Southern Germany, Austria, and Italy
Topic: Tour CalendarSeptember 25 to October 6, 2007
Join us for an interesting and delightful fall get-away to some of the most beautiful areas of Europe! Highlights include the world-famous Oktoberfest in Munich, the enchanting Austrian cities of Salzburg and Innsbruck, the great Italian art and architecture cities of Venice and Florence, the renowned Tuscan countryside, and the stunning Italian Riviera.
September/October 2007
Day 1 ~ 25, Tuesday - Departure
Our adventure begins at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, where we will check in for our flights to Europe. We’re on our way! (D)Day 2 ~ 26, Wednesday - Munich, Salzburg
After changing planes in Europe, we will arrive in Munich by midday. Following customs formalities, we’ll meet our driver/guide and board the waiting motorcoach for the transfer to the city center. Munich is one of Germany’s great cultural and economic centers, yet it has managed to maintain its rural charm and ties to tradition. There will be time for independent lunch before our walking tour, which includes the Marienplatz with its famed Glockenspiel, the Old Town Hall with its stepped gables and bell turrets, New Town Hall, and the Frauenkirche. Of course, we won’t want to miss the world-famous Oktoberfest! We’ll have some time to experience this uniquely Bavarian tradition and have independent dinner there. Then travel across the Austrian border to enchanting Salzburg. Check in at the hotel for a three-night stay. (B)Day 3 ~ 27, Thursday - Salzburg
After a good night’s sleep, we’re ready to do some exploring! Our first full day in Austria begins with a walking tour of Salzburg that includes the Salzburg Cathedral and the Romanesque St. Peter’s Church and Churchyard, which is a beautiful cemetery next to the vertical rock wall of the Monchsberg. Also see the lovely Mirabell Gardens, where scenes from The Sound of Music were filmed. The afternoon is free to continue exploring Salzburg on your own. You may wish to visit Mozart’s birthplace or take a cogwheel train to Hohensalzburg Fortress to tour the castle and museum. From this vantage, you’ll be rewarded with lovely views of the city and the Salzach River. Other options include exploring the shops on the busy Getreidegasse or taking a break for Kaffee and Kuchen at one of the charming cafes. (B)Day 4 ~ 28, Friday - Berchtesgaden, Konigsee, Salzburg
We’ll travel back into Germany today to visit the Eagle’s Nest, referred to as the Kehlsteinhaus by Germans since it is located on the Kehlstein Mountain. Although most of Hitler’s fortifications were destroyed during an American air raid in 1945, the Platterhof is still standing and the route taken to reach it is an engineering marvel. We’ll travel by bus and then elevator to the top of the mountain for a breathtaking view. Following time for lunch in Berchtesgaden, which is dramatically situated in the Watzmann mountain range, enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the Konigssee. This lake is part of the Berchtesgaden National Park and one of the most romantic sights in Bavaria. At St. Bartholoma, we’ll see St. Bartholomew’s Chapel. There will be time to unwind at the hotel in Salzburg before attending a Mozart dinner concert in the Baroque Hall of Stiftskeller St. Peter (St. Peter’s Cellar), the oldest restaurant in Salzburg. (B, D)Day 5 ~ 29, Saturday - Kitzbuhel, Innsbruck
After breakfast, we’ll depart Salzburg and travel to the beautiful alpine town of Kitzbuhel, one of Austria’s premier sports resorts. During your time here, you may want to take a cable car ride for a spectacular view, explore the town and shop, or play golf at one of the nearby alpine golf courses (green fees and equipment rental are not included in the tour cost). Later this afternoon we’ll continue to Innsbruck, located in the heart of the province of Tyrol. We’ll take a walk through the Old Town before checking in at the hotel and having dinner. (B, D)Day 6 ~ 30, Sunday - Bolzano, Padova, Venice
Today we’ll travel via the Brenner Pass into Italy and reach Bolzano, a city heavily influenced by Austria that has a distinctly Tyrolean feel. Continue heading south to Padova (Padua), an old university town that is rich in art and architecture. We’ll stop at the Cappella degli Scrovegni to see its impressive frescoes, which were painted by the great Florentine artist Giotto in 1305-1310. Following our time in Padova, we’ll continue to magical Venice. This requires leaving our motorcoach behind and boarding a vaporetto (water bus) to travel to the center of this marvelous pedestrian-only city. Along the Grand Canal we’ll see magnificent Venetian palaces, lots of gondolas, and the famous Rialto Bridge. Following a brief orientation tour, there will be time to explore Venice on your own and choose from one of its many restaurants for independent dinner. (B)Day 7 ~ 01, Monday - Venice
