 |
You are here:- Italian
Tourism >> Italy tour packages
Southern
France and Northern Italy Tour
Tour Duration : 14 Days
Tour Category : Wine Tour, Cultural Expeditions Tour, Gourmet/Gastronomy
Tour
Day 1:
We arrive at the Nice airport and drive along the celebrated Promenade
des Anglais as we head for our beautiful waterfront hotel in the neighboring
village of Beaulieu-sur-mer. We can relax in our room, enjoying the spectacular
Mediterranean vista from our balcony, or stroll the Beaulieu promenade
along the picturesque harbor crowded with the yachts of the très riches..
A catered cocktail reception presented by our hotel hosts on the sea-view
terrace is followed by dinner in the charming neighboring village of Villefranche.
Day 2:
After breakfast on the terrace, we take a tour of the Rothschild estate on
the elegant peninsula of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat. The Villa Ile-de-France was
built by Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild in the early 1900s as the perfect
"dream villa" of the Riviera, complete with a collection of masterpiece paintings,
antiques dating to Marie-Antoinette, mosaic flooring and marble columns, tapistries
from the 16th century, and acres of magnificent gardens.
We then take a scenic coastal drive to neighboring Monaco, where we have lunch
in a charming brasserie, followed by a walking tour of the old town led by
Isabelle, an authentic citizen of Monaco. After happy hour on our hotel terrace,
we enjoy dinner at Daniel and Isabelle's favorite Beaulieu restaurant.
Day 3:
This morning we drive into the mountains to visit the magical medieval village
of Eze, perched at the top of a hill with a breathtaking panoramic vista of
the surrounding mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. We can wander its narrow
car-free streets, inspecting any of the hundreds of adorable boutiques cleverly
nestled among ancient archways and alleys of the original medieval village.
At the top of the mountain is a fascinating "Jardin Exotique", well worth
a visit to take advantage of the spectacular views. After lunch on the patio
of a charming restaurant we take a tour of the famous Fragonard parfumerie,
where we are free to purchase all the Fragonard we can carry.
We then enjoy a beautiful drive through the hills to our lovely villa near
St. Paul de Vence. After checking into our rooms we can enjoy the peaceful
Provençal setting, take a swim in the pool, stroll the beautiful grounds and
have a drink on the terrace overlooking the mountains.
For dinner we drive to the charming village of Vence, and are treated to a
special Provençal feast in a tiny restaurant complete with open hearth and
mouth-watering regional specialties.
Day 4:
In the morning we explore St-Paul-de-Vence, one of the most celebrated "villages
perchés", nestled high on the side of a steep mountain, originally built to
avoid attack from the Saracens. In the 1920s this picturesque medieval village
was discovered by artists Bonnard, Modigliani and other Impressionists and
since then has been a favorite of both visiting artists and those selling
original artwork. The narrow, twisting streets, free from cars, are crammed
with beautiful shops selling all types of art, crafts, and interesting treasures
at all price ranges. We almost bought an original watercolor for $20! We will
have the afternoon free to explore the shops, old streets, cafés, and if you
wish, a 12th century Gothic church or the cemetery where Chagall is buried
and from which you can enjoy some splendid panoramic views. Just outside the
town walls is a tiny but magnificent art museum known for its sculpture garden.
We return to our villa for a swim and an aperitif before dinner in a charming
inn where we dine under the stars.
Day 5:
Today we return to the coast to see a different part of the French Riviera.
In Antibes, originally the ancient Greek trading post of Antipolis, we visit
the Château Grimaldi and its Musée Picasso and have lunch in the old port
neighborhood next to the market. We then take a spectacular drive around the
Cap d'Antibes, drinking in views of cliffs, sea, and inviting coves crowded
with yachts and millionaires' mansions. Next we climb back into the hills
to the picturesque village of Mougins before returning to St. Paul de Vence
for a gourmet dinner.
Day 6:
On this day we savor the breathtaking scenery as we drive along the mountainous
seacoast past Monaco and Menton and onto the Italian Riviera, arriving at
our destination of Santa Margherita. You will fall in love with this beautiful
little seaside resort with its promenade along the harbor, its manicured parks
filled with exquisitely designed flower gardens, and its many appealing sidewalk
cafés overlooking the fishing boats and peaceful waters. We check into our
lovely hotel where every room has a sea view. After a picnic on the harbor,
we take a boat ride to neighboring Portofino, known for its colorful medieval
houses and spectacular scenic vistas. After dinner at our hotel we can stroll
the boardwalk along the picturesque Santa Margherita harbor.
Day 7:
We drive north through the steep hills of Lombardia to beautiful Lake
Garda, where our lakefront hotel is surrounded by narrow streets with
quaint shops and restaurants and a medieval fortress we can visit. In
nearby Bardolino we tour an impressive winery and sample the vintages
of Suave and Valpolicella. We enjoy a gourmet dinner in our hotel overlooking
the lake.
Day
8:
We enjoy a boat ride to the picturesque village of Sirmione, where we
visit a fascinating Roman villa complete with heated swimming pool. We
return by boat to our hotel for an elegant dinner of Northern Italian
regional specialties.
Day 9:
This morning we drive to Verona where our entertaining Italian guide leads
us on a fascinating walking tour of the Roman ruins of Verona, including a
visit to Juliet's famous balcony. We then take a train ride to Venice, where
we are free to explore the city for the next two days and nights. From our
hotel not far from St. Mark's Square and no cars to bother us, we can see
the sights either by walking up and down the narrow boutique-filled alleys
or riding on the water vaporettos. With over 200 palaces on the Grand Canal
alone, 107 churches, and an unparalleled number of celebrated works of art,
Venice is a truly indescribable city.
Day 10:
We spend the day exploring Venice. A gondola ride makes our visit unforgettable.
In the evening we feast on Venician delicacies at a neighborhood restaurant.
Day 11:
We return to Verona by train and then drive to Lake Maggiore, where our waterfront
hotel in Stresa becomes our home for the next three days.
Day 12:
Today we take a scenic drive to nearby Lake Como. We visit a magnificent historic
estate, the Villa Carlotta, famous for its breathtaking flower gardens. A
boat ride takes us to Bellagio, an enchanting town full of history, ancient
streets with quaint shops, churches, restaurants, and beautiful villas. We
return to Stresa for a gourmet northern Italian dinner.
Day
13:
Today we visit the city of Milan, where we see the magnificent cathedral
and Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper. We return to Stresa for our farewell
dinner.
Day 14:
After breakfast we drive to the Milan airport for the return flight home.
Note: Tour and Tour Information are subject to change.
|
|
