Card Group - Italy 2016
Rome & Florence
March 13- 17, 2016
Upon arrival in Rome on March 13th you will enjoy a visit to Ostia Antica*, Rome’s ancient seaport, en-route to your hotel for check-in. Spend this evening exploring area points of interest with your tour leader. On March 14th you will enjoy a guided tour of the city* beginning with the Colosseum and Forum*. Your tour will culminate with exploring sights such as Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and much more. Spend this evening at leisure exploring with your tour leader to such sights as the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Begin today with a guided visit to the Vatican Museums* including St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Afterwards there will be time at leisure for last minute sightseeing and shopping for souvenirs before continuing your adventure to Florence the next morning on March 15th. As birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence will thrill you with its treasures. During a guided walking tour of the city*on March 16th, you will see many of the important sights of this historic town including the Academia*, home to Michelangelo’s “David”, Santa Maria Novella, the Duomo, and the eight-sided Baptistry. Later this afternoon, you may wish to optionally visit the Uffizi Gallery, Italy’s greatest art gallery the Bargello Museum, Florence’s second-ranking museum, which houses Italy’s finest collection of Renaissance sculpture. Other highlights may include visiting the Boboli Gardens, shopping in the straw market and open-air market, visiting a leather factory and strolling across the Ponte-Vecchio to see the gold and silver shops.
Padua, Venice, Vicenza & Verona
March 17 – 20, 2016
On March 17th you will continue your journey to Padua, an old university town with an illustrious academic history that is rich in art and architecture. It has two outstanding sights: Cappella degli Scrovengi, famous for Giotto’s lyrical frescoes, and the Basilica di Sant’Antonio. Upon arrival dedicate the afternoon to exploring Padua with a guided tour* of the city including the Scrovengi Chapel*. This evening is dedicated at leisure to exploring this delightful city with your tour leader. The next day you will continue your journey to Venice* for an excursion on March 18th to explore the charm of this city with a guided city tour* including the Doges Palace*. After lunch explore area points of interest with your tour leader including optional sights such as the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, or perhaps taking time to relax with an Gondola ride through Venice’s historic canals (free to those who submit their application and deposit by the deadline). On March 19th you will enjoy an excursion to Vicenza and Verona* en-route to Modena, a small town nearby Bologna. In Vicenza you will visit the Teatro Olympico*, designed by Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio and considered the first example of a covered theater since antiquity. A highlight of your tour will be a view of architectural masterpieces designed by Carlo Scarpa. Spend the afternoon in Verona with a guided tour* including the Roman Arena* and Juliet’s Balcony*. This evening you will spend the night in Modena, whose town hall and cathedral are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before transferring to the airport in Bologna the next morning. On March 20th you will bid farewell to the charm of Italy and return home, taking with you fond memories of your incredible journey.
SPECIAL TOUR CONDITIONS: **The tour price, if payments are made by cash or check, is $3,785.00; otherwise, if paying by credit card, the standard non-discounted price is $3,885.00. Tour participation is based on triple occupancy and includes roundtrip airfare from Memphis, point-to point transportation between cities while in Europe, all breakfasts and 3 dinners. *Entrance fees and/or transportation marked with an asterisk are included in the tour price (Ostia Antica, Colosseum & Forum, Vatican Museums, Academia, Scrovengi Chapel, Doge’s Palace, Teatro Olympico, Roman Arena, Juliet’s Balcony and city tours in Rome, Florence, Padua, Venice, Vicenza and Verona) and may be subject to availability. Additional items may be offered optionally, are also subject to availability and are not included in the tour price. A guaranteed single room may be available for a supplemental charge of $365.00. A guaranteed twin room may be available for a supplemental charge of $115.00 per person. Included are applicable governmental international airline ticket taxes, fuel surcharges, security surcharges, and associated fees. If applicable, tax increases will be billed on a supplemental invoice. A minimum number of paying participants may be required to operate the tour. All tour participants must submit a signed application. A $500.00 non-refundable deposit is required and will reserve your space on this tour. The tour cost, including the initial deposit, is fully refundable if the tour does not operate. You may apply online by visiting www.EAtours.com and “student/traveler sign up.” The tour number for your group is 216119. A 2nd payment, generally $1,000, will be due no later than 15 to 30 days after your initial payment. Final payments are due no later than 70 days before departure. Updated Tour details (hotels, day by day itinerary, flights, etc.) are scheduled to be released approximately four weeks prior to departure.
Please submit your online application and $500 deposit to EAtours.com by October 1, 2015 for a FREE Gondola Ride in Venice!!