European Cavalcade End Paris Your itinerary Start Location Visited Location Plane End Location Cruise Train Over night Ferry Day 1 Day 10 Arrive Amsterdam (1 Night) Rome – Bay of Naples (1 Night) We kick off our adventure in historic, yet trendy Amsterdam. Soak up the buzz of The Bay of Naples beckons and you’ll head south past the Abbey of Monte Cassino, bicycles and boats as you explore the old­world capital at night your way. That could the site of fierce battles during World War II, to Sorrento. Arrive just in time to mean spending the evening in a cosy bruin café or consider joining an optional perhaps spend the afternoon taking an optional drive along the picture­perfect Amalfi cruise along its tree­lined canals in a glass­topped boat. Coast, with a visit to the artist hub of Positano and its pastel­hued houses that seem to tumble into the Tyrrhenian Sea. Hotel - Ibis Schiphol Hotel - La Panoramica Day 2 Amsterdam – Cologne – Rhine Cruise – Included Meals - Breakfast, Dinner Rhineland (1 Night) Day 11 The natural beauty of the Rhinelands takes centre stage today as you head east Bay Of Naples – Florence (2 Nights) through the lush landscapes of Germany bound for Cologne. Stop briefly to view the Don’t miss the opportunity to join an Optional Experience to see the excavations of Gothic spires of Cologne Cathedral before boarding your cruise down the Rhine, Pompeii in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. Buried under ash when Vesuvius blew her passing a multitude of medieval villages, steep vineyards and storybook castles that top, Pompeii remains frozen in time and your Local Specialist will reveal what life line your scenic river route. Arrive later at your hotel in the Rhineland. was like as one of its former residents. Continue to Florence and check in to your hotel for an evening at leisure. Hotel - Achat Neustadt an der Weinstraße Included Meals - Breakfast, Dinner Hotel - Starhotels Vespucci Day 3 Included Meals - Breakfast, Dinner Rhineland – Colmar – Lucerne Region (2 Day 12 Nights) Florence sightseeing and free time History comes to life as you journey through the vineyards of Alsace to Colmar, No expense was spared to exalt the glory of Florence through art and architecture which looks like it belongs in a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Its half­timbered houses and you’ll see first­hand how this city paved its way to a modern age. Join a Local and cobbled alleyways could tell their own captivating stories. Enjoy time in this Specialist this morning for an enthralling account of the city’s history during a living postcard before continuing through the mountains near Lake Lucerne where walking tour of its historic centre, including views of Ponte Vecchio, the Cathedral of you’ll spend the next two nights. Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery. Visit Piazza della Signoria, the city’s main square where many of the political and artistic treasures of Ski Lodge Engelberg Hotel - the city can be seen. Admire panoramic views of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo then learn about the quality and workmanship of two of this city's Included Meals - Breakfast, Dinner historic industries at demonstrations of Florentine leathercraft and 18­carat gold. For Day 4 a taste of Tuscany, consider joining an Optional Experience in the Tuscan hills with Lucerne orientation and free time regional favourites, live music and a glass or two of crisp Chianti. Your Travel Director will take you on an orientation tour through Lucerne’s Old Town. Included Meals - Breakfast Walk along the ancient wooden Chapel Bridge and visit the Lion Monument, which Mark Twain described as the 'most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world'. Day 13 Let the 'heart' of Switzerland capture yours as you immerse yourself in its history Florence – Pisa – Monaco – French Riviera (2 and epic scenery. With a full afternoon to explore this pretty lakeside setting on your Nights) own, you may decide to spend it shopping for watches, Swiss army knives or Don’t resist peer pressure and snap a few strategic photos featuring you and the chocolate. You could choose instead to ascend to the alpine heavens, joining an extraordinary Leaning Tower of Pisa. Admire the Pisan Romanesque Square of optional scenic cruise across Lake Lucerne to Stans, then travelling by railway and Miracles in all its striped marble glory. Its structures are said to symbolise the three cable car up into the mountains for exhilarating mountain views. main stages of human life – the Baptistery (birth), the Cathedral (life) and the Included Meals - Breakfast Camposanto (death). Your journey west stretches out to the shimmering Mediterranean coast, where the Principality of Monaco awaits. Keep