Cultural Tour Consultants 259 East Michigan Avenue, Suite 206A Kalamazoo, MI 49007 U.S.A. Telephone (866) 499-3799 (toll-free) (269) 343-5667 Facsimile (269) 432-0505 [email protected] La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls Fine Arts Tour of Italy May 30-June 9, 2020 (11 days/9 nights) 5/2/19 - #4 - Itinerary is subject to change Day 1 – Saturday, May 30 Depart for Rome, Italy Assemble at the Honolulu Airport late afternoon or evening and check in for your flight to Rome, Italy. Three hours later your flight departs (1 or 2 stops may be necessary in route). Dinner and overnight on board the airplane. Day 2 – Sunday, May 31 (D) Arrive in Rome Morning On arrival in Rome you’ll meet your Cultural Tour Consultants Tour Manager, board your Spanish Steps private deluxe coach and depart for the city center. You’ll have time to exchange money and enjoy an independent lunch and perhaps some famous Italian gelato. Afternoon Transfer to your hotel for check in. This afternoon is free to rest and unpack. A welcome dinner is provided tonight at or near your hotel. Rome stands on top of more than two and a half thousand years of history, was once the largest city in the world and a major center of Western civilization. Rome is still the seat of the Roman Catholic Church which controls the Vatican City as its sovereign territory, an enclave of Rome. NOTE: Today’s activities are pending airline scheduling. Overnight in Rome Day 3 – Monday, June 1 (B,D) Rome, Vatican City Morning Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Vatican City for a visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Afternoon You’ll have time for an independent lunch and sightseeing in Vatican City. Evening Dinner is provided in Rome. Attendance of performance may be included tonight. (additional cost apply pending scheduling). Overnight in Rome Day 4 – Tuesday, June 2 (B,D) Rome Morning After breakfast at the hotel, begin a walking tour of ancient Rome. You’ll start with the Coliseum Rome (entrance included) the greatest amphitheatre of the Coliseum antiquity, was built about 1920 years ago. It is considered an architectural and engineering wonder, and remains as a standing proof of both the grandeur and the cruelty of the Roman world. Continue on to the forum and Palatine Hill where you will hear the history and stories that bring this world to life. Independent lunch. Afternoon This afternoon’s tour will focus on the city of Rome and will include Piazza Navona, Trevi fountain, Spanish Steps and the Pantheon among other notable sites. The tour will end on Capitoline Hill where you’ll visit the Piazza del Campedoglio. Dinner is provided in Rome. Overnight in Rome La Pietra 2020 Tour Proposal-Property of Cultural Tour Consultants 2 Day 5 – Wednesday, June 3 (B,D) Rome to Perugia (110 miles), to San Gimignano (90 miles), to Florence (30 miles) Morning Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Perugia. Meet your guide and tour the city. The old city of Perugia is surrounded by two perimeter walls. The exterior, from the Medieval Age, remains intact over an expanse of a few kilometres. The interior wall is the Etruscan perimeter (the Etruscans built seven different portals through which to enter), characterized by the large masses used in its construction. The historic center is a certified 14th- Century borgo and one of the prettiest in Italy. The tour ends at the Perugina House of Chocolate for a tour. After an independent lunch, depart for San Gimignano where you’ll have a short tour of the town. The patrician families who controlled San Gimignano built around 72 tower-houses (some as high as 50 m) as symbols of their wealth and power. Although only 14 have survived, San Gimignano has retained its feudal atmosphere and appearance. The town also has several masterpieces of 14th- and 15th-century Italian art. Depart for Florence. In route stop for a traditional farmhouse meal with olive oil tasting. Continue on to Florence and check into your hotel. Overnight in Florence Day 6 – Thursday, June 4 (B,D) Florence, city tour and Accademia Museum Morning Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your local guide and begin a tour of the city (includes entrance to Duomo). The city lies on the River Arno and is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, especially for its art and architecture. A center of medieval European trade and finance, the city is often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance; home to Michelangelo's David, Botticelli's Birth of Venus, and Raphael's Madonnas. Afternoon The tour will end at the Accademia Museum. You’ll see the highlights of the world famous museum including Michelangelo’s David, Prisoners and Slaves (reservation and entrance included). The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure