ITALIAN HIGHLIGHTS (ZZ2010)

Hotels


Rome
NH Giustiniano (SF),

Florence
Starhotels Michelangelo (SF),

Venice
Starhotels Splendid Venice (SF),

Milan
Starhotels Ritz (F)

Meals
Full buffet breakfast (B); 2 lunches (L), including one with wine tasting at Verrazzano Castle and one with wine in Burano; 2 three-course dinners (D), including a special welcome dinner with wine in Rome.

Day 1:
(Thu.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2:
Arrive in Rome, Italy. (Fri.) Time to rest or start exploring the “Eternal City.” At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)

Day 3:
Rome. (Sat.) Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Afterwards, relax or explore the city on your own. Later, you may wish to join an optional walk to Trevi Fountain, Navona Square, the Roman Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps, and finish with a Roman dinner party. (B)

Day 4:
Rome. (Sun.) This morning, follow your Local Guide and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman legions marched in triumph. Then, time to savor la dolce vita and enjoy independent activities. An optional excursion to Ostia Antica is available. (B)

Day 5:
Rome–Siena–San Gimignano–Florence. (Mon.) First stop this morning is in Siena. Walk through ancient, narrow lanes to PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, site of the biannual Palio, Siena’s spectacular medieval-style horse race. Then, continue through unforgettable landscapes of gently rolling, vine-clad hills to hilltop San Gimignano, and walk through the most picturesque of Italy’s perfectly preserved medieval towns. Next is Florence, the splendid capital of Tuscany and birthplace of the Renaissance. (B)

Day 6:
Florence. (Tue.) During your walking tour with a Local Guide, visit the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David and the magnificent CATHEDRAL. Admire Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Afternoon for independent sightseeing and browsing through the shops. Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry sold by the ounce are attractive buys. Tonight, why not try the culinary delights of a fine Florentine restaurant? (B)

Day 7:
Florence. Excursion to Pisa & Verrazzano Castle. (Wed.) A fast journey will bring you to Pisa. Here, take your pictures of the amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and no less than 12 feet out of the perpendicular. Today’s highlight: hear about the fine art of blending four types of grapes to obtain the famous Chianti at VERRAZZANO CASTLE; enjoy WINE TASTING and lunch before returning to Florence. (B,L,D)

Day 8:
Florence–Venice. (Thu.) Morning drive through the wooded Apennine Mountains to Venice, a powerful magnet for romantics and art lovers from around the globe. Enter its glittering maze of islands, canals, and bridges in style by PRIVATE BOAT to meet your Local Guide. Highlights of your walking tour are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Then, enjoy Venice at your own pace or join an optional gondola ride. (B)

Day 9:
Venice. Murano & Burano Islands Excursion. (Fri.) Start your day with an unforgettable Venetian LAGOON CRUISE to the islands of Murano and Burano. Glide past the islands of San Giorgio and Sant’Elena, and along the banks of the famous Lido. In Murano, watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. Then, continue on to the picturesque fishing village of Burano, renowned for its bright pastel-colored houses and for its lace-making. Take pictures of traditional fishing boats, still used by the island inhabitants, and enjoy an included lunch. Return to Venice in the early afternoon. (B,L)

Day 10:
Venice–Verona–Milan. (Sat.) Stop in Verona, medieval setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. See Juliet’s Balcony and stroll around the lovely market square. Don’t miss the Arena, an incredibly well-preserved pink marble Roman amphitheater. Built in the 1st century AD, it is now the magical venue for world-famous opera performances. Then, on to the dynamic city of Milan, hub of Italy’s economic miracle with its famous La Scala Opera House, glass-domed GALLERIA, and magnificent gothic DUOMO. An optional farewell dinner may be the perfect way to celebrate the success of your Italian vacation. (B)

Day 11:
(Sun.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)

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YOU CAN BOOK THIS TOUR ONLINE. Click here to check rates and availability online, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Or, to speak to one of our live, experienced travel consultants, Call us now at 1-800-942-3301.
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
8/5/2010 - 8/15/2010	$2,669
8/12/2010 - 8/22/2010	$2,669
8/19/2010 - 8/29/2010	$2,679
8/26/2010 - 9/5/2010	$2,689
9/2/2010 - 9/12/2010	$2,689
9/9/2010 - 9/19/2010	$2,689
9/16/2010 - 9/26/2010	$2,689
9/23/2010 - 10/3/2010	$2,689
9/30/2010 - 10/10/2010	$2,679
10/7/2010 - 10/17/2010	$2,679
10/14/2010 - 10/24/2010	$2,679
10/21/2010 - 10/31/2010	$2,679
10/28/2010 - 11/7/2010	$2,679
11/4/2010 - 11/14/2010	$2,299
11/11/2010 - 11/21/2010	$2,299
11/18/2010 - 11/28/2010	$2,299
12/16/2010 - 12/26/2010	$2,449
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

City Highlights
Headsets throughout the tour

Rome:
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman Forum

Siena:
Walking tour including Piazza del Campo

San Gimignano:
Walking tour

Florence:
Guided walking tour, visit Michelangelo’s David, the cathedral, and Signoria Square

Pisa:
Take pictures of the Leaning Tower

Verrazzano Castle:
Wine tasting and lunch

Venice:
Private boat ride; guided walking tour, visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs

Murano and Burano:
Lagoon cruise and island visits including a glassblowers’ demonstration in Murano and a lunch in Burano

Verona:
Walking tour including Juliet’s Balcony and the Arena

Milan:
Walking tour, visit the Galleria and the Duomo

Price Details US
Single room supplement: $612 (Mar 4th-Mar 25th Departures), $693 (Apr 1st-Oct 28th & Mar 31st-Apr 14th, 2011 Departures), $566 (Nov 4th-Dec 16th & Mar 3rd-Mar 24th, 2011)Triple room reduction per person: $43 (Mar 4th-Mar 25th, Nov 4th-Dec 16th & Mar 3rd-Mar 24th, 2011 Departures), $71 (Apr 1st-Oct 28th & Mar 31st-Apr 14th, 2011 Departures)Extra nights per person in Rome:in single room $228, in twin room $165, in triple room $135Extra nights per person in Milan:in single room $270, in twin room $182, in triple room $147

Save up to $1,100 per couple on 2010 Greece Cruise & Tour Vacations

Standard Offers and Specials provided by Globus Tours

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