WONDERS of ITALY

Departures

Rome, Umbria, Tuscany, Florence, Ravenna, Venice, Verona and Oberammergau.

Itinerary

Day 1, Sunday: DEPART CANADA
Tour members from across Canada gather in Toronto for the overnight Air Canada flight direct to Rome, Italy.

Day 2, Monday: ROME
On arrival in Rome, we will be met by our tour manager and transferred to our central hotel. Balance of the day at leisure until we gather for a welcome briefing and dinner this evening. Residence Domus Carmelitana (unique comfortable accommodations located just steps from the Vatican in the heart of Rome) (3 nights)
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Day 3, Tuesday: VATICAN / SISTINE CHAPEL / ROME
This morning we shall proceed to the Vatican for a visit to St Peter’s Basilica plus a special guided visit of the huge Vatican Museum and the exquisite Sistine Chapel. After lunch on your own, our local guide will introduce us to the Eternal City, set on the seven hills. Our panoramic tour will feature many of Rome’s most important sites (Spanish Steps,Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and more).
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Day 4, Wednesday: ANCIENT ROME
This morning has been left free to explore Rome on your own, or take the opportunity to attend the weekly Papal Audience at St Peter’s Basilica, or weather permitting, on St Peter’s Square. Following lunch on our own, our local guide will join us as our exploration of Rome continues, delving into the ancient Roman sites, including the Forum and Coliseum. We conclude our Rome adventure with an evening at a charming theatre restaurant, featuring an Italian folk show, including opera music and famous Italian songs.
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Day 5, Thursday: ORVIETO / CHIANCIANO
Departing Rome we make our way leisurely into the hills of southern Umbria. En route, we will visit the medieval city of Orvieto, which dates from the earliest Etruscan settlements in the 9th Century BC. Much of the city as we see it today dates from the medieval period (12th to 15th Centuries). This afternoon we enjoy a scenic drive to the spa centre of Chianciano Terme. Albergo Moderno (2 nights)
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Day 6, Friday: GUBBIO / ASSISI
Today we explore Umbria and the charming little village of Gubbio, one of the most remote and rugged of the Umbrian hill towns. We will visit the unique Palazzo de’ Consoli and the Church of San Francesco, dating from 1256. We then continue to Assisi, on the slopes of Mount Subasio where we will visit the great Basilica of St. Francis and admire the frescoes by Giotto, Simone Martine and others illustrating the Saint’s life. We will have ample time to appreciate Assisi’s medieval charm before returning to Chianciano.
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Day 7, Saturday: SIENA / SAN GIMIGNANO / MONTECATINI
This morning we explore Siena: walk through the vast Piazza del Campo to see the magnificent frescoes of the Palazzo Pubblico and visit the amazing zebra-striped Cathedral with its superb marble paving and fine pulpit. Then spend time on our own to wander amongst the vibrant city streets before saying farewell to our mountain retreat to drive through the cypress and olive groves of Tuscany, as we climb to the medieval hilltop village of San Gimignano. In medieval times, each merchant family built its own fortress tower and residential area. Many still remain today – hence the nickname “Town of the Fine Towers”. Later this afternoon, we will enjoy a scenic drive through Tuscany en route to our new “base” in Montecatini Terme, a popular hill town and spa centre. Albergo Belvedere (4 nights)
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Day 8, Sunday: FLORENCE
Florence was the cradle of the Renaissance, a fountainhead of genius and still one of the art world’s most prestigious cities. This morning, we take a guided walking tour of the city’s unique treasures. See the open-air museum of Piazza Della Signoria, Santa Croce, which houses the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo, and the cathedral where you see Giotto’s bell tower and Baptistery with its impressive “Gates of Paradise”. All these buildings demonstrate the traditions of Florentine art and architecture from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. After some free time to explore on our own, we will return to our hill top spa.
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Day 9, Monday: PISA / LUCCA
Today, we head to the Mediterranean coast and the ancient centre of Pisa, once one of the most important city states on the Mediterranean. Its proud and wealthy merchants dedicated some of their wealth to build a fine cathedral and baptistery, but today it is the bell tower which attracts most notice – by leaning four meters from the perpendicular! Continue to Lucca where the ramparts allow us to walk freely in the city centre. Highlights of our visit will the cathedral of San Martino with its green and white marble façade and the church of San Michele in Foro.
