Galileo’s Italy 2027

NEW TOUR OFFERING!

Experience all the comforts Rome, Florence, and Padua have to offer while exploring Italy’s pivotal role in the history of astronomy in our new tour.

Sky & Telescope offers you a chance to participate in an unparalleled tour of Italy, birthplace of the great theoretician and astronomer Galileo Galilei. We’re partnering with Royal Adventures, a company that specializes in custom travel experiences, to provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity to travel “in the footsteps of Galileo.”

Explore the culture and history of this beautiful country — from the heart of Rome to the hills of Tuscany and the Veneto — in luxury and comfort during a 10-day tour created with you in mind. This Italian adventure includes 4-star accommodations and fully escorted tours with a knowledgeable local guide. S&T Senior Contributing Editor Richard Tresch Fienberg will be on hand for the entire tour to answer questions related to astronomy today and historically. And you’ll have the option to tour Rome before the main tour begins to extend your visit to Italy.

Reserve your spot today! Register by completing this form.

Click below to get full details:
• Itinerary for our 9-day tour of Rome, Florence, Pisa, and Padua
• Itinerary for optional 3-day pre-tour exploration of Rome
• Pricing & Terms

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HIGHLIGHTS OF GALILEO’s ITALY 2027 TOUR

Rome
Welcome to Italy’s capital! In addition to visiting some of Rome’s greatest historical attractions, such as the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain, you’ll see special sites — typically closed to the public — associated with the history of astronomy. For example, we’ll visit Castel Gandolfo, the modern headquarters of the Vatican Observatory, and enjoy a lunch at a fabulous location overlooking Lake Albano. Anyone interested in the history and technology of science will love our visit to the Copernican Museum. The Copernican Museum also offers beautiful views of Rome, making this stop on our itinerary even more special.

Florence and Pisa
Immerse yourself in Florentine culture while you explore this capital city of Tuscany. Florence’s medieval core, the one-time home of the powerful Medici family, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982. You’re certain to fall in love with this distinctive city as you travel its narrow streets and passageways during your stay. We’ll visit il Duomo — the engineering marvel that is the dome of the Florence Cathedral — and the Basilica di Santa Croce, final resting place of Galileo. Near Ponte Vecchio, we’ll stop at the Galileo Museum to view one of the scientist’s telescopes. We’ll also get a glimpse into Galileo’s private life during our visit to the Villa Il Gioiello, where the master spent the last years of his life. But our time with Galileo wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Pisa Campanile — the famous Leaning Tower — to see where (legend has it) he performed his famed experiments on falling bodies. While in Florence, we’ll also be treated to a taste of Italy’s contemporary astronomy research, with a stop at Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory, part of the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF).

Padua
The city of Padua is our entry point into the Veneto, a large region in northeastern Italy with its own distinctive dialect and cuisine. Here, we’ll visit Palazzo Bo, home to the renowned Anatomy Theater. And we’ll visit Scrovegni Chapel, where you’ll be amazed by the vibrant colors of the frescoes painted some 700 years ago by the early Renaissance artist Giotto. The largest operating optical telescope in Italy awaits your visit in Cima Ekar on the Asiago Plateau.

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ACCOMMODATIONS

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ITINERARY FOR S&T’s GALILEO’s ITALY 2027 TOUR:

Date	Itinerary at a Glance	Accommodation	Meals
Sunday, October 17	Depart for Rome	(overnight flight)	Meals aloft
Monday, October 18	Rome	Starhotels Metropole	aperitivo
Tuesday, October 19	Rome	Starhotels Metropole	B, D
Wednesday, October 20	Rome	Starhotels Metropole	B, L
Thursday, October 21	Rome, Florence	Gallery Hotel Art	B, D
Friday, October 22	Florence	Gallery Hotel Art	B
Saturday, October 23	Pisa, Florence	Gallery Hotel Art	B
Sunday, October 24	Florence, Padua	Hilton Garden Inn Padova City Centre	B
Monday, October 25	Padua, Asiago	Hilton Garden Inn Padova City Centre	B, D
Tuesday, October 26	Depart for U.S.	—	B

Day 0  (Sunday, October 17) — Departure for Italy
Depart the U.S. on an overnight flight to Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) (meals aloft)

Day 1  (Monday, October 18) — Arrival in Rome
Upon arrival, enjoy a private individual transfer to the hotel, then savor some free time to relax. In the afternoon, meet the rest of the group for a welcome reception and an introduction to the main tour. Lunch and dinner are on your own.  Starhotels Metropole (cocktail reception)

