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London To Rome Highlights
Short on time, but big on appetite to see all the highlights from London to Rome This 10 day journey including Italy’s iconic Venice, Florence and Rome is the perfect fit for you. You’ll see the Eiffel Tower in Paris, admire the tranquillity of Lake Lucerne, the snow-capped Swiss Alps, Burgundy vineyards and soul-stirring Tuscany until the 'Eternal City' caps your epic encounter with Europe.
Dining Summary
9 nights from $2,475 per person
Costsaver: London to Rome Highlights
Day 1 - Arrive London
Savor your first taste of Europe's highlights as you arrive in London with a free day to experience much of what this cosmopolitan capital has to offer. Whether you choose to explore the city on foot or hop on a London red bus crisscrossing the capital, you're in for an exhilarating adventure. See royal palaces, visit museums and stroll along the high street, letting your nose lead your decision on where to dine - Chicken Tikka, Chow Mein or the firm favorite fish and chips could be on the menu after a day of pounding the pavements.
Accommodations: ibis London Excel Docklands
Day 2 - London free time
Take your time to dig deep and make the most of every minute in the British capital. You'll have a full free day to explore the city your way. History buff? Visit one of the many sensational museums. A culture vulture? Take in a West End show. Keen to sightsee? Hop on the Tube and leap between the city's iconic sights. There's plenty to do and see in London and you won't need permission to fill your day to the brim with special experiences.
Accommodations: ibis London Excel Docklands
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - London – Paris
This morning meet your Travel Director and fellow traveling companions to board your coach and set off from London. Your journey to the continent begins today. Traveling south through the pretty Kent countryside to Dover. Board your ferry to Calais and leave the chalky White Cliffs behind. Arriving in Paris, you'll have time to explore the 'City of Lights' on your own. The French capital glows bright both day and night, but consider a Choice Experience on the Seine at this evening to make your introduction even more special.
Accommodations: Mercure La Défense, Hampton by Hilton Clichy
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 - Paris sightseeing and free time
Put the joy in joie de vivre when you embark on a full day to delve into the highlights of Paris. Your panoramic drive conducted by your Travel Director will take you past the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe and the 'Iron Lady' herself, the Eiffel Tower. Relish the afternoon to do as you please. That could mean channelling your inner Parisian and sitting in a leafy park with a baguette and some cheese and wine. Consider an optional tour with a Local Specialist to explore the cobbled streets of Montmartre. Tonight, colorful Can-Can girls will entice you with their remarkable outfits should you choose to join a Choice Experience cabaret show.
Accommodations: Mercure La Défense, Hampton by Hilton Clichy
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 - Paris – Lucerne Region
Au revoir Paris. The Burgundy wine region and beyond beckons. Head through vineyards and valleys as you journey to Lucerne where a brief orientation will see you view the 14th-century Chapel Bridge spanning the Reuss River. Visit the poignant Lion Monument, hewn from rock to honor the brave Swiss Guards who died defending King Louis XVI during the French Revolution. Maybe spend some time shopping for Swiss souvenirs, or take a stroll across the photogenic Chapel Bridge before heading to your hotel.
Accommodations: Ibis Kriens
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Lucerne Region – Venice (Oriago)
With your head in the clouds, you’ll journey via the scenic St. Gotthard Pass into Italy. On your journey south, the soul-stirring landscapes of the Italian lakes stretch ahead as you venture to Venice, the 'Queen of the Adriatic'. The Winged Lion of St. Mark stands guard over the city. There’s no better way to see the sights than gliding gracefully through its canals on a gondola – a Choice Experience that captures the essence of Venice like none other.
Accommodations: LH Sirio Venice
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 - Venice orientation – Florence
Your love affair with Venice continues this morning as you cruise by private launch to St. Mark’s Square and view the city’s iconic sights, including St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge's Palace and Piazza San Marco. Stand in the center of the square and capture the historic panorama which Napoleon once called 'the drawing room of Europe'. The exquisite art of glassblowing for which Venice is justifiably famous follows next. You’ll see master craftspersons engaged in the centuries-old craft at a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Consider an opportunity to visit the colorful fisherman’s island of Burano for an optional meal with drinks or spend the afternoon exploring Venice on your own before heading to Florence.
Accommodations: Starhotels Vespucci
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - Florence – Rome
No expense was spared to exalt the glory of Florence through art and architecture and you’ll see first-hand how this city paved?its?way to a modern age. Explore the treasures left behind by the Medici dynasty and famous artists like Da Vinci and Michelangelo during an orientation walk which includes a visit to Santa Croce Square, where some of the most famous sons of the Renaissance are buried. Enjoy time to shop for souvenirs or the city’s famous gold and leathercraft before departing for Rome, the 'Eternal City'.
Accommodations: Ergife Palace
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 - Rome sightseeing and free time
There’s no better way to see Rome than to dive right in, which is what you’ll do when you meet your Local Guide for a sightseeing tour that begins in Vatican City. Continue to Ancient Rome, followed by time to explore on your own or perhaps join a light-hearted evening revealing all the flavors that would make any Italian mamma proud.
Accommodations: Ergife Palace
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 - Depart Rome
Say arrivederci to your newfound friends as the curtain closes on an epic journey from London to Rome.
Meals: Breakfast
Sprawled across seven legendary hills, romantic and beautiful Rome was one
of the great centers of the ancient world. Although its beginning is shrouded
in legend and its development is full of intrigue and struggle, Rome has always
been and remains the Eternal City.
