable Wartburg Castle that Luther, under "house arrest", translated the New Testament into the German language in 1523. We then tour on through scenic Thuringer Wald to view the fortress of Coburg know as Veste, the place of Luther's imprisonment in 1530. Our day will end at a restful hotel near Wurzburg, where a well-deserved supper and lodging for the night awaits.
Day 7 – Monday, Aug. 16: Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Mainz
Following breakfast, we proceed to the best-preserved medieval town in all of Europe, Rothenburg. Its walls, towers, cobbled streets and 16th-century half-timbered houses are the most photographed in Germany. Rothenburg is preserved much as it was for hundreds of years. One highlight is the famous altar by wood-carver Tilmann Riemenschneider. We will see the quaint Rathaus (town hall) with its tower and take some time for coffee and shopping in the many delightful shops. This afternoon, we drive to Mainz for a brief commentary and a picture of the Gutenberg Monument dedicated to the German printing of the Bible. We arrive this evening in Frankfurt where we will lodge for the next two evenings. Dinner will be served at our hotel.
Day 8 – Tuesday, Aug. 17: Worms, Heidelberg
Our first stop today is in Worms. It was here, during the Imperial Diet in 1521, that Martin Luther challenged the entire Roman Catholic establishment by his refusal to recant the great doctrines of Protestantism. It was also here that William Tyndale completed the printing of his English version of the New Testament in 1525 which he had begun in Cologne. After seeing St. Peter's Church and the symbolic Luther Memorial near the town square, we continue on to one of the most charming cities in all of the world - Heidelberg, ancient capital of the Palatinate and home of Germany's oldest university. But most importantly, it was a stronghold of German Reformed Protestants beginning in 1560. One of the great confessional statements of the Reformation, the Heidelberg Catechism was produced here in 1563. Heidelberg Castle, a most impressive historic landmark of Germany, stands majestically overlooking the Neckar River. The structure, now largely in ruins, preserves numerous examples of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque German architecture. We return to Frankfurt tonight for dinner and overnight.
Day 9 – Wednesday, Aug. 18: Arrive Milan, Beautiful Stresa
We take a short flight today from Frankfurt to Milan where we meet our driver and transfer to the historic section of downtown for free time. After lunch we take a guided walking tour including the famous Duomo, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world. This afternoon we view Leonardo Da Vinci’s most famous fresco – The Last Supper. We then travel to the beautiful lakeside village of Stresa, our home for the next two nights. Stroll along the lakefront promenade overlooking the Italian Alps and visit the quaint shops around the square before dinner.
Day 10 – Thursday, Aug. 19: Lake Maggiore Island Tour
This morning we take an excursion from Stresa through the Borromean Islands with a visit to Borromean Palace. Our tour will lead us through a 17th-century palace with opulent displays of baroque architecture to fragrance-filled gardens, where the scent of jasmine lingers in the air. The remainder of the day is at your leisure with many things to do and see.
Day 11 – Friday, Aug. 20: Waldensian Museum, Sordevolo Passion Play
This morning we enjoy an excursion to Waldensian sites located near the French border – Torre Pellice, Chanforan and Angrogna Valley. This beautiful remote region in northwestern Italy will bring to life the history of the Waldensian Christians and the struggles they encountered. We will visit the church, the rural museum, and for those who wish, a walk to the cave where they hid for fear of martyrdom. We then transfer to the Sordevolo area and our lodging for the next two nights. We’ll explore the charming village and enjoy dinner before attending the Passion Play this evening. . Since the early 1800’s residents of the tiny hamlet of Sordevolo in northwest Italy’s Biella province – with a population around 1,200 – have joined together to stage their own grand production of the Passion of Christ. This production pays close attention to every detail and encompasses the Passion of the Christ from the moment Jesus enters Jerusalem to the Resurrection. It is a major production by local residents who live normal lives, but every fifth year the townspeople transform themselves and the town itself to reenact the Passion of Christ.
Day 12 – Saturday, Aug. 21: Departure
We transfer to the airport early this morning for our flight home.
Gems of Italy, and German Reformation
August 10-21, 2027
**Itinerary subject to change while touring for the best interest of the group.**
Day 1 – Tuesday, Aug. 10: Depart USA from JFK Airport
Enjoy your overnight flight to Berlin with dinner enroute.
Day 2 – Wednesday, Aug. 11: Berlin
Upon arrival this morning, we will be met and taken on a brief tour of Berlin. View the remains of the Wall, drive by Brandenburg Gate and other sights before continuing on to our lodging for the next two nights in Berlin. The remainder of the day is free to do some exploring on your own, shop, and catch up on some needed rest.
Day 3 – Thursday, Aug. 12: Berlin
We enjoy an inspirational guided tour of this fascinating city including the “East Side Gallery”, the longest continuous and still standing section of the Berlin Wall, the infamous “Checkpoint Charlie”, the majestic main gate the “Brandenburger Tor” and nearby “Holocaust Memorial,” a memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. We continue on to the German Parliament (Reichstag) with a visit to the roof terrace, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the refurbished city center and Gendarmenmarkt, Alexanderplatz, the famous boulevard “Unter den Linden”. We arrive in Leipzig later this afternoon for dinner and overnight. We will lodge here for the next two evenings
Day 4 – Friday, Aug. 13: Wittenberg, Leipzig
Today we begin the Reformation Trail to Wittenberg where Martin Luther lived and taught for 36 years. You will see the Castle Church door where Luther posted his 95 Theses, giving birth to the Reformation. This beautiful church is also the burial site of Luther. We see the university where Luther taught and the Luther House which is the greatest museum of Reformation History in the world. We return this afternoon to the beautiful city of Leipzig, Bach's city, with free time and a visit to St. Thomas Church where Bach was choir master and organist.