Day 2  (Tuesday, October 19) — Astronomy in Rome
Begin the day with a walking tour of Baroque Rome, including the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona. Then head to the Angelica Library, full of rare astronomical publications, for a rare private visit. After lunch on your own, visit the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which features an incredibly accurate and ornate meridian line in its floor. At day’s end, the group gathers for a welcome dinner at a local trattoria to taste Roman specialties.  Starhotels Metropole  (B, D)

Day 3  (Wednesday, October 20) — Vatican Observatory, Copernican Museum
Start the morning with a drive out of the city and a guided tour of La Specola Vaticana (Vatican Observatory), one of the oldest astronomical institutions in the world. Enjoy a group lunch at a local restaurant in Castel Gandolfo with a fabulous view overlooking Lake Albano. Return to Rome to visit the Astronomical Observatory of Rome and its extraordinary Copernican Museum, whose beautiful collection of ancient instruments illustrates the evolution of research in astronomy. Dinner is on your own.  Starhotels Metropole  (B, L)

Day 4  (Thursday, October 21) — Rome to Florence
Depart for Florence (Firenze) by high-speed train in spacious, business-class seating. Upon arrival, board a private transfer to the city center. Enjoy a short orientation walking tour of the city’s historic center. In Piazza della Repubblica, discover the city’s beginnings as a Roman settlement. Wander through narrow streets and emerge onto the open Piazza della Signoria, the political center of Florence. Enjoy lunch at leisure and then settle into your hotel room. In the afternoon, visit Casa Buonarrotti (full of art by Michelangelo) and briefly stop at Villa dell Ombrellino, which was Galileo’s home from 1617 to 1631. This evening our group enjoys a home-hosted dinner with a Florentine family.  Gallery Hotel Art  (B, D)

Day 5  (Friday, October 22) — Galileo’s Florence
This morning visit the Basilica di Santa Croce, where Galileo is entombed. Continue to the Galileo Museum, which houses important collections of scientific instruments — including telescopes made by Galileo. Lunch is at leisure. In the late afternoon, enjoy an Italian style aperitivo at a local establishment. Then head to Villa Il Gioiello, where Galileo spent his final years, for a private visit. After that, tour the nearby Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory and end the day with a stargazing session at the observatory (permit pending).  Gallery Hotel Art (B)

Day 6  (Saturday, October 23) — Pisa
Walk to a waiting bus for transfer to Pisa. Set out on a walking tour of the city and discover landmarks such as Campo dei Miracoli with its Duomo and Baptistry, Camposanto Monumentale, and Bell Tower (also known as the Leaning Tower; exterior only). Not far away are Casa Ammannanti, where scholars believe Galileo was born, and Pisa University, where Galileo pursued his education. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on your own. In the afternoon, visit the European Gravitational Observatory (EGO), a major European scientific research center dedicated to the study of gravitational waves (pending confirmation). After returning to the hotel, take the evening at leisure and dinner on your own.  Gallery Hotel Art  (B)

Day 7  (Sunday, October 24) — Florence to Padua
Board a private coach near the hotel for transfer to Florence railway station, then climb aboard the business-class section of a high-speed train bound for Padua (Padova). Take in the city’s grandeur on a walking tour that strolls along its porticoed roads, splendid piazzas, and ancient bridges. Gaze upon the famous Astronomical Clock that adorns the imposing Piazza dei Signori’s Tower. Built in 1344, the clock marks the hours, minutes, days, months, day, and lunar phases. Lunch is on your own. Then continue to Palazzo Bo, part of the university where Galileo taught and also home of the renowned Anatomy Theater. Then, just a 10-minute walk away, visit a private home that was once Galileo’s residence and where he made many of his revolutionary telescopic discoveries. Dinner is on your own. Hilton Garden Inn Padova City Centre  (B)

Day 8  (Monday, October 25) — Padua
Start the morning by visiting the amazing Scrovegni Chapel, a masterpiece in the history of painting that contains the most complete series of frescoes executed by Giotto. Lunch is on your own and the afternoon is at leisure, followed by a farewell dinner at a local trattoria in Padua. Hilton Garden Inn Padova City Centre  (B, D)

Day 9  (Tuesday, October 26) — Departure for Home
After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, take a group transfer to Venice Airport for flights to the U.S.  (B)

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Itinerary for Optional Pre-Tour Extension to Rome

Date	Itinerary at a Glance	Accommodation	Meals
Friday, October 15	U.S. to Rome	(overnight flight)	Meals aloft
Saturday, October 16	Arrival in Rome	Starhotels Metropole	aperitivo
Sunday, October 17	Roman Forum, Colosseum	Starhotels Metropole	B, L
Monday, October 18	Vatican City	Starhotels Metropole	B

