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Tuscany, September '04!
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Join us for our next Italian tour, Sept. 23 - Oct. 1, '04 Since the dawn of the Renaissance, Florence, the city of the powerful Medici family, has been the symbol of Italian art and civilization. However, artistic and historical treasures are not all that Florence and the surrounding area have to offer; there are also gastronomic delights and enchanting countryside. Tuscany is blessed with beautiful scenery, medieval hilltop towns, historic monuments, and some of the most notable wines in Italy. Tuscany is at its best in the Fall. The weather is mild, the harvesting of grapes and olives is at its height, and the crush of summer tourism has ended. Unpack once at our centrally and peacefully located, first class, four-star hotel, the Anglo American Hotel, which will be our base for seven nights. This lovely hotel is housed in a converted 18th-century palazzo that is both spacious and elegant, decorated with antique furniture and valuable Florentine paintings. Tuscan and Mediterranean dishes are served in the beautiful dining room. Our dining experiences on this tour will range from upscale, elegant restaurants to a private villa and carefully selected rustic trattorias. The one thing they will all have in common is an emphasis on excellence. All meals will have specially-chosen menus, with local wines included. This is a trip for those who like to travel in comfort and enjoy the better things in life.
Itinerary Thursday, September 23 Depart from Detroit for Newark to connect with our Alitalia flight to Rome. D Friday, September 24 Upon arrival in Rome, we’ll transfer to our Alitalia flight to Florence, where we will meet our bilingual local escort who will travel with us by deluxe, private motorcoach to our hotel. Unpack and relax before meeting your fellow travelers over a Welcome cocktail and dinner at our hotel, the centrally-located, first class four-star Anglo American Hotel. B,D Saturday, September 25 We will start the day with a half-day guided walking tour to get acquainted with the beautiful Renaissance city of Florence. Our tour will take us to the magnificent Duomo, an architectural wonder in green, white, and pink marble crowned by its huge terracotta-colored dome; the Baptistery, famous for its vast bronze doors designed by Gilberti; and Giotto’s elegant Bell Tower. No tour of Florence would be complete without a visit to the Accademia to see Michelangelo’s incomparable David. Spend the afternoon shopping, exploring, or seeing more of the many fascinating sights of this historic city before meeting for a delicious dinner at one of the best trattorias in Florence. B,D Sunday, September 26 We journey south this morning through the Tuscan countryside to the lovely towns of Siena and San Gimignano. Little changed since the Middle Ages, Siena is characterized by steep winding streets, medieval arches, lovely little shops, and the black and white facade of its magnificent Duomo. We’ll visit this beautiful cathedral and also tour the Palazzo Pubblico, which is the centerpiece of the enormous fan-shaped Piazza del Campo, famous for the Palio horse races. We’ll have lunch at a very special restaurant in the area. San Gimignano, Italy’s best preserved medieval city is known for its characteristic skyline with 13 highrise medieval towers(some over 150 ft. tall). Our guided walking tour will include a visit to the 12th century cathedral, whose frescoes were featured in the movie Tea with Mussolini. Relax over a quiet dinner on your own in Florence. B,L Monday, September 27 After breakfast, we depart for Lucca, a gem of a town encased within its famous walls from which one has wonderful views. Our guided walking tour of the historic center of town includes a stop at San Michele in Foro church, where every column is different; some twisted like corkscrews, some carved into medieval monsters. We’ll lunch at a villa in the countryside before continuing on to Pisa, famous for its incredible Leaning Tower. Our tour includes visits to the adjacent 11th century cathedral and its magnificent baptistery. Dinner is on your own this evening. B,L Tuesday, September 28 Today is a free day for sleeping in; shopping at Ferragamo, Gucci, or Versace on the Via dei Tornabuoni; exploring the Uffizi Gallery; or visiting one of the open markets. Lunch is on your own, but save room for a delectable dinner in Fiesole, a small town in the hills above Florence. B,D Wednesday, September 29 After breakfast, we travel south to two of Tuscany’s loveliest hilltowns, the medieval city of Cortona, of “Under the Tuscan Sun” fame, and Montepulciano, where you will have time to have lunch and sample some of the renowned Vino Nobile wines of the Avignonesi winery. Before returning to Florence, we’ll visit the Romanesque Cistercian abbey of Sant’Antimo, where we may hear the white-robed monks sing a Gregorian chant. We’ll dine tonight at an excellent restaurant in Florence. B, D Thursday, September 30 Our last day in Tuscany is a treat! Today we drive through Chianti Classico country, where castles, towering cypress, and rolling hills line the route. Highlights of the day include a visit to the village of Greve in Chianti, a private tasting and tour at the acclaimed Il Mulino di Grace wine estate, and a special "Buon Viaggio" lunch at the 12th century abbey Badia a Coltibuono. We return to our hotel in time to pack and have a last look at Florence. B, L Friday, October 1 Our time in Tuscany comes to an end as we transfer to the Florence airport for our flight to Rome and our transatlantic flight home. B, L
Total Package Price: Only $3,575 per person, double occupancy (based on a minimum of 20 passengers) Single + $530 Package Price Includes: * Round-trip economy class airfare from Detroit on Alitalia (call for air add-on fares from other cities). Air taxes are additional (currently about $125 per person). * 7 nights in a first class 4-star hotel in Florence * Daily continental breakfast buffet, plus 3 lunches and 4 dinners with mineral water and local wines * Welcome cocktails at hotel and a wine tasting * Half-day guided tour of Florence * Full-day excursion to Siena and San Gimignano * Full-day excursion to Lucca and Pisa * Full-day excursion to Cortona, Montepulciano, and Sant’Antimo Abbey * Half-day guided tour of the Chianti Region * Transfers via private, air-conditioned motorcoach * Baggage handling, service charges, and all taxes at hotel * All gratuities * Admission fees to all sites described * Services of professional, bilingual, local guides * Services of professional, bilingual, local escort/sommelier * Cultural Encounters escort throughout the tour To assure our guests as intimate an experience as possible, space is limited.
For more information, contact: Suzan Alexander or Karen Street Cultural Encounters, Inc. P.O. Box 179 Chelsea, MI 48118 734-327-1931 Fax: 734-327-0567or 734-433-9971 E-mail: suzanalxdr@aol.com or kstreet@core.com
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