The Morrisville Chamber of Commerce
Presents
Tuscany, Italy
Nine Days
including hotel, meals, day trips, and airfare from Raleigh (RDU)
November 2 to November 10, 2010
Tuscany, located in the heart of Italy, is an incredible place for a vacation with perfectly preserved hill towns, fabulous art, the most beautiful countryside imaginable, culturally rich cities, top quality restaurants and food, possibly the best cafes in the world, and wine, wine and more wine. Staying in historical Montecatini Terme gives you the perfect resting place to view the scenic sights in the area, and gain a touch of spa relaxation. Join us and experience a new side of Italy.
For More Details and Reservations Contact
ABC Destinations
1-800-227-5858
Or Sharon Rosche at the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce
E-mail: srosche@morrisvillenc.com Telephone: (919) 463-7159
CST # 2097125-40
Included features:
Roundtrip Air Transportation – From Raleigh (RDU) on the scheduled services of Delta Airlines or similar.
First-Class Accommodations – One hotel throughout the program for a relaxing seven nights stay at the four star The Grand Hotel Vittoria or similar.
Superb Cuisine – Your special rate includes daily breakfasts and dinners.
Sightseeing/Entertainment Program – Full day tour to Florence and a full day tour to Siena and San Gimignano. Optional tours available at an additional charge.
Deluxe Motor Coaches – Deluxe motor coaches and experienced drivers escort you for all transfers, tours, and guided excursions.
Baggage Handling and Transfers – ABC handles your baggage outside of the airport for your arrival and departure, based on one checked bag per person.
Professional Program Hosts – An experienced professional local host will assist you on the vacation upon arrival in Italy.
Local Taxes and Service Charges - In all hotels and included meals.
Pricing: The price is $2149 per person for double occupancy. For single occupancy, please add $550. Air taxes and fuel surcharges are included $360 per person and are correct at the time of print but subject to change. Pricing does not include gratuities for driver and guides, baggage charges by the airline, passports, visa and items of a personal nature. For payments by credit card a $50 per person amount will be added to your invoice.
The Grand Hotel Vittoria's Four Star (or similar)
This elegant and well-established hotel is situated in an early 20th century Liberty style building and enjoys an excellent location in a residential area, ten minutes walk from the very heart of Montecatini. In its delightful gardens there is a swimming pool where guests may continue to relax after enjoying the hotel's beauty centre facilities including aromatherapy and massage. The bedrooms are pleasantly furnished to offer all modern comforts with bath or shower, television, minibar, hairdryer, telephone and safe. The Grand Hotel Vittoria's Restaurant La Sala dei Cristalli serves refined traditional Tuscan cuisine.
ITINERARY
Day 1 – Depart the U.S: Depart the U.S. from Raleigh (RDU) via Delta Airlines (or similar) for Italy.
Day 2 – Rome/Montecatini: Upon arrival, proceed to baggage claim and after clearing customs you will be met by the ABC Destinations Tours representative and transfer from central Italy to Montecatini Terme and your hotel. For centuries, Montecatini has been an exclusive world-renowned spa resort, famed for its spring waters, thermal baths and numerous spa treatments. Have a Welcome Cocktail and briefing at 7 p.m. at the hotel. Dinner is at the hotel. (Dinner)
Day 3: Florence/Montecatini. After breakfast at the hotel, you will meet your driver and guide and transfer to Florence for a walking tour. Its striking buildings, formidable galleries and treasure-crammed churches attest to the Florentine love of display. Its elegant skyline, with its russet rooftops and lofty domes, contribute to this city's role as an important center for culture and arts. See the Cathedral, whose gigantic “cupola” is the symbol of Florence’s artistic achievements, the Baptistery (from outside) with its fine bronze doors adorned with the famous gates of Paradise, and Piazza della Signoria. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 4: Montecatini/optional tour to Cinque Terre & Carrara: Drive to Portovenere and the Cinque Terre “the five lands”; five medieval fisherman ports, which developed isolated through the ages as they could only be reached by sea and remained architecturally intact. Early in the morning depart for La Spezia along the Mediterranean Sea. Take a ferry boat to the Cinque Terre & Portovenere (weather permitting). (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 5 - Montecatini/Siena/San Gimignano/Montecatini: After breakfast at the hotel drive to Siena and San Gimignano for your full day tour. Set in the most beautiful Tuscan countryside of rolling hills, lush vines and gray-green olive trees, Siena offers much to see, from the fine palaces that line the narrow cobbled streets and the superb Duomo, to the celebrated Piazza del Campo where the famed Palio horserace is run yearly. Continue to San Gimignano, a town of Etruscan origin. Built by noble families, the fourteen remaining towers that lined the ramparts look like medieval skyscrapers. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 6 - Montecatini/optional tour to Chianti and Vinci: The beautiful birth town of Leonardo Da Vinci is just 30 minutes away. Visit the museum dedicated to his engineering works. Then head on towards Chianti, defined by many foreigners as “the most beautiful countryside in the world”, famous for Chianti wine, it enchants every visitor with the beauty of the architecture of its medieval small towns, castles and stone farmhouses. Perfectly blended, breathtaking landscapes appear as if the whole area were shaped by the hand of an artist. Enjoy a wine tasting followed by a light lunch at the Castle of Verrazzano. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 7 - Montecatini/optional tour to Lucca and Pisa: This morning we head to the charming town of Lucca. Its peaceful, narrow lanes wind among the medieval buildings, opening suddenly to reveal churches, tiny piazzas and many other reminders of the city’s long history, including a Roman amphitheater. Lucca is well known for its magnificent 16th and 17th century ramparts, having remained intact, encircling its narrow streets, which are lined with many medieval buildings. In the afternoon we continue to Pisa to see its incredible Leaning Tower, the bell tower of the 900-year-old Cathedral of Pisa. It is 14 feet off center at the top because of settling after construction was started in 1173. Your visit to Pisa will also include a
sightseeing tour of Pisa’s Campo dei Miracoli, or Field of Miracle, to see the Baptistery, Duomo; all fine examples of the Pisan-Romanesque architectural style. If relaxation is what’s needed, spend time exploring Montecatini, enjoy a spa treatment, or take the cable car up to Montecatini Alto’. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 8 Day at Leisure: Have a late breakfast, relax and spend time exploring Montecatini, enjoy a spa treatment, or take the cable car up to Montecatini Alto’. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 9 - Montecatini/U.S.: After breakfast transfer to the airport for your return flight to the U.S. (Breakfast)
Please note: Though rare, it may be necessary to substitute hotels and
adjust itineraries due to local conditions.
Please print off the following information to take the trip of a lifetime:
Morrisville Chamber 2010 Italy Tuscany brochure 12-7-2009.pdf