New for 2010 - a chance to discover magical Sicily, the sunny island where the mountains meet the sea. At the crossroads of many ancient civilisations, Sicily has a rich history that we will explore as we travel through this largely unspoilt island, as well as enjoying the stunning scenery. There’s even time for wine tasting! The tour then continues north with a two-night stay in the ‘Eternal City’, Rome, and a visit to Florence, before heading home via Switzerland and Belgium.
TOUR INCLUDES
- Return ferry Dublin-Holyhead
- Return overnight cruise ferry Hull-Zeebrugge with dinners and
- breakfasts on board
- Luxury coach with fully qualified Driver/Escort
- 10 nights hotel accommodation with dinner, bed & breakfast
- Overnight ferry Genoa-Palermo
- Overnight ferry Catania-Naples
- Local English-speaking guides as specified in the itinerary
- Entrance to Valley of the Temples and Museum, Agrigento
- A light lunch and wine-tasting on Mount Etna
- Visit to Gambino Vineyard for a tour and wine-tasting
- Mt Etna
- Entrance to the Greek Theatre, Taormina
- Entrance to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, Rome
HOTEL
Park Inn, Macon
Hotel Athenaeum, Palermo
Best Western Hotel Kaos, Agrigento
Hotel Sporting Baia, Giardini Naxos
Hotel Excel Montemario, Rome
Hotel Ercolini & Savi, Montecatini Terme
Best Western Hotel Flora, Lucerne
Leonardo Hotel, Namur
COST
€1,995 per person sharing
€425 single supplement
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ITINERARY
THURSDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER
Our journey begins with a local pick up then we make our way to Dublin for the ferry to Holyhead. We continue with a leisurely drive across the Pennines to Hull where we board the overnight cruise ferry to Zeebrugge with en-suite cabin accommodation, dinner and breakfast on board included. (Dinner, B&B)
FRIDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER
We cross Belgium and enter France near the city of Lille, then head southwards through France’s famous Champagne area passing the cities of Reims and Troyes. Our overnight stop is in the Burgundy wine region. (Dinner, B&B)
SATURDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER
A lovely drive through the French Alps today, passing close to Geneva. We should catch sight of Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, before passing through the Mont Blanc Tunnel and arriving in Italy. We travel through the Aosta Valley and continue to the port-city of Genoa, birthplace of Christopher the overnight ferry to Palermo, Sicily.
SUNDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER
After a leisurely day’s cruising we arrive in Palermo late afternoon and check in to our hotel in this exciting and vibrant city. (Dinner, B&B)
MONDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER
We meet our local guide this morning for a sightseeing tour of Palermo. We see the Cathedral and the splendid mosaics in the Palace of the Normans, before we travel south across the medieval, hillside Agrigento, its tiny streets and fine churches looking down over the nearby Valley of the Temples and beyond to the sea. We visit the Valley of the Temples this afternoon to see the archaeological remains and the museum. Later, we check into our hotel in Agrigento in time for dinner.(Dinner, B&B)
TUESDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER
After breakfast we head northeastwards, past Catania, to Mount Etna. At 3,323 metres, Mount Etna is one of the world’s biggest active volcanoes and its looming presence is everywhere on the eastern side of Sicily. We approach Etna from the south and visit some old lava flows on the way to Rifugio Sapienza, only 1400 metres below the summit. Here we see the latest new lava flows and marvel at the amazing moonscape before us! We stop at a restaurant to be greeted with a glass of local sweet almond wine and will then taste two excellent Etnean wines together with a light lunch of bruschetta, olives and local salami. On the way down, we stop and transfer into minibuses for a visit to Etna’s best known ‘Gambino’ vineyards. After a tour of the wine-making, casking and bottling areas we will taste the vineyard’s three red and two white wines along with a delicious snack of dried tomatoes, marinated mushrooms, eggplant, bread and mineral water. Enjoy the lovely views over Etna’s foothills to the Ionian Sea then we descend through a wonderful pine forest to charming Giardini Naxos and our hotel for the next two nights. (Dinner, Light Lunch, B&B)
WEDNESDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER
