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THE SPLENDORS OF ITALY -
2010
10 days incl. air,
or 9 days from Rome to Rome (CO-6400)Return
to Italy Vacations & Tours  Return to
France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco Vacations & Tours
Vacation Overview
Visit Italy’s most
famous art cities on this popular vacation! Rome is first on the list,
and the included sightseeing tour of the “Eternal City” features visits
to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. On to charming Orvieto and its
gothic cathedral. Then, enjoy Siena, set in the verdant, rolling hills of
Tuscany and medieval home to the Palio Horse Race. This is also the
famous Chianti wine-producing region. Stop in San Gimignano, with its
medieval squares, town walls, streets, alleyways, and 14 towers. Stop in
Greve for some wine tasting. Spend two nights in Florence and enjoy the
guided walking tour through the old town center. The tour’s highlights
include the Piazza Santa Croce, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Piazza del Duomo
with the Giotto Campanile. Next on the agenda is Pisa with its famous
Leaning Tower, then cross the Apennines to the unique floating city of
Venice. Take a boat ride along one of its great canals and reach St.
Mark’s Square. Here you can admire the most prominent palaces and the
basilica with its golden mosaics. Before returning to Rome, experience
another quaint hilltop village with a great history: Assisi. In the
beautiful basilica dedicated to St. Francis, marvel at the delicate
frescoes by Giotto and take in the peaceful atmosphere. Your trip ends in
Rome, Italy’s capital—a perfect finale to a lovely Italy vacation.
Itinerary
Day
1 BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Day
2 ARRIVAL IN ROME, ITALY
Check
into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this
ancient capital. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.
Day
3 ROME
The
˝Eternal City“—a city steeped in history, vibrantly alive, and
exciting and absolutely unique! Included sightseeing with a Local Guide
starts in St. Peter’s Square, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum and
the mighty Colosseum. (B)
Day
4 ROME-SIENA
Journey
northwest to the charmingly located city of Orvieto in the Umbria region
to visit its black basalt and yellow limestone cathedral, an excellent
example of Italian Gothic architecture. By early evening you’ll be in
Siena with time to visit this jewel of Tuscany. Sit in one of the cafés
surrounding the Campo and admire one of Italy’s most unique
squares, famed the world over for its Palio horse race. (B)
Day
5 SIENA-FLORENCE AREA
Drive
this morning to San Gimignano, one of Tuscany’s greatest attractions. Its
medieval squares, town walls, streets, alleyways, and 14 towers make it
unique. Next, into the very heart of the Chianti vineyards; watch out for
names such as Castellina in Chianti, Badia, Gaiole, and Brolio, where
classical Chianti wines are produced. Stop in Greve for some wine tasting
at a local wine producer. Arrive in the Florence area in time to join the
outing for an optional Tuscan dinner. (B)
Day
6 FLORENCE
This
Renaissance gem and city of the Medicis will keep you enthralled for a
whole day. Traffic is banned in part of the historic center so visitors
can wander at leisure and admire the city’s timeless beauty in relative
peace and quiet. Don’t miss out on the included walking tour with a Local
Guide, which features most of the city highlights. You will see the Piazza
Santa Croce; the beautiful Piazza Signoria; the Palazzo Vecchio and its
courtyard; the Loggia dei Lanzi; and, to top it all, the Piazza del Duomo
and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile, and the magnificent East
Door of the Baptistry known as the “Gate of Paradise.” (B,D)
Day
7 FLORENCE AREA-EXCURSION TO PISA-VENICE AREA
This
morning, drive to Pisa for a visit to its Square of Miracles and the
amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and no less than 16 feet out of the
perpendicular. Later, head across the wooded Apennine Hills into the
farmlands of the Po Valley for two overnights in the Venice area. (B)
Day
8 VENICE
Venice
is more like a marvelous film set than a real live city, with its
criss-crossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces,
and little quiet piazzas. The included orientation starts with a
boat ride and is followed by time at leisure and a chance to watch
Venetian glassblowers fashion their delicate objects as they did
centuries ago. Don’t miss out on the optional gondola trip, gliding along
the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you. (B,D)
Day
9 VENICE AREA-ASSISI-ROME
An
interesting drive southward, cutting across the Po Delta, then crossing
the Apennines. Stop in Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182. Visit
the world-famous Basilica with its beautiful frescos by Giotto, then head
for Rome. (B)
Day
10 YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY
(B)
AIRPORT
TRANSFERS
Airport transfers
may be included when you make your international flights arrangements.
