On this Escape, you can experience Europe’s most popular destinations without the crowds—and even better—without the high-season prices. Rome, Florence, Venice, Lucerne, and Paris—these exciting and vibrant cities await you on this thrilling European tour. Guided sightseeing tours will highlight the must-see attractions, including the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum the ancient arena of the Gladiators in Rome; the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, where you will see Michelangelo’s famous David statue; the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne, dating back to the 14th century; and a Seine cruise in Paris, where you’ll want your camera ready to capture the magnificent views of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower.
ROME
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum
FLORENCE
Guided walking tour, visit Michelangelo’s David and Signoria Square
VENICE
Private boat ride; visit St. Mark’s Square; glassblower demonstration; LF pasta dinner at a local restaurant
LUGANO
Stop in the lakeside town
LUCERNE
Walking tour including the Lion Monument and the Chapel Bridge
PARIS
Guided sightseeing; enjoy a Seine Cruise
Notes
Hotels listed may occasionally be substituted with alternate hotels of equivalent standard.
For operational reasons, slight schedule changes for the Paris program cannot be excluded.
Welcome to Rome! At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Dinner
ROME Guided sightseeing includes the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, and the Colosseum. Free time late afternoon.
Breakfast
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDARY LIVES Stand in awe and wonder amid one of mankind’s greatest artistic achievements in the Sistine Chapel. Hear how in 1508, a young Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II to decorate the chapel’s ceiling – a request not welcomed by the 33-year-old sculptor. Michelangelo’s 4-year project was indeed one of physical pain and psychological distress, while painting from scaffolds high above the sanctuary floor. Nevertheless, he created what is considered one of the great masterpieces in history.
Scenic drive en route to Florence.
FLORENCE Guided walking tour includes the Academy of Fine Arts and Signoria Square. Free time.
Breakfast 193 mi / 310 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & ARCHITECTURE Those lucky enough to visit the Tuscan capital are witness to some of the world’s most magnificent art. Home to a wealth of Rennaissance masterpieces, Florence is famous for Michelangelo’s Marble Masterpiece, David, standing ready for battle in the Academy of Fine Arts. Outside, Piazza del Duomo and Signoria Square offer spectacular sights of Florentine Gothic and Renaissance art, architecture, and monuments.
VENICE ISLAND Take a private Boat Ride on the canals. Orientation includes St. Mark’s Square and the Bridge of Sighs followed by a glassblower demonstration. This evening dinner at a local restaurant.
Breakfast, Dinner 174 mi/ 280 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT Locals simply call Piazza San Marco “la piazza.” As paired with the smaller Piazzetta, it forms the social, religious, and political hub of Venice, which Napoleon called “the drawing room of Europe.” St. Mark’s Basilica dominates the square, offering visitors a spectacular view of the great arches, marble embellishments, and the Romanesque carvings of its façade. Also gracing the square is Doge’s Palace – a masterpiece of Venetian Gothic architecture. The enclosed Bridge of Sighs, connecting the palace with the prison, is named for the prisoners breathing in their last view of the Rio di Palazzo on their walk to the prison’s interrogation rooms.
LUGANO Free time before a scenic drive through the Swiss Alps and St. Gotthard tunnel en route to Lucerne.
Breakfast 342 mi / 550 km
FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE in Lugano to see its mix of Italian and Swiss style and culture reflected in its architecture and cuisine. Standing on the Lake’s northern shore, the city is surrounded by mountain peaks. Lugano’s Piazza della Riforma and pastel palazzos share the ambience of this lovely Swiss city with impressive architecture and bold and innovative street art.
LUCERNE Walking tour includes the Lion Monument, the Old Town, and Chapel Bridge. Free time this afternoon.
Breakfast,Dinner
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT Serenity is found in a gaze across the stunning panoramas of the Swiss Alps above the lovely city of Lucerne. Spend time at leisure with a stroll through its magnificent medieval architecture and peaceful alpine lake.
Drive through the vineyards of Burgundy with views of beautiful castles and pass the Fontainebleau Forest en route to Paris.
PARIS Free time this evening.
Breakfast 423 mi / 680 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT Glide across the Swiss and French countryside. Pass by Princess- style castles on your way to Paris and get in the mood for the song awaiting in the City of Light.
PARIS Guided sightseeing includes the Opéra, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, and a Seine cruise.
Breakfast
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS As the song goes, we love Paris in the springtime; we love Paris in the fall - but no matter the season, we fall in love whenever we visit the most romantic city in the world. From the tranquility of the Seine River to the tempting treats in a corner café, you’ll love Paris anytime.
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Breakfast
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