10D9N Italian and Swiss Panorama

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Evening transfer to the Trastevere district. </p><p><strong>Welcome to Rome!</strong> Upon arriving at the airport, we will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Check the information boards in the hotel reception area for details of the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travellers. In the evening we will <strong>transfer you to Trastevere area</strong> (this neighbourhood will be a great introduction to Rome). Take a stroll in the narrow cobbled streets of the Trastevere district and find its hidden treasures, such as some modest medieval churches and small shops with interesting souvenirs. Many trattorias (informal Italian eating establishments) and osterias (inns) filled with the Italian spirit, will be ready to serve you local dishes. Other restaurants serving international cuisines can be found in this area. After dinner we return to the hotel.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> City tour of Rome. Roman Coliseum and Vatican City. Evening transfer. </p><p>In the morning, we will have a tour of the city, which will be a great introduction to “The Eternal city”. We enter the tiny state of the Vatican. The Vatican City is a principal centre of Christianity in the world. You will be able to visit St. Peter’s Basilica. We will also enter the <strong>Roman Coliseum (admission price included)</strong>, the principal symbol of Rome. This impressive con­struction dates back 2,000 years and will transport us in time so that we can learn about ancient society in the Roman Empire. In the evening we will <strong>transfer you to the Via Cavour area</strong>, where you will find many interna­tional restaurants to enjoy your dinner at. After dinner return to the hotel.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Tour with a local expert from Florence. View from Piazzale Michelangelo. </p><p>Today we will leave Rome, heading north. This route has beautiful landscapes. Arriving in <strong>FLORENCE</strong>, we head straight to the impressive <strong>Piazzale Michelangelo</strong>. In the evening we take a tour with a local expert, walking through the historic centre, taking in places such as the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, and Plaza della Signoria. This city is truly an outdoor museum. Enjoy some leisure time to explore. In the evening you will have time for dinner, as, in this district you can find many restaurants serving international cuisine.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Boat on Venice’s Canal. Visit and admission to the St. Mark´s Basilica. Admire the technique of crafting Murano Glass. </p><p>Today we enjoy stunning mountain landscapes while crossing the Apennine Mountains. We will arrive in <strong>VENICE</strong> and take the <strong>boat</strong> and cross the Giudecca to the Island of Venice. With a local guide, we will visit the marvellous St. Mark´s Square and enter the <strong>Basilica (entrance included)</strong>. Afterwards, we will visit the Murano Glass Factory. It is fascinating to see the technique of how this ancient glass is made. Enjoy some time at leisure to explore. Accommodation in the Mestre district.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> We visit the city of Romeo and Juliet. Beautiful countryside while crossing the Alps (lakes and snowy mountains). </p><p>We will depart from Venice, travelling to <strong>VERONA</strong>. When we arrive in Verona we will take a shuttle to the historic centre. Our guide will instruct you on the places where you will be able to walk in Romeo and Juliet’s city - the city of lovers! Afterwards we continue our journey to <strong>LUGANO</strong>, the cosmopolitan capital of the Italian Switzerland with its beautiful lake. Time to stroll and have some lunch. Journey on to Zurich, beautiful lakes and mountains with snow-capped peaks line our route. Arriving in <strong>ZURICH</strong> enjoy some free time in the historic centre next to the lake. Here you will be able to dine in one of the many restaurants serving a variety of international cuisine.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Admire the fantastic landscapes. Cable car included to Grindelwald. Lunch included.</p><p>Today´s journey has beautiful landscapes with high mountains and lakes. Breathtaking scenery in the region of Interlaken. We will stop in <strong>GRINDELWALD</strong> where we will have time for a coffee before taking the cable car up to mountain. We will walk along the winding path which will lead us to the ¨footbridge over the empty¨. Dare to walk along the bridge amongst the fantastic scenery enjoying glaciers all around us. We will take <strong>lunch</strong> up the mountain (included) before heading back down. We continue to <strong>LUCERNE</strong>, one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland. In the evening we have time to stroll around, enjoying the city.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Baroque Abbey. Heidi’s Village. Journey through beautiful landscapes. .</p><p>We leave Lucerne driving along the Four Cantons Lake towards <strong>EINSIEDELN</strong> , its immense baroque abbey is the most important pilgrimage centre in Switzerland. After that we continue towards the East of Switzerland. <strong>MAIENFELD</strong> is the village which inspired Heidi’s story. A walk in its historic centre after which we will be visiting Heidi’s House (Ticket not included. Entry to the facility is free), a picturesque place with beautiful landscapes that we will reach through a pedestrian path. Then we enter into the independent country of Liechtenstein, and its capital city <strong>VADUZ</strong> with its impressive castle. Time to stroll and have lunch. Subsequently, we go to the neighbour city of <strong>FELDKIRCH</strong> , in Austria, located next to the borders of Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany: charming walled city with a genuine historic city centre and a castle. Free time.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Constanza Lake. Botanic Gardens. Rhein Waterfalls. Fantastic scenery.</p><p>We start our day heading to <strong>ST. GALLEN</strong> , whose centre is part of the World Heritage List by UNESCO with a wonderful cathedral and its historic centre. Afterwards we will continue by <strong>Constance Lake</strong> , between Germany and Switzerland. We will have time for a walk at Constance’s centre before visiting <strong>MAINAU</strong> Island (access by pedestrian bridge) with its stunning botanic garden (entry included). Then, again in Switzerland, we will take a stroll in <strong>STEIN AM RHEIN</strong> , a typical village on the Rhine River with precious houses with painted walls. We will also visit <strong>Rhine Waterfalls</strong> (entry included), the waterfalls with the most abundant flow in Europe. Arrival in <strong>ZURICH</strong> at the end of the day.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHTLIGHT:</strong> Zurich. Cruise on the Lake Zurich. Train.</p><p>With our guide, we will make a tour of <strong>ZURICH</strong>, the most populated city of Switzerland, and the country’s financial and cultural capital. The city of the banks has twice been declared the city with the best quality of life in the world. After this, we will include a <strong>cruise</strong> of almost two hours <strong>on Lake Zürich</strong>. The boat makes brief stops to allow us to see the villages on the way. We get off in <strong>RAPPERSWILL</strong>, a picturesque little village overlooked by its medieval castle. We go back to Zurich <strong>by train</strong> and appreciate the efficiency and punctuality of the Swiss railways. </p><p>Note: Depending on the number of travellers, on this stage, the transfers to the centre and from the station may be made on public transport.</p>

<p>After breakfast, end of our services.</p>