This morning we drive the short distance to Taormina, Sicily’s most famous resort situated high on Mount Tauro and dominating the two sweeping bays below. Taormina has been a tourist resort since ancient times when Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, their residential site thanks to its favourable position, mild climate and magical atmosphere. There are still fine examples of Taormina’s golden age to be seen and our guided half day walking tour shows century Cathedral of Saint Nicolo, the Palazzo Corvaja and the Palace of the Dukes of Saint Stefano. The remainder of the day is at leisure to stroll in the flower-decked streets and alleys and to window-shop or souvenir-hunt in the converted ground floors of the mansions on the Corso. We return to our hotel in Giardini Naxos for dinner and overnight. (Dinner, B&B)
THURSDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER
We check out of the hotel after breakfast and drive to Sicily’s second largest city and cultural capital, Catania, where we enjoy a three hour guided walking tour. We see Piazza Duomo with its unique Elephant Fountain, the Cathedral and the Palazzo degli Elefanti, then continue past some wonderful Baroque buildings to Piazza Stesicoro and the Roman Amphitheatre. The tour ends at Villa Bellini with time at leisure to have lunch and to relax in the delightful surroundings of squares, bridges, borders and fountains. Later we make our way to Catania Port in time for the overnight ferry sailing to Naples. (B&B)
FRIDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER
After disembarkation we drive directly to Rome, the ‘Eternal City’. Our guide leads a panoramic walking tour to show usthe Trevi Fountain (don’t forget to toss in a coin to ensure your return to Rome!), the Pantheon, beautiful Piazza Navona, the Roman Forum and the awe-inspiring Colosseum. Lunch is at your leisure then there will be free time to soak up the atmosphere of Italy’s wonderful capital before we make our way to the hotel for a two night stay. In addition to dinner each night, we include a 2-hour ‘Open Bar’ in the hotel with unlimited beer and wine. (Dinner, B&B)
SATURDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER
This morning we drive into the centre of Rome for free time – there is just so much to see and do! This afternoon we meet a local guide at the Vatican City to tour the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (with earphones). The Museums contain sculptures, tapestries and ancient maps and the tour ends at the Sistine Chapel, the Pope’s official private chapel where election conclaves are held. Be sure to look up at Michelangelo’s amazing ‘Creation’ on the ceiling and his famous ‘Last Judgment’ is breathtaking. We exit into St Peter’s Square, one of the most beautiful and famous squares in the world, surrounded by Bernini’s imposing colonnade of 284 columns. Cross the vast square to visit St Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in Christendom then return to the hotel to enjoy dinner and the ‘Open Bar’ for 2 hours. (Dinner, B&B)
SUNDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER
It’s ‘Arrivederci Roma’ as we leave this morning and drive north to Tuscany with a stop in Florence, ‘cradle of the Renaissance’, for a chance to see this stunning city on the banks of the River Arno. Our destination is the charming spa town of Montecatini Terme where we will enjoy dinner and an overnight stay. (Dinner, B&B)
MONDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER
Our journey today takes us north past Milan and the Italian Lake District until we start to climb into the mountains. We drive through the St Gotthard Tunnel (the third longest in the world) and soon descend onto the shores of Lake Lucerne to our hotel for the night. (Dinner, B&B)
TUESDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER
We leave Switzerland and our route takes us past Strasbourg in France, home of the European Parliament, and on through Luxembourg to Namur in Belgium for an overnight stay. (Dinner, B&B)
WEDNESDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER
After breakfast we drive across Belgium to Zeebrugge with time for a stop in Bruges, known as the ‘Venice of the North’. Crisscrossed with pretty canals, this charming city is famous for its lace and chocolate. Time to stock up on some goodies before we board the overnight cruise ferry to Hull with cabins, dinner and breakfast on board ship. (Dinner, B&B)
THURSDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER
We arrive in Hull and retrace our steps across the Pennines to Holyhead for the ferry back to Dublin and onward transfers to original pick up points. |