The Trip I Didn't Take to ItalyBy Madelyn MillerItaly is a country I wish I could see more of. And recently I had a chance to pass through and hoped to stay longer and really see Italy. So, for once, I did what a normal tourist would do. I read brochures, contemplated what each tour would be like and what offered the best value and bang for the buck. I found the perfect tour. THE MAGIC OF ITALY FROM GO AHEAD VACATIONS. I was so excited about it and was visualizing each leg of the tour. Then, as often happens if you are a travelwriter, my plans changed. I was more disappointed than usual, because I had found this perfect extra bonus trip for myself. I hope to take it someday. Or maybe you can. Or maybe we will meet up on a Go Ahead Vacation. Go Ahead Vacations Shows The Magic Of Italy The Most Comprehensive Italian Tour From Chic Milan to the Eternal City Go Ahead Vacations, the leader in educationally-focused escorted sightseeing journeys, offers travelers the chance to experience the Magic of Italy for 15 days from only $2,289 a person.
A local Go Ahead Vacations Tour Director will escort travelers on a visit to La Scala Museum. Rising above Piazza della Scala (itself dominated by a monument dedicated to da Vinci) is the renowned Teatro alla Scala. La Scala, as it is commonly known, first raised its curtain in 1778 and has treated generations of opera aficionados to arias aplenty over the years. The theater was heavily damaged by bombs during WWII, but reopened in 1946 under the baton of famed composer Arturo Toscanini, who had returned to Milan after an eight-year stint as director of the New York Philharmonic. Next, travelers can take a look at The Last Supper, one of Leonardo’s most famous frescoes. Da Vinci captured the Bible's most poignant moment, The Last Supper, in an experimental mix of tempera and oil. The paint has been steadily peeling from the walls of this convent since 1498. Waves of restoration have removed all but an echo of the master's brushstrokes, but that's enough. It's a powerful piece of work. It resides at Convento di Santa Maria delle Grazie, where the painting was most recently restored in 1999. VENICE
Venice is built on 117 small islands and has some 150 canals and 409 bridges. On a guided sightseeing tour of Venice, travelers will cross St. Mark’s Square, the "finest drawing room in Europe,” according to Napoleon, see the landmark Bell Tower and visit the Doge’s Palace, the official residence of each Venetian ruler (Doge) and seat of the Republic's political power. Used as a showplace for centuries for the artistry, architecture and craftsmanship of the day, the palace is exquisitely ornate and beautiful and houses works of art. In the evening travelers can opt for a gondola ride and dinner. Venice’s romantic air has always been favored by lovers who believe that if they kiss under the bridge (presumably in a gondola) their love will last forever. FLORENCE
Italy’s beautiful Umbrian region provides breathtaking vistas that compare with the best that Italy has to offer. Less traveled than other regions, Umbria's rich culture, enduring traditions and peaceful spirit are a must see. The destination is the hilltop town of Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis of Assissi, (1182-1226) the patron saint of Italy. He is affectionately called Il Poverello, the Little Poor One, because he lived and preached a life of simplicity and poverty. He did not, however, start life that way. In fact, the life of St. Francis of Assisi is a "riches to rags" sort of tale. A saint often pictured amidst birds and animals, grew up in Assisi as the son of a rich merchant. Wandering the narrow streets, it's easy to send one’s imagination back across the centuries. Tour the Lower Basilica of St. Francis, and view Giotto’s frescoes that depict the saint’s life. Travelers can opt join an optional excursion to the medieval town of Perugia, known for its fine chocolate! Since I am working on a chocolate book, this is the thing I most wanted to do professionally. Since I love chocolate, this is also the thing I missed the most personally. POMPEIITraveling south, travelers reach Pompeii, whose ruins were perfectly preserved in volcanic ash for nearly two millennia. A full-day optional excursion takes travelers to Pompeii. Layers of volcanic ash blanketed Pompeii when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79, giving rise to Pompeii as one of Europe's best-preserved archaeological sites in the world. Almost nothing was seen of Pompeii for more than 1500 years. Now, more than 1900 years later, we are learning more and more about the last days of Pompeii. Here travelers can see how ancient Romans once lived. An expert local guide leads a sightseeing tour of the various temples, palaces, streets and one of the largest known Roman amphitheaters in the world. Travelers can continue on to seaside town of Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast, a favorite resort area. The Amalfi Coast, (la Costiera Amalfitana) is a beautiful stretch of mountainous coastline situated on the Sorrento peninsula between Sorrento and Salerno, just south of Naples, in the region of Campania. This coastline is dotted with small picturesque villages and towns stacked precariously on steep, pale rocky cliffs plunging sheer into the Mediterranean Sea. Travelers can also take a full-day optional excursion to the Isle of Capri, where (weather permitting) they can row into the glimmering Blue Grotto. ROME
