SOUTH OF EUROPE (Serie European Tours) 13 DAYS

Itinerary

01 – SAT.

Madrid – Arrival.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Transfer to the hotel. Evening transport to the Gran Vía district. Welcome to Madrid!

• Upon arriving at the airport we will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.
• You can enjoy free time until the beginning of your tour.
• Please, check the informative posters placed at the hotel reception area which have all the information about the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travelers.
• Towards the end of the day, we provide transfers to the Egyptian Debod Temple, Plaza de España and Gran Via; a vibrant district where you can dine at your preferred restaurant: Indian, Chinese, Spanish and Middle Eastern are some of the options available.

02 – SUN. 

Madrid.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Madrid city tour. Stroll through the Retiro Park. Visit to the Las Ventas bullring. Evening transfer.

• The morning starts with a comprehensive tour through the center of Madrid including the Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, the Gate of Alcalá, Plaza de Colón and Plaza Mayor.
• We then will visit Retiro Park, an oasis in the city center, where we will see the lake and the Glass Palace.
• A visit to Las Ventas Bullring (admission included) is next.
• This is one of the most famous bullrings in the world where we will learn about the tradition of the “corridas” at the Bullfighting Museum. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your own leisure.
• At sunset we will provide a transfer to Plaza de Oriente, opposite the Royal Palace, an elegant and bustling area with many restaurants serving different cuisines, such as local Spanish food, international and Chinese.
• Enjoy a pleasant dinner of your choice. At the end of the evening we will return to the hotel.

 

03 – MON.

Madrid – Zaragoza – Poblet – Montserrat – Barcelona.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Monastery of Poblet, rack train to Montserrat.

• In the morning we leave for Aragón over the lands of Castile.
• In ZARAGOZA we stop briefly to see the Pilar Basilica.
• We continue to the Monastery of Poblet, surrounded by its walls in a beautiful site that is one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in the world (entrance included).
• We then proceed to the Monastery of Montserrat where you will go up the mountain on a rack train to see its fantastic scenery. Following this we will continue to BARCELONA, arriving in the late afternoon.
  Note: In some cases, depending on the timetable of the rack railway, the ascent to Montserrat can be done in our coach. From November to March, due to the shorter duration of the days, we will neither be ascending nor stopping in Montserrat.

 

04 – TUE.

Barcelona- Girona.-
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: City tour of Barcelona. Girona.

• In the morning we enjoy a city tour, its Ramblas, the works of Gaudí, and memories of the Olympic Games.
• Free time.
• At the end of the afternoon we will go to the north of Catalonia.
• A stroll in GIRONA and its very beautiful historical center.
• Its colorful houses stand out, as well as the old Jewish quarter and Cathedral

 

05 – WED.

Girona- Arles- Carrieres de Lumiere- Chambery.-
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Provenzal region in France. 

• We leave for France, crossing Provence.
• We stop in ARLES, a small world heritage city where we will remember Van Gogh, and can see its Roman theatre and small Romanesque churches.
• Time for a stroll and lunch.
• We carry on and include admission to CARRIERES DE LUMIERE, an impressive show of art, image and sound underground, in former quarries.
• CHAMBERY, arrival and accommodation in the charming capital of Savoie, a medieval

 

06 – THU.

Chambery- Geneva- Gruyere- Chillon Leysin.–
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Switzerland with Lakes and Mountains. Chocolate factory. Dinner included.

• We travel to Switzerland. GENEVA, arrival.
• With our guide, we will go to the Palace of Nations (the headquarters of the United Nations in Europe) to the pretty English Garden with its clock made of flowers and we can admire the “Jet d´Eau”, the tallest fountain in Europe.
• We go on to the picturesque walled village of GRUYERE, known worldwide for its cheese.
• Free time to stroll and have lunch.
• Nearby are several of the main chocolate factories in Switzerland (NESTLE amongst them), and we visit the Cailler chocolate factory, with
  a tasting included!.
• After this we go on to CHILLON CASTLE, built in the waters of the lake.
• Entrance included to this fantastic mediaeval castle. We will continue travelling through smaller roads amidst bucolic mountain landscapes and very picturesque wooden villages.-
• Arrival in LEYSIN, a beautiful little holiday village with spectacular views of the Rhône plain and Mont Blanc, known for its winter sports resort or its hiking possibilities.
• Dinner included.

