Italian Discovery 2009 (11 Days starting from $2,599)

A division of the Atlas Travel Network
Trafalgar Tours Authorized Representative
1-800-942-3301

Trafalgar > Italian Discovery 2009

Italian Discovery 2009
11 Days starting from $2,599

Countries Visited:
Italy

Length:	11 Days
Type:	First Class Europe & Britain 2009
Category:	Regional
Operator:	Trafalgar
Tour Code:	TT-ITDI-2009

Printer Friendly Version Send this page to a friend

About This Tour

Cities Visited:
Rome, Florence, Pisa, Turin, Italian Lakes, Milan, Verona, Venice, Bologna, Assisi

Experience many landscapes and varied cities on this regional tour of Italy. Including the picturesque Lake District, Venice''s water world of canals and cobblestone streets, Bologna''s ''kissing'' towers and Pisa''s leaning tower.

What's Included
Itinerary
Dates & Prices
Sightseeing
Details
SPECIALS

Sightseeing Highlights

Rome: Sightseeing tour includes views of the Forum and Circus Maximus plus visits to St. P eter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum.
Florence: See the Duomo, Baptistery and Piazza Signoria plus visit Santa Croce Basilica. Panoramic view from Piazza Michelangelo.
Pisa: View the Leaning Tower and Square of Miracles.
Turin: Orientation includes ''Antonelliana'' building and Piazza San Carlo.
Italian Lakes: Visit beautiful Lake Maggiore.
Milan: Orientation includes the Galleria, the gothic Cathedral and La Scala Opera House.
Pavia: Visit the Cistercian Abbey.
Verona: See Juliet''s balcony.
Venice: Cruise by private launch. See St. Mark''s Square, the Byzantine Basilica, Doge''s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. Visit a traditional glass-blowing factory.
Mantua: Admire the Ducal Palace and Basilica of Sant Andrea.
Bologna: See Neptune''s Fountain and the Kissing Towers.
Assisi: Sightseeing includes St. Francis'' Basilica.

Dining Highlights

9 hot buffet breakfasts.
3 three-course dinners.
‘Be My Guest’ speciality Tuscan dinner with wine in a restaurant overlooking the Chianti hills.
Farewell Dinner with wine in Rome.

14 meals in total (see day-by-day itinerary)

First Class Travel Highlights

All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes included.
Touring by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and a washroom onboard.
The services of one of Trafalgar''s top professional multi-lingual Tour Directors.
Stay in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities.
A qualified local city guide in Rome, Florence, Milan, Bologna and Assisi.
Airport transfers are provided on Day 2 and Day 11.
A stylish wallet, tour documents and map book journal.

Airport Transfers
Rome Fiumicino Airport Transfers will be provided on Days 2 and 11. Group transfers on arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport will operate at 09.30, 12.30 and 15.30. Return transfers from the last hotel will arrive at Rome Fiumicino Airport at 07.00 and 09.30.

London Gateways: Transfers can be expensive, particularly between the airport and your London hotel. But when you book your Trafalgar tour and take advantage of our land and air packages, we have included a FREE transfer to and from London’s airports and your Trafalgar London hotel. For passengers who have their own flight arrangements we offer you the opportunity to purchase inexpensive transfers to and from London’s Heathrow – Trafalgar has negotiated special rates for the Dot2Dot transfer from London’s Heathr
Important – Please Note: Passengers will only be entitled to transfers to and from London Airports providing the following conditions are met:
For included transfers: Your flights must be booked directly by Trafalgar no fewer than 21 days prior to departure. For chargeable transfers: Your Travel Agent provides detailed flight information to Trafalgar no fewer than 21 days prior to departure. Once transfers are booked they cannot be changed.
For London arrivals, you must stay at a London hotel booked by Trafalgar on the night of arrival and the night prior to your departure date.
Trafalgar only includes one inbound and one outbound transfer.
In the event of flight delays outside of Trafalgar’s control, the transfers will be deemed to be cancelled.
All transfers are based on group transfers. No refund is therefore available for missed transfers, or passengers not using this service.
In the event of unforeseen events (such as road or rail works, strikes or demonstrations), Trafalgar will not be responsible for delayed or cancelled transfers.
Heathrow Airport: National Express Dot2Dot will pick up and drop off in time to meet all flights to/from London’s Heathrow Airport. For guests arriving at the Dot2Dot desk after 22.00 hrs please make use of the courtesy phone to arrange your transfer to your Trafalgar hotel.
Gatwick Airport: Passengers who have booked Trafalgar’s Land and Air packages arriving at London’s Gatwick Airport are provided with a Gatwick Express train voucher. The Gatwick Express train journey from Gatwick Airport to London’s Victoria Station takes 30 minutes. Guests then need to make their way from Victoria Station to their Trafalgar hotel.
European Gateways: With Trafalgar all passengers will receive complimentary arrival and departure transfers on the scheduled arrival and departure day of their tour at the times specified below. Please ensure your Travel Agent reserves your flight to co-ordinate with the transfer times shown.
Trafalgar Bonus - Passengers who book Trafalgar''s Land+Air package and who arrive or depart outside of these specified times on the scheduled arrival and departure day of the tour will also be provided with a transfer.
Passengers arriving before or leaving after the scheduled tour days are not entitled to a transfer but may book and purchase one through Trafalgar providing that they also purchase the additional pre and/or post tour hotel night(s) from Trafalgar. Please ask for prices of transfers at the time of booking your extra night accommodation.
Land only passengers arriving or departing on the scheduled tour arrival or departure days but whose flights don''t coincide with the listed transfer times below may also book and purchase these transfers. Flight details must be provided to Trafalgar not less than 21 days before the flight departure.
Click here to see scheduled transfer times.

