CLASSIC COAST TO COAST

Tour Overview Starting and finishing in Milan, this relaxing tour of northern Italy is for all who love this destination with a passion and wish to gain a wider understanding of the richness of this region in particular. Following our popular concept of three and four night stays in carefully chosen locations, you will leisurely explore the best of each region. Upon arrival in Italy, we are headed for to take in the highlights of this romantic city. Transferring to the Veneto region, famed for its colourful mosaics and Palladio villas, you will experience the best of the lush north renowned for its stunning countryside. Naturally, a visit to , ‘Jewel of the Adriatic’ is essential on this classic tour.

Our travels continue to the area where the gastronomy of Italy really shines. Come to think of it, so many famous export products come from just this region alone, balsamic vinegar from , prosciutto ham from Parma and of course the delicious parmesan cheese. Travelling from coast to coast, the tour leisurely winds up in . With temperatures still mild, late summer is an ideal time for touring this part of Italy.

Join us in the country of ‘La Dolce Vita’ and experience Italy at its finest.

33 22 DAYS

3 & 4 night stays

Tour Inclusions Tour Highlights THAI Airways economy class return flights ex Australia. Airport check-in assistance (Brisbane). Airport departure taxes, convenient 1 night Bangkok airport hotel stopover incl. buffet breakfast and transfers en route to Europe, Verona • Mantova • Limone • Malcesine meet and greet and assistance during outbound flights. Asolo • • Trieste • Udine Airport transfers and airline check-in assistance in Europe. Collio • • Ljubljana 19 nights in charming boutique/heritage hotels including daily buffet breakfast, 3 course dinner (or lunch) with Treviso • Venice • Burano • beverages based on typical traditional regional cuisine Castel San Pietro • Bologna • Dozza where indicated. • Spilamberto • • Cinque Luxury coach travel in Europe, entry fees covering sightseeing and entertainment, hotel service charges, Terre • Santa Margherita Ligure • Rapallo city taxes, most tipping, baggage handling (1 bag pp), services of a full-time professional tour director and local city guides.

DEPARTURE SCHEDULE Ex: Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Perth Tour Price pp/twin share: AUD $13,995 Departure date: 29 August 2019 Single Supplement: AUD $1,995 Start date Milan: 31 August 2019 Finish date Milan: 19 September 2019 Land Only and Business Class pricing upon request

32 (B/L/D) Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner included where indicated