A trip to Rome is not complete without a visit to Vatican City. An optional tour features St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, whose interior Michelangelo painted with his awe-inspiring biblical frescoes. The day can end with a savory dinner and live opera music at an optional "Dinner with Tenors." After a few days of “cultural duty” wandering through the Colosseum and being awed by the Pantheon, traipsing through St. Peter's Basilica and throwing a coin in the Trevi Fountain, travelers must pause to experience the charm of the Roman evening by finding a cafe and watching Rome come alive while enjoying a gelato or an espresso. Travelers can board their flight home or continue on for a two-night tour extension in Rome for $249. The extension gives travelers more time to explore Rome’s plethora of piazzas and cafés, visit the Piazza Navona, site of Bernini’s delightful Fountain of the Rivers or opt for a visit to the ancient Roman Catacombs. Nature lovers will want to join an optional excursion outside the city to the Tivoli Gardens. A popular vacation retreat for centuries, Tivoli is home to magnificent Roman villas and vistas. It was in Tivoli, centuries ago, where the wealthiest Romans built their summer villas. It remains the home to Villa d’Este, known for its world-famous baroque fountains and spectacular Italian gardens. On day three, travelers can depart Rome for home. Go Ahead Vacations offers travelers the opportunity to experience the life-changing experience of travel. As a member of one the world's largest tour companies offering over 175 itineraries and with over 100 affiliated offices in 40 countries around the globe, Go Ahead Vacations is leader in educationally-focused escorted sightseeing journeys, providing outstanding service and quality holiday and tour packages to the savvy traveler eager to experience “learning through discovery.” Best Way to Get to ItalyUS's seventh-largest airline, serving 181 communities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. US Airways, US Airways Shuttle and the US Airways Express partner carriers operate approximately 3,400 flights per day. For more information on US Airways flight schedules and fares, visit US Airways online at Best Way to Get Around in ItalyRailEurope offers a Trenitalia Pass network which covers 16,000 km (10,000 miles) running daily through beautiful landscapes to connect big cities and small towns, all famous for their art and history. The trains are comfortable and quick and easy to navigate. I got to Turm directory from Venice in about three hours, it took just a little longer to get from Turm to Milan. THE COMPLETE IDOIT’S GUIDE to ITALIAN HISTORY AND CULTURE ITALY FODOR’S 04 ITALY Rick Steves Italy 2004 BERLITZ POCKET GUIDE ITALY SPEAK LIKE AN ITALIAN THE POCKET IDIOT’S GUIDE to Italian Rick Steve’s ITALIAN PHRASEBOOK AND DICTIONARY BERLITZ Surviving in Italian BERLITZ Shopping in Italian EAT LIKE AN ITALIANBERLITZ Eating and Drinking in Italian How to Pronounce French, German and Italian Wine Names LANGENSCHEIDT’S POCKET MENU READER ITALY EUROPE’S TOP RESTAURANTS 2004 ROMERICK STEVE’S ROME 2004 SHOPPING IN ROME INSIGHT GUIDE INSTANT ROME ACCESS ROME INSIGHT FLEXIMAP ROME BEST WAY TO FIND YOUR WAYWear your favorite city on a scarf! Tasaram's 100% silk Map Scarves feature detailed street plans of London, Paris, Rome, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. with more cities coming soon. BERLITZ City Guidemap MILANMILAN VENICERICK STEVES’ VENICE 2004 BERLITZ Venice City GuideMap INSIGHT POCKET GUIDE VENICE INSIGHT GUIDE INSTANT VENICE FLORENCEBERLITZ Florence City GuideMap MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES OF FLORENCE Rick Steve’s Florence and Tuscany 1004 INSIGHT FLEXIMAP FLORENCE INSIGHT MUSEUM MAP FLORENCE ITALIAN LITERATURE TO GET YOU IN THE MOODVENETIAN STORIES The thoroughly engaging characters who are the focus of these stories are from different backgrounds and various Venetian neighborhoods, but their lives—and the stories—overlap and intersect in surprising and playful ways. CASA ROSA JOHN PAUL II BEHIND LOCKED DOORS DANCES WITH LUIGI UNDER THE SOUTHERN SUN VENICE AGAINST THE SEA COOKBOOK TO TEMPT YOUR PALATEMANGIAMO Let’s Eat! |
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Italy is the country with the highest concentration of art, history, culture, nature, good food and wine in the world. The journey begins with an overnight flight to Milan. A Go Ahead Vacations representative will meet travelers at the airport and take them to Hotel Mediterraneo. A relaxed day and a dinner with fellow travelers will help prepare for the next day’s highlights of fashionable Milan, a distinctly sophisticated Renaissance city.
Moving towards Venice, travelers stop in the Lombard hill town of Bergamo, lying at the gateway to the Italian Alps. A local guide will escort travelers on a sightseeing of the Venetian-influenced Old Town, including the Colleoni Chapel and the Romanesque Basilica. Continuing on to Venice, travelers will pass through fair Verona, home of Romeo and Juliet.
Next stop is Florence. En route to Florence, travelers will pass through Bologna, famous for its pasta, mortadella sausage and academic achievement. The University of Bologna is Europe’s oldest. Travelers will arrive later in the Tuscan city of Florence. Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, as well as opera music and the Italian language itself, is as exquisite as Venice but with a different flavor. Since the 19th century, it has been visited by millions wanting to see Michelangelo's David, Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Brunelleschi's dome on the Duomo and Giotto's campanile (bell tower). Travelers will also discover the church of Santa Croce, where the tombs of Galileo and Michelangelo as well as the Dante Memorial are displayed. Travelers will view the many Renaissance treasures of Florence on their guided tour. The evening offers an optional dinner in the Tuscan hill town of Fiesole. 
Again, travelers have a full day to experience all the wonders of Florence at their own pace. If it’s their first trip to Florence, travelers should consider a visit to the Accademia to view the statue of the David and other Michelangelo works, or a stop at the ornate Uffizi Palace. A second free day in Florence provides additional time for sightseeing, or travelers can opt for an excursion to the exquisite medieval city of Siena as well as the neighboring town of San Gimignano, including a wine tasting, featuring local vintages. 
Traveling on to Rome, a city of vivid and unforgettable images, travelers can walk in the footsteps of the mighty Roman emperors during a guided tour of the Eternal City. Travelers can see the grassy ruins of the Forum Romanum, the political and economical center of