Hit the ground running on this 8-day Europe trip, transporting you to the beating heart of glittering cities and the picture-perfect countryside. You’ll know dreams do come true as you admire Paris, Michelangelo’s talents and lap up lakeside living in Lucerne.
Discover Venice and Lucerne
Day 1
Welcome to Rome
Ciao Roma! Welcome to the ‘Eternal City’ – once home to gods and goddesses, emperors, senators and slaves. Explore the city’s bustling boulevards and labyrinthine lanes before meeting your fellow travelers and Travel Director at a welcome Dinner. This evening, we embark on an orientation drive revealing some of the city’s most celebrated sights.
Rome Orientation
During an orientation with your Travel Director see the medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches scattered throughout the city.
Day 2
Explore Ancient Rome and the Vatican City
The Holy See takes center stage today as we join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour that will see us visit the 16th-century St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City and witness Michelangelo’s sorrowful Pietà, a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture. We cross the Tiber into Ancient Rome to delve into what was once the largest empire in the world and view such ancient sites as the imposing Colosseum where brave gladiators and slaves dueled to their deaths. Consider an Optional Experience to gain fast-track access to see the magnificent frescoes inside the Sistine Chapel and VIP entry into the Colosseum.
Visit St. Peter’s Basilica
Visit Vatican City and tour St. Peter’s Basilica with a Local Specialist. Witness the early genius of Michelangelo as you take in the Pietà.
Rome City Tour
Experience Rome through the eyes of a local, as a passionate Roman guides you past the city’s most iconic sites.
Inside The Vatican & Roman Forum
We skip the lines at the Vatican Museums for a tour with our Local Specialist that shows not just remarkable works of art collected and commissioned over the history of the Papacy, but also Michelangelo’s extraordinary ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. Later, we will walk in the footsteps of Julius Caesar and hear fascinating tales of the might of the Roman Empire on a guided visit through the ancient streets of the Roman Forum.
Day 3
Onwards to Florence
We travel north into the vineyard-clad hills of Tuscany and along the Arno River Valley bound for an unforgettable visit to a 12th-century castle where the Pazzi plot against the ruling Medici family was hatched so many centuries ago. Here you’ll Connect With Locals over lunch during an exclusive Be My Guest experience, learning all about the family feud and taking a tour of the castle, including its infamous dungeons. Beyond the extraordinary opportunity to dine in a Tuscan castle, you’ll know that your visit is helping to preserve this historic building for generations to come. Continue to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance where you’ll learn about the quality and workmanship of one of this city’s historic industries at a demonstration of Florentine leathercraft. Then, join a Local Specialist for an enchanting encounter with one of the world’s cultural centers, admiring the exquisite architecture and artistry around every turn. You won’t be able to tear your eyes from the beauty of the marble Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, the political hub of Florence, before arriving at your hotel.
Enjoy a Traditional Tuscan Buffet at the 12th-century Castle of Trebbio
The Pazzi and de Medici feud is brought to light in this visit to the 12th-century Castle of Trebbio where you will enjoy a traditional Tuscan Be My Guest buffet, explore the cellars, and indulge in olive oil and wine tasting.
Florence Leather Demonstration
See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods, and witness a gold and leatherwork demonstration.
Dinner in the Tuscan Hills
This evening we’ll take a scenic drive to experience a fun and relaxed evening at a friendly, typical restaurant in the countryside. The chef will delight our senses with regional dishes, made with freshly-bought ingredients from the local farmers’ markets. Your delicious meal will be accompanied by excellent wines from the vineyards for which this area is so well known. In short, a Tuscan dream come true in an authentic setting.
Tuscan Dinner at Villa Machiavelli
Through the Chianti hills, we’ll drive past vineyards to a delightful hamlet. Our destination is the ancient stone house of Machiavelli, where the great political theorist wrote his immortal work, ‘The Prince’. After a welcome drink and a visit of the villa and its wine-cellars, we’ll enjoy the best of Tuscan cuisine accompanied by great music and drinks, including of course, Chianti from the Villa’s own vines.
Day 4
Journey to the Canals of Venice
The romantic island city of Venice is our final destination today. We take to San Marco’s waters, cruising the canals and admiring views of the imposing St. Mark’s Basilica and ornate Doge’s Palace. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, we’ll witness the centuries-old art of Venetian glassblowing using the same techniques that have been passed down through the generations. You’ll watch master craftsmen shaping the molten glass into the delicate pieces of art that adorn homes the world over, perhaps inspired to buy a souvenir for your own home to remind you of your visit. Later, we’ll enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore narrow calle in search of a cozy bacaro where you can enjoy delicious Venetian cuisine washed down with a Venetian Spritz, or two. Take some time, venture to the enchanting canal-side setting of St. Mark’s Square. The sounds of talented musicians, seagulls and lapping water provide the perfect backdrop for a memorable sunset over the Grand Canal.
