Old World Classic with Many Famous Cathedrals

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Detailed Trip Description

This 21-day vacation is perfect for the traveler who wishes to delve into the history of Europe. The gradual introduction to historic Europe via Cologne, Venice and Assisi is the perfect preparation for Pompeii and ancient Rome. From London to Brussels travel on the high-speed Eurostar train. Enjoy a romantic Rhine cruise and stay in picture-book Lucerne. Two nights in Sorrento in the Bay of Naples allow visits to Pompeii and the popular Isle of Capri, and in Nice a visit to the artists' town of St. Paul de Vence is included. All major cities have sightseeing including special highlights like the second floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and inside visits to famous cathedrals, like St. Paul's in London and St. Peter's in Rome, as well as to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, the Sistine Chapel, and Florence's Academy of Fine Arts to admire Michelangelo's David.

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Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - On the Plane

 
Commercial Flights

Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

On the Plane Commercial Flights picture

Day 2 - London, United Kingdom

 
Arrival in London, England.
Hotels

Uniformed Globus Hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.


Day 3 - London, United Kingdom

 
Sightseeing

Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes all the famous landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. Highlights are a visit to ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL and the ceremonial pageantry of the Changing of the Guard, if held. (FB)


Day 4 - Brussels, Belgium

 
London–Brussels, Belgium.
Sightseeing

Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and transfer to the station to board the EUROSTAR TRAIN to Brussels, capital of Belgium. Admire GRAND’ PLACE and famous Manneken Pis.

Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (FB,D)


Day 5 - Cologne, Germany

 
Brussels–Cologne, Germany–Rhineland.
Sailboat Cruises

Enter Germany and stop in Cologne to visit the gothic CATHEDRAL. Then enjoy a romantic RHINE CRUISE.

Hotels

Continue to your hotel in the Rhineland. (BB,D)


Day 6 - Lucerne, Switzerland

 
Rhineland–Heidelberg–Lucerne, Switzerland.
Sightseeing

In Heidelberg stop to take pictures of the red-walled castle, then enjoy a scenic drive through the BLACK FOREST, renowned for its cuckoo clocks. On the Swiss border admire the thundering RHINE FALLS before continuing to picture-book Lucerne. (BB,D)


Day 7 - Lucerne, Switzerland

 
Sightseeing

Admire Thorwaldsen’s LION MONUMENT and walk through the walled Old Town, then cross the famous covered CHAPEL BRIDGE to the Jesuit Church. You may want to join an optional excursion to the top of a mountain! (BB)


Day 8 - Innsbruck, Austria

 
Lucerne–Liechtenstein–Innsbruck, Austria.
Sightseeing

Morning break in Liechtenstein. In Innsbruck, Austria’s Olympic winter sports resort, stroll through quaint medieval lanes to Emperor Maximilian’s GOLDEN ROOF. (BB,D)


Day 9 - Innsbruck, Austria

 
Innsbruck–Venice, Italy.
Sightseeing

Drive across spectacular Brenner Pass to Italy. Enter Venice in style by PRIVATE BOAT to ST. MARK’S SQUARE. Admire the Byzantine Basilica, the Clock Tower, lavish Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. Watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects, then time to explore or to join an optional gondola ride. (BB,D)


Day 10 - Assisi, Italy

 
Venice–Ravenna–Assisi.
Sightseeing

Along the Adriatic coast to Ravenna to visit the 6th-century BASILICA OF ST. APOLLINARIS IN CLASSE. Continue to Assisi and visit the 13th-century BASILICA OF ST. FRANCIS, built above the saint’s grave. (BB,D)


Day 11 - Sorrento, Italy

 
Assisi–Sorrento.
Sightseeing

South past Naples to Sorrento. Time to explore this charming resort on your own. (BB)


Day 12 - Sorrento, Italy

 
Excursion to Capri.
Sightseeing

Speed across the bay to the Isle of Capri. Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes a visit to VILLA SAN MICHELE in Anacapri. Then return to Sorrento. (BB)


Day 13 - Rome, Italy

 
Sorrento–Pompeii–Rome.
Sightseeing

Today, follow your Local Guide into POMPEII, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. See patrician homes and commercial districts strikingly recalling day-to-day life when Rome was at the apex of her power. Then head north to the Eternal City. (BB)


Day 14 - Rome, Italy

 
Sightseeing

Sightseeing with a Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman Legions marched in triumph. (BB)


Day 15 - Florence, Italy

 
Rome–Florence.
Sightseeing

Drive to Florence and follow your Local Guide to visit the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David, the magnificent CATHEDRAL, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE.

Shopping

Time to shop for Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry. (BB,D)


Day 16 - Nice, France

 
Florence–Pisa–Nice, France.
Sightseeing

Focus on Pisa this morning for pictures of its Leaning Tower. Then drive along Italian and French Riviera resorts towards the Principality of Monaco. Follow the panoramic Moyenne Corniche and stop at one of the famous PERFUME FACTORIES. (BB)


Day 17 - Nice, France

 
Excursion to St. Paul de Vence.
Sightseeing

This morning enjoy a visit to the hilltop town of St. Paul de Vence. Afternoon at leisure.

Sightseeing

An optional outing is available tonight to Monte Carlo. (BB)


Day 18 - Lyon, France

 
Nice–Avignon–Lyon.
Optional outing
Sightseeing

Along the Côte d’Azur and past Cannes to Van Gogh’s beloved Provence. Stop in Avignon and take your pictures of the Gothic papal palace and the famous bridge before proceeding to Lyon, the country’s second-largest city. (BB,D)


Day 19 - Paris, France

 
Lyon–Paris.

A comfortable drive through Burgundy on your way to Paris.

Sightseeing

This afternoon, sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the most famous sights: the Opéra, Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, and Champs-Elysées. For a bird’s-eye view, take the elevator to the second floor of the EIFFEL TOWER.

Nightlife

Tonight, maybe a lively cabaret show? (BB)


Day 20 - Paris, France

 
At Leisure in Paris.
Sightseeing

Explore the world capital of chic and style at your own pace.

Optional excursion
Museums

Optional excursions are available to the Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles. (BB)


Day 21 - Paris, France

 
Departure Flight.
Airport Transfers

Your homebound flight from Paris arrives the same day. (BB)


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