your cameras Day 5 at the ready in this home of the rich and famous and attempt to capture the Lucerne Region – Liechtenstein – Innsbruck (1 sophistication that seems to ooze from every corner. Next stop, the glamorous Night) French Riviera. Big things come in small packages as you’ll come to discover when you visit the Hotel - Apogia Nice Principality of Liechtenstein. You can almost imagine the resident Prince surveying his kingdom when you visit its tiny capital, Vaduz. Earn your bragging rights by Included Meals - Breakfast visiting one of the world’s smallest countries before continuing to Innsbruck, the Day 14 capital of the Tyrol. Here you’ll admire the Hofburg Palace and Golden Roof, gilded in the 16th century by Emperor Maximilian to mark his wedding. Marvel at the French Riviera free time fascinating crystal installations and browse for precious gifts and souvenirs at the There’s no shame in spending the day sprawled out on a sun lounger with a Swarovski Crystal Worlds Store. cocktail, but if you can pull yourself away from the pool, you’ll want to join your fellow travellers for an optional exploration of Saint­Paul­de­Vence. Life is rather Bon Alpina Hotel - idyllic in this enchanting walled hill­town and, like some of its famous residents, you’ll want to linger here a little longer, but the sun­kissed promenades of Nice Included Meals - Breakfast, Dinner beckon. You never know who you might spot seated in those sleek Ferraris and Day 6 private yachts that dot the French Riviera. Innsbruck – Verona – Venice (Oriago) (2 Nights) Included Meals - Breakfast From Roman ruins to Romeo and Juliet, Verona certainly is the stuff of legends. Stop today in the city that served as a backdrop for Shakespeare’s famous love Day 15 story. View the very balcony where the fictional Juliet once called for her Romeo and French Riviera – Avignon – Beaune (1 Night) admire the Roman Arena where gripping performances are held to this day. Continue A brief brush with the Papacy in the 14th century has gifted Avignon with some of to Venice, once a maritime powerhouse and republic whose influences can be seen the world’s most incredible religious architectural legacies. The heart of Provence across the Eastern Mediterranean. You’ll arrive just in time for an optional Gondola may no longer hold the importance that the Vatican does today, but views of its and Grand Canal cruise – grand palazzi, churches and ornate bridges lining your Palace of the Popes and St. Bénezet Bridge are no less inspiring. Continue to the journey. Tonight, enjoy dinner at your hotel. historic walled town of Beaune, in the heart of the Burgundy wine region and surrounded by the sprawling vineyards of Côte d’Or. You’ll have an evening to get Il Burchiello Hotel - lost in its cobbled streets and sample the region’s famous reds your way. Included Meals - Breakfast, Dinner Hotel - Ibis La Ferme Aux Vins Day 7 Venice orientation and free time Included Meals - Breakfast Take to the waters of the canal and cruise by private launch to St. Mark's Square, Day 16 the gateway to the city. Admire the ornate Doge's Palace, the Basilica of St. Mark Beaune – Versailles – Paris (2 Nights) and the Bridge of Sighs, whose bittersweet views once elicited sighs from prisoners From Beaune, we’ll head north to the opulence of Versailles – its splendour and who were unlikely to see their beloved city ever again. There's time on your own to beauty created to reflect the self­proclaimed majesty of King Louis XIV, the 'Sun explore the city before we visit master craftsmen at a glassblowing workshop, King'. An Optional Experience could see you visit the exquisite sprawling gardens, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Consider joining an Optional Experience the Hall of Mirrors with its impressive chandeliers and glinting mirrors. Carry on to to the vibrant rainbow­coloured façades of Burano Island. Paris where you could join an Optional Experience, including a scenic drive stopping at all the best photo spots. Included Meals - Breakfast Day 8 Hotel - Novotel Pont de Sèvres Venice – Rome (2 Nights) Included Meals - Breakfast Italy’s capital city lies ahead and with it the promise of a journey into an ancient Day 17 world, a holy empire and remnants of the Renaissance around every turn. Cross the Veneto plains and Apennine hills, admiring the Tuscan countryside as you travel Paris sightseeing and free time south to Rome. You’ll have some time later to explore the city on your own or join The Parisians know a thing or two about beauty, elegance and a life well lived which the group for an Optional Experience to see some of the city’s sights, followed by a your full day in Paris will deliver in abundance. Hit its grand boulevards on a city dinner of Italian specialties.