800-321-7907
425-821-4100
Vacation & Honeymoon
Planning Nights
May 14 Sandals all inclusive
resorts for couples
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 2007 Italian Gourmet & Lake Tour
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Explore Northern Italy in DepthLeisurely Pace with Short DistancesGourmet Day with Balsamic & Cheese TastingsTwo Days at Lake Como & Lake MaggioreWalking Tours with Highlands around Milan & BolognaSee Ravenna's Historic MosaicsDiscover Verona & Mantua
What Your Tour Includes
Round trip flights between U.S. and MilanWelcome get-together glass of wineGroup airport transfers on arrival and departureTours around Parmigiano-Reggiano Factory and Modena Balsamic Estate with tastingsProfessional English-speaking tour escort throughoutHalf-day walking tours of Milan, Bologna, Ravenna and Verona with local guidesTransportation by private deluxe air-conditioned motor coach throughoutSightseeing boat excursion around the Stresa Islands on Lake MaggioreSuperior first class hotels with private bath/shower for 8 nightsVisits and admissions to Milan Cathedral, Castello Sforzesco, Basilica St. Apollinare and Basilica St.Vitale8 buffet breakfasts with selection of cold dishes (BB)Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap6 dinners (D) including - Farewell dinner in a local restaurant in Isola dei Pescatori - 5 table d'hote dinners with mineral waterAll local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per personLunch at Parmigiano-Reggiano Estate (L)
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| Call (425) 821-4100 for more information or to book today! Mention code 5305473 | | CIE Tours | | | | Day | Destination | Description | | Day 1 | Depart USA | Depart U.S for Italy : Depart your hometown and take a night flight across the Atlantic to reach Milan. Sit back and relax as you start your vacation. | | Day 2 | Milan | Milan Arrival : Land at Milan's Malpensa Airport, collect your luggage and pass through customs inspection. Your tour escort will be at the customs exit to meet you at 9:00 am or at 1:00 pm and assist you with a group transfer to your hotel. If you arrive later than 1:00 pm, you must transfer to the hotel at your own expense. After checking in you will be free for the remainder of the day. You may like to take a walk and explore this chic, bustling city a little on your own. In the evening meet your tour escort and fellow travelers to discuss your itinerary over a welcome glass of wine, which is followed by dinner in the hotel restaurant. (D) | | Day 3 | Milan | Discover Milan : This morning take a walking tour of central Milan with a local guide, starting at the Piazza del Duomo in the heart of the city. Take a look at the facade of the huge Gothic cathedral with its many spires, statues and gargoyles before touring the interior. Walk through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, an ornate shopping arcade dating from 1877. Next view the facade of Teatro la Scala, one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world. Built in 1778, it has one of the largest stages in Europe. You may like to visit the adjoining museum in the afternoon to see lavish sets, costumes and memorabilia. Visit the Castello Sforzesco, a huge Renaissance palace built by the Sforzas, rulers of Milan. The afternoon is at leisure for further sightseeing on your own and, as you are free for dinner, your guide will assist you in choosing a nice restaurant. (BB) | | Day 4 | Bologna | Parma & Bologna : Drive into the Emilia-Romagna region, renowned for its production of fine foodstuffs. Stop in Parma for a walk around the center of this prosperous town to see some of the elegant medieval buildings, including the baptistry and bell tower of the cathedral. Continue your drive through the delightful countryside to Bologna and check into your hotel for a three-night stay. Then take an introductory walking tour around the city center starting at the animated Piazza Maggiore. Site of the oldest university in the world, founded in 1069, Bologna is a treasure house of Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance churches and palazzi, containing major works by artist of the Bolognese and Emilian schools, as well works by Giotto, Tintoretto and Raphael. Enjoy some free time before joining your fellow travelers at a local restaurant to savor some regional specialties. (BB, D) | | Day 5 | Bologna | Modena Gourmet Tour : Enjoy a full day exploration around other parts of the Emilia-Romagna region. Drive to Modena where your focus will be on delicious foodstuffs of the area. Start with a tour at a prominent Parmigiano-Reggiano