Day 0  (Friday, October 15) — Departure for Italy
Depart the U.S. on an overnight flight to Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) (meals aloft)

Day 1  (Saturday, October 16) — Arrival in Rome
Upon arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, gather in the hotel lobby for a guided tour of Museo Nazionale Romano. Take the rest of the day at leisure. Lunch and dinner are on your own. Starhotels Metropole

Day 2  (Sunday, October 17) — Roman Forum, Colosseum
In the morning, meet an archaeologist guide at the hotel lobby and stroll the ruins of the Roman Forum starting from Piazza Venezia, cross the Foro di Cesare, Foro Romano, and venture into the Colosseum. At the end of the visit, enjoy a traditional lunch at a local trattoria and take a private transfer to the hotel, with the rest of the day to explore on your own. Dinner is on your own. Starhotels Metropole  (B, L)

Day 3  (Monday, October 18) — Vatican City
Begin with early-morning entrance to Vatican City’s famed museums. Visit the stunning Sistine Chapel, then St. Peter’s Square and its soaring Basilica. Return to the hotel by private transfer and spend the rest of the day at leisure. In the afternoon, meet the rest of the group for a welcome drink and introduction to the main tour. Dinner is on your own. (B)

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WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Accommodation in 4-star hotels
• English-speaking Tour Director exclusive to Sky & Telescope group
• Sky & Telescope astronomy director
• Professional English-speaking guides at all locations
• Transfers from airport to hotel and to airport on return
• Land transport by private motor coach
• Frecciarossa high-speed train Rome to Florence, business class
• Frecciarossa high-speed train Florence to Padua, business class
• 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 3 dinners as indicated on the main-tour itinerary
• 2 additional breakfasts and 1 additional lunch on pre-tour Rome extension
• Wine with all dinners and some lunches
• Bottled water during outings
• Baggage handling
• Luggage transfer in separate vehicles when group travels by train
• Tips to local guides, drivers, service charges and taxes
• Entrance fees on itinerary excursions and visits
• Customized luggage tags and name tags with Sky & Telescope logo
• Pre-trip planning information and resources

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

• International airfare to Rome with a return flight from Venice
• Passport fees
• Excess-baggage fees
• Room service, meals, and snacks not specified in the itinerary
• Alcoholic beverages, aside from wine included with dinners and some lunches
• Personal items such as laundry, email, and telephone calls
• Travel and medical insurance
• Medical expenses (including COVID-19 testing and quarantine) incurred during tour
• Fuel surcharges
• Tip for the Tour Director is at participant’s discretion

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WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE TOUR

To enjoy this experience, participants must be in good physical and mental health and be able to keep up with the pace of the group. Daily activities will often involve some walking over uneven terrain for distances of up to ½ mile; a few locations are not suitable for traversing by wheelchair. In certain situations, deviating from the marked pathways could put you at risk of injury. Travel segments by train and/or private motorcoach will be up to 2 hours long.

This exclusive Sky & Telescope tour combines historic cities, renowned scientific institutions, and important cultural landmarks, with a moderate amount of walking on city streets, museum floors, uneven surfaces, and occasional steps.

October in Italy is typically pleasant, with typical daytime temperatures near 70°F and evening temperatures near 50°F. So everyday clothing plus a light jacket or windbreaker are recommended.

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PRICING

PRICING (PER PERSON)	TWO PER ROOM	ONE PER ROOM
Main Tour (“Galileo’s Italy”)	$8,950	$10,950
Pre-Trip Extension in Rome	$2,350	$2,950

 
Note: All tour prices are based on costs and U.S. dollar exchange rates in effect at the time of posting. As such, prices listed here are subject to change. Sky & Telescope and/or Royal Adventures will inform clients of any changes prior to departure.

