Italy 2009 Tour Itinerary
Overview | Itinerary | Pricing | Tour Photos
Tour dates: October 15 - 28, 2009
Last day to send in registration and deposit: June 30, 2009
October 15
Fly from your home airport on an overnight flight to Munich, Germany.
October 16: Munich, Germany
Arrival in Munich. Your tour guides will meet you at the airport. Relax this afternoon, enjoying your first taste of Europe with your fellow travelers and tour guides.
October 17, 18, and 19: Venice, Italy
You'll ride the European rails for 7 hours from southern Germany to the charming city of Venice. But don't sleep now or you'll miss some of Europe's most breath-taking scenery as we make our way through Austria's towering Alps and Italy's rugged Dolomites to our destination on the Adriatic Sea. In magnificent Venice we’ll cruise the Grand Canal, feed friendly pigeons in St. Mark’s Square, soak in the ambience on the Rialto Bridge, and savour our first Italian gelato. We’ll also check out the 1000-year-old St. Mark’s Basilica and ride an elevator to the top of the Campanile bell tower for the best views Venice has to offer. There will be the option to visit world-class historical sites like the Doge’s Palace or The Accademia (Venice’s best art museum), or to experience the magic of a gondola ride on Venice’s ancient canals. Lovers of fine shopping will find a huge array of local specialties such as carnival masks, exquisite glass objects, and much more in the many shops and markets. Before bidding this city "Arrividerci!", we’ll board a water-taxi for a short ride to the nearby quaint islands of Burano and Murano, where glass- and lace-making have been traditions for centuries.
October 20: Florence, Italy
Gear up for some serious art and shopping! We’ll kick off our day in Florence with stunning views of the city at Piazzale Michelangelo. After getting ourselves oriented, we’ll make our way over Florence's most famous bridge, the Ponte Vecchio, lined with gold and silver shops. We’ll browse through the old city's shops for its world-renowned leather products, silk scarves, and yes, gelato as we stroll the narrow streets on our way to the Duomo. Feel free to climb all 463 steps inside the dome for a grand view of the interior of this Gothic cathedral. You'll have plenty of opportunity to experience Florence’s famous Renaissance art, including Lorenzo Ghiberti's bronze Baptistry doors and Michelangelo's Night, Day, Dawn, and Dusk statues.
October 21: Orvieto, Italy
Orvieto, a town near Rome that dates back to hundreds of years B.C., is perched on a hill 1000 feet above the valley below. A cog-wheel train will carry us up the hill to the old town, and we'll be rewarded with spectacular views from its ruined fortress. We’ll take advantage of endless photo-ops in the town's labyrinth-like narrow winding streets, magnificent striped cathedral, and even inside a gigantic 16th-century well. A few hours by train will zip us into Rome.
October 22, 23, and 24: Rome and Pompeii, Italy
3 glorious days in Rome where we’ll visit some of the major highlights of this city and its surroundings. We'll begin with the unparalleled St. Peter’s Cathedral, Vatican City, and Sistine Chapel. We’ll also follow the footsteps of ancient Romans on the 2000-year-old, stone-paved Roman road enroute to the underground catacombs, take in the classical ambience on the Spanish Steps, and toss coins over our shoulders into the Trevi Fountain. Of course, you’ll also have opportunities to visit blockbuster historical sites like the Forum and the Colosseum. We'll take a special daytrip to visit the ancient city of Pompeii, once a thriving Roman port city but buried under volcanic ash for nearly 2000 years.
October 25: Pisa, Italy
A scenic train ride through hilly northern Italy brings us to the classy old-world city of Pisa. We’ll take a leisurely stroll through the shopping area on our way to the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. You may want to mount the 294 leaning stairs to the top of the tower, pose for goofy photos, shop for souvenirs, or visit the nearby cathedral. After supper, we’ll hop onboard a train for a short ride to the coastal villages of the Cinque Terre.
October 26: Cinque Terre, Italy
Today we’ll spend a full day enjoying the charming villages of the Cinque Terre, perched on cliffs next to the Mediterranean Sea. Whether active or relaxed, the day's pace is entirely up to you. Choose to hike the scenic ocean-side paths through all 5 villages, pausing to admire the tangy-scented lemon groves, mountain-side vineyards, and the spectacular crashing surf below. Or simply savour a few choice villages, relax to the rhythm of the waves while nibbling pizza in a café, enjoy yet another gelato, and explore the nooks and crannies of the picturesque villages' steep, winding streets.
October 27: Train Journey to Munich, Germany
Sit back with your travel-mates and enjoy the Italian scenery as we journey from the Mediterranean coast through the Austrian Alps to the German city of Munich.
October 28
We'll escort the group to Franz Josef Strauss airport in Munich. Fly home from Munich, Germany.
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Overview | Itinerary | Pricing | Tour Photos
