15 Days Continental Introduction Tour Package

Duration: 15 Days / 14 Nights
Priced Fro,m: $2,799 pp Dbl. Occ.
Dates: Sep - Dec, Jan, Mar, Apr

The name already tells you that this vacation from Paris to Amsterdam is paced to give you a quick taste of Europe. Your European trip starts with a special welcome dinner with wine at a fine Parisian restaurant on your first night. Enjoy two-night stays in Paris, Rome, Venice, and Amsterdam. A guided sightseeing tour is included in each city with major sights like the second floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Michelangelo’s David in Florence, the Colosseum and Sistine Chapel in Rome, and St. Mark’s Basilica and Doges’ Palace in Venice. The sightseeing tours in all major cities are with a Local Guide. An overnight stay at Lake Como, a private boat transfer in Venice, a cruise down the romantic Rhine, and a canal cruise in Amsterdam have been included in this vacation. Stop in Ferrara, Italy; Innsbruck, Austria; in picturesque Rothenburg in Germany; and enjoy an overnight stay in Munich. This is the best way to see and tour Europe in just two weeks! You’ll arrive home from this European vacation with plenty of stories and photos to share.

Day 1

Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2 Arrival in Paris, France

The day is free to rest or to start exploring the splendid French capital. At 6 pm meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Paris’ fine restaurants. (D)

Day 3 Paris

(Sun.) Sightseeing with a Local Guide features Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe standing in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle, Opéra, Madeleine, Louvre  Story aboutLouvre
Today, a thick pane of bullet-proof security glass keeps artlovers a safe distance from the most famous painting in the world, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, Wife of Francesco Giacondo,” known in French as “La Joconde” and English as the “Mona Lisa.” But back in 1911, it was simply hung on the walls of the Musée du Louvre like any other canvas. That was until a former museum employee named Vincenzo Perrugia strolled into the gallery before opening hours on August 21, noticed the room was empty, took down the Mona Lisa and walked out of the Louvre with it under a painting smock. When the loss was finally noticed, the police were mystified. For two years, the whereabouts of the masterpiece was unknown, while French detectives made various wild guesses. (It had been stolen by the Germans. By anarchists. By evil geniuses. By lunatics.) They actually arrested the country’s top art critic, Guillame Apollinaire, then let him free. Then, out of the blue in 1913, an Italian art dealer in Florence was contacted by a man calling himself “Leonardo” who claimed to have the Mona Lisa and wanted to see it hang in the Uffizi, Italy’s top art museum. Although he found it hard to believe that the thief could be so reckless, the dealer tipped off the police and agreed to meet the strange Leonardo in a Milan hotel room. There, the nondescript fellow opened his suitcase, emptied out his socks and underwear, opened up a false bottom in the case to reveal the Mona Lisa – and was immediately arrested. , Notre Dame Cathedral  Story aboutNotre Dame Cathedral
Europe’s most famous cathedral, whose twin Gothic towers loom above France’s most beloved river, the Seine, actually owes a lot of its international success to the author Victor Hugo. Back in 1831, when Hugo wrote his classic novel about a hunchbacked bell-ringer at Notre Dame who falls in love with a beautiful gypsy, the medieval cathedral had fallen on hard times. During the Revolution in 1789, it had been seized, looted of its treasures and converted into an atheistic “Temple of Reason.” Even worse, after the monarchy was restored in 1815, Notre Dame was used as riverside warehouse – its once-splendid glass windows now dimmed and its facades decaying pathetically above the Île de la Cité. But Parisian’s indifference to their landmark ended suddenly in 1831, when Victor Hugo published his romantic novel the “Hunchback of Notre Dame,” (called “Notre-Dame de Paris” in French). The book was an international bestseller and lured armies of tourists to Paris in search of its Gothic cathedral setting. Hugo used this groundswell of public interest to lobby the French government for renovations of his beloved Notre Dame. From 1845 to 1864, repairs were indeed carried out – the clogged medieval streets nearby were cleared, revealing the marvelous edifice we see today.

