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SWITZERLAND, ITALY & GERMANY
including
THE PASSION PLAY
JUNE 15 –27, 2010
It is with great enthusiasm that we invite you to join a small group to enjoy timeless treasures such as da Vinci’s “Last Supper”, astonishing art and history in Florence and the glory of Rome. Added bonuses are the Lake District of Italy with the fabulous Borromean Islands with their palaces and gardens by cruise, most beautiful mountain and lake experiences in Switzerland and two nights in Oberammergau, Germany with tickets to the long- awaited Passion Play. Performed by the villagers only once a decade since the 1600’s in thanksgiving for having been spared the plague, it is not to be missed.
JUNE 15, TUE: USA-MUNICH
JUNE 16, WED: MUNICH-OBERAMMERGAU. Airport welcome by your tour director, then travel south through Alpine foothills past mountain lakes and country farm houses to the Passion Play Village of Oberammergau. The balance of the day is yours to relax, enjoy shopping for woodcarvings, admire beautifully decorated houses or simply take in the special spirit of this village so scenily set at the edge of the Bavarian Alps. Tonight enjoy a special Welcome Dinner of local fare and wine. (D)
JUNE 17, THU: OBERAMMERGAU. After a leisurely breakfast enjoy a short drive to Linderhof, a little jewel of a palace, built by King Ludwig II (Mad King Ludwig). As with all of Ludwig’s castles, he hoped to create the grandeur of earlier eras in architecture, history and myth. Return to Oberammergau for lunch and this afternoon and evening witness the Passion of Christ performed by amateur actors, who were either born in Oberammergau or have lived there for the past 20 years. In the last festival year (2000) some 2,200 of the 5,300 or so inhabitants were involved either on stage or backstage, 550 of them children. (B,L,D)
JUNE 18, FRI: OBERAMMERGAU-LUCERNE. Our first stop this morning is the Wieskirche, a masterpiece of Bavarian Rococo. The splendour of gilded stucco, wood carvings and vividly coloured frescoes is overwhelming – Dominikus Zimmermann, the architect, was so pleased with the result that he spent the last ten years of his life in a small house near the church. For our lunch break stop in Lindau, beautifully located on the shores of Lake Constance, then continue east past Zurich to Lucerne, Switzerland’s most popular tourist destination. (B,D)
JUNE 19, SAT: LUCERNE-STRESA. See the sights of the city this morning on a leisurely walking tour, then enjoy free time to explore this delightful town - dozens of shops invite with watches, embroideries and cuckoo clocks. After lunch head south via the St. Gotthard Pass for the Ticino (the Italian-speaking canton of the Swiss Confederation) to Stresa, picturesquely located on Lago Maggiore. (B,D)
JUNE 20, SUN: STRESA. After a leisurely breakfast board a private motorlaunch to Isola Bella, privately-owned island of the Borromeo family. First we visit the Baroque Palace, it contains magnificent state apartments, numerous pictures and a gallery of 17C Flemish tapestries. Next enjoy a stroll through the Italian-style garden with its water theater and 10 terraces, rising like a ship’s brow out of the water, planted with exotic flowers, shrubs and trees. A short ride away is Isola dei Pescatori, or Fishermen’s Island, which has retained ist original atmosphere with small narrow streets and quaint little houses. The balance of the day is free to enjoy the many pleasures of Stresa at your own pace. (B,D)
JUNE 21, MON: STRESA-FLORENCE. Today we drive south past Milan, the lively capital of the Lombardy, and Bologna, one of the oldest university cities in Europe, to Florence, the cradle of Renaissance. Enjoy an orientation walk around the old town with your tour director before tonight’s dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
JUNE 22, TUE: FLORENCE. The whole day is devoted to this great city of art. Our first stop this morning with our Florentine lecturer is the Accademia, giving us an excellent idea of the extraordinary personality of Michelangelo. Admire the monumental figure of David, the symbol of youth, and the powerful figures of Four Slaves, trying to struggle free from the marble. Our next stop is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its priceless works of art, then continue to Piazza della Signoria, beautifully decorated with the Fountain of Neptune, the equestrian statue of Cosimo I, the Loggia and the Palazzo Vecchio. All afternoon is yours to browse and shop for leather or jewelry around Ponte Vecchio or Piazza Santa Croce. (B)
JUNE 23, WED: FLORENCE-ROME. Morning sees us traveling south through the Tuscan countryside to Tivoli for a visit to the gardens of the Villa d’Este, built in the 16C by Cardinal Ippolito d’Este. Enjoy its celebrated fountains, pools and water jets during a leisurely walk, and after a break for lunch continue to nearby Rome, the Eternal City. This evening enjoy a special Roman dinner with wine on pleasant Piazza Navona, the most beautiful square in Rome. (B,D)