Day 5 – Saturday, Aug. 14: Eisleben, Erfurt
This morning we visit Eisleben which is noted among the most significant in Luther's history; he was born here in 1483 and died here in 1546 and old manuscripts indicate that he felt a special affinity to Eisleben. We will see the house of his birth and death, St. Andrews Church where he preached his last sermon, the Luther Monument, and St. Anne's Church with the famous Biblical scenes hewn in stone and many other sites. We continue to Erfurt, where Luther attended the university. We will visit the Augustinian Monastery where he spent his early years as a monk. Any remaining time this afternoon is at our leisure; we can relax, explore further on our own, and maybe try some of the local cuisine. We are on our own this evening for dinner. We will overnight in Erfurt.
Day 6 – Sunday, Aug. 15: Eisenach, Coburg
Our first stop today is Eisenach, birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach. It was here at the formidable Wartburg Castle that Luther, under "house arrest", translated the New Testament into the German language in 1523. We then tour on through scenic Thuringer Wald to view the fortress of Coburg know as Veste, the place of Luther's imprisonment in 1530. Our day will end at a restful hotel near Wurzburg, where a well-deserved supper and lodging for the night awaits.
Day 7 – Monday, Aug. 16: Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Mainz
Following breakfast, we proceed to the best-preserved medieval town in all of Europe, Rothenburg. Its walls, towers, cobbled streets and 16th-century half-timbered houses are the most photographed in Germany. Rothenburg is preserved much as it was for hundreds of years. One highlight is the famous altar by wood-carver Tilmann Riemenschneider. We will see the quaint Rathaus (town hall) with its tower and take some time for coffee and shopping in the many delightful shops. This afternoon, we drive to Mainz for a brief commentary and a picture of the Gutenberg Monument dedicated to the German printing of the Bible. We arrive this evening in Frankfurt where we will lodge for the next two evenings. Dinner will be served at our hotel.
Day 8 – Tuesday, Aug. 17: Worms, Heidelberg
Our first stop today is in Worms. It was here, during the Imperial Diet in 1521, that Martin Luther challenged the entire Roman Catholic establishment by his refusal to recant the great doctrines of Protestantism. It was also here that William Tyndale completed the printing of his English version of the New Testament in 1525 which he had begun in Cologne. After seeing St. Peter's Church and the symbolic Luther Memorial near the town square, we continue on to one of the most charming cities in all of the world - Heidelberg, ancient capital of the Palatinate and home of Germany's oldest university. But most importantly, it was a stronghold of German Reformed Protestants beginning in 1560. One of the great confessional statements of the Reformation, the Heidelberg Catechism was produced here in 1563. Heidelberg Castle, a most impressive historic landmark of Germany, stands majestically overlooking the Neckar River. The structure, now largely in ruins, preserves numerous examples of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque German architecture. We return to Frankfurt tonight for dinner and overnight.
Day 9 – Wednesday, Aug. 18: Arrive Milan, Beautiful Stresa
We take a short flight today from Frankfurt to Milan where we meet our driver and transfer to the historic section of downtown for free time. After lunch we take a guided walking tour including the famous Duomo, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world. This afternoon we view Leonardo Da Vinci’s most famous fresco – The Last Supper. We then travel to the beautiful lakeside village of Stresa, our home for the next two nights. Stroll along the lakefront promenade overlooking the Italian Alps and visit the quaint shops around the square before dinner.
Day 10 – Thursday, Aug. 19: Lake Maggiore Island Tour
This morning we take an excursion from Stresa through the Borromean Islands with a visit to Borromean Palace. Our tour will lead us through a 17th-century palace with opulent displays of baroque architecture to fragrance-filled gardens, where the scent of jasmine lingers in the air. The remainder of the day is at your leisure with many things to do and see.
Day 11 – Friday, Aug. 20: Waldensian Museum, Sordevolo Passion Play
This morning we enjoy an excursion to Waldensian sites located near the French border – Torre Pellice, Chanforan and Angrogna Valley. This beautiful remote region in northwestern Italy will bring to life the history of the Waldensian Christians and the struggles they encountered. We will visit the church, the rural museum, and for those who wish, a walk to the cave where they hid for fear of martyrdom. We then transfer to the Sordevolo area and our lodging for the next two nights. We’ll explore the charming village and enjoy dinner before attending the Passion Play this evening. . Since the early 1800’s residents of the tiny hamlet of Sordevolo in northwest Italy’s Biella province – with a population around 1,200 – have joined together to stage their own grand production of the Passion of Christ. This production pays close attention to every detail and encompasses the Passion of the Christ from the moment Jesus enters Jerusalem to the Resurrection. It is a major production by local residents who live normal lives, but every fifth year the townspeople transform themselves and the town itself to reenact the Passion of Christ.
Day 12 – Saturday, Aug. 21: Departure
We transfer to the airport early this morning for our flight home.
