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May 30 -
June 13, 2001
Day One
Our journey through 2000 years of
Italian Gardens begins with an evening departure from Dulles
Airport, stopping en route at London's Heathrow and arriving
the next day in Rome.
Day Two
Our airline lands in Rome in the early
afternoon. After clearing customs we will go straight south for
a evening arrival in Sorrento. The evening is free to
relax, enjoy dinner, and have a good night's sleep.
Day Three
We arise early this monring in order
to catch the first hydrofoil for the beautiful Isle of Capri.
After touring the island in the morning, our afternoon finds
us in Pompeii to visit the ruins of this ancient city
destroyed by Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Our bus then takes us to our
hotel in Tivoli, just outside of Rome. Tivoli, an ancient retreat
from the heat and crowds of Rome, will be our retreat for the
next two nights.
Day Four
We start with a morning walk to Villa
d'Este, the most aquatic of the hundreds of Italian Renaissance
villa gardens. Afterward, we visit . In the afternoon, we board
a bus which takes us to Rome for a tour of Vatican city and a
very special visit to the Vatican gardens. We have dinner
in Rome, followed by an evening tour of the city. We return late
to our hotel in Tivoli.
Day Five
Our coach picks us up at our hotel
and takes us first to visit Hadrian's Villa, the largest
villa of its kind in ancient Rome. Then it's north to visit Villa
Lante in Bagnaia, followed by a walk through the oversized
sculptures at nearby Sacro Bosco. We arrive in Florence
late in the evening. Florence, birthplace of the renaissance,
will be our home for the next four nights.
Day Six
Today we have a walking tour of the
city of. Florence. Included will be the Piazza della Signoria,
the Accademia, and the Duomo. In the afternoon
we visit the Uffizi Museum before we cross the River Arno
to visit Boboli Gardens and the famous Ponte Vecchio.
The rest of the evening is free.
Day Seven
Today we take a coach to the city
of Siena to visit the Piazza del Campo and other sites
there. We depart in time to stop at the Villa Chigi Centinale
in Sovicille. On our way home we have a late afternoon excursion
to the medieval hilltop village of San Gimignano for dinner
before returning to Florence.
Day Eight
Today we go on a 360° trip around
the hills of Florence. Starting at Piazzale Michelangelo
and the wonderful San Miniato al Monte Church, we then
head north towards Villa Petraia, one of the summer residences
of the Medici family. Next we're off to Fiesole, first
settled by the Etruscans and then the Romans. We end up at Villa
Gamberaia in Settignano, a 17th century villa whose garden
is considered a masterpiece of baroque gardening.
Day Nine
We travel today by train to Venice.
We arrive there for some free time before an evening boat tour
of the city. Our hotel is located on one of the canals in Venice.
We will also have a tour of some of the hidden gardens of Venice.
Day Ten
Today you have the day free for shopping
and siteseeing on your own in the beautiful city of Venice.
Day Eleven
Our day is spent in the city of Venice
for a tour of the city and the Piazza San Marco. In the
afternoon we catch a train for the northern lake country for
our final days in Italy.
Day Twelve
Our morning begins with an excursion
to Lake Como to the beautiful Villa Balbianello. After
lunch we climb into the hills to see Villa Bagatti Valsecchi
before returning to our hotel.
Day Thirteen
This morning we'll board a bus to
Lake Como to see the Villa Carlotta and continue on to
Cernobbio to the Villa d'Este. Return to our hotel for
dinner.
Day Fourteen
Our last day may prove to be one of
our most memorable. We board our coach for Stresa and go by private
boat on Lake Maggiore to visit the beautiful gardens of Isola
Bella. Before returning to Stresa we'll stop at the romanic
Isola Madre and then drive along the lake shore to Brissago
with a short visit at the Ticino Botanical Garden. Back
at our hotel we will have an evening farewell dinner.
Day Fifteen
This morning our bus takes us to Milan
for our flight back to the States for an evening landing at Washington's
Dulles Airport.
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