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"Northern Italy" Tour
Tour Duration : 13 Days
Tour Category : Archeology/History Tour, Art/Architecture Tour,
Gourmet/Gastronomy Tour
Day
1:
1st Day (9/29/03 – Mon.) SESTO CALENDE
Arrive Milan's Malpensa Airport where you are met by your Bella Italia
Tours director. Transfer by private bus to our lovely, family-run 3-star
hotel on the southern shore of Lake Maggiore at Sesto Calende. Then, private
bus to Stresa where we'll catch a boat (fare included) to get to the Isolabella
in the middle of Lake Maggiore. We'll visit the magnificent palace (entrance
included) built by the Borromeo family in the 17th century as well as
the delightful botanic gardens (entrance included) made to resemble the
fabled gardens of Babylon. Back to charming Stresa for a stroll through
the old town and then return to Sesto Calende. Delicious welcome-to-Italy
dinner with specialties of the area.
Day 2:
2nd Day (9/30 – Tue.) VENICE
This morning we head East and first we stop at Sirmione on Lake Garda. We'll
visit this lovely town, which the Latin poet Catullo used to love (the Catullo
"grottoes" are still there with an ancient Roman Villa and other archeological
remains). We'll take a good look (exterior) at the Rocca Scaligera, the imposing
castle/fortress with moat and crenellated walls built in the 13th century
and, of course, we'll enjoy the beauty of Lago di Garda. We'll then drive
to Venice. After checking in at our lovely hotel by a quiet canal, we'll enjoy
a spectacular waterbus ride of the Grand Canal, walk around Piazza San Marco
with views of the Basilica, the Campanile (bell tower) and the “Bridge of
Sighs", and more. Dinner with Venetian specialties.
Day 3:
3rd Day (10/01 – Wed.) VENICE
First, we'll visit the “Frari" basilica (entrance included) to enjoy some
of the best
paintings by Tiziano Vecellio (Titian), Bellini, Tintoretto & others.
Then, a tour of the Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace – entrance included), where
the Doge (the Governor of Venice) used to reside. This is a fascinating place
full of antiques, paintings, armors, and much more. We'll also walk through
the old dungeon where, among others, Casanova was also imprisoned.
Day 4:
4th Day (10/02 – Thu.) VENICE
Today is a free day but tour director is available for some very interesting
walks (optional and free of charge) in the old neighborhoods including the
one where the Ghetto is located (the first ever and where this infamous noun
was first coined). On your own perhaps you can take a boat ride to the island
of Murano to see how Venetian glass is made either by “blowing” or with “a
candle” or visit the island of Burano famous for making old fashioned delightful
handmade lace. Tour director is available for suggestions and will offer lots
of directions.
Day 5:
5th Day (10/03 – Fri.) FLORENCE
This morning motor-coach to bella Firenze (Florence) arriving at our select
3-star hotel by the Arno river with time for a very nice walking tour: the
Baptistery and Duomo, Campanile, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, and
more. A wonderful and plentiful "Florentine" dinner tonight.
Day 6:
6th Day (10/04 – Sat.) FLORENCE
Today, first we’ll visit the interesting 13th century Gothic church of Santa
Croce where Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo, Machiavelli and other famous people
are buried, and then on to the Accademia (entr. incl.) to see Michelangelo's
David and his unfinished “Prisoners”. Free time. Tour director available for
extra walks.
Day
7:
7th Day (10/05 – Sun.) FLORENCE
Free morning and early afternoon for personal exploration, shopping, etc.
Then an easy hike/walk to visit the beautiful Romanesque church (11th
century) of San Miniato al Monte where you may choose to enjoy early evening
mystic Canti Gregoriani (Gregorian chanting) and/or the Holy Mass afterwards.
Day 8:
8th Day (10/06 – Mon.) LEVANTO
We'll (reluctantly) leave Florence and head NW. We'll stop for a very good
visit at Pisa where we'll enjoy admiring the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the
Museum by the Tower (entrance included to all these buildings), with all the
art treasures present in those breathtaking structures. Some of us, time permitting
and independently, may decide to walk up to the top of the Leaning Tower.
Later we'll drive to the breathtaking Italian Riviera and to the charming
town of Levanto right by the Ligurian Sea. Check-in at our family, select
hotel and then a short walk around this little town with interesting medieval
walls and beautiful Ligurian Gothic basilica. Dinner with to-die-for pesto
and fish.
Day 9:
9th Day (10/07 – Tue.) LEVANTO
This morning, a short train ride to Riomaggiore (the easternmost of the Cinque
Terre) and then a great walk/hike above the crashing waves (Grade of difficulty:
1 to 4 (out of 10) - 3 miles - max elevation: 450 ft. - time: about 2 hours).
We’ll end up at Corniglia after passing through Manarola. Some of the participants
at this point may decide to go back to Levanto by the easy local train while
others may continue and go on another wonderful hike (Grade of difficulty:
2 to 5 (out of 10) - 3 miles - max elevation: 850 ft. - time: about 3 hours)
to Vernazza. Some time to explore this lovely town (perhaps the most picturesque
of the Cinque Terre). Return to Levanto and a great dinner.
Day 10:
10th Day (10/08 – Wed.) LEVANTO
Today we'll go and visit the capoluogo (capital) of Liguria: the city of Genova
(your guide's hometown and the birthplace of Cristoforo Colombo). We'll have
a good walk around the Centro Storico ("old town" - one of the largest in
Europe) and we'll enjoy looking at the beautiful medieval architecture. We'll
also see Cristoforo Colombo's "old house" (or so-called). We'll have time
on our own and then we'll get back on our bus and drive to the international
jet-set resort of Portofino. This is a delightful little hamlet on the Ligurian
Riviera which everyone will enjoy. Your guide will offer an extra walk to
the old lighthouse but some of you may prefer to relax by the very picturesque
little harbor and enjoy the local specialty: a paciugo, an enormous ice cream
with many flavors. Return to Levanto in late afternoon with a chance to stroll
around this quaint town by the cobalt blue Ligurian sea.
Day
11:
11th Day (10/09 – Thu.) SESTO CALENDE
This morning we'll still have time to enjoy the Riviera or to even visit
the last of the Cinque Terre: Monterosso al Mare. We'll leave (promising
ourselves to return soon) in the afternoon and head North. We'll reach
Sesto Calende (where we started our adventure) in late afternoon and later
we'll enjoy another special dinner by the lake.
Day 12:
12th Day (10/10 – Fri.) SESTO CALENDE
This morning we'll drive to busy Milano (Milan) for a good visit. We'll enjoy
taking a good look at the 3rd largest catholic church (it seats 40,000 people)
in the world: the fabled Duomo of Milan. This is a spectacular Gothic cathedral
which took over 500 years to build! We'll also visit the famous Galleria (also
dubbed "the first mall in the world") next to the Duomo and we'll take a look
(from outside) at the Teatro alla Scala, one of the oldest opera theatres
in Europe. Then there will be plenty of time for some terrific shopping (Milan
has some of the best shops in Italy). Later, in Sesto Calende, a delicious
farewell-to-Italy dinner with specialties of the area.
Day 13:
13th Day (10/11 – Sat.) YOUR FLIGHT HOME
After breakfast we’ll transfer, with our own private bus to the nearby Milan
Malpensa airport.
Note: Tour and Tour Information are subject to change.
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