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Italy Germany France & Oberammergau Passion Play 14 Day Itinerary

 

Itinerary

Day 1: Overnight Flight
Welcome as you join Collette Vacations in exploring some of Europe’s most exciting cities and beautiful countryside. In addition, you will also see the memorable Oberammergau Passion Play.  Your journey begins with an overnight flight to Rome.

Day 2: Arrive Rome, Italy - Tour Begins
This morning you arrive in Rome, “the Eternal City”. If time permits, you may choose to take a stroll along the fashionable Via Veneto, or visit the Spanish Steps, one of Rome’s most popular gathering spots. 

Day 3: Rome - Classical and Christian Rome Tour
On a tour of Rome, you will see the impressive Piazza Venezia, with its Monument to Victor Emmanuel (sometimes referred to as the Wedding Cake), and the Circus Maximus. You also visit one of Rome’s greatest structures, the Colosseum, and the Arch of the Constantine.  More contemporary highlights of the city will also be seen, including the famous Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Your afternoon sightseeing includes a tour of Christian Rome, visiting St. Peter's in Chains, which houses Michelangelo’s famous statue of Moses, and the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome. Your tour culminates with a visit to Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica. 

Day 4: Rome - Assisi - Siena - Florence
You travel to Umbria and the medieval walled city of Assisi to view the Basilica of St. Francis.  Next, travel to Siena, “the beloved”, a mystical, gentle city and the birthplace of St. Catherine. Its narrow Gothic streets, lined with palaces and mansions, bring to life the reality of a medieval city.  Time is allowed for you to explore historic Piazza del Campo and its monumental ensemble. Your day comes to an end in Florence, the “Cradle of the Italian Renaissance”. 

Day 5: Florence - Tuscan Feast
A local expert provides you with a cultural tour of Florence highlighting many of the city’s priceless treasures. Your first stop is the Academy Gallery which houses Michelangelo’s monumental figure of David, a perfect example of the sculptor’s humanism.  You then proceed to Piazza del Duomo, center of religious life in medieval Florence, to see the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, one of the largest in the Christian world and a symbol of the city’s power and wealth in the 13th and 14th centuries. This is followed by the Baptistry to see the masterfully crafted bronze doors - one of which Michelangelo declared worthy to be the "Gate to Paradise".  You also view the Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Museum, considered to be one of the finest art museums in the world, and the Church of Santa Croce, burial place of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli.

Day 6: Florence - Pisa - Padua - Venice
Travel toward the coast to the ancient maritime Republic of Pisa.  Here you will find the Piazza dei Miracoli, the Duomo (Cathedral) and its historic Baptistry, along with the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Afterwards, journey through central Italy to the medieval city of Padua to view the impressive, six-domed Saints Basilica, dedicated to St. Anthony.  Your travels continue to enchanting Venice, built on 117 islands, with 150 canals and 400 bridges.

Day 7: Venice - Gondola Serenade Cruise
Begin your explorer's Tour of Venice with a short cruise along the Grand Canal which transports you to St. Mark's Square. Here a local guide will enhance your appreciation of this fascinating “City of the Sea.” You will view the Clock Tower with its famous Moors, and then visit St. Mark's Basilica with its mixed Byzantine and European architectural styles and dazzling mosaics. This is followed by a tour of Doge's Palace, the residence of Venice’s former rulers.  The tour concludes at the famous Bridge of Sighs, a covered stone bridge connecting the palace with the prison.

Day 8: Venice - Innsbruck, Austria - Oberammergau, Bavaria (Germany)
Today you travel to Innsbruck, Austria, located in the heart of the Alps and former host city of two winter Olympics. Your local guide provides a tour highlighting the city’s rich history and culture plus its popular attractions, including Maria Theresien Strasse, the Hofburg, and the "Golden Roof"". Next, depart for the quaint village of Oberammergau, nestled in the Bavarian Alps.

Day 9: Oberammergau - Passion Play
Enjoy a full day performance of the Passion Play which originally took place in 1634. During the Thirty Year War, the village of Oberammergau was spared the Black Plague and for this reason, the villagers vowed that every ten years they would give a play to honor the life of Christ. The performers are native Oberammergauers, amateurs. Their long hair and beards are natural as they start to grow it a year or more in advance, and their costumes are made by local villagers. This is truly an unforgettable event. 

Day 10: Oberammergau - Wies Church - Neuschwanstein Castle - Titisee (Black Forest)
Begin your day with a visit to Wies Church, proclaimed as a World Heritage Site. This is followed by a special picture stop at perhaps the most famous castle in Bavaria - Neuschwanstein, with its dream-like atmosphere, turrets and pinnacles. You then continue on the scenic route as you traverse southern Germany, skirting the northern shores of Lake Constance to the Black Forest, proceeding to the resort town of Titisee. This is the heart of the mysterious Black Forest region - setting of legends and stories of yore!

Day 11: Black Forest - Strasbourg, France
Travel the picturesque valleys of the Black Forest and the rich vineyard fields of Alsace to the provincial capital city of Strasbourg. Centuries of Roman, French, German and Alsatian influences have blended together to lend this city its unique local character.  A local guide provides a tour visiting the charming old quarter called "Petite France", including the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Strasbourg with its impressive Romanesque and gothic styles. 

Day 12: Strasbourg - Reims (Champagne Country) - Paris
Travel the verdant countryside to Reims, in the heart of “Champagne Country”.  Enjoy exploring the historic area with its magnificent gothic Cathedral followed by an interesting tour of a Champagne cave. Your day ends in Paris, the “City of Lights”.

Day 13: Paris - Eiffel Tower Dinner - Seine River Cruise
Enjoy a panoramic tour of Paris featuring the breathtaking architecture of the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, a masterpiece of French gothic architecture, historic Place de la Concorde, magnificent Place Vendome and the Champs-Elysees. This evening, enjoy a special farewell dinner at the Eiffel Tower, rising high above the Paris skyline. After dinner, enjoy a romantic, leisurely Seine River cruise.

Day 14:  Paris - Tour Ends

Highlights

Rome St. Peter’s Basilica Vatican City Assisi Siena Florence Tuscan Feast Pisa Padua Venice Innsbruck Passion Play Black Forest Alsace Strasbourg Paris Eiffel Tower Dinner Seine River Cruise

Price $ TBA

* Price is per person, based on double occupancy.  Add $XXX departure tax, $XXX fuel surcharge, and $XXX for optional travel insurance.  There are a limited number of single rooms available.  Single supplement: $XXX.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please Note

Availability of single accommodations vary per departure date.  Typically, we can accommodate only 1 to 3 singles per departure.  If you wish to secure single accommodations, it is highly recommended that you book early.  Also, triple accommodations and child rates are not available. If you have not purchased air through Collette and wish to purchase transfers, you must transfer at our pre-scheduled times.

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The Catholic Tour Company    21625 Chagrin Blvd. # 210    Beachwood, Ohio 44122

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