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Zurich • Liechtenstein
• Innsbruck • Oberammergau •
Munich • Salzburg • Verona • Venice
• Milan • Lucerne
Discover Europe at its most spectacular on this leisurely tour of Northern
Italy, Alpine Austria and Switzerland. Some of the most scenic and
sophisticated areas of Europe feature on this enjoyable 'saunter' through
mountains, Art and fine cuisine!
Day 1 Depart USA Overnight
flight to Zurich.
Day 2 Arrive Zurich Trafalgar meets you at the airport and transfers you
to your hotel. Later this afternoon, we enjoy an orientation of
Switzerland's financial capital with our Tour Director highlighting the Cathedral
and Bahnhofstrasse with its many elegant stores. Tonight, enjoy a welcome
beverage with our Tour Director. Hotel: Mövenpick Zurich Airport
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Day 3 Zurich – Innsbruck (3) Today's drive brings us to the Principality
of Liechtenstein, dominated by its 700 year old Castle. Time to shop
for souvenirs and collectors' postage stamps before heading to the Austrian
border. Spectacular scenery awaits as we drive through the Arlberg
region to mountain-ringed Innsbruck for three nights. Orientation
on arrival shows us the Golden Roof and Hofburg Palace as well as the
Wilten Basilica dominated by the Olympic ski jump. This evening, why not
celebrate your first night in the Tyrol with a folklore evening of
thigh-slapping and yodeling? Hotel: Innsbruck (3 nights)
Day 4 Innsbruck – Munich Enjoy a scenic drive into German
Bavaria. Stop in the picturesque village of Oberammergau –
famous for its Passion Play and its picture painted houses. Its a
short drive to Munich, where our Tour Director shows us the Marienplatz
with its famous Glockenspiel – part of the city's 'Rathaus' and of course
the celebrated Hofbräuhaus. Time to shop in the elegant stores or to
enjoy the lively atmosphere of the open-air food market. Return to
Innsbruck.
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Day 5 Innsbruck – Salzburg Excursion An early start as we head to the
musical city of Salzburg. We take the scenic route via St. Johann, past
the Wilder Kaiser Mountains and finally drive through a small section of
Germany to the province of Salzburg and its sugar icing capital.
Memories of "The Sound of Music" will haunt us on our sightseeing
tour on foot. First through the gardens of the Mirabell Palace and
along the pretty Getreidegasse to Mozart's birthplace before ending on
Mozart Square. Then a little free time to perhaps take the funicular to the Castle
Fortress or to feast on delicious 'schnitzel and noodles'! We return to
Innsbruck this evening. |
Day 6 Innsbruck – Verona (3) Along the Brenner Pass into Italy
and the charming landscape of the Dolomite Mountains. Next we descend
to the Veneto plain reaching Lake Garda. We drive along its beautiful
shores and stop for a while in Sirmione with its ancient castle. From
here it's a short drive through the Bardolino vineyards to Verona
– romantic city of star-crossed lovers! Hotel: Leopardi (3 nights)
Day 7 Verona sightseeing Discover one of Europe's secret
jewels on our walking tour of the city. We visit the 2,000 year old
Arena, built by the Romans and still in use today for Opera performances
and popular concerts. We also see Piazza Bra, Piazza delle Erbe
and the tomb of the renowned Scaliger family and of course, no visit to this
romantic city would be complete without seeing Juliet's balcony! Verona
is one of the most exciting cities in Europe for shopping, so shop for
bargains in the Via Mazzini with its many quaint boutiques. |
Juliette's Balcony
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Day 8 Verona – Venice Excursion This morning the 'Serenissima' beckons
to us…be prepared for a day of wonder as we drive to the Adriatic Coast
and the floating city of Venice. We cruise along the Giudecca Canal
by private launch, seeing the Palladian Church of Christ the Redeemer, the
island of St. George, the Customs House, the impressive Cathedral of St. Mary
of our Health and of course the Doges' Palace and the Byzantine Basilica of
St. Mark's. We stop by the Bridge of Sighs on the way to St. Mark's
Square and to one of the oldest glass-blowing workshops on the island,
where we witness a demonstration of this ancient craft. Then some free
time to do as you please or perhaps take an excursion into the Lagoon to the
island of Burano, for a fresh seafood lunch! We return to Verona. |
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Day 9 Verona – Milan – Lucerne (2) A short drive past Brescia and
Bergamo brings us to Milan, where we stop to see the gothic Duomo,
"La Scala" Opera house and the 19th century Galleria.
After, time to maybe lunch on some Milanese cuisine. From here we head into
the Alps as we drive past Lake Como, entering into Switzerland and the Ticino
district. We cross Lake Lugano and drive through the Gotthard Range
to lakeside Lucerne. Hotel: Flora (2 nights)
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Day 10 Lucerne orientation of this
medieval city shows us the Lion Monument, the Jesuit Church and the Chapel
Bridge straddling the River Reuss. Then you are free to shop for bargains
in Swiss timepieces and chocolates or maybe take a cable-car up a nearby
mountain peak!
Day 11 Lucerne – Zurich – USA Bid farewell as we transfer to Zurich
airport for our return flight to America.
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