, and Champs-Elysées. For a panoramic view, take the elevator to the second floor of the EIFFEL TOWER  Story aboutEiffel Tower
Imagining Paris without the Eiffel Tower is like London without Big Ben or San Francisco without the Golden Gate Bridge. But no sooner had the architect Gustav Eiffel beaten his 700 competitors in the design competition for the 1889 Centennial Exposition, celebrating a century since the French Revolution, than a vocal outcry began to halt construction of the edifice. Three hundred famous French artists and writers signed a petition in the newspaper “Le Temps” denouncing Eiffel’s radically modern design as “useless and monstrous,” a blight upon the elegant fabric of the City of Light. Others critics were even more vicious, describing the proposed tower as a “tragic street lamp,” a gymnasium apparatus…incomplete, confused and deformed,” “a giant ungainly skeleton,” “a half-built factory pipe,” “a carcass” and even “a hole-riddled suppository.” Nature-lovers argued that it would disturb the flight patterns of Parisian birds. Even as the iron lattice began to rise, Parisians continued to refer to it by the less-than-flattering nickname, “the metal asparagus.” Of course, no sooner had the tower opened in 1889 than the rabid criticism evaporated.
. Afternoon at leisure. An optional afternoon excursion to the Palace of Versailles is available. Tonight, a lively cabaret show might just be the ticket. (B)

Day 4 Paris–Lucerne, Switzerland

Enjoy some time in the wonderful town of Lucerne

A comfortable ride skirting Fontainebleau Forest and through the vineyards of Burgundy to the Swiss border. Enjoy vistas of the Alps as you arrive in picture-book Lucerne. (B,D)

Day 5 Lucerne–Como, Italy

Admire Thorwaldsen’s LION MONUMENT  Story aboutLion Monument
“The Lion of Lucerne” (Lowendenkmal) is a compelling statue in the north section of Old Town dedicated to the 42 members of the Swiss Guard who were assigned to protect Louis the XVI, Maria Antoinette and their family at the Royal Palace. When the Tuileries was stormed on August 10, 1792 by rioting Parisians at the start of the French Revolution, the king ordered the soldiers to lay down their arms. They were subsequently slaughtered by the crowd and the royal family was captured. Louis had made a big mistake. In 1821 Danish sculpture Berthel Thorwaldsen finished the sculpture, a 30-foot likeness of a wounded and dying lion with a broken lance in its heart and his paw resting atop the fleur-de-lys shield of the Bourbon king. The Latin inscription translated “To the bravery and fidelity of the Swiss.”
and walk through the Old Town, then cross the famous covered CHAPEL BRIDGE

The iconic Chapel Bridge in Lucerne is the oldest wooden bridge in Europe

to the Jesuit Church. Why not join an optional excursion to the top of the mountain? In the afternoon, admire the towering majesty of the Swiss Alps and St. Gotthard on the way to Lake Lugano and the Italian border. Arrive at your hotel, beautifully situated in Como, for your overnight stay. (B,D)

Day 6 Como–Pisa  Story aboutPisa

"It was the most perfect experiment in the history of science. Holding both a cannon ball and a small musket ball, the 30-something Pisa native Galileo Galilei scaled the steps of his city’s famous Leaning Tower, and held them dramatically over the edge. Eight stories below, the town’s most learned scholars and priests were gathered as observers. They watched as the two balls dropped to the ground at the same speed – disproving, with a single stroke, the ancient idea that objects fall at different rates depending on their weight and size. This archaic concept, which had been espoused by the ancient Greek author Aristotle, had been accepted without question for more than 2,000 years, Galileo’s great innovation was to put it to a practical test of observation. Unfortunately, this famous story is probably not true. Galileo never wrote about it himself – it was recounted in a late biography penned by his secretary, Vincenzo Viviani. Most historians now believe that it was Galileo’s imaginative disciples who invented the Leaning Tower tale in order to make the theory so clear that even a child could understand it. "
–Florence
Visit stunning Florence and the Ponte Vecchio