Rome enjoyed its greatest splendor during the 1st and 2nd centuries when art
flourished, monumental works of architecture were erected, and the mighty Roman
legions swept outward, conquering all of Italy. These victorious armies then
swept across the Mediterranean and beyond to conquer most of the known world.
With Rome's establishment as capital of the western world, a new ascent to glory
began.
Today's Rome, with its splendid churches, ancient monuments and palaces, spacious
parks, tree-lined boulevards, fountains, outdoor cafes and elegant shops, is
one of the world’s most attractive and exciting cities. Among the most famous
monuments is the Colosseum. As you walk its cool, dark passageways, imagine
the voices that once filled the arena as 50,000 spectators watched combats between
muscled gladiators and ferocious animals.
Stop to see the remains of the Forum, once the city's political and commercial
center. In later times, Rome's squares were enhanced with such imposing structures
as the Vittorio Emanuele Monument and grandiose fountains like the Fontana di
Trevi. Join the millions who stand in awe of Christendom’s most magnificent
church and admire the timeless masterpieces of Michelangelo's frescoes in the
Sistine Chapel.
Rome jars the senses and captures the soul. Grasp all you can during the short,
precious time you have available in the Eternal City. With so much to see and
do, a day or two will only allow you a sampling of the city's marvelous treasures.
Caution: As in many big cities and tourist destinations purse snatching
and pickpocketing is common. Valuable jewelry and excess cash are best left
in a safety deposit box in your hotel.
Shopping For most visitors shopping for beautiful Italian leather articles,
designer shoes, fashions for men and women, linens, knitwear, silk scarves and
ties is a favorite pastime. Except for tourist-oriented shops, the majority
of stores are closed on Sundays. Some of the department stores, such as Rinascente,
open in the late afternoon on Sundays.
Cuisine Rome's choice of restaurants is mindboggling as is the variety
of cuisine. Whether your meal is at a top-rated restaurant or a rustic trattoria,
you can be sure that you will enjoy your food, especially when accompanied by
wines from the hill towns surrounding Rome.
Other Sights Rome's attractions are endless, and depending on how much
time you have at your disposal a careful selection has to be made about what
to see. Be aware of horrendous traffic conditions and major construction work
all around the city in preparation of Jubilee 2000, the Holy Year. Some of the
sights not to be missed:
Piazza Venezia - This busy square is easily recognized by its imposing Vittorio
Emanuele II Monument. The white marble structure was inaugurated in 1911 as
a symbol of Italy’s unification.
The Forum - Once the civic heart of ancient Rome, today the remains include
a series of ruins, marble fragments, isolated columns and some worn arches.
Colosseum - No visit to Rome is complete without a stop at this awe-inspiring
theater, which is among the world’s most celebrated buildings. Here ancient
Rome flocked to see gladiatorial contests and numerous other spectacles.
Trevi Fountain - Take a stroll to Rome's famous fountain. A spectacular fantasy
of mythical sea creatures and cascades of splashing water, the fountain is one
of the city's foremost attractions. Legend has it that visitors must toss a
coin into the fountain to ensure their return to Rome.
St. Peter's Square - Part of Vatican City, this square created by Bernini
is considered one of the loveliest squares in the world. Twin Doric colonnades
topped with statues of various saints and martyrs flank either side of the square.
In the center stands an 84-foot obelisk, brought from Egypt in 37 A.D.
St. Peter's Basilica - At the head of the square stands Christendom's most
magnificent church, which was begun in 1452 on the site where St. Peter was
buried. Throughout the following 200 years, such Renaissance masters as Bramante,
Michelangelo, Raphael and Bernini worked on its design and created an unparalleled
masterpiece. Of special note are Michelangelo's Pieta and the bronze canopy
over the high altar by Bernini. The immense dome was designed by Michelangelo.
Vatican Museum - To see this museum's immense collection would take days.
As you enter, there are special posters that plot a choice of four color-coded
itineraries. They are repeated throughout the museum and are easy to follow.
It is a good idea to pickup a leaflet at the main entrance and concentrate on
exhibits of major interest. Of course, the Sistine Chapel is a must. Most likely
you may have to wait in line to enter.
Venice: Splendours of Venice Walking Tour - 4 hours
Venice: Venice for Art Lovers Walking Tour - 4 hours
Venice: The Roman City of Verona - 7 hours
Venice: Lagoon Islands - 7 hours
Today you will be met by your local English-speaking guide for a full day excursion by private motor-boat to explore the Lagoon Islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.
Venice lies in the centre of a vast lagoon that stretches for about 30 miles from north to south, studded by numerous small islands, mostly deserted. This amazing environment is what drove the Venetians to establish their city here, a perfectly secure and inaccessible little world. Enjoy the beauty of a ride across the waters of the lagoon; visit the island of Murano, where glass has been made for over 700 years and where you can see the age-old techniques of glass blowing still in use today.
Continue to Torcello, to see the breathtaking mosaics in the Basilica di Santa Maria dell’Assunta, the oldest building on the lagoon. After a leisurely lunch (payable locally) you reach the island of Burano, a quaint and colourful fisherman island famous for its lace and charming architecture.
Highlights:
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
Phones
(661) 872-3940
(562) 865-9516
Hours
Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00pm
After hours and Saturdays by Appointment.
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