PAYMENTS & TERMS

• To make a reservation: A reservation request can be submitted by completing this form. Reservations are recorded and acknowledged in order of receipt. Royal Adventures (CST #2009579-40) handles all invoicing.
• Deposits: An initial payment of US$1,000 per person, along with US$300 per person for the pre-tour extension, if applicable, is required to secure your reservation. Please make your check payable to "Royal Adventures" and mail to: Royal Adventures, 9 Crow Canyon Court, Suite 205, San Ramon, CA 94583. Initial deposits may be charged to a credit card. All subsequent payments must be made by check. Final payment (by check only) is due by June 8, 2027.
• Cancellations and Refunds: All cancellations must be received in writing by Royal Adventures. Cancellations received within 7 days of booking: full refund of the trip deposit. Cancellations received before June 8, 2027, incur a $500 per person cancellation fee. Cancellations received on or after June 8, 2027, are subject to a 100% penalty of all deposits and payments, regardless of booking date. There are no refunds for unused meals, accommodations, or other trip features or for any part of the program in which you choose not to participate.
• Itinerary: The itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of Sky & Telescope and Royal Adventures. All tour prices are based on costs and U.S. dollar exchange rates in effect at the time of posting. As such, the prices listed here are subject to change. In particular, any increases in the fares for in-tour transportation, security, and/or fuel surcharges will be paid by the participants. Sky & Telescope and/or Royal Adventures will inform participants of any changes prior to departure.
• Travel insurance (highly recommended!): Neither AAS Sky Publishing LLC nor Royal Adventures accepts liability for any airline-cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable airline ticket or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for the tour. Trip cancellation insurance can be purchased through our recommended providers:
  Generali:  Call 1-800-874-2442 and mention Royal Adventures #20241120. (Note: you need to call to purchase insurance for this program — the self-service link will not allow you to purchase insurance yourself until closer to departure.)
  Travel Insured International: Call 1-800-243-3174 and mention Royal Adventures #53140
  Or you can purchase insurance from the company of your choice. Note: Most insurance plans need to be purchased within 14 days of paying the initial deposit in order to waive preexisting medical conditions as well as to purchase “Cancel for Any Reason” insurance.
• Physical Health: All participants must be in good physical and mental health. Program excursions require walking (a minimum of one-half mile) over uneven surfaces, climbing stairs that may not have handrails, standing during on-site lectures, and visiting sites that may not be fully accessible to individuals with mobility limitations. If you require special attention during the tour, and do not travel with a companion who will assist you, you may be asked to hire an assistant and/or private conveyance to participate in the tour.
• Disclaimer: Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented here. Royal Adventures, AAS Sky Publishing, LLC, and Sky & Telescope are not responsible for errors in or damages resulting from use of the information contained herein. Information contained here is subject to change.
• Responsibility Statement: Royal Adventures (CST #2009579-40), its owners, and employees act only as agents for the various independent suppliers and contractors providing transportation, hotel accommodations, restaurant, and other services connected with this tour. Such travel and services are subject to the terms and conditions under which such accommodations, services, and transportation are offered or provided; AAS Sky Publishing LLC and Royal Adventures and their respective employees, agents, representatives, and assigns accept no liability therefor. AAS Sky Publishing LLC and Royal Adventures assume no liability for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or other irregularity which may be caused by the defect of any aircraft or vehicle or the negligence or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out or performing any of the services involved. Additionally, responsibility is not accepted for losses, injury, damages, or expenses of any kind due to sickness, epidemics, pandemics, weather, strikes, local laws, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature, quarantine, force majeure, animal or insect bites, or other such causes. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws of the country in which they are provided. AAS Sky Publishing LLC and Royal Adventures reserve the right to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in their sole judgment, conditions warrant, or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of the tour participants. AAS Sky Publishing LLC and/or Royal Adventures shall not be deemed to be in breach of these terms and conditions or otherwise be liable to you, and shall not provide any refund, by reason of delay in performance, or by nonperformance, of any of our obligations hereunder to the extent that any such delay or non-performance is due to any force majeure event. A force majeure event, in relation to this tour, shall mean any circumstances beyond our control, including, but without limitation, to acts of God, explosion, flood, forceful wind, fire or accident, war or threat of war declared or undeclared, acts of terrorism, sabotage, insurrection, riots, strikes, civil disturbance, sickness, epidemics, pandemics, quarantines, government intervention or other unforeseeable events. If this tour is affected by a force majeure event, AAS Sky Publishing and Royal Adventures shall be entitled to, and may in their sole and absolute discretion, vary, cancel or postpone any itinerary or arrangement in relation to this trip. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour or to substitute another qualified leader or special guest. Baggage and personal effects are the sole responsibility of the owners at all times. The price of the program is given in good faith based on current tariffs and rates and is subject to change. Any tariff, exchange rate, security surcharge or fuel increases will be passed on to participants. The air ticket, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the airline concerned. As part of the consideration and right to participate in this tour, each participant will be asked to sign a liability release, an assumption of risk, and a hold-harmless agreement.
• Questions: Please contact Royal Adventures at [email protected] or call 800-453-4754 or 925-820-6260 (Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time).

Reserve your spot today! Register by completing this form.