LIMITED AVAILABILITY! SIGN UP NOW TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE! Call Michelle Bell - Assistant Director for Alumni Travel Razorbacks on Tour Arkansas Alumni Association (479) 575-4786 or (800) 775-3465 e-mail: [email protected] IM: razorbacksontour (AOL or AT&T Yahoo) NORTHERN ITALY October 11 - 19, 2013 Culture and Cuisine 9 days From $3,199 per person Northern Italy is a feast for the senses. The alpine lakes, low hills and moderate climate International airfare is additional make for perennially fertile fields and valleys; authentic Parmigiano cheese, prosciutto ham Price is approximate, based on double occupancy and balsamic vinegar have been produced here at least since the Middle Ages. Yet northern and subject to change. Italy has also inspired world-class art and music, from Shakespeare’s Verona and Stradivari’s Cremona to the Giotto frescoes of Padua and the breathtaking da Vinci masterpiece in Milan. Stimulate all of your senses as you experience this fantastic history-rich excursion by boat, bus and on foot, complete with the most modern of comforts. PROGRAM INCLUDES With quaint cobbled streets and pastel-colored houses, Bardolino rests on the shimmering clear waters of Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake. The lake stretches through the foothills of the • 7 nights’ accommodations at the Dolomite Mountains, where vineyards and orchards of olive and lemon trees thrive in the 4-star Parc Hotel Gritti or similar Mediterranean climate. With Sirmione, Peschiera, Desenzano and Garda nearby, Bardolino • Daily breakfast (B), and 2 dinners (D) is just one of the magical towns that make for an unforgettable stay on the southern shores • Extensive sightseeing as specified in of Lake Garda. the itinerary • Special Go Next Welcome Gathering • Professional tour guide • Exclusive Go Next program manager Parc Hotel Gritti OOOO • Hotel taxes, hotel luggage handling and related tipping Just steps from the shores of Lake Garda and the center of charming Bardolino, the Parc Hotel Gritti is a complete Italian lakes experience. An indoor pool, a spa and wellness INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS center, a solarium and a stunningly beautiful outdoor garden and pool area form a new • Lake Garda cruise world of relaxation even among these pristine surroundings. Two casual lounges and four • Padua and Brenta River cruise restaurants provide a variety of dining options including buffet, Italian-style and fine • Parma ham and cheese tasting gourmet meals. Cozy, stylish guest rooms feature satellite TV, coffee maker, hair dryer, mini-bar and safety deposit box. • Cremona and dinner in Verona • Milan and da Vinci’s The Last Supper PRO13L_103111 6 Itinerary DAY 1 DEPART FOR ITALY DAY 6 VICENZA AND SOAVE Day at leisure OR take an optional excursion to one of the DAY 2 MILAN/LAKE GARDA Veneto’s wealthiest cities, Vicenza, celebrated the world over for Arrive in Milan, transfer to Lake Garda and check in at the Parc its splendid architecture. Witness the work of Andrea Palladio, Hotel Gritti in Bardolino. Remainder of the day at leisure. one of the most influential architects in European history. See his spectacular 16th-century renovation of the Town Hall, DAY 3 BARDOLINO – Included sightseeing and visit one of the world-renowned villas he designed. Continue In this charming peninsula town, relax – your rural-tinged to the Soave wine region and stop at one of its Mansion house day features a leisurely boat cruise on the crystal-clear waters wine cellars, complete with an exclusive wine tasting and evening of Lake Garda. With the Dolomite Mountains as a backdrop, meal. (B) rich landscapes blend gently with medieval castles and tranquil villages. Stop in Gardone, home to stunning botanical gardens DAY 7 CREMONA/VERONA – Included sightseeing and the lavish Il Vittoriale estate. Visit Isola del Garda, where Music, culture and craftsmanship: this is Cremona, also known Italian and English-style gardens surround a fantastic early- as the “City of Violins.” This small town offers sights such as the 1900s Venetian neo-Gothic villa designed by Luigi Rovelli. 12th-century Cathedral of Cremona and the landmark Tarazzo Make a quick stop in Salo, famous for its palaces and its past bell tower. Visit the historic 13th-century Town Hall for a small as the capital of Mussolini’s Italian republic. And on a serenely concert at Sala Dei Violini, and admire priceless violins made in beautiful lake peninsula, unwind in Sirmione as Ezra Pound and Cremona since the days of the legendary Stradivari. Next, make James Joyce once did; enjoy a traditional four-course meal with the short trip to romantic Verona – the setting for Shakespeare’s wine at an Italian farmhouse restaurant. (B, D) Romeo and Juliet. Here, the medieval walls and Gothic arches of Castelvecchio are complemented by the ancient Roman Arena DAY 4 PADUA – Included sightseeing and the vibrant Piazza delle Erbe. Enjoy an evening meal in one One of northern Italy’s oldest cities, Padua features the of Verona’s distinctive restaurants. (B, D) soaring pillars, domes, and Donatello artwork of the Basilica of Sant’ Antonio. On your morning tour, visit the famous Cappella DAY 8 MILAN – Included sightseeing degli Scrovegni with masterpiece 14th-century Giotto frescoes. Milan offers invigorating dashes of modern fashion and Cruise the Brenta River from Dolo to Oriago, and stop for historical genius. Explore this fabulous city with a stop at a visit at the art-filled Villa Widmann or the legendary Villa the La Scala Opera House and museum, where you can see the Malcontent – each part of ancestral Italian lore. (B) piano and other personal effects of the famed composer Verdi. At the Renaissance-era convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, DAY 5 PARMA – Included sightseeing prepare for an unforgettable highlight: you’ll be admitted to Parma is known as the birthplace of Parmigiano cheese and see the world-famous Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece The Last the famous prosciutto ham. See the fantastic architecture that Supper, which spreads across an entire wall of the refectory. (B) dates back to the 11th century and reflects the city’s status as a center for European opera. Make a delicious entrée into the DAY 9 RETURN HOME surrounding hills and visit authentic Parmigiano cheese and Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B) Parma ham factories – be sure to sample the product! On the way back, give your palate another thrill at a balsamic vinegar factory in Modena. (B) B-Breakfast D-Dinner Itinerary, hotels, and sightseeing excursions are subject to change. This map represents approximate locations. Salo SirmioneSirmmione BardolinoBaardolo ino SoaveSoave VicenzaViV cenza Venicenice MilanMiM lan VeronaVeV rona PaduPadua CremonaCremono a ParmParma.