for further exploring the city’s sites. Evening Dinner is provided in Florence. Overnight in Florence La Pietra 2020 Tour Proposal-Property of Cultural Tour Consultants 3 Day 7 – Friday, June 5 (B,D) Florence, Uffizi Gallery and excursion to Villa La Pietra Morning After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll tour the Uffizi Gallery. One of the world’s finest and oldest art galleries, the Uffizi Gallery has housed the world’s masterpieces since the time of Leonardo. Established in 1581, it was designed by Vasari, architect and author of Lives of the Artists. Afternoon After an independent lunch, board your coach and transfer to Villa La Pietra for a visit and tour (independently arranged by group). Return to Florence for dinner and overnight. Overnight in Florence Day 8 – Saturday, June 6 (B,D) Florence, to Verona (150 miles), to Venice (75 miles) Morning Breakfast at the hotel. Board your coach and depart for Verona. Verona is a city in northern Italy’s Veneto region, with a medieval old town built between the meandering Adige River. It’s famous for being the setting of Shakespeare’s "Romeo and Juliet." A 14th- century residence with a tiny balcony overlooking a courtyard is said be “Juliet’s House." The Verona Arena is a huge 1st-century Roman amphitheater, which currently hosts concerts and large-scale opera performances. Afternoon After an independent lunch in Verona, meet your guide and tour the city. Board your coach and depart for Venice. On arrival, board your private boat and transfer to your hotel. This evening you will take part in a Commedia’del Arte workshop in Venice. Dinner is provided tonight. Overnight in Venice La Pietra 2020 Tour Proposal-Property of Cultural Tour Consultants 4 Day 9 – Sunday, June 7 (B,D) Venice Morning Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your local guide and begin a city tour, including St. Mark’s Basilica, Bridge of Sighs and Doge’s Palace among other sites. The tour will end at the Accademia Gallery for a short tour. You’ll have some free time for an independent lunch. Dinner is provided before a Mask Decorating class in Venice. The class combines a brief introduction to the history of Venetian masks and techniques used to decorate them, with a hands-on practical section in which participants get to decorate a hand-crafted Venetian mask of their choosing . Overnight in Venice Day 10 – Monday, June 8 (B,D) Venice, excursion to Murano Morning Breakfast at the hotel. This morning you’ll visit Murano for a glass blowing demonstration and visit to Museo del Vetro. The island of Murano is renowned for its long tradition of glass-making. The Museo del Vetro tells the story of glass through the centuries. Locally crafted souvenirs are available in local shops. Return to Venice for an independent lunch and time at leisure for last minute shopping and sightseeing. A festive farewell dinner is provided tonight followed by a Vivaldi concert. Overnight in Venice Day 11 – Tuesday, June 9 Venice to USA Morning Breakfast is provided at the hotel. Transfer to the Venice Airport and check in for your flight home. Two hours later your flight departs. Arrive Honolulu tonight. NOTE: A late morning or afternoon departure will be requested, pending airline scheduling. Pricing and Inclusions below: La Pietra 2020 Tour Proposal-Property of Cultural Tour Consultants 5 La Pietra School for Girls Pricing and Inclusions Land Only Cost: $3,090.00 per person based on 35 paying travelers $3,190.00 per person based on 30 paying travelers Estimated Air Cost: $1,400.00 per person Group flights can be confirmed 11 months prior to return date Pricing includes: Private deluxe motorcoach in Europe as needed to execute the itinerary. Transfers as needed in Venice to execute the itinerary (vaporetto and/or coach) Nine nights’ accommodations, double occupancy and private bathroom facilities in 3 and 4 star, centrally located hotels. 2 single rooms provided at no additional cost, for staff. Buffet breakfast daily. Nine dinners, including a welcome dinner, farmhouse dinner with olive oil tasting and a festive farewell dinner. Sightseeing tours as noted in itinerary using licensed, local guides in Rome (2), Perugia, Florence, Ravenna and San Gimignano and Venice. All activities and entrance fees in the itinerary including entrance to the Roman Coliseum and forum, reservation and tour of the Vatican Museums, Perugina Chocolate factory tour, reservation and admission to Accademia Museum and Uffizi Gallery in Florence, private boat transfers in Venice, Accademia Gallery in Venice, Commedia’del Arte workshop, and Murano Museo del Vetro, Vivaldi concert in Venice. Concert planning and promotion as outlined in the itinerary. Four (4) free tour package including land and air (based on a minimum of 30 full paying participants).