FOCUS ON ITALY & PARIS

Beligium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland & France

ITINERARY:

1 LONDON - BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.
Leave in the early morning from your London joining hotel (see your travel documents) and head through the lush English countryside to the Channel port, where you embark on your ferry for the Continent. Here meet your Tour Director and board your luxury coach for the drive to Brussels.

2 BRUSSELS - RHINELAND, GERMANY - ULM AREA.
A comfortable journey using the fast German Autobahn travelling south into the Rhineland, then past Stuttgart into Bavaria, with its woods, farms and pretty villages. Break the journey with an optional Rhine cruise gliding past the famous Lorelei Rock. (B,D)

3 ULM AREA - INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA - VENICE AREA, ITALY.
Drive south this morning into Austria by way of the Fern Pass into the Tyrol and onto its capital Innsbruck. Continue by way of the Europa Bridge into Italy and make a stop in the lovely winter sports resort of Cortina in the Dolomites. Descend into the valley of the Trentino and the Venetian plain; then, travel eastwards to the Venice area for overnight. (B,D)

4 VENICE AREA.
Venice is more like a marvellous film set than a real live city, with its criss-crossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces and quiet little piazzas. The included tour starts with a boat ride and is followed by some time at leisure to enjoy this unique city, and a chance to watch Venetian glassblowers fashion their delicate objects as they did centuries ago. Don't miss the optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque
canals with a local troubadour to serenade you. (B)

5 VENICE AREA - ASSISI - ROME.
An interesting drive southward, cutting across the Po Delta, then through the gentle Umbrian hills to Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182. Visit the world-famous Basilica with its beautiful frescos by Giotto, then head for Rome. (B)

6 ROME.
The "Eternal City" - a city steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting and absolutely unique. Included sightseeing with a Local Guide starts in St. Peter's Square, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum and the mighty Colosseum. (B)

7 ROME - MONTE CASSINO - POMPEII - SORRENTO.
Deeper into the south today, making a first stop in Montecassino to view the monastery and abbey perched high above the valley. The monastery was the motherhouse of the Benedictines, founded in 529 and destroyed four times over the past centuries. The last time it was laid to ruin was in 1944 during the great battle of Montecassino. Next is another great sight. Time stopped for the rich, aristocratic town of Pompeii with the terrible eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. You can see the luxurious villas, temples, theatre, and forum (entrance
fees and Local Guide are included). Just a few more miles to Sorrento, where you'll stay for the next two nights. (B)

8 SORRENTO. BOAT TRIP TO CAPRI.
Visit this legendary island, surrounded by rocky coastline, where the crashing sea has formed awe-inspiring caves. The town with its pretty piazza, maze of streets, fashionable boutiques, and smart restaurants is a mecca for the jet set. An optional island tour is available. (B,D)

9 SORRENTO - ORVIETO - FLORENCE AREA.
This morning retrace part of the route, bypassing Rome for a stop in Orvieto to visit its black basalt and yellow limestone cathedral, an excellent example of Italian Gothic architecture. Next, enjoy the extraordinary beauty of the Tuscan countryside. Overnight in the Florence area. (B)

10 FLORENCE AREA. EXCURSION TO PISA.
This Renaissance gem and city of the Medicis will keep you enthralled for a whole day. Traffic is banned in part of the historic centre so visitors can wander at leisure and admire the city's timeless beauty in relative peace and quiet. Don't miss the included walking tour with a Local Guide, which features most of the city highlights. You will see the Piazza Santa Croce; the beautiful Piazza Signoria; the Palazzo Vecchio and its courtyard; the Loggia dei Lanzi; and, to top it off, the Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile, and the magnificent East Door of the Baptistry known as the "Gate oF Para e". In the afternoon take advantage of an included excursion to Pisa and enjoy the sights of the "Square of Miracles" with its Leaning Tower. (B,D)

11 FLORENCE AREA - BOLOGNA - LUGANO, SWITZERLAND.
This morning drive just 50 miles (80 km) northeast to Bologna, the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region. Stop awhile to see the twin "leaning towers" and the lovely Piazza Maggiore. Journey northwards across the mighty River Po, through the Lombardy plains, into Switzerland for an overnight in charming Lugano. (B)

12 LUGANO - LAKE LUCERNE AREA.
Some truly magnificent Alpine scenery this morning as you travel into the very heart of the Swiss Alps. Once through the St. Gotthard tunnel you start your descent to Lucerne, perhaps rightly considered the most Swiss looking city in the whole confederation. This afternoon's sightseeing takes in the impressive city walls, a covered wooden bridge, ornate patrician houses lining cobblestone streets, and the Lion Monument, a masterful stone sculpture in honour of the heroic Swiss Guard of Louis XVI. A grand selection of optional activities completes the day: a cruise on the fjord-like lake; a funicular and cable car ride to the 6,227-foot summit of Mount Stanserhorn; and, of course, there is time to shop for that very Swiss watch. Return to your overnight hotel in the Lake Lucerne area. (B,D)

13 LAKE LUCERNE AREA - PARIS, FRANCE.
Enjoy vistas of green pastures and attractive chalets with rustic timbering and luxuriant flowers. Then into France on the highway past some of its most famous vineyards, to Paris. Arrive in time to enjoy the optional cabaret show. (B)

14 PARIS.
One full day to explore the city that's known throughout the world for its fashions, art and museums, delicious food, and joie de vivre. Included sightseeing with a local expert of many of the best-known Parisian sights: La Sorbonne, Arc de Triomphe, Opera, Madeleine, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramid near the Louvre, the Invalides, and Champs Elysees. Optional excursions are also available. Maybe celebrate the success of your tour with a French
farewell dinner. (B)

15 PARIS - LONDON, ENGLAND.
Relax and let the countryside whiz by on the road north to the coast, where you board your
Channel ferry. Through Kent, return to London for an evening arrival. (B)