Past Italy’s commercial capital of Milan

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping Center in Milan, Italy

reach Pisa, where you stop for pictures of its amazing Leaning Tower. Arrive in Florence, “Cradle of Renaissance” art and architecture. Time to explore the many gold and leather shops, then, enjoy dinner with Tuscan specialties at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 7 Florence–Rome

Saint Peter's Square in Rome

 During your walking tour with a Local Guide, visit Michelangelo’s celebrated David in the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS and the magnificent CATHEDRAL. Admire Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE  Story aboutLa Piazza Della Signoria
"What’s the best vantage point to ponder the most illustrious town square in Florence, the Signoria? An outdoor table in the venerable Caffè Rivoire – preferably over a delicious, if not painfully expensive cioccolata con pane, a dark and mud-thick hot chocolate. Late at night, when the crowds have gone, you can search the long shadows and imagine that very little has changed here since the 1400s. The Signoria is the most elegant sculpture garden in Europe. Masterpieces include the splendid Neptune Fountain by Ammannati, Hercules and Cacus by Bandinelli and a precise copy of Michelangelo’s David, all strategically poised in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. This grand public space has been the centerpiece of Florence since the 15th Century, the golden age when the city was established as the most beautiful in Europe. Eminent merchants in their ostentatious finery met here to discuss business in the midst of Florence’s raucous daily life."
. Time to shop for Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry. Early afternoon departure for a fast and easy ride on the Highway of the Sun to the “Eternal City.” (B)

Day 8 Rome

Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS  Story aboutVatican Museums
"In the early 1500s, Rome was full of neglected ruins from the days of the ancient Empire, which still contained artworks buried amongst the rubble. The Renaissance had seen a sudden growth of interest in all things classical, and the popes – cultivated men who were in touch with the intellectual currents of the day – were the richest art collectors in Italy. They began offering substantial cash rewards for any sculptures, until Rome was scoured by freelance treasure hunters on the hunt for pagan masterpieces. The most dramatic discovery occurred in 1506, when a Roman father-and-son team of excavators reported a promising find near the ruined Baths of Titus. The artist Michelangelo himself excitedly hurried over to help with the work, followed by the pope’s official agent, Guiliano da Sangallo. When the excavators brushed away the dirt of 1,000 years, they found an enormous marble sculpture, perfectly intact, of a muscular Trojan hero being attacked by giant snakes. Guilano cried out in amazement, “This is the very Laocoön described by (the ancient Roman author) Pliny!” The sculpture was carted off to the Vatican Museum."
and SISTINE CHAPEL

The Sistine Chapel is world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings

, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM  Story aboutThe Colosseum
"Thanks to Hollywood recreations such as Gladiator, nothing symbolizes the cruelty of Imperial Rome as much as the Colosseum. In truth, the games held there were even more extreme and theatrical than modern film directors dare to suggest. A day at the Empire’s most famous arena was a total entertainment package, mixing bouts of savage violence with solemn religious pageantry, sexual titillation, slapstick comedy and kitschy stage shows."
and the ROMAN FORUM  Story aboutThe Roman Forum
"Visitors can be a little confused by the Roman Forum; at first glance, it is a rather lifeless array of marble fragments. But we must remember that in ancient times, this space was far more than the temples and monuments whose ruins we can explore today. It was filled with bustling, noisy life as the popular crossroads of the city – the predecessor, in fact, of the modern Italian piazza. Every morning at dawn, average Romans would escape their cramped, dark apartment blocks (called insulae, or “islands”) and spent their days outdoors. "
, where Roman legions marched in triumph. Then, time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities. (B)

