European
Destinations
14
Day Celtic Treasures of Italy & Ireland Itinerary
"Lets
get away, far away..."
Day 1 Thursday:
USA to Italy
Enjoy the best of Italy and Ireland during your unique journey highlighting
the rich history and spectacular beauty of both majestic countries.
Day
2 Friday: Rome - Florence
Morning arrival into Rome. Our driver and tour escort will greet
you at the airport. Soon, we will be off on our Italian journey.
Arrival at our historic Villa this afternoon. Tonight, we will enjoy
a festive welcome dinner feature Florentine fare.
Day
3 Saturday: Florence
After breakfast, we will have a morning walking tour with a local
guide to the Signoria Square, Ponte Vecchio Bridge, the Duomo and
Giotto Bell Tower. We will visit the Academia to see the famous
statue of "David." The afternoon is free to explore with
our tour escort or for shopping. Overnight at our Villa.
Day
4 Sunday: Pisa - Padua - Venice area
Departure for Pisa to view the famous Piazza dei Miracoli
with its historic Leaning Tower. Then we continue to Padua, home
to one of the oldest universities in Europe. Visit the famous Basilica
of St. Anthony. Arrival at the hotel in the Venice area late afternoon.
Tonight, enjoy a sumptuous dinner featuring the cuisine of Northern
Italy.
Day
5 Monday: Venice
Today, transfer with a private boat to the city center. We will
have a half-day walking tour of romantic Venice. Visit the Golden
Basilica, San Marco Square and the Bridge of Sighs. Some optional
tours include a visit to the Doge's Palace or a gondola ride. Rest
of the day is free for shopping or to explore with our tour escort.
Transfer back with private boat in the late afternoon and transfer
to our hotel for overnight.
Day
6 Tuesday: Venice - Rome
Departure for Rome in the morning with our tour escort and enjoy
the stunning panorama of the Italian countryside. En route, stop
in the beautiful Umbrian town of Assisi and visit St. Francis Basilica.
Arrival into Rome, known as the "eternal city," in the
afternoon. This evening, we will enjoy dinner featuring Roman cuisine
Day
7 Wednesday: Rome
This morning, we will meet our local guide for a half-day visit
of the Vatican Museums. You may walk though St. Peter's Square and
visit St. Peter's Basilica. This afternoon enjoy an optional visit
to the Coliseum and the Roman Forum, or spend your free time exploring
all the famous squares in Rome. Overnight at our hotel.
Day
8 Thursday: Rome - Dublin
Transfer to Rome airport for your flight to Ireland. Arrive into
Dublin mid-afternoon. Transfer to our Dublin hotel. Tonight, we
enjoy a dinner and Irish Cabaret show in Dublin. Overnight in Dublin.
Day
9 Friday: Dublin
Morning visit to Kilmainham Jail, which covers some of the
most heroic and tragic events in Irish history from 1780 to the
1920’s. Winding our way through the streets of Dublin, we
come to statue filled O’Connell Street and the Post Office,
scene of the 1916 Easter Rising. Afternoon is free. Tonight optional
visit to the theatre or enjoy some of Dublin’s famed singing
pubs. Overnight in Dublin.
Day
10 Saturday: Dublin - Kilkenny - Waterford - Cork
Leaving Dublin, we travel south to Kilkenny City, where we stop
for a visit to Kilkenny Castle, ancestral home of the Butler Clan.
We continue on via Waterford where we visit the famed Waterford
Crystal factory, then to Cork for dinner and overnight.
Day
11 Sunday: Cork - Cobh - Blarney - Killarney
Morning visit to Cobh Heritage Center, which documents the history
of Irish emigration and the story of the ill-fated super liners;
the Lusitania and the Belfast-built Titanic. We continue on to Blarney,
for an optional visit to Blarney Castle, where we have a chance
to kiss the famed Blarney Stone, said to bestow eloquence on all
who dare. Optional shopping for tweeds, knitwear, linen, crystal
and china at nearby Blarney Woollen Mills. We travel over the scenic
Cork and Kerry Mountains to Killarney for dinner and overnight.
Tonight we have an optional visit to the famed “Laurels Singing
Pub” in Killarney.
Day
12 Monday: Ring of Kerry - Killarney
“Heaven’s Reflex”, Killarney, we will see is one
of Ireland’s loveliest districts. Poets, painters, writers
and musicians have all tried to convey its beauty of mountains and
lakes. A delightful day includes a drive along the coastline of
the broad Iveragh Peninsula through the villages and towns of Killorglin,
Cahirciveen, Waterville and Irish speaking Sneem. Dinner and overnight
in Killarney. This evening optional pub visits in Killarney.
Day
13 Tuesday: Killarney - Dingle Peninsula - Shannon
Departing Killarney, we drive along the Kerry coast to the Dingle
Peninsula, which offers magnificent coastal scenery. Beyond Slea
Head, we see the Blasket Islands; the last outpost of Europe. We
continue on to Bunratty where we enjoy a farewell medieval castle
banquet at Bunratty Castle.
Day
14 Wednesday: Shannon Airport - USA
After breakfast, we have a leisurely departure for nearby Shannon
Airport for our return flight home. Ample time allowed for last
minute duty-free shopping before boarding our flight home. We arrive
back in the U.S. the same day.
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