Italian Rendezvous

For SINGLE TRAVELLERS 45 years and over
19 June - 4 July 2010 (16 days)

Itinerary

Day 1                      Sat 19 Jun  Milan
Welcome to Italy.  
Tonight, we enjoy a welcome drink with the Tour Director before our welcome dinner with the group.    (D)   

Day 2                      Sun 20 Jun   Como
Today, we travel to our lake-side hotel in the picturesque Italian Lakes District. Settle into the hotel, the rest of the day is at leisure. Enjoy a two night stay.    (BB)                                                                                        

Day 3                      Mon 21 Jun                                                   
Como Today’s highlight is enchanting Lake Como, considered the jewel of the Italian Lakes for its superb mountain setting. Como is dominated by its marble cathedral set in the narrow streets of the Old Town. Tonight we enjoy an exciting dining experience high above the city. We start our evening by taking the cog railroad to the top of Mt. Brunate followed by dinner that includes the best and freshest local cuisine from this unique region of Italy. The breathtaking views and excellent food make this a dinner to always remember.    (BB,HD)     
                                                                                          
Day 4                      Tue 22 Jun                                    Venice/Treviso
Briefly enter Switzerland to visit mountain ringed Lugano, and take time to stroll the lake’s shores and shop for watches and chocolate. Continue to the elegant city of Verona. See the ancient Roman arena, venue for the opera each summer, and visit the courtyard of the Capulet home to see Juliet’s balcony. Then it’s on to romantic Venice, a glorious city of quaint bridges, ornate palaces, and gondolas.    (BB,D)

Day 5                      Wed 23 Jun                                     Venice/Treviso
Relax and enjoy the scenery as you travel by private launch to St Mark’s Square. Admire the Doges’ Palace and its adjoining Bridge of Sighs, and later visit a glass showroom for a demonstration of traditional craftsmanship, unchanged for centuries. We also see the ornate St Mark’s Basilica, the rest of the day is at leisure to explore Venice on your own, before we return to our hotel.   (BB)                 

Day 6                      Thu 24 Jun                                              La Spezia
Today, we cross the Italian peninsular and see the quarries at Carrara, its milky white stone attracting everyone from Michelangelo to Mussolini.  We then travel to La Spezia, on the eastern end of the Italian Riviera.     (BB,D)

Day 7                      Fri 25 Jun                                                La Spezia
Today, we experience a full day highlight excursion to Cinque Terre, or five villages, which were for years only accessible by donkey.  Luckily, today we take the train we explore the spectacular area.  A local expert will guide you around two postcard pretty villages, which both retain their charm and reputation for producing one of  Italy’s most sought after and exclusive wines.  For the adventurous there is a hill side track which leads from one village to another if you prefer to take in the scenery on foot!      (BB,D)

Day 8                      Sat 26 Jun                                                 Florence
This morning we have a photo stop at the leaning tower of Pisa before we arrive in Florence. We have a sightseeing tour of Florence with a local guide who shows you Michelangelo’s statue of ‘David’ in the Academy Gallery. Continue to see the Cathedral and baptistery, Giotto’s 14th century Campanile (said to be the most beautiful bell-tower in the world), the ‘Gates of Paradise’ and Signoria Square, political stage of the Florentines.    (BB,D)

Day 9                      Sun 27 Jun                                                Florence This morning we drive to San Gimignano – a ‘medieval Manhattan’. There’s time to explore this many towered town with its squares and winding streets. Then to the walled town of Sienna where our Tour Director takes us to the famous  Piazza del Campo, scene of the celebrated Palio horse race.   Back to Florence.    (BB)                         

Day 10                    Mon 28 Jun                                             
Florence A whole day is reserved to enjoy Florence at your leisure. Discover the art treasures housed in the many museums and galleries? Why not dedicate today to shopping for leather and gold products, visit one of the many museums or simply relax at an outdoor café with a glass of vino? Tonight we enjoy a wine tasting, followed by a dinner in the Chianti Hills.     (BB,HD)                                       

Day 11                    Tue 29 Jun                                             Assisi
We enjoy a scenic drive to the hill top town of Assisi, home of St Francis. Here we visit the Basilica of St Francis with its magnificent frescoes by the artist Giotto. There rest of the time is free to wander the cobblestone streets and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.      (BB)

Day 12                    Wed 30 Jun                                            Sorrento
Our first stop is the Commonwealth Cemetery of Montecassino. Then through Campania to Pompeii where a local guide will walk you through the streets of this Roman resort buried by an eruption of the volcanic Mt Vesuvius in AD79.  Later we make our way to Sorrento for dinner and our overnight stay.       (BB,D) 

Day 13                    Thu 1  Jul                                                               Sorrento
This morning we take a short drive for a birds eye view of the terraced houses of Positano. Then by mini buses we travel down into the heart of the town where we have time at leisure to explore. Later perhaps take an optional excursion to the island of Capri? Tonight why not try the local seafood at a local restaurant for dinner?     (BB)

Day 14                    Fri 2 Jul                                                          Rome
We head north to the celebrated wine town of Frascati and continue to Castel Gandolfo to see the Pope’s summer residence and then  to the ‘Eternal City’, Rome for our two night stay.     (BB)      

Day 15                    Sat 3 Jul                                                         Rome
Sightseeing with a local guide begins with the Vatican Museums to see Michelangelo’s ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Visit St Peter’s Basilica, built around the tomb of St Peter, and designed by some of history’s greatest architects, Bramante, Bernini and Michelangelo. Crossing the Tiber, explore ancient Rome as you visit the Colosseum and see the Roman Forum. Spend the afternoon at leisure: shop, relax or continue sightseeing. As night falls, stroll to the Boat Fountain at the foot of the elegant Spanish Steps before enjoying a typically Roman dinner in a local restaurant.   (BB,HD)

Day 16                    Sun 4 Jul                                                                    Depart
Our memorable tour comes to an end and after breakfast.    (B)

Meal Key:     (BB) =   Buffet Breakfast   (L) = Lunch    (D) = Hotel Dinner   (HD) = Highlight Dinner 

Included:

ACCOMMODATION    
Based on First Class hotels for 15 nights. Please note; that any hotels advised are to be used as a guide only and are subject to availability and change should circumstances dictate. A final hotel list will be provided prior to departure when travel packs are issued to participants.
 
SIGHTSEEING & MEALS            
Daily buffet breakfast plus other meals as per the itinerary. Itinerary can be viewed on holiday website.

TOUR DIRECTOR        
Services of a professional English speaking Tour Director throughout. Local expert guides where required & as noted on the itinerary

TRANSPORTATION    
Exclusive use of air-conditioned coaches for group touring as per the itinerary.

PORTERAGE                
One piece of luggage per person, in and out of hotels as per the itinerary. Due to coach capacity the sum of the length, width and depth of the case should not exceed 160cm and weight should not exceed 20kg. Charges may be levied in the event these limits are exceeded and the promise to transport you may be invalidated.

SERVICE CHARGES
Tips to restaurants where a meal is included by itinerary. Service charges and local taxes on services as detailed by itinerary. (Except local airport and border taxes).

DOCUMENTATION
Approximately two weeks prior to departure from Australia, documentation will be issued to each participant,  including
International air tickets (if applicable), a tour itinerary, a full Hotel list, an Optional Excursion list, an information handbook, Iuggage labels & ticket wallet.

Note:
Every endeavour is made to ensure all services are included as per your quote request, however it is your responsibility to check all inclusions in the attached itinerary as any items not specified will incur supplementary charges.

Not in included:

• Gratuities to Tour director, Coach Drivers and local guides. 
  It should be remembered that tipping is standard tradition in Europe.. Tipping is at the passengers discretion however is recommended and as a measure of guidance we would advise that an average tip would be US$4.00 pp per day for a Tour Director, US$2.50 pp per day for a Driver & US$2.00 pp for or a local guide.
• International Airfares
• Optional excursions, Travel Insurance, Visas and items of a personal nature.