Dates
and Prices
|
Departure
Details
|
Departure
Date
|
Tour
Start Date
|
Return
Date
|
Land/Cruise
Price Only
|
Status
|
|
2/20/2010
|
2/21/2010
|
3/1/2010
|
$1,149.00
|
Sold Out
|
|
2/27/2010
|
2/28/2010
|
3/8/2010
|
$1,179.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
3/6/2010
|
3/7/2010
|
3/15/2010
|
$1,179.00
|
Available
|
|
3/13/2010
|
3/14/2010
|
3/22/2010
|
$1,225.00
|
Sold Out
|
|
3/20/2010
|
3/21/2010
|
3/29/2010
|
$1,225.00
|
Available
|
|
3/27/2010
|
3/28/2010
|
4/5/2010
|
$1,279.00
|
Available
|
|
4/3/2010
|
4/4/2010
|
4/12/2010
|
$1,279.00
|
Sold Out
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
4/10/2010
|
4/11/2010
|
4/19/2010
|
$1,279.00
|
Available
|
|
4/17/2010
|
4/18/2010
|
4/26/2010
|
$1,279.00
|
Available
|
|
4/17/2010
|
4/18/2010
|
4/26/2010
|
$1,279.00
|
Available
|
|
4/24/2010
|
4/25/2010
|
5/3/2010
|
$1,279.00
|
Available
|
|
5/1/2010
|
5/2/2010
|
5/10/2010
|
$1,309.00
|
Available
|
|
5/8/2010
|
5/9/2010
|
5/17/2010
|
$1,309.00
|
Available
|
|
5/15/2010
|
5/16/2010
|
5/24/2010
|
$1,309.00
|
Available
|
|
5/22/2010
|
5/23/2010
|
5/31/2010
|
$1,309.00
|
Available
|
|
5/29/2010
|
5/30/2010
|
6/7/2010
|
$1,309.00
|
Sold Out
|
|
6/5/2010
|
6/6/2010
|
6/14/2010
|
$1,309.00
|
Available
|
|
6/12/2010
|
6/13/2010
|
6/21/2010
|
$1,309.00
|
Available
|
|
6/19/2010
|
6/20/2010
|
6/28/2010
|
$1,309.00
|
Available
|
|
6/26/2010
|
6/27/2010
|
7/5/2010
|
$1,309.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
7/3/2010
|
7/4/2010
|
7/12/2010
|
$1,309.00
|
Available
|
|
7/10/2010
|
7/11/2010
|
7/19/2010
|
$1,309.00
|
Available
|
|
7/17/2010
|
7/18/2010
|
7/26/2010
|
$1,309.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
7/24/2010
|
7/25/2010
|
8/2/2010
|
$1,275.00
|
Available
|
|
7/31/2010
|
8/1/2010
|
8/9/2010
|
$1,275.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/7/2010
|
8/8/2010
|
8/16/2010
|
$1,275.00
|
Available
|
|
8/14/2010
|
8/15/2010
|
8/23/2010
|
$1,275.00
|
Available
|
|
8/21/2010
|
8/22/2010
|
8/30/2010
|
$1,275.00
|
Available
|
|
8/28/2010
|
8/29/2010
|
9/6/2010
|
$1,315.00
|
Available
|
|
9/2/2010
|
9/3/2010
|
9/11/2010
|
$1,315.00
|
Available
|
Popular Departure - due
to itinerary and time of year, this departure historically sells out quickly.
Early booking is encouraged.
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