 

07 – FRI.

Leysin- Glacier 3000- Interlaken- Lucerne Zurich.-
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Swiss Alpine scenery with glaciers and mountains. Glacier 3000 and its cable car. Lucerne.

• Today´s stage has beautiful high mountain scenery.
• Don´t forget your winter clothes, we climb to one of the most spectacular spots in Switzerland where you can see ice and snow all year round.
• We include the cable car ride up to GLACIER 3000 where you can walk on the suspended bridge in the gap between two mountain peaks, enter the Ice Cathedral or “play” in the
  Fun Park.
• Stop in INTERLAKEN and time for lunch.
• Among very picturesque lakes we continue to LUCERNE, one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland.
• Continue to ZURICH, where there is time for a stroll downtown before going to the hotel.
  Note: Occasionally, for major weather reasons such as rain or strong winds, the cable car to Glacier 3000 may not operate.

 

08 – SAT.

Zurich – Lugano- Morcote – Milan.-
TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: Spectacular alpine landscapes, quaint villages and lakes.

• We will leave Zurich early in the morning and cut across the Alps in order to reach the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland.
• Alongside the route we will get to see beautiful lakes and snowcapped mountains.
• LUGANO.
• Arrival in the cosmopolitan capital of the Italian Switzerland built next to its beautiful lake.
• Time to have a stroll and grab lunch.
• Next, we will reach the enchanting little town of MORCOTE famous for its flowery stone houses.
• We will then travel to Italy.
• Arrival in MILAN where the guide will take us to the impressive Duomo Square.
• Here you will find a variety of local and international restaurants to have dinner at.
• Transfer to the hotel.

 

09 – SUN.

Milan- Pisa- Rome.-
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Coast of Liguria, Leaning Tower of Pisa.

• Today we continue our journey towards PISA.
• On a little tourist train, we will travel to the Piazza Dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), where there will be time to admire one of the most alluring and beautiful art complexes in Italy,
• including the well-known Leaning Tower of Pisa.
• Then, we continue to ROME, arriving at the end of the day

 

10 – MON.

Rome.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: City tour of Rome. Imperial Forums (admission price included). Evening transfer to the Trastevere area.

• In the morning, we have a scenic tour, which will be a great introduction to “The Eternal city”.
• We will visit the tiny state of the Vatican, the epicenter of Christianity in the world.
• You will be able to visit St. Peter’s Basilica.
• We include the entrance to the Imperial Forums, an impressive architectural complex formed by monumental buildings and squares, center of the political activity of Imperial Rome.
• At the end of the evening we arrange a transfer to Trastevere area for a stroll in the narrow cobbled streets of the district with hidden treasures, such as some modest medieval churches, small shops with the most peculiar of objects or scenes of daily life.
• Many trattorias (informal Italian eating establishments) and osterias (inns) imbued with the Italian spirit will be ready to serve you local dishes. Other restaurants serving Indian, Chinese and international food can be found in this area.
• Return to hotel.
  Note: on many occasions during the low season, as well as in some specific dates of the rest of the year, instead of the entrance to the Imperial Forums, we will enter the Roman Colosseum, symbol of Rome.

 

11 – TUE.

Rome – Florence.-
TODAY’S HIGLIGHTS: Tour with a local expert from Florence. View from Piazzale Michelangelo.

• Today we will leave Rome, heading north.
• This route has beautiful landscapes.
• Arriving in FLORENCE, we head straight to the impressive Piazzale Michelangelo.
• In the evening we take a tour with a local expert, walking through the historic center, 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

 

12 – WED.

Florence – Venice.-
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Boat on Venice’s Canal. Visit and admission to the St. Mark´s Basilica. Admire the technique of crafting Murano Glass.

• Today we enjoy stunning mountain landscapes while crossing the Apennine Mountains.
• We will arrive in VENICE and take the boat and cross the Giudecca to the Island of Venice.
• With a local guide, we will visit the marvelous St. Mark´s Square and enter the Basilica (entrance included).
• 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.

 

13 – THU. 

Venecia.-

• After breakfast, end of our services