Bargello Museum Visit
Join us today for a visit to the Bargello museum, housed in one of the oldest and most intriguing buildings of Florence. As you’ll learn from your Local Specialist, there was rarely a dull moment in this former barracks and prison! Learn how the Bargello has witnessed crucial episodes of history including fires, sieges and political executions. This fascinating building is now home to the National Museum and boasts awe-inspiring works by Donatello, Brunelleschi and Michelangelo to name but a few.
Discover Palazzo Vecchio
Marvel at the legacy of the Medici as you visit Palazzo Vecchio, the symbol of Florence’s political power for over seven centuries. With our Local Specialist we’ll visit the wonderful “Hall of the Five Hundred”, dedicated to the Medici popes. We’ll also visit rooms decorated with masterpieces by famous artists of the Renaissance like Michelangelo and Donatello.
Gondolas & the Grand Canal
Join us for a breathtaking cruise by private water taxi along Venice’s Grand Canal. You’ll admire the magnificent palazzi, catching a glimpse of the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square. Later on, you’ll glide gracefully on a gondola along Venice’s dreamy, narrow waterways.
Day 5
Across the Alps to Lucerne
We depart Venice, traveling north into the picturesque Italian and Swiss Lake Districts via Como and Lugano. Slicing through the Alps, we arrive in Switzerland and the laid-back lakeside city of Lucerne. The city is perhaps most famous for its solid wooden Chapel Bridge and poignant Lion Monument, a memorial to Swiss Guards. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure, amble through the Old Town or consider joining an Optional Experience and ascend one of the surrounding mountain peaks for panoramic views.
Scenic Drive Through the Alps
Marvel at the Alpine landscape as you drive past breathtakingly beautiful mountains and valleys.
Lucerne Orientation
During an orientation with your Travel Director, see the Lion Monument, Old Town Hall and Chapel Bridge, the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe.
Mount Stanserhorn And Lake Cruise
Take a scenic cruise with us across Lake Lucerne to Stans, and one of Switzerland’s oldest mountain railways. Travelling by funicular and the world’s first Cabrio cable car, we’ll reach 1900m (6300ft), where you’ll have free time to admire the stunning Alpine scenery.
Day 6
Through Burgundy to Paris
From Lucerne, we head into France and through the rolling vineyard-clad hills of Burgundy, one of the country’s largest wine-producing areas. Arriving in Paris, we enjoy a free evening. Wander up grand boulevards and through quaint squares, grab a bite to eat and sip wine at a cozy bistro or perhaps take a cruise on the Seine followed by a tour of Paris’s illuminations.
Seine Cruise and Paris Illuminations
To truly see Paris in all its glory, you need to see it from the Seine. Enjoy a cruise along this famous river and take in unmatched views of the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower. Afterwards, we’ll drive through the City of Lights to see some of the fascinating sights this beautiful city has to offer.
Day 7
Explore Elegant Paris
Join a Local Specialist today to delve into the artistic and historic treasures of Paris, including views of the elegant Champs Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. View Notre Dame Cathedral and enjoy a stroll through the Latin Quarter. This afternoon, amble through the city’s stylish gardens, avenues and lanes, admiring the sophisticated atmosphere or consider joining an Optional Experience to the exquisite Palace of Versailles.
Montparnasse and Napoleon’s Tomb
Take the fastest elevator in Europe to the Panoramic Observation Deck for unbeatable views of the Eiffel Tower and all of the city’s iconic monuments. We’ll also visit the Dôme des Invalides with our Local Specialist to see Napoleon’s final resting place.
Versailles Palace and Gardens
Built for the Sun King, Louis XIV, the Palace of Versailles was the envy of every European ruler, but loathed by the French commoners, which lead to the French Revolution. Step inside the opulent world of Versailles and our Local Specialist will take you through the palace’s Hall of Mirrors and State apartments. Then, enjoy free time to wander the symmetrical, tree-lined gardens.**
Moulin Rouge Cabaret and Dinner
It’s world famous for a reason, and this is your chance to see the real-life inspiration behind the award-winning movie. This Parisian institution features 60 dancers and entertainers with over 1,000 costumes to create a dazzling spectacle. You’ll enjoy wine, dinner and Champagne during this unforgettable soirée at the original Parisian Cabaret!
Day 8
Au Revoir Paris
After breakfast, we bid our newfound friends a fond farewell as our memorable holiday comes to a close.
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