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Whats Includ ed: • Return flights Dublin, Cork or Belfast-Verona
• Airport greeting on arrival
• Coach service for transfers to and from the airport and
for excursions as per programme
• 7 nights hotel accommodation in a selection of
3* and 4* hotels throughout the tour, 2 nights on a
Bed and Breakfast basis and 5 nights on Half Board
• 7 nights hotel accommodation in 3* Hotel Mayer et
Splendid in Desenzano on a Half Board basis
• English speaking tour guide for the various excursions
• Guided tour of Verona
• Guided tour of Florence
• Guided tour of Rome
• Guided tour of Assisi
• Guided tour of Siena
• Topflight representative service in Lake Garda
• Visit to a wine cellar with tasting of local produce
• Entrance ticket to the Vatican
Optional Extras:(Payable Locally)
• Traditional dinner in Florence (€25 per person)
• Traditional dinner in Rome (€30 per person)
• Excursion to Pompeii and Sorrento (€32 per person;
minimum of 15-20 persons required)
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| Day 1: Dublin/Belfast/Cork - Verona
Take a direct flight from Dublin, Belfast or Cork to Verona
airport where your Topflight tour manager awaits. You will be
transferred to your hotel in Verona where you will be greeted
with a welcome drink on arrival.
Day 2: Verona - Montecatini Terme
After breakfast this morning, a local, English-speaking guide
takes us on a half-day tour of Verona. Sometimes referred to
as ‘Little Rome,’ Verona is where Shakespeare set his romantic
tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. This beautiful old city stands on the
banks of the River Adige and is rich in history, art and
architecture. The 3rd Century Roman Amphitheatre attracts
thousands of opera lovers during July and August.
Following free time for lunch, we set out for the beautiful
spa town of Montecatini Terme, renowned for its natural
healing thermal waters. We stop en route in Pisa. Dinner and
overnight stay in Montecatini Terme.
Day 3: Montecatini Terme - Florence
Today we make our journey to Florence, a city rich in art and
architecture. With the help of a local guide, you will discover
the beauty of this splendid town with its Dome, the Cupola of
Brunelleschi, the Baptistry, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Old
Bridge and Signoria Square. Free time for lunch and you can
spend the afternoon at your leisure or join the local guide to
visit the Uffizi Museum, home to many of the world’s most
famous paintings (entrance fee payable locally). The evening is
free to enjoy as you wish, or you can join us for an optional
traditional dinner with local specialities (payable locally).
Day 4: Florence - Siena - Rome
Driving through spectacular Italian countryside, we arrive at the medieval town of Siena with its winding cobbled streets,
ancient courtyards and quaint arches. After lunch our tour
continues southwards towards Rome, centre of the old Roman
Empire and capital city of Italy, stopping on the way at a wine
cellar where we sample the wine and local produce. We check
into our hotel for three nights. Dinner is at our hotel in Rome.
Day 5: Rome - Sistine Chapel & Vatican
We start the day with a visit to the Sistine Chapel with its
elaborate frescoes including Michelangelo’s famous works,
The Creation and The Last Judgment. Afterwards we spend
some time in the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican
Square. Later we see the sights of ancient Rome including the
Roman Forum, the Colosseum and Circus Maximus. Another
highlight this afternoon is a visit to the Trevi Fountain. Enjoy
an optional evening of fine food and wine in a traditional
Roman restaurant (payable locally).
Day 6: Rome - Pompeii - Sorrento - Rome
Today you can spend more time exploring Rome at your
leisure, or alternatively, join our optional excursion to
Sorrento. We follow the autostrada passing Naples to
Pompeii, the Roman City preserved by the eruption of Mount
Vesuvius in 79 AD. On our tour we view the silent remains of
the long buried city. An expert guided tour of this fascinating
site is arranged (entrance fee extra).
From here we visit Sorrento, a delightful town set on a high
ridge with stunning views over the Bay of Naples and the
islands of Capri and Ischia. On our return to Rome we pass
Montecassino, centre of medieval art and the famous site of
the 1944 Battle of Montecassino, which is the mother church
of the Benedicitine order. An optional visit to Abbazia di
Montecassino is available (extra charge, payable locally).
Dinner and overnight stay in Rome.
Day 7: Rome - Assisi
Driving north through spectacular scenery, sit back and
admire the Umbrian landscape as we make our way to the
quiet, hilltop town of Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis. We visit
the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli and view the chapel
over the spot where St. Francis died. We also see the Chapel of
the Rose Garden where, in order to repel the nightly
temptation of the devil, St Francis is said to have run naked
through the rose bushes to expose his body to their stabbing
thorns. According to tradition, since then the roses blooming
here have no thorns and the leaves have blood-red spots. We
view a Basilica dedicated to St. Claire, the first woman to join
the Franciscan order, and to end the tour we visit the crypt in
the Basilica where St. Francis is buried in a simple tomb.
Dinner and overnight stay in Assisi.
Days 8-14: Lake Garda
Your second week will be spent along the beautiful shores of
Lake Garda, staying for 7 nights on a Half Board basis at the
Hotel Mayer et Splendid (see page 192 for details) or similar
hotel in Desenzano. Set on the southern shores of Lake Garda,
Desenzano is a pretty resort full of character and historic
charm. See page 190 for resort details.
Day 15: Lake Garda - Verona - Dublin/Belfast /Cork
After breakfast you will be transferred to Verona airport for
your return flight to Dublin, Belfast or Cork. Arrividerci, Italy!
Where you stay
Verona:
3* Hotel Brandoli or similar - 1 night
Montecatini Terme:
4* Grand Hotel Nizza et Suisse or 4* Tuscany Inn or similar - 2 nights
Rome:
4* Best Western Hotel Universo or similar - 3 nights
Assisi:
3* Hotel Los Angeles or similar - 1 night
Desenzano, Lake Garda:
3* Hotel Mayer et Splendid - 7 nights Please Note: Hotels listed above may be
substituted for hotels of equivalent standard. |