Northern Italian Classics
Tour# - 464137
March 12, 2009 - March 22, 2009
Students (under 23): $2632
Adults: $2972
Sign up: 1-800-665-5364
$95 Dollar deposit, last payment due Dec. 1, 2008.
for more info contact:
Cynthia Bingham:
480-654-0030
480-529-0595
Program Fee Includes:
-(9 with extension)
-Complete European breakfast and dinner daily
-Full-time bilingual EF Tour Director
-2 sightseeing tours led by licensed local guides:
Florence Venice
-2 sightseeing tours led by your tour director:
Nice Cinque Terre
-5 visits to special attractions:
Duomo Leather-making demonstration
Doges' Palace Glass-blowing demonstration
Lake Como cruise
-Whisper headsets for tour of Florence
OPTIONAL:
Excursion to Pisa ($40)
WITH EXTENSION: All of the above PLUS:
-2 sightseeing tours led by licensed local guides:
Vatican City Rome
-1 EF walking tour: Rome
-3 visits to special attractions:
Sistine Chapel St.Peter's Basilica Colosseum
Day 1 Flight
Overnight flight to France Relax as you fly across the Atlantic.
Day 2 French Riviera
Arrival in Nice Touch down in Nice, the Queen of the French Riviera. Many believe the name of the town, which was founded by Greek mariners in 350 B.C., derives from a great territorial victory realized here (the Greek word for victory is nike). After clearing customs, you are greeted by your bilingual EF Tour Director, who will remain with you throughout your stay. Tour director-led sightseeing of Nice Acquaint yourself with the palm trees and promenades of this exclusive seaside resort. Walk in the footsteps of the rich and famous as you stroll through the Vieille Ville past white-washed villas, and down the Promenade des Anglais. Nice's spectacular scenery has inspired such artists as Renoir, Matisse, and Toulouse-Lautrec.
Day 3 Cinque Terre Region
Overnight in Cinque Terre region Transfer to the Cinque Terre region of Italy, where you'll spend the night.
Day 4 Cinque Terre Region Florence
Tour director-led excursion to Cinque Terre Sample life on the Italian Riviera on your excursion to Cinque Terre. Literally translating to "five earths," Cinque Terre is comprised of five coastal towns-Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore-dramatically situated on cliff faces overlooking the Mediterranean. Each village has its own unique character. The markets of Monterosso, the medieval forts of Vernazza, and the pastel-colored edifices of Manarola add to the charm of Cinque Terre. Transfer to Florence Arrive in Florence, birthplace of the Italian language, the Renaissance, and opera.
Day 5 Florence
Guided sightseeing of Florence Fall under the spell of the powerful Medici family on your guided tour. Pass the classical statues of the Piazza della Signoria, where Michelangelo's David originally stood and now the site of an impressive replica. From behind the Uffizi Palace, you will see Ponte Vecchio, one of the city's only bridges to survive WWII, and now one of its most photographed sites. The bridge provided the Medici easy access from the Pitti Palace to the Uffizi. Continue past the Chiesa mardi Santa Croce, final resting place of Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo. Next, you will visit the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, better known as the Duomo, or dome, that dominates Florence's skyline. The dome was sculptor and architect Brunelleschi's finest work, and the nearby campanile (bell tower) was designed by the painter Giotto. Look for the famous bronzed doors- Ghiberti's legendary Gates of Paradise-at the Baptistery opposite the Duomo. Later, watch artisans at work at a local leather-making demonstration.
Optional excursion to Pisa Opt to journey to Pisa. In the city's Field of Miracles, you'll see the 12th-century Leaning Tower, aslant ever since the third floor was built. This is where Galileo was said to have developed his laws of gravity. Be sure to visit the adjacent cathedral and baptistery, which contain exquisite marble pulpits carved in the Gothic style by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano.
