Road To Rome

Depart from London by Eurostar for Paris
After a warm welcome from your Tour Director, transfer to London’s St. Pancras Station to board the high-speed eurostar.
Your comfortable two hour rail journey takes you via the historic Channel Tunnel to Paris where you enjoy free time to explore.
Alternatively, join at the Paris hotel. (For reduction, see date chart). Later, join your Tour Director for a Welcome Reception
and an opportunity to mingle and get to know each other over a pleasant evening of dinner and wine.(Welcome Reception
and Dinner)

Paris, the City of Light
After a restful night’s sleep, sightseeing with a local expert takes you by the Île de la Cité to see Notre Dame Cathedral with its
famous tale of Quasimodo. Then around the imposing façades of the Louvre and along the banks of the Seine with its many
beautiful bridges. See the obelisk in the centre of the Place de la Concorde and drive along the grand Champs Elysées to the
Arc de Triomphe. Then, venture into the ‘Métro de Paris’ a to admire its Art Nouveau inspired architecture and enjoy a short
journey through the Paris metropolitan area. Ascend to the viewing platforms of the Eiffel Tower a for spectacular views of
the city. The rest of the day is at leisure.(Buffet Breakfast)

Drive through Burgundy & on to Lucerne
After an early breakfast, follow the autoroute across France’s great agricultural lands. After passing the Jura Mountains, cross
into Switzerland at Basel before ending the day in lovely Lucerne. Tonight, enjoy a selection of ambience and local cuisine
offered on your Dine Around evening.(Buffet Breakfast / Dine Around)

Lucerne’s Lions, Lakes & Mountains
In the morning, join your Tour Director to see the covered Chapel Bridge and stirring Lion Monument. Then embark upon
an exhilarating ride by cogwheel train to the summit of Mount Pilatus. Admire the panorama of snow-capped peaks, before
descending by cable car over mountain crags and pine forests back to terra firma. There is time set aside to shop for fine
watches and delicious chocolate in Lucerne.(Buffet Breakfast)

Head via Innsbruck & Musical Salzburg
Drive into Austria and continue through the Arlberg Tunnel to mountain-ringed Innsbruck. See the Golden Roof and Imperial
Palace in the old town before following the Inn Valley, past the Wilder Kaiser mountain range to Salzburg, setting for the film
The Sound of Music. 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of this iconic musical. On arrival, photograph the city skyline from the
Mirabell Gardens. Then cross the river with your local expert to see Mozart’s birthplace. Take a stroll through the Old Town’s
narrow lanes to the domed Cathedral and Residenz Fountain. Spend some time in the Grünmarkta in front of the University
Church, where you’ll find fruit, vegetables, fresh cheese, Mozart chocolates and bratwurst.(Buffet Breakfast)

Across the Tauern Mountains to Venice
Enjoy a scenic drive through the Tauern Mountains which brings you down to the Carinthian Lake District and across the
Italian border to Venice.(Buffet Breakfast)

Venice & the Magic of ‘La Serenissima’
Wake up refreshed and ready to embrace this most romantic city. Your hotel is only steps away from St. Mark’s Square,
dominated by its magnificent Basilica and overlooked by the great Clock Tower where bronze Moors beat out the hours on
a huge bell. Also in the square stands the immense Campanile and Doge’s Palace which is connected to the prisons by the
Bridge of Sighs. While here, visit an arts centre to watch one of the few remaining craftsmen hand-blow Venetian glass and
building gondolas. A visit to Venice would be incomplete without a gondola serenade. Glide along the atmospheric canals,
while musicians set the mood with traditional songs.(Buffet Breakfast)

Journey through Tuscany to Florence
Bid farewell to Venice and follow the highway past the university city of Bologna, into the wild Apennines and on to the peaceful
landscapes of Tuscany. On arrival in Florence, walk with your guide to the marble clad Cathedral and Baptistery, where
Ghiberti’s ‘Gates of Paradise’ have been recreated in all their glory. Next stop is Signoria Square, political heart of the city and
still an open-air gallery of Renaissance sculptures with time to gaze at statues such as Neptune and David along the front of
the Palazzo Vecchio.(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Free Time in Florence
The next day is completely free in this remarkable city, treasure-house of the Italian Renaissance.(Buffet Breakfast)

On to Hilltop Orvieto & the Eternal City of Rome
En route south, hear an informative tutorial about the great Chianti wines that make this region so famous. Stop in the Umbrian
hilltop town of Orvieto; its Cathedral is one of Italy’s most celebrated buildings. Take in the flavours of the region, learn about
the ingredients and Italian food culture at Zeppelin Restaurant. Join a master chef for a fascinating live cooking demonstration,followed by lunch and a glass of the Orvieto Classico wine – a magical culinary experience! Once in Rome, perhaps start the
evening with a ‘passeggiata’ (traditional evening stroll).(Buffet Breakfast / Lunch)

Papal & Imperial Rome
In the morning, join a local expert for an in-depth visit to the Vatican Museums, full of priceless art collected over the ages by the
Popes. In order to avoid the crowds, Insight has arranged special VIP entrance together with behind-the-scenes access to the
Bramante Staircase – a marvel of Renaissance architecture, normally off-limits to the general public. Now to the Sistine Chapel
to admire Michelangelo’s famous ceiling. Next door in St. Peter’s Basilica, view another masterpiece by Michelangelo, the
Pietà, as well as the splendid dome, completed after his death. Cross the River Tiber to see the Colosseum, still echoing with
the ghostly cries of gladiatorial combat and overlook the Forum. Later, there is time for last-minute shopping or sightseeing at
your leisure. Tonight your tour reaches its zenith with a quintessential Italian experience! Enjoy an elegant four-course dinner
with unlimited local wine at a Roman restaurant. As you dine, you are serenaded with a private performance of popular songs
and arias from some of Italy’s best-loved operas.(Buffet Breakfast / Celebration Dinner)

Arrivederci Roma
Departure transfers arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 07:00 & 09:30.(Buffet Breakfast)