
Portrait of Italy
Experience Italy’s highlights with the Amalfi Coast, Rome, Tuscany, and Venice.
Highlights
- Visit the Amalfi Coast, cruise its sparkling waters, and explore Pompeii’s ruins.
- Discover Rome’s sites, from Saint Peter’s Square and the Sistine Chapel to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
- Enjoy Umbria and Assisi, savoring an Italian cooking demonstration and stays in small, charming hotels.
- Experience Tuscany’s beauty, visiting San Gimignano, Siena, and Florence, tasting local wines, and traveling through the canals of Venice.
Itinerary
Day 1: Depart U.S. for Naples, Italy
Day 2: Naples | Amalfi Coast
Day 3: Ravello
Day 4: Pompeii | Amalfi Coast | Sorrento
Day 5: Amalfi Coast | Montecassino | Rome
Day 6: Rome
Day 7: Rome
Day 8: Rome | Umbria
Day 9: Orvieto
Day 10: Assisi
Day 11: Umbria | Siena | Tuscany
Day 12: Florence
Day 13: San Gimignano
Day 14: Tuscany | Venice
Day 15: Venice
Day 16: Depart for U.S.
Host
Sara Billmann
U-M Role
I have been the head of marketing and communications at the University Musical Society for the past 30 years, with a huge interest in the performing arts writ large. In that role, I’ve led research projects focused on audience behavior. For seven years, I taught a course at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, focused on social media marketing for musicians.
What Excites You About the Trip?
This will be my sixth trip to Italy, a country I absolutely adore. I studied Italian in college and picked it up again a year ago through both self-study and by auditing a course at U-M. I’m looking forward to seeing if my speaking skills have improved. I also really enjoyed meeting such interesting alumni on my last trip in September 2025, and the places we explored — every spot on the tour has its own charms, and it is such a wonderful way to get an overview of the country’s different regions.
Starting price
Deposit per person
Countries Visited
Activity Level
Starting price
Deposit per person
Countries Visited
Activity Level
Michigan Alumni Travel is an exclusive member benefit. All travelers, regardless of alumni status, must be members to attend our trips. See our full membership options.

