Northern Italy
A fully escorted coach tour visiting some of Northern Italy's most important history, art & culture with the added delight of its Lakes.
Day 1: Grand Tour of Northern Italy & Lakes
Monday - On your arrival at Rome airport you will be met and transferred by private car to your hotel in Rome. After checking in the remainder of the day is spent relaxing or exploring the Eternal City of Rome.
Day 2: Rome | Assisi | Siena | Florence
Tuesday - After breakfast depart for Assisi. This mystic town of Saint Francis is still surrounded by its ancients walls. Visit the Basilica of Saint Francis with its early Renaissance masterpieces by Giotto & Cimabue before proceeding on to Siena, the medieval city renown for the Palio. Dinner & overnight accommodation in Florence. (B.D)
Day 3: Florence
Wednesday - After breakfast a guided sightseeing tour of Florence, known as the à Cradle of the Renaissance" is planned. This tour includes visits to the beautiful Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto's Bell Tower, the Academia, housing à David" by Michelangelo and Santa Croce with Cimabue's famous crucifix. The remainder of the day is spent at leisure. Dinner & overnight accommodation in Florence. (B.D)
Day 4: Florence | Padua | Venice
Thursday - Departure for Padua after breakfast to visit the famous Cathedral of St. Anthony which is guarded by Donatello's à Gattamelata" before travelling onto Venice. Here you will enjoy a guided walking tour covering many of the main touristic attractions such as the Piazza & Basilica of St. Mark, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs & the Prisons. The tour finishes with a visit to a glass factory to see the molding of glass. Dinner & overnight accommodation in Venice. (B.D)
Day 5: Venice
Friday - After breakfast depart by motorlaunch to visit a glass factory on the island of Murano. Afternoon at leisure for sightseeing or shopping. Dinner & overnight accommodation in Venice. (B.D)
Day 6: Venice | Sirmione | Milan
Saturday - Breakfast at hotel and morning departure for Sirmione, a fairy-tale like town on the shores of Italy's largest lake, Lake Garda. See the Sirmione Cape, the castles & ruins. The tour then continues to Milan with time to explore this cosmopolitan city before dinner and overnight accommodation. (B.D)
Day 7: Milan | Orta Lake | Stresa | Arona
Sunday - Morning departure for Lake Orta where you will take panoramic boat tour to see the Monastrery of San Giulio before continuing towards Lake Maggiore and the beautiful town of Stresa. Here you'll board a boat for Pescatori Island, followed by a visit to Borromeo Palace and gardens on Bella Island. Continue to Arona for Dinner and overnight. (B.D)
Day 8: Arona | Locarno | Lugano | Como
Monday - After a panoramic tour of Lake Maggiore the tour reaches Locarno in Switzerland and onto Lugano where you'll enjoy some free time to explore its many shops & art galleries. Dinner & overnight accommodation tonight will be in Como. (B.D)
Day 9: Como | Bellagio | Milan
Tuesday - In the morning enjoy a visit of Como, a small town with amazing natural panoramas of mountains and wild alpine valleys, followed by a boat tour to Bellagio, home to the most renowned beach of Italy. In the afternoon the tour returns to Milan and end of services. (B)
Departs set Mondays:
2012: Apr 9 & 23, May 7 & 21, Jun 4 & 18, Jul 2, 16 & 30, Aug 13 & 27, Sep 10 & 24, Oct 8 & 22, Nov 5.
