DAY 1: 23 September (Sun) – ARRIVE IN BERLIN On arrival in Berlin, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the balance of the day at leisure. DAY 2: 24 September (Mon) – BERLIN No longer divided but every bit as fascinating, Berlin was once the city of contrasts with the wall separating two different worlds. Now the city has developed into a harmonious blend of new and old, preserving its historical buildings and impressive boulevards as well as creating brand new buildings in the most daring architectural styles. Sightseeing with your local guide includes the elegant Ku'damm, the restored Reichstag, Charlottenburg Palace, a picture stop at monumental Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial, and the 64 metre (210-foot) Victory Column in the vast Tiergarten Park. Visit the KAISER WILHELM MEMORIAL CHURCH with its bomb-damaged tower, drive along Unter den Linden Boulevard, and pass the State Opera House and 'Checkpoint Charlie.' (B, D) DAY 3: 25 September (Tue) - BERLIN: Excursion to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp We venture out of Berlin today and travel to Oranienburg for a tour of the MEMORIAL & MUSEUM SACHSENHAUSEN. This camp was once a factory, and the vacated building was taken over in 1933 by local SA storm troopers. It has served as a concentration camp for just over a year on its original site before new structures were built in 1936. (B, D) DAY 4: 26 September (Wed) – BERLIN – DRESDEN – PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC Before leaving Germany, we stop in Dresden, the former capital of Saxony. Badly damaged by Allied bombing in February 1945, the city has since been restored to its baroque splendour. During your walking tour, admire the architecture of the Zwinger Palace and Semper Opera. This afternoon we cross the Czech border and venture to Prague. (B) DAY 5: 27 September (Thu)– PRAGUE Guided sightseeing includes a visit to HRADCANY CASTLE GROUNDS. Also see St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Town, the Jewish ghetto, and the ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK, once the envy of all Europe. This afternoon enjoy a walking tour to learn more about Prague’s Jewish history. Visit the JEWISH MUSEUM and see the OLD JEWISH CEMETERY, established in the first half of the 15th century and one of the most important historic sites in Prague's Jewish Town. You will also see the Maisel, Spanish, and Pinkas Synagogues and the Old Jewish Town Hall. (B) DAY 6: 28 September (Fri) – PRAGUE – VIENNA, AUSTRIA We depart Bohemia today and head for the Austrian border and into Vienna, once the centre of the mighty Habsburg Empire. Meet your Local Guide and start your sightseeing with vistas of Prater park with its giant Ferris wheel. Then, drive along the elegant Ringstrasse. Pass the impressive State Opera House, the Jewish quarter, and stop at the Hofburg Palace, winter residence of the Austrian imperial family. Marvel at the impressive courtyards and famous HELDENPLATZ , and visit awesome ST. STEPHEN'S CATHEDRAL. (B) DAY 7: 29 September (Sat) – VIENNA This morning enjoy your included tour of SCHONBRUNN PALACE - one of Europe's most impressive baroque palace complexes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and former summer residence of the imperial family. Enjoy this afternoon at leisure to explore this magnificent city on your own. (B) DAY 8: 30 September (Sun) - VIENNA - SALZBURG – INNSBRUCK We leave Vienna and head for the home of ‘The Sound of Music’, Salzburg. Your walking tour with a Local Guide features the historic centre of Mozart's hometown, exquisite MIRABELL GARDENS, the Great Festival Hall, ST. PETER'S CHURCHYARD, and the monumental Domplatz. Next we travel to the town of Hallien, where we visit the SALT MINE, which has been worked for over 7,000 years! We then venture to Innsbruck in the Tyrolean Alps. (B, D)
DAY 9: 01 October (Mon) - INNSBRUCK – VENICE We being today with a pleasant walk through Innsbruck’s quaint medieval lanes to Emperor Maximilian's GOLDEN ROOF, before a ride on the CABLE RAILWAY to the peak of Nordkette. Then we venture south west by way of the Europa Bridge into Italy and enjoy the enchanting views of the mighty Dolomites. Descend into the valley on to the Venetian plain; then, travel eastwards to the Venice area for an overnight. (B, D) DAY 10: 02 October (Tue) - VENICE AREA The included orientation starts with a boat ride and is followed by some time to soak up the atmosphere of this unique city and a chance to watch Venetian glassblowers. Enjoy the wonderful GONDOLA ride with music, a true Venetian experience. Appreciate the peaceful vistas of the Lagoon while you glide past the islands of Santa Elena, San Michele and the famous Lido. On picturesque BURANO ISLAND, renowned for its lace making and colorful houses, savor a mouthwatering meal. Afterwards there's time to shop and stroll. (B, D) DAY 11: 03 October (Wed) – VENICE AREA – FLORENCE AREA Start the day by journeying south across the Apennines into the gentle and hilly countryside of Tuscan, then, to the Florence area. (B, D) DAY 12: 04 October (Thu) – FLORENCE AREA This Renaissance gem and city of the Medicis will keep you enthralled for a whole day. Traffic is banned in part of the historic centre, so visitors can wander at leisure and admire the city’s timeless beauty in relative peace and quiet. Don’t miss out on the included walking tour with a Local Guide that features most of the city highlights. You will see the Piazza Santa Croce; the beautiful Piazza Signoria; the Palazzo Vecchio and its courtyard; the Loggia dei Lanzi; and, to top it all, the Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile, and the magnificent East Door of the baptistery known as the “Gate of Paradise”. (B) Please allow time for the students to enter the Duomo DAY 13: 05 October (Fri) - FLORENCE AREA – PISA – ROME Leave the Florence area this morning and head to Rome. En route, stop in Pisa to see the famed Square of Miracles and view the Leaning Tower. Then, journey south to Rome. (B) DAY 14: 06 October (Sat) – ROME The “Eternal City” – a city steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Included sightseeing with a Local Guide starts in St Peter’s Square. See the Spanish Steps, the Roman Forum and the mighty Colosseum. An early evening tour will show you other aspects of Rome, perhaps not seen on the included sightseeing tour. You will have an orientation drive that may include Castel Sant' Angelo, Palace of Justice, Mausoleum of Augustus, Aurelian walls, Villa Borghese, Via Veneto, Piazza Barberini and Via Nazionale. A stop will be made at the famous Trevi Fountain, where a traditional legend holds that anyone throwing a coin into the fountain will ensure a return to Rome! (B, D) DAY 15: 07 October (Sun) – ROME Enjoy today at leisure to explore more of this fascinating city. (B) DAY 16: 08 October (Mon) - ROME - EXCURSION TO POMPEII & MONTE CASSINO Today, enjoy a day trip to the ancient town POMPEII, where time stopped for the rich, aristocratic town with the terrible eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. A Local Guide will bring that day back to life. Then on our return, travel through the province of Latium for a stop to visit Montecassino's BENEDICTINE ABBEY. (B) DAY 17: 09 October (Tue) - ROME Enjoy this morning at leisure before transferring to the airport later this afternoon for your flight home. (B)