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9 Days, 10 Meals
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Included Features
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 Round trip scheduled air
transportation
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Welcome
reception
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3 dinners, 1 lunch and 7
breakfasts
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Villa d'Este, Tivoli,
Siena, Piazza del Campo
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Round trip airport
transfers in Italy
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Four nights in Tuscany
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Three nights in Rome
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Private cooking class
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Lucca and its Duomo
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Leaning Tower of Pisa
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$45 future travel credits
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Day 1
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Flight to Italy. Enjoy your
transatlantic flight to historic Rome to begin your trip of
a lifetime.
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Day 2
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Arrive in Rome. Upon
arrival in Rome, you are met by your Tour Manager who will
be with you throughout your trip. Get to know Rome as you
embark on a panoramic tour of the "Eternal City"
where you'll pass many of the major points of interest
including the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. You'll visit
the Spanish Steps and the Beautiful Trevi Fountain before
arrive at our hotel. Time to relax and enjoy a welcome
reception planned for later today.
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Day 3
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Tivoli. Enjoy the
morning at leisure in Rome. This afternoon we travel towards
the Tiburtine Mountains, among the hills where ancient
Romans built their resorts. Our destination is the famous
Tourist resort of Tivoli, located on the slopes of the
Sabine Hills. A guided tour introduces the Renaissance
estate called Villa d'Este. The beautiful villa grounds
surround countless fountains, gardens and statues. Following
our leisurely tour of the villa, we enjoy a delicious
Italian dinner with wine and music in the lovely village of
Tivoli. (B,D)
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Day 4
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Optional Papal Audience and
Vatican City Tour. Today, join us for an optional tour
to the spiritual center of the Roman Catholic Church in
Vatican City. Standing like an island in the center of Rome,
the Vatican contains St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican
Museum and the Sistine Chapel. The day begins with a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity -- an audience with the Pope.
Equipped with our "Whispers" headphones, our guide
takes us into St. Peter's and the Vatican Museum whose halls
contain some of the most priceless art treasures in the
world. The single most impressive work of art is the Sistine
Chapel, which is one gigantic painting by Michelangelo. (B)
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Day
5
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Travel to the Heart of
Tuscany. Traveling north we arrive in the medieval town
of Siena. We'll visit the Cathedral in Siena, whose
conversion from 12th century Romanesque style to 13th
century Italian Gothic is legendary. The cathedral houses
sculptural masterpieces by Nicola Pisano, Donatello and
Michelangelo. Visit the town square -- Piazza del Campo --
where the world-famous Palio horse race is held and enjoy
lunch on your own before continuing to the town of
Montecatini and our home for the next four nights. Tonight,
enjoy a dinner of Tuscan specialties with your traveling
companions. (B,D)
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Day 6
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Tuscan Cooking School. Today
we learn first hand the secrets of Italians' knowledge of
how to drink and eat well and live la dolce vita, the
"good life," in a Tuscan villa cooking school.
Starting at the local market, our chef shows how only the
finest and freshest ingredients are chosen. Back at our
private villa, we experience the culinary traditions, which
like many family recipes are handed down through the
generations. During your cooking lesson you will learn that
the Italian dinner table is the scene of many conversations,
debates and decisions and that favorite foods evoke happy
memories, good health and comfort. The saying that Italians
live to eat while the rest of the world eats to live still
rings true today. (B, L)
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Day 7
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Sightseeing to Lucca and
Pisa. This morning we venture out into the Tuscan
countryside to the medieval town of Lucca, a rich heritage
of churches, palaces and squares, which give the town an air
of charm. See the Duomo with its white-marble facade and
walk Lucca's streets filled with old shops, sculptured
doorways and wrought iron railings. This afternoon we travel
to Pisa to see its incredible Leaning
Tower, the bell tower of the 90-year-old Cathedral of
Pisa. It's 14 feet off center at the top because of settling
after construction was started in 1173. (B)
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Day 8
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Optional Tour to Florence. Enjoy
a full day at leisure or join us for an optional excursion
to Florence. Start with a guided tour of this culturally
rich city including the Duomo and Medici Chapels. Opulently
decorated in marble, gold and jewels, these chapels are a
celebration of one of Italy's most famous and powerful
families - the Medicis. Time will be available to explore
Florence on your own, where you can view Michelangelo's David
and masterpieces by Botticelli at the Galleria dell'
Accademia. You may choose to explore the many quaint shops
along the Ponte Vecchio, Florence's oldest bridge, or just
sit in one of the many cafes and enjoy some cappuccino and
brioches, but if you do, make sure to save room for our
farewell dinner in Montecatini. (B,D)
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Day 9
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Home. After breakfast
we say "arrivederci" as we transfer to the airport
in Florence for our flights home. (B)
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Departures & Prices
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Departure Dates 2006
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Air & Land Twin
Prices from:
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Single Room
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New York
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Chicago
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Los Angeles
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Add:
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February 12
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$1,829
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$1,899
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$2,089
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$489
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March 19
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$1,829
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$1,899
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$2,089
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$489
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April 2
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$2,139
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$2,249
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$2,429
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$499
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May 14
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$2,139
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$2,249
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$2,429
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$499
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October 8
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$2,139
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$2,249
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$2,429
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$499
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November 5
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$1,829
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$1,899
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$2,089
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$489
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November 19
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$1,829
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$1,899
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$2,089
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$489
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December 3
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$1,829
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$1,899
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$2,089
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$489
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To cover various departure
and arrival taxes, please add $125 per person plus
applicable fuel surcharges to the air inclusive price.
Optional excursions are
purchased while on tour in local currency. Your Tour Manager
will have complete details.
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