11 Day Germany, Switzerland and Italy
OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY 2022
DAY 01: USA / ENROUTE. Depart USA for Europe. Breakfast and dinner will be served aloft.
DAY 02: MILAN. Upon arrival at Milan Airport we are met by our tour escort and European motor coach. We enjoy a brief orientation tour of this exciting Northern Italian city seeing the Cathedral, a large marble gothic edifice with its turrets and many statues, as well as other points of interest. We will also visit La Scala Theatre, one of the leading Opera Houses in Europe. The balance of the day is at leisure for independent activities, dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 03: MILAN / ITALIAN LAKE DISTRICT / LAKE LUCERNE. We drive today through spectacular scenery as we make our way northwards to the Italian Lake District where we find modern resorts and sleepy villages with vine-covered trattorias. Through the pleasant resort town of Como on Lake Como, and then along it's shores to Lugano in Switzerland; Lugano is situated in charming landscape with an Italian character at the edge of Lake Lugano. We then drive through the impressive St. Gotthard Tunnel and through valleys and passes of the Swiss Alps to Lake Lucerne, in an indescribably beautiful lake and mountain setting, for dinner and overnight at our hotel in one of the lakeside resorts.
DAY 04: LAKE LUCERNE / LUCERNE / ZURICH / SEEFELD / OBERAMMERGAU. Morning sightseeing of Lucerne, set at the head of the sparkling lake of the same name, will show us the beautiful Lion Monument, the Kapell Bridge and the Spreuer Bridge as well as the elegant, flower covered promenades. We then drive to Zurich, Switzerland's largest city and one of the world's most important financial centers. Here we will see the fine lakeshore district before driving through the tiny principality of Liechtenstein where we pause to view Vaduz Castle. On into Austria and across the Arlberg Pass, via the small resort town of Landeck to the winter-sports resorts of Seefeld and Garmisch Partenkirchen and finally the tiny alpine village of Oberammergau for dinner and overnight.
DAY 05: PASSION PLAY. The entire day is devoted to attending a performance of the world famous Passion Play which is held once every ten years in this charming small Bavarian village. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 06: OBERAMMERGAU / INNSBRUCK / CORTINA / VENICE (MESTRE). Our morning orientation tour of Innsbruck, the rococo capital of the Austrian Tyrol, will show us famed Maria Theresiastrasse, the "Golden Roof" of the Emperor Maximillian and other points of interest. We then drive south via the Europa Bridge and over the imposing Brenner Pass to Cortina, jewel of the jagged Dolomites. On across the Piave Valley to the Venice area for dinner and overnight.
DAY 07: VENICE. Our morning walking sightseeing tour of Venice, the "Pearl of the Adriatic" will include the bronze horses and Byzantine mosaics on St. Mark's Campanile, the Bridge of Sighs and much more. This afternoon is at leisure for activities of your own. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 08: VENICE / FLORENCE. This morning is at leisure in Venice for more activities or shopping. This afternoon we travel the green mountains and along quiet rivers to Florence, Dante's city, jewel of the Renaissance, Center of Art, Architecture and Learning. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 09: FLORENCE / ROME. From the Baptistery's golden doors to Michelangelo's "David" in the Accademia, Renaissance riches dominate our morning sightseeing. We will also see the Medici Chapel and the Uffizi Gallery or Pitti River Arno. This afternoon we drive south from Florence along the Autostrada del Sole to the Eternal City of Rome for dinner and overnight.
DAY 10: ROME. This morning we will visit the Roman glories such as the famous Trevi Fountain, Forum of the Caesars Coliseum, Quirinale Palace, Arch of Titus, the Catacombs and St. Peter's Square with its immense Basilica designed by Michelangelo. This afternoon is free for independent activities you may care to enjoy the views from the Janiculum Hills, browse around the Spanish Steps, or sip coffee in a sidewalk cafe in the Pizaaz del Popolo or Pizaaz Navona, or wander along the elegant ViaVeneto. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 11: ROME / USA. Transfer this morning to Rome Airport at the end of our memorable tour.