Day
1- Depart USA
Overnight flight to Milan.
Day 2 - Arrive Milan – Como (2
nights)
Trafalgar greets you at Milan's Malpensa
airport, flights to arrive prior to
11.30am, and transfers you to your hotel
on Lake Como. On arrival time to unwind,
or perhaps enjoy a cruise to admire the
exquisite villas and gardens. Later we
enjoy a Welcome Drink with our Tour
Director and fellow travelling
companions before dining at the hotel.
(Dinner)
Hotel: Barchetta Excelsior / Grand Hotel
di Como (2 nights)
Day 3 - Como orientation & Lugano
Excursion
After an orientation of the town of
Como, we head to the Swiss frontier and
cross over to the lakeside resort of
Lugano, with its traffic-free medieval
town, bustling with cafés and boutiques.
Maybe shop for bargains in Swiss
chocolate and elegant timepieces. Then
we drive to fashionable Milan where we
enjoy a guided tour which includes the
gothic Cathedral, La Scala and the
Galleria. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 4 - Como – Verona – Venice (Lido)
(3 nights)
Today we head to the city of
Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers –
Verona. Here we have time to window-shop
along the Via Mazzini with its tempting
boutiques or perhaps to visit the 2,000
year old Roman arena. From here it's a
short distance to the water bound,
Renaissance city of Venice, where we
spend the next three nights. A gondola
serenade this evening would make the
perfect introduction to the romance of
this city! (Buffet Breakfast, Dinner)
Hotel: Des Bains (3 nights)
Day 5 - Venice orientation & Visit a
Murano Glass workshop
A scintillating entrance to the city as
we approach St. Mark's Square on our
private launch, where we will see the
Bridge of Sighs, Palace of the Doges'
and the Byzantine Basilica. On
disembarkation, a short stroll takes us
to one of the oldest Murano
glass-blowing workshops, where we can
marvel at a demonstration of this
ancient craft. Then you are free to
enjoy the city at your leisure. (Buffet
Breakfast)
Day 6 - Secret Venice walking tour &
visit to the market
Today with our local guide we enjoy a
guided commentary using our effective
audio system, which will bring the city
to life, as we cruise along the canal to
the Rialto Bridge. We cross the Rialto
and visit the colourful fish market
which has existed for centuries, and
then enjoy a walking tour through the 'calle'
seeing sites such as the house of Marco
Polo and other curious as well as
beautiful architectural works of art.
The balance of the day is at leisure to
perhaps take a trip to Burano and enjoy
eating some of the local seafood. The
possibilities are endless! (Buffet
Breakfast)
Day 7 - Venice (Lido) – Ferrara –
Florence (2 nights)
his morning we will cross the Veneto
plains en route to Ferrara, birthplace
to the great reformer, Savonarola and
former home to the wealthy Este dukes.
Here we will see their formidable
Castello Estense, a four-towered moated
castle dating back to 1385, as well as
the Savonarola monument and the Palazzo
Comunale. Then over the steep Apennine
Mountains to the province of Tuscany and
Renaissance Florence. This evening we
enjoy a dinner of Tuscan cuisine in a
typical Trattoria. (Buffet Breakfast,
Highlights Dinner)
Hotel: Londra / Astoria (2 nights)
Day 8 - Florence sightseeing & at
leisure
Today's walking tour on foot with a
local expert shows us the multi-coloured
Duomo, the Piazza Signoria and visits
the Santa Croce Basilica, where so many
great Italians are buried ,including
Michelangelo. We also enjoy a panoramic
view over the city from Piazzale
Michelangelo before time at leisure
perhaps to shop for leather and gold. Or
maybe visit the Fine Arts Academy to see
the famous David by Michelangelo.
(Buffet Breakfast)
Day 9 - Florence – Pisa – Amalfi
Coast (Maiori) (3 nights)
Our morning drive takes us through the
Arno Valley to Pisa, which today is much
more famous for its poorly designed and
now leaning Cathedral bell-tower. You'll
be dumbstruck by the tower and its
amazing carved marble Cathedral and
Baptistery in the Square of Miracles.
Then we follow the coastal road skirting
the chic resort of the Monte Argentario
to the Bay of Naples, Amalfi and our
hotel in Maiori for a relaxing three
nights. (Buffet Breakfast, Dinner)
Hotel: Panorama / Miramare (3 nights)
Day 10 - Amalfi town & at leisure
This morning we take a short cruise to
the charming town of Amalfi where we
enjoy an orientation tour with our Tour
Director including the Romanesque Church
and a Hidden Treasure! Later time to
sip a cappuccino, or maybe take a dip
in the Mediterranean. The choice is
yours! (Buffet Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 11 - Isle of Capri Excursion and
Amalfi drive
After breakfast our day begins with a
mini-cruise to the Isle of Capri
(weather permitting). Here we go up to
Capri town by funicular for a walking
tour using our audio system showing us
the famous 'Piazzetta', the Ceasar
Augustus gardens and views of the
Faraglioni Rocks. Then time is your own
– perhaps to shop or visit the house of
Dr. Axel Munthe. Later we cruise back
and begin our exhilarating drive along
the Amalfi coast past some of the most
delightful villages and islands in
Europe including the colourful artists'
town of Positano.* (Buffet Breakfast)
*On certain departures part of this
scenic tour may be operated by boat.
Day 12 - Amalfi – Pompeii – Rome (2
nights)
Today we drive to Pompeii where we will
enjoy a guided walking tour using our
audio system of the excavations of the
Roman town and its inhabitants,
literally 'petrified' by the eruption of
Vesuvius in AD 79. From here we continue
past the Abbey of Monte Cassino to Rome,
the city on the seven hills. Tonight,
why not discover some of them on an
evening excursion followed by a meal of
Roman cuisine? (Buffet Breakfast)
Hotel: Ateneo Garden Palace / Tiberio (2
nights)
Day 13 - Rome sightseeing & at
leisure
After breakfast, it's an early start
this morning as we enjoy a guided tour,
including an audio system, of the
Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums,
containing the magnificent frescoes of
Michelangelo. Next it's an unforgettable
visit of St. Peter's Basilica before we
cross the Tiber to ancient Rome to
overlook the Forum and the Circus
Maximus, renowned for chariot races, and
to visit the mighty Colosseum. The rest
of the day is at leisure. This evening,
join your Tour Director and fellow
travelers for a Farewell Dinner. (Buffet
Breakfast, Farewell Dinner)
Day 14 -Rome - USA
'Arrivederci Roma', till the next time,
as we transfer you to Rome Fiumicino
airport for your return flight to
America. (Buffet Breakfast)
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