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Day 10, Tuesday: COOKING CLASS
Today we shall enjoy a scenic drive into the Apennine Mountains and then partake in a special cooking class. Here we shall see and learn how to prepare delicious pasta (Ravioli and Lasagna) and a typical Tuscan dish, Girarosto, which is typically prepared on an open fire place. For dessert, we will prepare a Chestnut cake. Of course, we will then be able to enjoy the fruits of our labour as we sit down and savour what we have prepared. We return to Montecatini in the early afternoon with time to relax at our spa resort.
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Day 11, Wednesday: ABANO TERME
Travelling east, we drive across Italy to the Adriatic coast and the historic centre of Ravenna where we shall see the unique collection of early Christian mosaics in the church of San Vitale. Continue up the coast to the Abano Terme, another very special spa town, known for its hot springs and mud baths. Hotel Alexander Palace (3 nights)
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Day 12, Thursday: VENICE
This morning we travel by private boat through the canals and waterways of old Venice to the Piazza San Marco, one of the grandest squares in Europe. Here a local guide will take us on a walking tour featuring visits to the magnificent Doge's Palace and the San Marco Basilica. Enjoy lunch at a selected local restaurant and then enjoy the afternoon to wander on our own throughout Venice. Getting lost in the maze of narrow passages is no problem, as you will soon emerge in front of a grand church or perhaps by the majestic Grand Canal. Optionally you can join a cruise excursion across the Venice Lagoon to Murano and Lugano (famous for the production of artisan glass and lace, respectively).
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Day 13, Friday: LAKE GARDA / VERONA
Today we venture into the heart of northern Italy first to the city of Verona, home of Romeo and Juliet. We then continue to Lake Garda, the largest body of fresh water in Italy. The lake is dotted with delightful villas, manicured gardens and a few medieval castles. We spend much of the afternoon cruising on the lake, admiring the magnificent scenery.
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Day 14, Saturday: INNSBRUCK / OBERAMMERGAU
Our journey today takes us over the Brenner Pass into the heart of western Austria. On arrival in Innsbruck we will be met by a local guide for a brief walking tour in the old centre, with time to admire Emperor Maximilian’s Golden Roof. We then continue across the border to the village of Oberammergau. Hotel Alte Post (2 nights)
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Day 15, Sunday: OBERAMMERGAU
We will have the morning free, to enjoy the colourful paintings in the village and to do a little shopping. Following lunch, the highlight of the trip, the Passion Play in Oberammergau begins! The Play was instituted in fulfillment of a vow made in 1633, when the town was stricken by plague. It was performed for the first time in 1634 and since then has been played every ten years. It’s just a short walk from the hotel to the theatre, which was built in 1930 and has seating for 4,800 spectators. While the seats are covered, the stage is open to the elements, using the natural grandeur of the region as a back-drop.
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Day 16, Monday: MUNICH
This morning enjoy some final alpine vistas as we head north to Munich. On arrival a local guide will introduce us to the sights of Bavaria's capital, the Nymphenburg Palace, Marienplatz, Frauenkirche and the Olympic Stadium. This evening, we celebrate our journey, sharing stories and memories at our Farewell Dinner. Park Inn Munich Ost (1 night)
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Day 17, Tuesday: MUNICH / CANADA
It is time to say farewell as we transfer to Munich airport and catch our flight to Toronto with connections to our homes across Canada.
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Tour Costs (CDN$/person)

Prices from other cities on request - please call our office. Tour cost is per person based on sharing a twin bedded room. Single rooms are extremely limited.

Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure.

Inclusive Features

To enroll on this tour simply complete our online enrollment form or alternatively complete the enrollment form found at the back of our brochure and return it with your deposit of $1500 per person to Craig Travel's office.