Day 9 Rome–Ferrara–Venice

Venice is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world

Morning break in Ferrara. Walk along the impressive Este Castle to the marble cathedral. Browse through the attractive little shops before continuing to the Adriatic coast. Enter Venice in style by PRIVATE BOAT. (B)

Day 10 Venice

Highlights of your walking tour with a Local Guide are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and its basilica, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS  Story aboutBridge of Sighs
"The world’s most poetically-named bridge, Il Ponte dei Sospiri, the Bridge of Sighs, was built in 1614 so that prisoners of the Venetian state could be transferred in secret from the Doge’s Palace to the so-called Nuovi Prigioni, or New Prisons. The wistful name was actually conceived by the English poet Lord Byron in the early 1800s that imagined the horror of prisoners taking their last glimpse of Venice before going underground to captivity. "
. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects. Exciting optional activities are available. (B)

Day 11 Venice–Innsbruck

Enjoy some time exploring the beautiful Innsbruck, Austria A church on an Austrian mountaintop–Munich  Story about"Munich, Germany's Secret Capital"
"Munich is the only German metropolis that seems to have everything – wealth, beauty, prominence, fame. Some even call it Germany’s “secret capital.” Unlike Berlin, which some dub “architecturally challenged,” Munich bursts with historical buildings reconstructed after the devastation of World War II. Its grand Residenz, the former home of Bavarian kings, dominates the city center, which also boasts the flamboyant, gilded Cuvillié Theater. Nearby, the neo-gothic Neues Rathaus gives a medieval touch to the Marienplatz, the heart of Munich. " , GermanyLeave Italy on the spectacular Brenner Pass, which leads through the barrier of the Tyrolean Alps to Austria. In Innsbruck, enjoy a pleasant stroll through quaint medieval lanes to Emperor Maximilian’s GOLDEN ROOF before continuing through the Bavarian Alps to Munich, Germany’s “Secret Capital.” How about a stein of beer at the famous Hofbräuhaus tonight? (B,D)

Day 12 Munich–Rothenburg–Rhineland

Germany’s amazing landscapes along the Rhine river

After your orientation drive featuring Munich’s most famous landmarks: Olympic Stadium, 1,000-foot-high Television Tower, and the 17th-century Nymphenburg Palace

Nymphenburg Palace in Munich was the summer residence of the rulers of Bavaria

, continue through the Swabian Jura to Rothenburg for a walking tour of this walled town. Enjoy free time before continuing to the Rhineland. (B,D)

Day 13 Rhineland–Amsterdam

Enjoy the lovely canals of Amsterdam, Holland This morning’s highlight is a romantic RHINE CRUISE  Story aboutA Short Wine Guide
"Historically, Germany’s wine has suffered with an “inferiority complex” fueled by the reputation of wine powerhouses France and Italy. And in modern times, they’ve tacked of “how to compete with a Bordeaux or a Chianti” by improving quality, while keep prices reasonable. Finally, German vintners are starting to reap the rewards. The world famous Riesling region, centered on the Rhine and its tributaries and in eastern Germany near Dresden, is the biggest success story to come out of Germany’s 13 wine growing regions. White grapes form 80 percent of the harvest, but reds are on the rise, as well as the general reputation of German wines."
past castle-crested hills, terraced vineyards, and the Lorelei rock. Then, continue to Cologne

Pay a visit to Cologne’s awesome gothic cathedral

and visit the awesome twin-spired gothic CATHEDRAL before traveling through the Dutch region best known as the locale of A Bridge Too Far on the way to Amsterdam, capital of Holland. (B,D)

Day 14 Amsterdam

A Local Guide shows you the 700-year-old city, and the highlight is a CANAL CRUISE past patrician mansions, gabled façades, and humpback bridges. Time to visit a major DIAMOND CENTER or one of Amsterdam’s famous museums. The afternoon is at leisure, and an optional excursion to Volendam can be arranged. (B)

Day 15

Your homebound flight from Amsterdam arrives the same day. (B)