Day 1- Depart USA Overnight flight to Rome.

Day 2 - Arrive Rome (2 nights) Welcome to Rome, the capital of Italy, and the Eternal City! After check-in at the hotel, there''s time to relax or perhaps take a stroll through this historic city. This evening we will enjoy a Welcome Drink with our Tour Director and fellow traveling companions.

Hotel: Prime St. John (2 nights)

Day 3 - Rome sightseeing & at leisure Our first highlight today is a guided visit of the Sistine Chapel, enhanced by the use of our audio system used by our local guide, where we can gaze in awe at Michelangelo''s beautiful painted ceiling. Next we visit St. Peter''s Basilica in the Vatican, and then cross the Tiber to ancient Rome where we will
overlook the Forum and visit the Colosseum, infamous for gladiatorial combat, and also see the Circus Maximus where chariot races were held. After, enjoy time on your own and later maybe try out some Roman cuisine in a typical trattoria and watch Rome go by! (Buffet breakfast)

Day 4 - Rome – Florence Our Tour Director will take the time to show us a true Hidden Treasure
during our journey today! We start by driving through the regions of Latium, Umbria and into Tuscany to Renaissance Florence. On our arrival we enjoy the view from Piazzale Michelangelo before our guided walking tour reveals to us the medieval and Renaissance past of this culturally rich city. We will see the Piazza Signoria, the political centre of the 15th century city, with its impressive sculptures and imposing palazzos, the multi-coloured marble Duomo and the famous Baptistery with the bronze doors designed by the Renaissance artist Ghiberti. We will also visit the Basilica of the Holy Cross where so many of the great men of Italy are buried, including Michaelangelo. Then time at leisure to explore further or to shop for high quality leather and 18-carat gold jewellery. Tonight we enjoy an authentic Tuscan dinner of local produce in a restaurant with stunning views over the vineyards of the Chianti Hills. (Buffet breakfast / ''Be My Guest'' Dinner)

Hotel: Palazzo Ognissanti

Day 5 - Florence – Pisa – Turin This morning after breakfast our first stop will be at Pisa with its famous Leaning Tower and cathedral in the Square of Miracles. Here there''s time for photos before we continue our drive past the quarries of Carrara and the resorts of Portofino, Rapallo and Genoa, Columbus'' birthplace. Then on to Turin where our orientation shows us the Antonelliana building and the Piazza san Carlo. Tonight why not sample a dinner of local specialities in a local restaurant? (Buffet breakfast)

Hotel: Atahotel Concord

Day 6 - Turin – Lake Maggiore – Milan First we travel to Lake Maggiore, which is the most westerly of the three large prealpine lakes of Italy. From here we enjoy a scenic drive along the lake and then head south for the capital of Lombardy, Milan. Here our guided tour includes the Galleria, the Piazza del Duomo where we admire the Gothic cathedral, bristling with innumerable sculptures, and the renowned opera house, La Scala. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Crowne Plaza

Day 7 - Milan - Pavia - Verona - Venice (Lido) (2 nights) This morning our first stop is a visit to the Cistercian Abbey of Pavia, an important architectural monument in Italy. Later we continue our journey into the Veneto stopping to see Juliet''s balcony in Shakespeare''s Verona. We also see the 2,000 year old Roman arena, still in use today, before continuing to magical Venice for two nights. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Des Bains (2 nights)

Day 8 - Venice sightseeing & at leisure After breakfast our morning cruise by private motor launch takes us to St. Mark''s Square highlighting the Doge’s Palace and Basilica en route to one of the oldest Murano glass-blowing workshops. We''ll witness a demonstration of this ancient art before time at leisure. You may wish to relax in a café or take an optional excursion to one of the islands in the Lagoon! Later after dinner at the hotel, why not experience this city from an elegant gondola? (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

