Road to Rome Day tour from $2540   an Insight Vacations luxury tour

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Tour Highlights

Hotels

Good mixture of both modern & traditional hotels, ranging from the contemporary  Astoria in Lucerne & Paris Sofitel Forum Rive Gauche to the typical style of  the Francia & Quirinale which reflects the sedate atmosphere of the spa town  of Montecatini.

Fellow Passengers

Well suited to the first time traveller this tour follows the classic route from London to Rome providing a perfect introduction to the highlights of Europe. Many  passengers then continue to explore Italy in depth with one of our regional Italian tours.

Highlights

The first view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower, followed soon after by the contrasting  view from the summit of Mount Pilatus of the Alpine panorama, the waterscape of  Venice, the artistic heritage of Florence & the final awe-inspiring visit to  the Eternal City of Rome.

Excursions & Sights

• Visit the Canadian War Memorial at Vimy Ridge
• See Notre Dame & drive along the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
• View the emotive Lion Monument & Chapel Bridge in Lucerne
• Drive through the Arlberg Tunnel to Innsbruck to see the Golden Roof & Imperial Palace
• Visit Mirabell Gardens,  see Mozart's Birthplace & stroll to the Cathedral in Salzburg
• Cruise to St Mark's  Square to see the Doges' Palace, Bridge of Sighs & St Mark's Basilica
• See the  Cathedral, 'Gates of Paradise' & open-air gallery of Signoria Square in Florence
• Visit  St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City seeing Michelangelo's masterpiece, the Pieta
• Visit the mighty Colosseum & overlook the Roman Forum
• Traditional Glass-blowing  in Venice & leather-work demonstration in Florence

Scenic Drives - Burgundy, Inn Valley, Tauern Mountains, Apennines  Lakes Drive

Guided City Tours

In depth sightseeing tours in Paris, Salzburg, Florence &  Rome Orientation tours in Lucerne & Venice

Insight's First Class Services

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Luxury air-conditioned coach with onboard toilet
• First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Free arrival transfer when booking our London hotel (ask for details)
• Complimentary departure transfer to Rome Airport Day 12

Quality Dining

Highlight Dinner with entertainment in Rome

11 enhanced or buffet breakfasts and 5 three course table d'hote dinners, or buffets, plus tea or coffee

Tour Itinerary

Tour Pace

This classic tour is well paced with two night stays in Paris , Lucerne , Venice , Montecatini and Rome. The only one night stop is in the musical city of Salzburg.  The travelling days are well planned with frequent rest stops.

DAY 1 TUE - LONDON - PARIS

After a warm greeting from our Tour Director, we leave London and transfer to  Dover, where we board our ferry to Calais. We visit the Canadian War Memorial at Vimy, before crossing the battlefields of northern France to arrive in the French  capital late afternoon. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Drink with your fellow travellers.  Later perhaps enjoy an evening of fun at one of the spectacular cabaret shows? Hotel: Sofitel  Forum Rive Gauche.

DAY 2 WED - PARIS SIGHTSEEING

Sightseeing with a local guide this morning shows us the highlights of the city. We see the Gothic Notre Dame cathedral, with its memories of the tale of Quasimodo. Then we drive past the immense facades of the Louvre to the Place de la Concorde and along the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. Now we ascend the Eiffel Tower for fine views over Paris, and complete our tour with a visit to Napoleon's  Tomb in the Eglise du Dome. This afternoon is at leisure to shop in the great department stores or visit the superb collections of the Louvre? (BB)

DAY 3 THU - PARIS - LUCERNE

After an early breakfast we follow the autoroute across France's great agricultural  lands and on through the Burgundy wine region. Then past the Jura Mountains to enter  Switzerland at Basel, to reach our hotel in lovely Lucerne. Hotel: Astoria. (BB,D)