DAY 1 + 2 - DEPARTURE AUSTRALIA / STOPOVER Airport Stopover (1 night) Meet with representatives of TIKI TOURS for assistance with your airline check-in (for Brisbane passengers). Interstate passengers DAY 5 - LIMONE - LAKE GARDA will meet up at our stopover hotel. Sit back and relax and enjoy Today we head for Lake Garda and drive along the lake to Limone to a good flight followed by transfer to your airport hotel. You will enjoy some free time after which we will board a boat to Malcesine enjoy an overnight stay with breakfast included and the next day to have lunch. Lake Garda is the biggest pre-alpine lake in Italy. you will have access to your room all day until check-out in the Set between the Po Valley and Lombardy, Trentino and Veneto, early evening. the lake attracted many different civilisations and noble families. The numerous churches, castles and villas of the area represent the The 24 hours between outbound flights are at your leisure. On day landmarks of its glorious history. Dinner at the hotel. (B/D) 2, there is time to explore the local surrounds on a guided tour, do some shopping, visit the day spa at the hotel or simply relax with a book around the pool. TIKI TOURS will offer assistance and advice DAY 6 - MANTOVA during your stay. (B/Airline in-flight service) We start our day with a visit to Mantova, a beautiful little town with lots of character, to visit the Ducal Palace, built by the Gonzaga family. After our tour, there is time for shopping and lunch. Mantova, DAY 3 - ARRIVAL MILAN European city of culture in 2016 and known as the sleeping beauty Veneto Region (4 nights) of Italy, prospered under Roman rule and attracted many famous Welcome to Italy! In Milan, our private coach and tour director will dynasties but its ‘golden days’ came to an end in 1708 when Austrian be awaiting you at the airport for transfer to your hotel. After a light troops took control. Before we head back to our hotel, we will enjoy welcome lunch and hotel check-in, the remainder of your day is at a short visit to Borghetto sul Mincio. Dinner at the hotel. (B/D) your leisure to settle in and relax. At night a special welcome dinner is planned at the hotels charming restaurant offering typical regional cuisine and wine. Dinner at the hotel. (L/D) DAY 7 - ASOLO - VALDOBBIADENE Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region (4 nights) Entering the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, today is a feast for the DAY 4 - VERONA senses and promises a relaxing day out. After breakfast, we start Accompanied by a local guide, we start our adventure with a with a visit to Asolo, a charming medieval town well known for its walking tour of Verona. Located in the Veneto region, one of Italy’s delicious coffee, Veneto pastries and cheeses. As we find ourselves most beautiful cities and known as ‘Little ’, Verona has been in the heartland of country and so close to the famous a Roman colony since the 1st century BC and is famous for its pink town of Valdobbiadene, we follow the ‘Strada di Prosecco’, driving marble ‘Arena’. This third largest Roman amphitheatre now acts as along beautiful rolling hills covered in vines. The strong century- the Opera House attracting acts from all over the world. long wine culture of the area has contributed greatly to forming a fascinating landscape. Prosecco has been grown in the hills near The city is of course also well known for the ‘House of Juliet and the Trieste since Roman times, the locals are proud of their roots and famous balcony’. After our guided tour, you will enjoy free time for keen to preserve tradition offering warm hospitality while we sample lunch and shopping. Dinner at the hotel. (B/D) the local produce. Therefore, our day can’t help but include a taste of their famous export product. Dinner at the hotel. (B/D) 34 DAY 10 - LJUBLJANA () Lets cross the border and set out to enjoy a day trip to nearby Slovenia. First we drive to Ljubljana where we set out on a walking DAY 8 - TRIESTE tour with a local guide followed by free time for lunch and shopping. Ljubljana is the capital and largest city of Slovenia and the city’s We start the day with a guided morning visit of Trieste. Situated symbol is the dragon, you will find them everywhere. Located in between the Adriatic Sea and Slovenia and entirely facing the bay, the middle of a trade route between the northern Adriatic Sea and this city embraces the sea. A great southern port in the 18th and the Danube region, it has been an important historical capital and 19th centuries, Trieste offers grandeur of a different time and era. now the cultural, educational, economic, political and administrative Set in the far corner of Italy, wedged between the Carso hills, an center of Slovenia. Dinner at the hotel. (B/D) hours drive from Venice, this is the place where Europe’s three great civilisations intersect and merge, , Germanic and Slavic. With its early Austro-Hungarian heritage and deep commercial roots, it is a place that is truly multicultural resulting in a mixture of traditions, DAY 11 - TREVISO - VENICE flavours and tastes that combined with its history distinguish the city Veneto Region (3 nights) from the rest of Italy. After breakfast we head for Treviso to walk through its medieval centre including free time to explore on your own. This town was A city of history, monuments, cultural heritage, music and theatre, considered ‘The garden of Venice’ and we will explore its narrow today will introduce you to the best including a visit to the charming canals, 15th c. frescoed houses, medieval arcades and typical Castello di Miramare followed by an organised lunch. Trieste's ‘barbacani’, i.e. arches without a column support. Also known as the first coffee houses opened during the second half of the 18thc., ‘City of water’ and famous for its five delightful bridges, a visit to immediately taking on an unmistakable Viennese connotation and this leafy picturesque town is a real treat including a tasting of the avant-garde culture to rival Paris. The evening is at your leisure to famous tiramisu. We continue our journey to Venice for hotel check- explore the old centre of this captivating city. (B/L) in and dinner at the hotel at night. (B/D)

DAY 9 - UDINE - CIVIDALE DEL FRIULI - COLLIO DAY 12 - VENICE In the morning we head for Udine for a walking tour with a local One of the most intriquing cities in the world, its time to explore guide. The city lies at the heart of Friuli and its history has left an Venice. A local guide will join us on a walking tour to take in the interesting mixed culture but it is the Venetian influence that is most best of this captivating city including a visit to the Doge’s Palace. The striking in the town’s medieval centre. Today also includes a visit to charms speak for themselves…. undoubtedly the most beautiful city picturesque Cividale del Friuli, founded by Julius Caesar in 50 BC, built by man, it has also been described as being one of Europe’s this town offers much charm and character to be enjoyed during free most romantic cities. The capital of the Veneto region, the city time over lunch. In its heyday, an important strategic location for the consists of a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and defence of Rome’s hold on its northern borders and the first capital of linked by bridges. Venice is renowned for its magnificent setting, its the newly formed Lombard Kingdom. Today it is a sleepy UNESCO architecture and artworks. Venice in its entirety is listed as a World Heritage listed medieval town in the foothills of the eastern alps. The Heritage Site, along with its lagoon. After an organised lunch, the day would not be complete without a wine-tasting in Collio in one afternoon is at your leisure, a perfect opportunity to visit one of the of their oldest wineries, a charming venue where we will enjoy an glass factories at nearby Murano Island. Enjoy a free evening in this organised lunch. The evening is at your leisure. (B/L) magic city. (B/L)