Day 9 - Venice (Lido.) - Mantua - Bologna First we visit Mantua, the setting for Verdi’s opera, Rigoletto, with its arcaded streets and cathedral. Later we arrive in Bologna, famous for its university, architecture, fine sausages and hams. Bologna is a feast for the senses and the stomach! Here a sightseeing tour with a local guide shows us Neptune''s fountain, the Kissing Towers and Piazza Maggiore. Later, perhaps enjoy some of the city''s fine cuisine at a local trattoria! (Buffet breakfast)

Hotel: Golden Tulip Aemilia

Day 10 - Bologna – Assisi – Rome This morning we travel over the Apennine Mountains stopping at Assisi for a walking tour, using our audio system, of the peaceful hometown of St. Francis. It was here that he founded his Order of Grey Friars or Franciscans in 1208 and he died here in 1226 and was canonized just two years later. We will visit the magnificent basilica and see the tomb of St. Francis and later also see the Church of St. Mary of the Angels which stands on the site of where he died. From here it''s a short drive back to the ''Eternal City'' Rome via the impressive hill-top town of Orte. Tonight, we enjoy a Farewell Dinner with wine together with our Tour Director and traveling companions. (Buffet breakfast / Farewell Dinner)

Hotel: Sheraton Golf

Day 11 - Rome - USA This morning it''s ''buon viaggio'' to our Tour Director as our Italian vacation comes to an end. There are airport transfers available, conditions apply. (Buffet breakfast)

Free airport transfers: Transfers on arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport will operate at 09.30, 12.30, 15.30 and 18.45. Passengers arriving later should make their own way to the first hotel. Return transfers on the last touring day will arrive at Rome Fiumicino Airport at 07.00 and 09.30.

Click here to check rates and availability online, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Or, to speak to one of our live, experienced travel consultants, Call us now at 1-800-942-3301. Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
4/23/2009 - 5/3/2009	$2,599	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
4/30/2009 - 5/10/2009	$2,650	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
5/7/2009 - 5/17/2009	$2,650	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
5/14/2009 - 5/24/2009	$2,650	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
5/21/2009 - 5/31/2009	$2,650	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
5/28/2009 - 6/7/2009	$2,650	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
6/4/2009 - 6/14/2009	$2,650	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
6/11/2009 - 6/21/2009	$2,650	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
6/18/2009 - 6/28/2009	$2,650	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
6/25/2009 - 7/5/2009	$2,690	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
7/2/2009 - 7/12/2009	$2,650	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
7/9/2009 - 7/19/2009	$2,650	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
7/16/2009 - 7/26/2009	$2,650	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
7/23/2009 - 8/2/2009	$2,650	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
7/30/2009 - 8/9/2009	$2,625	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
8/6/2009 - 8/16/2009	$2,625	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
8/13/2009 - 8/23/2009	$2,625	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
8/20/2009 - 8/30/2009	$2,625	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
8/27/2009 - 9/6/2009	$2,599	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
9/3/2009 - 9/13/2009	$2,675	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
9/10/2009 - 9/20/2009	$2,675	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
9/17/2009 - 9/27/2009	$2,675	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
9/24/2009 - 10/4/2009	$2,675	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
10/1/2009 - 10/11/2009	$2,675	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
10/8/2009 - 10/18/2009	$2,660	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
10/15/2009 - 10/25/2009	$2,660	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
10/22/2009 - 11/1/2009	$2,660	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us

This list indicates brochure rates and dates. * For single travellers purchasing the twin-share option, please note that there is a no smoking policy in all shared rooms. Please note: In addition to being sold out or on a request basis only, a tour departure may not be displayed on this site for operation reasons. For details on discounts that apply to this tour please refer to a brochure or see your Travel Agent. The displayed prices are based on twin-share accommodation. A single supplement price is available on request.

Rome
Florence
Pisa
Turin
Italian Lakes
Milan
Pavia
Verona
Venice
Mantua
Bologna
Assisi

This list indicates brochure rates and dates.
* For single travellers purchasing the twin-share option, please note that there is a no smoking policy in all shared rooms.
Please note: In addition to being sold out or on a request basis only, a tour departure may not be displayed on this site for operation reasons.
For details on discounts that apply to this tour please refer to a brochure or see your Travel Agent.
The displayed prices are based on twin-share accommodation. A single supplement price is available on request.

CURRENT SPECIALS:

Cruise Solo at NO Additional Charge

Trafalgar / Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has waived single supplements on a variety of 2009 Europe river cruises, which means solo travelers can cruise at no additional charge.

This offer is valid on the following cruises:

Burgundy & Provence

Tulips & Windmills

Enchanting Danube

Eastern Europe Explorer

Danube Discovery

Rhine Discovery

Grand European Discovery

Paris and Normandy

Grand France

Portugal, Spain, & the Douro River Valley (Cruise Only)

Paris & European River Romance

Paris & Grand European Waterways

Paris & the Heart of Europe

Contact your travel specialist at 1-800-942-3301.

**Conditions apply. Valid on select departures. See you travel agent for further details.

Destination Countries

Special Interest

Tours By Category

Tour Operators

Information

Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing.