| Note
from Kerry:
This Switzerland-Italy trip is an extension to the
Italy Art & Architecture trip. After we
leave Italy, there are an additional 5 glorious days in Switzerland!
July
18, Mon. Settle back in the plane for our overnight
flight to Rome!
July
19, Tues. Explore the Eternal City with a Red Double-Decker
Bus Tour to get your bearings: Coliseum, Roman Forum, Palatine
Hill, Spanish Steps , St Peter's Cathedral, and the Circus
Maximus. Walk in the steps of early martyrs with a guided
tour of the Coliseum. Marvel at the center of the ancient
world as you walk the Roman Forum.
July
20, Wed. Saint Peter's Cathedral is the largest in
the world, & we climb to the roof for the wide-angle view!
After our appointment to see the Vatican Museums & Michelangelo's
Sistine Chapel , we head for the Cappuccin Crypts to see bones
of the Christians. This evening take a guided walking tour
from Campo Dei Fiori to Piazza Navona (former Roman chariot
raceway,) to the Pantheon and on to the Trevi Fountain. Bring
a coin to toss!
July
21, Thurs. Today is completely free to do whatever
you wish in Rome! Suggestions: visit the Baroque masterpieces
of sculpture at the little gem of a museum, the Borghese Gallery
, set in the former Borghese Palace and gardens (reservations
required; I will help you if you choose this option); take
a bus excursion to Pompeii to see the city destroyed by ash
froom Mount Vesuvius; ride a cheap train out to the beach
and also see the ancient Roman ruins of Ostia.
July
22, Fri. Train to Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance!
Our walking tour will take us to l'Accademia , Europe 's first
painting school, to see Michelangelo's David and the unfinished
Prisioners , never fully freed from the marble from which
they are hewn. Climb to the top of the Duomo, (first large
dome since Roman times) and shop for jewelry on the Ponte
Vecchio , ancient bridge over the Arno River.
July
23, Sat. Completely free day in Florence! Suggestions: See
the world's best collection of Renaissance art at the Uffizzi
Museum (reservations required 3 months in advance; I will
help you if you choose this option); take a bus trip to the
Tuscan hill towns of Sienna and see San Gigimigano with it's
medival towers; tour the Medici's Pitti Palace & Boboli
Gardens or the Hospital of the Innocents (world's first Renaissance
building); See Santa Croce where Michelangelo is buried and
the Medici Chapels ; or you could just shop for leather and
relax. . .
July
24, Sun. Take the short ride to Piazzale Michelangelo
for a breathtaking panoramic view of the city of Florence. Then
ride an Italian train to Venice , city built on hundreds of
islands, queen of the seas. Vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal
to St. Mark's Square to see the 11th century Byzantine St.
Marks' Cathedral and St. Mark's Square, called "the finest
living room in Europe." In the evening, take the elevator
up the Bell Tower for views of the square and lagoon.
July
25 , Mon. In the morning, tour the Doge's Palace
, from where Venice ruled the seas. Cross through the Bridge
of Sighs. Afternoon is free to spend as you like. Choose between
the Lido beach , the Guggenheim Modern Art Museum, the Ca'
Rezzonico , and many others. Take a boat ride out to the islands
of Burano and Murano to see glass and lace made . Ride a Traghetto
gondola across the canal for 1 euro, watch a glass blowing
demonstration. Wander the twisting walkways, crossing curved
bridges around ever corner, getting deliciously lost in the
magical jewel that is Venice! You might even take in a musical
performance in a fabulously painted old Baroque building.
July
26, Tues. Leave Venice by train, and spend the afternoon
seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Campo Dei Miracoli
(Field of Miracles). Early evening train to the enchanting
Cinque Terre , 5 little villages hidden away by the sea.
July
27, Wed. Morning boat ride on the Mediterranean Sea
from Vernazza to colorful little Riomaggiore. After a walking
tour of this enchanting village, we "hike" (45 minutes, level
paved path) above the Mediterranean on the Via Del' Amore
to Manarola , where we also have a short walking tour. Then
we ride the train just 5 minutes to Corniglia, the town on
the hilltop. After the short train ride back to our town of
Vernazza, it's on to Monterosso for the evening. I guarantee
you will fall in love with the Cinque Terre like I did!
July
28, Thurs. Morning train ride to Milan , where we
take an elevator to the Rooftop of the Milan Cathedral, where
we climb among the Gothic spires, eye to eye with the gargoyles!
Last night in Italy!
July
29, Fri. Train from Milan to Zermatt,
Switzerland at the base of the Matterhorn.
Shop and explore this very Swiss little town.
July
30, Sat. Cable car to the top of the Kleine
Matterhorn($) for an eye-to-eye view of the Matterhorn.
Descend into the ice caves and see the inside of a glacier!
July
31, Sun. Train to Lauterbrunnen
in central Switzerland, a valley formed by glaciers. Take
the gondola up ($) the face of the mountain to Grutschalp,
a 10-minute train across the mountain to Murren,
hike down to Gimmelwald, and take the gondola
back ($) to Stechelberg and bus ($) to Lauterbrunnen
for a day hiking in the Alps you'll never forget!
Aug
1, Mon. Gondola to the top of the mountain
($) where we hike along the mountaintop ridge trail withing
the sound of cowbells. Ride the cog train down
($) and visit the Heimat Museum. Learn about life
in the mountains.
Aug
2, Tues. Train to Zurich
and a boat ride on the lake. Last night in Europe!
Aug
3, Wed. Fly home, arriving in SLC
late in the evening of the same day with memories for a lifetime!
Notes:
This
is a high voltage, experience-rich, budget tour for adults
and teens.
Sign up with your hotel roommate!
Lots of walking. Itinerary may change.
Accommodations centrally located so you can walk at night.
*Dates & price not yet final!*
Come,
go with us!
We are going to
have SO MUCH FUN!
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