Day 6 Florence Venice
Transfer to Venice Arrive in magical Venice, home of Marco Polo. Here, you'll spend the night. Day 7 Venice
Guided sightseeing of Venice Begin your tour of La Serenissima (the city's nickname meaning "the most serene") at St. Mark's Square, "the finest drawing room in Europe," according to Napoleon. Allegedly buried under the altar of the basilica are St. Mark's remains, which, in the 11th century, were smuggled out of Alexandria in a barrel of salt pork to prevent a thorough search by the city's Muslim guards. Also see the Grand Canal and the 324-foot Campanile (Bell Tower), whose steps were originally built so that a noble could ascend on horseback. Look for the clock where two bronze figures have been striking the hour for more than 500 years. Venice is also famous for its glassware-you'll see why during a glass-blowing demonstration.
Visit to Doges' Palace Visit the grand 14th-century, pink-and-white Doges' Palace, from which mighty Venetian dukes once ruled. Here, you'll stroll over the Bridge of Sighs, connecting the palace and its prison. As they crossed the bridge, prisoners supposedly tyred. Enter the basilica under the watchful eyes of the brightly dressed Swiss Guard. Inside, admire Michelangelo's PietaΜ, the only sculpture he ever signed.
Guided sightseeing of Rome Get to know Imperial Rome on a panoramic tour. Then spend time exploring the mighty Colosseum, Rome's largest amphitheater. Its elaborate construction spanned two emperors-building began between A.D. 70 and 72 under Vespasian and was completed in A.D. 80 under Titus. Originally built to accommodate nearly 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum played host to some of the most incredible spectacles of the day, including gladiatorial combat, mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions and even dramatic performances based on classical mythology. Later, pass by the Forum Romanum, once the heart of the Roman Empire. The Palazzo Vecchio's ornate interior sharply contrasts its simpler façade, sighed with perfect sadness as they regarded their beautiful city for the last time. Casanova made a daring escape from this prison in 1756.
Day 8 Venice Lake Como Region
Lake Como cruise A boat cruise around Lago di Como brings you up close to the pristine beauty of this northern Italian lake. At 1,350 feet, it is the deepest lake in Europe. Surrounded by the Swiss Alps to the north and the Italian Alps to the east and west, the lake stretches for 30 miles and splits into three parts at Bellagio, the centro di lago, or center of the lake. Spend a few hours cruising north to Colico, stopping in small lakeside towns along the way. Later, disembark back in Como.
Overnight in Como Region Tonight, enjoy comfortable hotel accommodations in the
Como region.
Day 9 Home
Return home Your tour director assists with the transfer to the airport, where you'll check in for your return flight home. EXTENSION
Day 9 Lake Como Region Rome
Transfer to Milan Alternatively, you can extend your stay two days with a visit to Rome. Arrive in Milan, fashion and finance capital of Italy.
Arrival in Rome Take the day train from Milan and arrive in bella Roma, the Eternal City. Here, Charlemagne was crowned by the pope in A.D. 800. Day 10 Rome
Visit to Vatican City Today, you will explore Vatican City, the world's smallest country. Begin at the Vatican Museum, where elaborate galleries filled with one artistic masterpiece after another lead you directly to the Sistine Chapel. Between 1508 and 1512, Michelangelo painted some of the world's finest pictorial images on the chapel's ceiling. This was his first attempt at working in fresco, which he did by standing up and craning backward from a scaffold. Next, tour St. Peter's Basilica, erected on the site where the saint was martyred. Enter the basilica under the watchful eyes of the brightly dressed Swiss Guard. Inside, admire Michelangelo's Pieta, the only sculpture he ever signed.
Walking tour of Rome As part of your
walking tour of Rome, stop at the Trevi Foun-
tain and make sure to toss in a coin to ensure
your return to Rome. Then view the Pan-
theon, one of the best-preserved ancient build-
ings in the city, commissioned by the Emperor
Hadrian around A.D. 120. This temple to "all
the gods" features the second-widest dome in
Rome. Then during free time, continue to the
Piazza Navona before meeting at the Spanish
Steps before dinner.
Day11 Home
Return home Your tour director assists with
the transfer to the airport, where you'll check
in for your return flight home.
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