European Splendor 2009
Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to Rome.
Day 2 - Arrive Rome (2 nights) Welcome to Rome, the Eternal City! After hotel check-in, the remainder of the day is at leisure to relax and unwind. Tonight, we enjoy a Welcome Drink with our Tour Director and to meet our fellow travellers.
Day 3 - Rome sightseeing & at leisure Our sightseeing tour with a local expert includes a visit to St. Peter's Basilica where we see the moving Pieta, one of the masterpieces of Michelangelo. We also overlook the Forum, the mighty Colosseum and Circus Maximus, where the chariot racing took place in ancient Rome. (Buffet breakfast)
Day 4 - Rome - Florence Today we drive through the Chianti Hills to Florence where first we enjoy panoramic views over the Renaissance city from Piazzale Michelangelo. Then on our guided walking tour we see Piazza Signoria and visit Santa Croce Church where Michelangelo is buried. Later we have time to explore or shop
for high quality leather and gold, before enjoying a Highlight Dinner in a local restaurant tonight. (Buffet breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Day 5 - Florence — Venice We drive to Venice and take a private motor launch to the area of St. Mark's Square where we see the Byzantine basilica and the vast Doge's Palace. Later we visit a glass-blowing factory and have time to explore this magical city. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Day 6 - Venice (Marcon) — Vienna (2 nights) Today we leave Italy and drive into the beautiful country of Austria. We follow the valley of the River Danube eastwards to the capital, Vienna, where we stay for the next two nights. (Buffet breakfast)
Day 7 - Vienna sightseeing & at leisure Our morning guided sightseeing tour highlights St. Stephen's Cathedral, the State Opera House, the Hofburg and the Imperial Boulevards and we are also shown a fascinating Hidden Treasure of the city by our Tour Director. (Buffet breakfast)
Day 8 - Vienna — Salzburg — Innsbruck Past Melk Abbey to Salzburg. A walking tour with a local guide highlights Mozart's birthplace. Then to mountain-ringed Innsbruck and an orientation tour before dinner in our hotel. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Day 9 - Innsbruck — Liechtenstein — Lucerne (2 nights) This morning we travel westwards to Vaduz, the capital of the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein, renowned for its unique postage stamps. Then we drive into central Switzerland and the town of Lucerne, beautifully situated on the lake of the Four Forest Cantons. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Day 10 - Lucerne orientation & at leisure This morning our orientation tour shows us the poignant Lion Monument which commemorates the heroism of the Swiss guards during the French Revolution, and the wooden Chapel Bridge, then free time to take a mountain excursion or shop for Swiss watches and chocolate! (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Day 11 - Lucerne — Paris (2 nights) This morning after breakfast, we head to the French border past Belfort and the remains of the Maginot Line. From here our journey continues into the wine-producing region of Burgundy to view the Savigny-Lès-Beaune vineyards before we arrive in lively Paris. Your evening is free to do as you please so why not enjoy one of Paris" great cabaret shows" (Buffet breakfast)
Day 12 - Paris sightseeing & at leisure This morning our guided sightseeing tour includes a drive along the Champs Élysées, views of Notre Dame on the Île de la Cité and the ascent of the Eiffel Tower to the second level for incredible views over the city. Tonight, at the end of our European tour, we enjoy a special celebratory Farewell Dinner with our Tour Director and our new-found friends. (Buffet breakfast / Farewell Dinner)
Day 13 - Paris — London (2 nights) We travel through France, passing World War I battlefields, to reach the English Channel where we take the ferry to Dover with its famous White Cliffs and then, finally, we drive up to London. (Buffet breakfast)
Day 14 - London sightseeing & at leisure This morning we enjoy a sightseeing tour highlighting many major sights of the city. Then we have time at leisure to perhaps shop for some last minute gifts. (Buffet breakfast)
Day 15 - London — USA After breakfast, bid farewell to your Tour Director as our tour comes to an end (Buffet Breakfast)
Free airport transfers: Transfers on Day 2 at Rome Fiumicino Airport will operate at 09.30, 12.30, 15.30 and 18.45. Passengers arriving later should make their own way to the first hotel.
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