JUNE 24, THU: ROME. For more than 2500 years Rome has played an intricate role on the stage of world events, from politics to the arts and religion. First visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest and most awe-inspring edifice in Christendom. See the perfect La Pieta by Michelangelo, the venerated statue of St. Peter and the bronze canopy of Bernini’s high altar. Continue down to the crypt of St. Peter’s, or Sacred Grottoes, located on the floor level of the old basilica. Admire beautiful tombs of more than 20 popes (John Paul II’s as the latest one), 2 queens (Christina of Sweden and Charlotte of Cyprus) and legendary Bonny Prince Charlie, the Old Pretender of Scotland. Next highlight is the Vatican, a walled city-state – it is the repository of the greatest and most valuable collection of fine art in the entire world. A guided tour through the museum takes you to the Sistine Chapel where Michelangelo spent 4 years painting his breathtaking frescoes in the splendid vault, depicting the Bible, the Creation and the Flood. The afternoon is yours for further exploration or take a leisurely stroll with your tour director to the ancient Pantheon, elegant Spanish Steps and beautiful Trevi Fountain. (B)
JUNE 25, FRI: ROME. Spend a free day to enjoy the many attractions of Rome at your own pace or join an optional excursion to the ancient city of Pompeii, buried beneath the ashes of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79. A guided visit through the remains of the ancient city includes the Forum, Roman Baths, Casa dei Vettii and other attractions. (B)
JUNE 26, SAT: ROME. First highlight this morning is a visit to the Colosseum, that immense structure for cruel games and persecutions, where gladiators and wild beasts fought to death. Continue to follow our resident guide-lecturer on a walk through the Roman Forum, today a series of ruins of which you will hear fascinating tales of Ceasar, Titus, Antonius and Augustus. The balance of the day is free and this evening enjoy a festive Farewell Dinner with wine at a popular restaurant. (B,D)
JUNE 27, SUN: ROME. Transfer to Leonardo da Vinci airport for your daylight flight back to the USA. (B)
SPECIAL FEATURES TO NOTE:
· Welcome Dinner with wine, Oberammergau
· First class seats at Oberammergau Passion Play
· Visit to King Ludwig’s Linderhof Palace
· Visit to the Wieskirche, Bavarian Alps
· Visit to Lindau, Lake Constance
· Visit to Isola Bella and Isola Dei Pescatori, Stresa
· Visit to the Accademia and Cathedral, Florence
· Visit to the gardens of Villa d’Este, Tivoli
· Special Roman Dinner, Piazza Navona
· Visit to St. Peter’s, the Crypt and Vatican Museum
· Visit to the Colosseum and Roman Forum, Rome
· Farewell Dinner with wine, Rome
LAND ARRANGEMENTS INCLUDE:
· Accommodations in first-class hotels
· Breakfast buffet daily, one lunch and 8 dinners
· Services of professional tour director, Gunter Walter
· Gratuities to tour director and all local city guides. Driver gratuities are extra.
· Transportation by deluxe, air-conditioned bus
· All sightseeing and excursions as outlined in the itinerary, including entrance and guide fees
· Baggage handling at hotels
Trip Price:
For land arrangements: The above land arrangements cost $4420.00 per person sharing a twin room.
Single supplement: $ 780.00
Price based on minimum group size of 25 and exchange rate at the time of printing. All payments may be charged to a credit card.
Deposit to hold space:
$600.00 per person to hold space. Once tickets are gone, no more space can be obtained.
Insurance: On receipt of deposit, trip cancellation medical/baggage insurance will go into effect. This covers illness or death in immediate family of traveller or traveller’s roommate and with this group rate, covers pre-existing conditions of a medical nature only. Cost will be included in deposit but added at final payment.
Airfare:
Regency Travel issue airline tickets at the least expensive available rate. Business class will also be offered. Travellers are welcome to arrange their own air or use frequent fliers. Roundtrip hotel/airport transfers are included only at group flight times. For information please call Linda Walter at 901- 844-6105 or Glenda Owen at 844-6106.
Cancellation:
· Deposit to hold play tickets is non-refundable.
· From final payment until departure: 100% of land costs
· are non-refundable and covered by group insurance described above.
For information, bookings, or brochures for friends, please call LINDA WALTER (901) 844-6105 or GLENDA OWEN (901) 844-6106 at Regency Travel or (800) 278-8924 ext. 105.
sWITZERLAND, ITALY & GERMANY 2010
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Deposit to be paid by: Check Credit Card
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I will will not need Regency Travel’s air arrangements and realize that arrival at a different time from the tour group means that I will get to the hotel on my own.
Responsibility Regency Travel and/or its agents act only in the capacity of tour operators for the clients in all matters pertaining to travel by air or surface. They shall not be liable for any injury, damage or loss occasioned by neglect, default of any company or person engaged in conveying the tour, or any hotel proprietor or vehicle rental organization or other persons supplying services or materials in connection with the tour. Regency Travel reserves the right to withdraw a tour at any time, to refuse to accept or retain any person as a member of a tour/or to make changes in the published itinerary whenever in their sole judgment conditions warrant or if they deem necessary for the comfort, convenience or safety of the passengers. All prices are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect at the time of publication and are subject to re confirmation when final payment is made. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not aboard their aircraft. The passage contract in use by the airlines concerned when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines and purchased of these tours. The services of any IATA carrier, may be used in connection with the air portion of these tours.
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