35 DAY 13 - BURANO DAY 16 - BOLOGNA Sit back, relax and delight as we have planned a relaxing morning In the morning we enjoy a guided walking tour of Bologna, a walled on the water sailing the lagoons around Venice. Your private boat city that reached its peak in the 12th century. Wealth brought a will transfer you to the nearby island of Burano to enjoy an organised building boom and every well-to-do family left its mark by building a lunch and free time for shopping. A perfect opportunity to find some tower, there were 180 of them in all of which 15 still stand. Renowned souvenirs for your loved ones. The evening is at your leisure. (B/L) for its rich gastronomy, Bologna is lively and vibrant, the 11th c. university, arched porticoes line the streets and squares of its historic centre. DAY 14 - FERRARA Close to the river and wetlands, the town has retained much of Emilia Romagna Region (4 nights) the splendour of its Renaissance heyday. This dynamic city has Entering the Emilia Romagna region, we drive to Ferrara to enjoy a charming historic centre where we will enjoy some free time for some free time followed by lunch. Known as the food bowl of Italy, lunch and shopping. One of Italy’s greatest culinary centers, make this part of the north extends from the Apennine mountains to the the most of your time today and indulge in its many treats. Dinner at Po river, through the lakes and on to the seaside resorts of the coast. the hotel. (B/D) Visiting Ferrara today, we will take in the Romanesque-Gothic style Cathedral, the characteristic Via delle Volte, the exterior of the Este Castle and the Jewish Ghetto. Dinner at the hotel. (B/D) DAY 17 - RAVENNA Immerse yourself in the culture and history of Ravenna during a guided morning tour. The town's famous mosaics are best viewed in its churches DAY 15 - CASTEL SAN PIETRO - DOZZA and are described in Dante’s Divine Comedy as ‘a symphony of colour’. Today we drive towards the little town of Castel San Pietro in Terme. Italy contains the richest concentration of late antique and medieval First mentioned in 1171, these days the town is best known for its mosaics in the world and in Ravenna some of the best-preserved tobacco processing, distilleries, textiles, watches and metal. You will examples of Byzantine art are right in its heart, many World Heritage enjoy free time to explore its local treasures underneath the many listed. ‘Porticoes’ after which we will continue the day with a drive to Dozza, a small medieval hamlet known for its ‘Festival of the painted wall’ We will visit the Piazza del Popolo, built in the middle ages, during a 60 where art blends with street furniture as it covers the walls of houses, year period when the city was ruled by Venice, the Basilica di San Vitale streets and squares making every corner brighter and offering lovely as well as the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Close to the Adriatic beaches, views. the town gradually rose to become one of the most splendid cities in the Mediterranean and today we will take in the very best. Dinner at the Today will also include a visit to La Rocca, a fortified mansion. As it is hotel. (B/D) harvest time, the day continues with a drive to the Imola Hills to visit a family winery for a tasting of the local produce, some typical local hams and cheeses. Dinner at the hotel. (B/D)

36 DAY 18 - SPILAMBERTO - RAPALLO DAY 20 - VILLAGES Liguria Region (4 nights) Why not sail again and take in some of the scenic ‘Cinque Terre’ We transfer back to the coast for our stay in the region of Liguria. villages (5 Lands) and enjoy a panoramic day out. Balanced En route, we stop in the medieval town of Spilamberto to visit the precariously along ridges high above the sea, this charming part interesting Museum of Balsamic Vinegar to understand more about of Italy really is a picture postcard. We will visit some of the better the production of vinegar and sample a couple of them. In the known villages famous for their four storey houses, narrow lanes and afternoon, we continue with a visit to a local farm to study and taste good views. the famous prosciutto crudo ham. Surrounded by mountains and covered by terraced vineyards, this This culinary region is full of tradition and is home to the famous scenic part of the Italian coast is well worth a visit. Today we will board parmesan cheese, parma ham (prosciutto) and one of Italy’s largest a boat in Levanto, stop in Vernazza and finish our time in Portovenere pasta factories. Not many know that parmesan, the king of cheeses, for lunch. Dinner at the hotel. (B/D) has been made in the area for around 700 years and is so valuable that it was once quite accepted for wheels of the cheese to be used as currency. The unique setting of our hotel reflects the elegance of DAY 21 - A DAY AT YOUR LEISURE the early 1900’s where the international beau monde would descend Enjoy a relaxing breakfast as today is at your leisure. With its Roman in season to revel in refined comfort and splendour. Dinner at the origins, the town of Rapallo boasts a bridge supposedly used by hotel. (B/D) Hannibal during the Carthaginian invasion of Italy in 218 BC.

These days the town offers an authentic typical Italian atmosphere DAY 19 - PORTOFINO - SANTA MARGHERITA LIGURE so explore its charming walking street, elegant seaside promenades The final leg of our journey is designed for sitting back and relaxing and countless coffee bars. The symbol of the town is the picturesque and taking in the picturesque coastline. After breakfast we board a castle, built in 1551 to defend against pirate invasions. Dinner at the boat headed for Portofino. Best known for its pastel-coloured houses hotel. (B/D) around the port, this exclusive hub has been the base of many poets and writers and is now home to the rich, famous and powerful. DAY 22 - MILAN MALPENSA AIRPORT Following free time for lunch in the elegant nearby town of Santa All good things come to an end and after breakfast and hotel check- Margherita Ligure, a perfect opportunity to stock up on some out, we head for Milan Malpensa International Airport for airline souvenirs for your loved ones back home. Dinner at the hotel. (B/D) check-in. (B/Airline in-flight service)

If you are not quite ready yet to collect your boarding pass, consider a 3 night package in the city of Milan.

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