Europe 2016 Italy & Germany

Day 1 – June 7, Tuesday
Departure from New Orleans Louis Armstrong
airport for Rome, Italy.
Day 2 – June 8, Wednesday
Rome – Arrive in Rome. Transfer to hotel. Experience ancient Rome when we visit the
Forum and the Colosseum. Look down on the arena where ancient gladiators fought
before the cheering Roman mobs. Walk through the ancient Forum that was for
centuries the center of Roman public life, the site of elections, venue for public speeches,
trials, and the hub of commercial activities. Overnight Rome.
Day 3 – June 9, Thursday
Rome – Morning guided visit to Vatican Museums . See Vatican City, Sistine Chapel and
St. Peter’s Basilica. This afternoon, guided sightseeing of Rome including Circus
Maximus, Baths, Pantheon, and other major sights. Overnight Rome.
Day 4 – June 10, Friday
Rome – Free Day. Twentieth century Rome is a breathtaking mixture of ruins and
monuments, fantastic fountains, beautiful piazzas and innumerable museums and offers
a multitude of possibilities for personal pursuits. Dinner on your own tonight.
Overnight Rome.
Day 5 – June 11, Saturday
Asissi/Florence – Transfer to Florence via the lovely Umbrian hill town of Assisi, home of
St. Francis and the Basilica di San Francesco, which dominates Assisi and is one of the
greatest Christian shrines. Visit to the Basilica. Continue on to Florence, home of the
Renaissance. Overnight Florence
Day 6 – June 12, Sunday
Florence – Guided Tour of major city sights, Duomo, Ghiberti’s “Golden Doors”, Piazza
della Signoria, etc. Visit Michelangelo’s “David” at the Accademia. Rest of the day free.
During your free time in this magnificent city, you may choose to visit a museum, sample
the local cuisine in a typical Italian “Trattoria”, or even climb Brunelleschi’s
Dome for fantastic views over Florence. Dinner on your own.
Overnight Florence.
Day 7 – June 13, Monday
Florence/Bologna – Free time in Florence until late afternoon. Stroll the streets of the
town center steeped in Renaissance history, art and architecture, and don’t forget to walk
across the Ponte-Vecchio, famous for its gold and silver shops. Visit one of the many
monuments or enjoy shopping in the straw market or open-air market. Transfer to
Bologna hotel. Overnight Bologna.
Day 8 -June 14, Tuesday
Bologna/Padua –Bologna, Italy’s gastronomical capital where gourmets come to visit
just to sample the cuisine. Experience this city of marbled sidewalks and porticos on your
guided tour and see why it is considered to be one of the most architecturally unified
cities in Europe. Transfer to Padua. Overnight in Padua.
Day 9 – June 15, Wednesday
Padua/Venice – Enjoy a full-day excursion to Venice, the bridge between east and west
with many fine examples of Byzantine architecture. It is unique and magnificent, with
its 118 islands, 160 canals, and 400 bridges. St. Mark’s Square is the center of Venetian
life and home to such important sites as St. Mark’s Basilica, the famous Venice Bell
Tower, and the grand Doge’s Palace which you will visit as part of your guided tour.
Overnight Padua.
Day 10 – June 16, Thursday
Padua -Discover Padua, an old university town with an illustrious academic history and
rich in art and architecture. Your tour of this town will include a visit to the Scrovegni
Chapel, famous for Giotto’s lyrical frescoes, and the Basilica of St. Anthony. Free time in
Padua. Dinner on your own tonight. Overnight Padua.
Day 11 – June 17, Friday
Bolzano/Garmish-Partenkirchen Travel through the Italian Alps via Bolzano to Garmish-
Partenkirchen, site of the 1936 Winter Olympics. Enjoy the mountain vistas and typical
German architecture of this beautiful resort town. Overnight Garmish-Partenkirchen.
Day 12 – June 18, Saturday
Munich/ Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Munich is a Bavarian city offering a unique
combination of modernist flair and traditional charm. On our guided tour, discover the
heart of Munich with such diverse and interesting sites as the Old City and the renowned
town hall featuring the Rathaus-Glockenspiel Chimes with moving clockwork figures.
Enjoy time for personal exploration in this city that offers many options, among them a
visit to the open-air market (Viktualienmarkt), Rococo churches, and the Frauenkirche
with its distinctive onion-shaped domes. Overnight Garmish-Partenkirchen.
Day 13 – June 19, Sunday
Linderhof/Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Travel to Linderhof and discover the elaborate
architecture and extensive gardens of Linderhof Palace created for King Ludwig and
inspired by King Louis XIV’s Palace of Versailles. Visit the magnificent Rococo
Wieskirche, a pilgrimage church whose simple exterior belies its exquisite interior.
Known throughout Europe as a place of reverence for the Scourged Savior and as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dinner on own tonight. Overnight Garmish-
Partenkirchen.
Day 14 – June 20, Monday
Neuschwanstein/Oberammergau– A highlight of your stay in Bavaria will be an
excursion to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, the fairytale castle built for King Ludwig and
inspiration for Disney World’s Cinderella castle. Continue to Oberammergau, a small
German town nestled high in the Bavarian Alps, surrounded by gorgeous scenery and
known for its houses painted with scenes from legends and fairy tales and as a center for
woodcarving. Overnight Oberammergau.
Day 15 – June 21, Tuesday
Oberammergau/Munich – Free Day. Explore Oberammergau or transfer to Munich for
free time activities. Dinner on your own. Overnight Oberammergau.
Day 16 – June 22, Wednesday
Return to the United States taking with you your treasured memories of your adventure
through Italy and Germany.