DAY 4 FRI - LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING

This morning our Tour Director shows us the Chapel Bridge and the stirring Lion  Monument, dedicated to the Swiss guards that died defending the King of France. Next, we enjoy an exciting included highlight - an exhilarating ride by cog-wheel  train and cable car to the summit of Mount Pilatus! Admire the stunning panorama of snow capped peaks, including the Eiger and Jungfrau, before our descent over  mountain crags and pine forests back to terra firma. Then there is time to shop for watches and chocolate in Lucerne. (BB)

DAY 5 SAT - LUCERNE - SALZBURG

Leaving Lucerne we drive east, past the Principality of Liechtenstein to Austria.  On through the Arlberg Tunnel, we soon arrive in Innsbruck, where we see the Golden Roof and the Imperial Palace. Later we follow the Inn Valley and pass the Wild Kaiser mountain range to reach Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart and setting for the film  'Sound of Music'. Hotel: Castellani Parkhotel. (BB,D)

DAY 6 SUN - SALZBURG - VENICE

This morning we have a great chance to photograph the city skyline from the Mirabell Gardens. Then, with our local guide, we cross the river to see Mozart's birthplace on the Getreidegasse. A stroll through the old town's narrow lanes brings us to  the Cathedral Square where we view the domed cathedral and Residenz fountain. Now  we enjoy a scenic drive through the Tauern Mountains down to the Carinthian Lake  District and across the border into Italy. We reach the flat Veneto plain and make  our way to Venice and our hotel on the fashionable Lido. Hotel: Hungaria Palace. (BB,D)

DAY 7 MON - VENICE SIGHTSEEING

Soak up the atmosphere as our private launch takes us across the Venetian Lagoon to St Mark's Square. We hear the glorious history of "La Serenissima", once one  of the greatest trading centres of the world. The city's wealth and power is evidenced  by the riches of St Mark's Basilica, and we also see the Doges' Palace and its adjoining  Bridge of Sighs. We also visit a glass showroom for a demonstration of traditional  craftsmanship. Our tour concludes with a gondola ride through peaceful canals. This afternoon, don't miss the chance to try the delicious seafood, freshly caught in the lagoon! (BB)

DAY 8 TUE - VENICE - TUSCANY

We bid farewell to Venice and follow the smooth highway past the university city of Bologna and into the wild Apennines. We soon enter the peaceful landscapes of  Tuscany. Our destination is the fashionable spa town of Montecatini where we can  shop or enjoy a stroll through town before dinner. Hotel: Francia & Quirinale.  (BB,D)

DAY 9 WED - FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING

This morning we drive to the Tuscan capital, Florence, where we are joined by  a local guide. Our guided sightseeing tour includes entrance into the Academy Gallery  to see Michelangelo's original 'Statue of David' and the half-completed 'Slaves'. We also see the magnificent Cathedral, the 'Gates of Paradise', and the living gallery of Signoria Square, political stage of the Florentines. Then perhaps some time to  shop for leather and gold products in this wonderful city! (BB)

DAY 10 THU - TUSCANY - ROME

We take the 'autostrada' south to Rome today. We arrive at our hotel mid-afternoon with plenty of time to relax and freshen up. Later, perhaps start the evening with  a 'passeggiata' (traditional evening stroll)? Rome comes alive at night; enjoy cosmopolitan squares like the Piazza Navona with its beautiful fountains, or the Via Veneto - scene of La Dolce Vita! Hotel: Sunrise. (BB)

DAY 11 FRI - ROME SIGHTSEEING

This morning a local guide introduces us to the grandeur of the city. We visit the mother church of the Catholic faith, St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City.  We see Michelangelo's masterpiece the Pieta, as well as the splendid dome, completed  after his death. Now we cross the Tiber to hear tales of the glory of ancient Rome as we visit the Colosseum and overlook the Forum. Later, there is time for last  minute shopping or sightseeing at your leisure. Tonight, we make a wish at the illuminated  Trevi Fountain before our highlight farewell dinner of local cuisine, wine and entertainment.  (BB, HD)

DAY 12 SAT - ROME

Our tour ends today after breakfast, with a transfer to Rome airport arriving  at 07.00am or 09.30am only. (BB)