factory to see the cheese-making process and sample some. Your next stop is at a Modena Balsamic Estate to learn about making of this famous vinegar, which can be aged in oak for as long as 50 years. Enjoy lunch with local specialties at the estate. In the afternoon drive to Ferrara, a prosperous town in medieval times due to the influence of the d'Este dynasty. Today you can admire the facades of magnificent buildings that date to the 13th and 14th centuries, including the cathedral and the Castello Estense. Return to Bologna where you are at leisure this evening. Your guide will help you find a nice restaurant for dinner. (BB, L) | | Day 6 | Bologna | Ravenna's Mosaics : This morning take a drive to Ravenna, a town that dates back to the 1st century BC. It later came under Roman and Byzantine rule by which time the people had converted to Christianity and church building flourished. Visit two churches to see the wonderful 6th century mosaics, for which this town is famous. Sant' Apollinare Nuovo contains two rows of mosaics showing processions bearing gifts to Christ and the Virgin while the Church of San Vitale has shimmering apse mosaics depicting Christ with San Vitale and Bishop Ecclesius, founder of the church. Return to Bologna by mid-afternoon for some leisure time to browse around the town on your own and the evening is free for dinner arrangements. (BB) | | Day 7 | Mantua | Discover Verona : Drive to Verona, a city founded by the Romans and full of elegant medieval palaces built in rose-colored limestone. Take a walking tour around the city to see the main points of interest, including the Arena, a 1st century amphitheater in a remarkable state of preservation. Pass Juliet's House where Romeo was believed to have climbed to the balcony, inspiring Shakespeare and many others with the tragic story. Also see Castelvecchio, a medieval stronghold where you can view the Ponte Scaligero that crosses the River Adige. Pass the Church of San Zeno Maggiore, to view the Romanesque facade. In the late afternoon depart for Mantua where you will have time for a stroll around this charming town and discover treasures for yourself before joining your group for dinner in a local restaurant. (BB, D) | | Day 8 | Stresa | Lake Como : Drive to Lake Como to explore some of the glorious scenery of the northern lakes. For centuries Lake Como has attracted visitors, who are drawn by the tranquility and views of the Alps. Spend the next two days seeing this delightful region with sparkling blue waters of the lakes; gentle hills that stretch to the water's edge; and towns that hug the shoreline. Take a look around the charming town of Como and drive along the shores of this narrow lake. Stop in Tremezzo, another lakeside town and enjoy some time for refreshments or a wander around on your own. In the late afternoon drive to Lake Maggiore and Stresa to check into your lovely lakeside hotel for a two-night stay. Enjoy dinner in the hotel restaurant. (BB, D) | | Day 9 | Stresa | Lake Maggiore : Lake Maggiore stretches north into Switzerland and offers wonderful views. The shores of the lake slope gently and sustain a great variety of camellias, azaleas and verbena shrubs. Take a full day boat excursion to the Stresa Islands to sit back and relax while watching the ever changing panoramas as you glide past the little islands of Bella, Del Pescatori and Madre. Enjoy the grounds of your hotel and its views of the lake before heading out for a farewell dinner at local restaurant on Isola dei Pescatori. (BB, D). | | Day 10 | Milan | Depart Milan for USA : Take a group transfer to Milan's Malpensa Airport where your tour concludes at 10:00 am. Check in for your flight in good time and you may like to shop at the duty-free stores. If you need to arrive at Milan Airport before 10:00 am, your escort will coordinate an earlier group transfer once you are on tour. (BB) |
| | Hotel Brunelleschi - Milan - 2 night(s) | | Hotel Corona D'Oro - Bologna - 3 night(s) | | Hotel San Lorenzo - Mantua - 1 night(s) | | Hotel La Palma - Stresa - 2 night(s) |
| | Taxes, security fees and fuel surcharges are not included. This list indicates brochure rates and dates. If your date of choice is marked "On Request" or appears in the brochure but not on this page please contact your travel agent for information.Air price is based on departures from New York. Additional add-on airfares from other cities will available after clicking on Book Now!We highly recommend that you review our general conditions page for full details on terms, conditions, and penalties. |
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TOTEM TRAVEL