We’ll spend the morning touring the heart of Venice with a local guide, starting at the Piazza San Marco with a visit to St. Mark’s Basilica. This church, which houses the relics of St. Mark, represents a mixture of Byzantine and western architecture with splendid mosaics throughout the interior. Nearby is the Doges’ Palace, once the residence of the city’s rulers and a symbol of Venetian power. We’ll have some free time for independent exploring, shopping, and relaxing in the afternoon. (B)Day 8 ~ 02, Tuesday - Florence, Montecatini-Terme
A morning drive takes us to the great art city of Florence (Firenze to the Italians)! During our sightseeing tour, we’ll begin to gain an appreciation for the enormous artistic, architectural, and cultural heritage of this “living museum.” We’ll visit the distinctive Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, also called the Duomo, one of the largest cathedrals in the world and a symbol of Florentine wealth and power in the 13th and 14th centuries. The cathedral’s grand dome—a Brunelleschi masterpiece—and its Campanile (bell tower) designed by Giotto are world famous. Across the street is the baptistry with its incredible bronze doors sculpted by Lorenzo Ghiberti. No visit to Florence would be complete without a visit to the Uffizi Gallery, which houses one of the world’s greatest collections of Renaissance art with masterpieces by da Vinci, Botticelli, Raphael, and many others. Following free time to explore Florence and have independent dinner, we’ll end the day in Montecatini-Terme, an elegant spa town located northwest of Florence. Check in for a three-night stay. (B)Day 9 ~ 03, Wednesday - Siena, San Gimignano, Montecatini-Terme
On this morning’s agenda is “Siena the Beloved,” a fascinating medieval art and pilgrimage center built on three converging red clay hills. We’ll see the scallop-shaped Piazza del Campo with its Gothic Palazzo Pubblico (Public Palace, which serves as the Town Hall), as well as the Duomo with its richly decorated façade and beautiful pulpit by Pisano. Our plans for today also include the glorious village of San Gimignano, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. San Gimignano, which sits atop a hill and is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, is a favorite of everyone who comes to Tuscany. Its medieval towers once numbered close to 70 and 14 of these remain today. The art of winemaking has been an important part of the Italian culture since before the time of the Romans, and Italy is one of the world’s most important wine producers today. Our visit to Tuscany wouldn’t be complete without visiting a winery, where we’ll of course have an opportunity to taste several wines. End the day with dinner at the hotel in Montecatini-Terme this evening. (B, D)Day 10 ~ 04, Thursday - Pisa, Santa Margherita Ligure, Portofino, Montecatini-Terme
This morning we’ll make a stop in Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower, and then the Italian Riviera awaits us! We’ll travel along the stunning coastline of Riviera di Levante and take a boat ride from Santa Margherita Ligure to Portofino with its brightly colored houses. See Portofino’s town square and marina with its many yachts, visit the Church of St. Martin, and relax at a café. End the day back in Montecatini-Terme with dinner at the hotel. (B, D)Day 11 ~ 05, Friday - Bologna, Milan
Today we’re traveling to Bologna, one of Italy’s gastronomic centers and home to one of the oldest universities in Europe. The adjoining squares, Piazza Maggiore and Piazza del Nettuno, make up most of the historic city center. We’ll have time to experience the culinary delights of Bologna during an independent lunch break and then travel to Milan, Italy’s center of fashion and industry. A local guide will take us on a walking tour that includes Santa Maria delle Grazie to see Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, Teatro alla Scala, and the Milan Cathedral. We’ll enjoy a final farewell dinner at a restaurant in Milan and then check in at our hotel near the Milan Malpensa Airport. (B, D)Day 12 ~ 06, Saturday - Return
All too soon, our wonderful tour through Germany, Austria, and Italy has come to a close! We’ll transfer to the Malpensa Airport early this morning where we’ll bid farewell to our driver/guide. Check in for the flights back to Detroit. (B, L)| CONTACT US: for more information regarding this tour or to have the brochure mailed to you |
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