Travel with Gail Cooper
Tuesday, June 21st
Today you depart the United States on your overnight slight to Italy. Naturally, meals will be served and optional in-flight entertainment offered. Please refer to your flight schedule for pertinent details.
Wednesday, June 22nd
Upon arrival you will transfer to your hotel with a visit to Ostia Antica en-route. Following hotel check-in you will depart on a guided walking tour to include Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona before your included dinner.
Thursday, June 23rd
Your guided walking tour is planned for this morning. Included will be visits to the Colosseum, Forum and San Clemente. This afternoon you will visit Villa Borghese with your tour leader.
Friday, June 24th
Today you will visit the Vatican Museums including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. The remainder of the day will be spent exploring additional sights with your tour leader.
Saturday, June 25th
At 9:00 this morning you travel to Tivoli where you can visit the villas on your own. Your tour leader will help you with logistics. Villa Adriana is within walking distance or you can reach Villa d’Este using public transportation.
Sunday, June 26th
This morning you transfer to Termini Station where you will board your train to Assisi. Following hotel check-in you will begin your guided tour of St. Francis Basilica Dinner tonight is included.
Monday, June 27th
At 10:00 am you depart Assisi for transfer to Florence. En-route you will stop in Siena for a lunch break and time to visit the Duomo.
Tuesday, June 28th
Today begins with a guided walking tour including time at the Accademia where you will see Michelangelo’s statue of David. You will also see among other sights the Duomo and 8 Sided Baptistry. In the afternoon your tour leader will offer suggestions for free time. Dinner tonight is included.
Wednesday, June 29th
Free time for shopping is planned. Your hotel is near the San Lorenzo Market. In the afternoon you will travel outside of town to visit a vineyard and enjoy a wine tasting.
Thursday, June 30th
Your full day excursion to Lucca begins at 9:00 am. Your time will be free to enjoy the many sights in this walled city. Some things that you might want to do while there include walk or bicycle on the wall, see the Piazza Anfiteatro, visit Lucca’s Duomo, the Basilica of San Frediano, San Michele in Foro Church, the Torre della Ore or Palazzo Pfanner.
Friday, July 1st
At 9:00 am you bid Florence good-bye and travel to Baveno/ Stresa on Lake Maggiore.
Dinner tonight is included.
Saturday, July 2nd
Today is a day that will not be forgotten as you travel by private boat to Isola Bella. The gardens and architecture of this wonderful villa are magnificent.
Sunday, July 3rd
Today you may optionally take the Lake Maggiore Express around the lake. This tour takes you into Switzerland so be sure to take your passport. The tour begins with a train from Stresa to Domodossola, you then transfer to the narrow gauge railway and travel through the “hundred valleys” area. You will pass traditional villages, see alpine pastures, mountains and waterfalls as the railway crosses 83 bridges and travels through 31 tunnels. Upon arrival to Locarno there is free time to have lunch, explore the town or ride the optional funicular to the Madonna del Sasso Sanctuary. You will then board the ferry for return to Stresa. The Lake Maggiore Express trains and ferry are free to those who registered for the trip by the due date. Dinner tonight is included at your hotel.
Monday, July 4th
Early this morning you transfer to Milan Airport to board your flight back to the U.S. Please refer to the flight schedule for details.