MERCEDES COLLEGE ITALY TOUR

Transcription

1 MERCEDES COLLEGE ITALY TOUR APRIL 2008 NB: Please note that when we mention you this refers to the group as a whole, including teachers and students Day 1: PERTH - ROME Mon 7 th Apr Please meet at Perth s international airport at the Singapore Airlines check in area at 12:25pm ready for a 12:55pm check in at the Singapore Airlines check-in counter. Your Singapore Airlines flight SQ 226 will depart at 3:55pm and arrive into Singapore at 9:15pm. On arrival into Singapore you will then need to transfer to the Singapore Airlines flight SQ 366 departing at 1:00am on the 8 th April. (Transit time in Singapore will be 3 hours and 45 minutes). SINGAPORE AIRLINES FLIGHT SQ 226 DEPARTS PERTH AT 3:55PM/ARRIVES INTO SINGAPORE AT 9:15PM SINGAPORE AIRLINES FLIGHT SQ 366 DEPARTS SINGAPORE AT 1:00AM/ARRIVES INTO ROME AT 7:45AM Day 2: ROME (D) Tue 8 th Apr You will board your flight SQ 366 departing at 1:00am and arriving into Rome at 7:45am. On arrival you will be met by your coach and guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for teacher supervised activities. You may like to take a visit to Castel Sant' Angelo, it is reached by one of the world's most beautiful bridges, with Bernini's billowing angels. Castel Sant Angelo was converted into a papal fortress in the 6th century, and is linked by underground passages to the Vatican palaces. The mausoleum is now an interesting museum, and its evocative atmosphere is heightened by the knowledge that it was from here that Puccini's Tosca plunged to her death. (Any entrance fees today at own expense.) Dinner tonight will be at the hotel or a local restaurant. Day 3 ROME (B) Wed 9 th Apr This morning after breakfast you will make your way with your teacher to the Vatican City to see the Pope who holds a public audience every Wednesday. This afternoon you may like to visit the Vatican City and its museums, including the Sistine Chapel and St Peter s Basilica with its many treasures and masterpieces, including the famous Pieta of Michelangelo. This evening with your teacher you may like to take a walk to Piazza Navona, which is a vast and beautiful square lined with baroque palaces. The square has three fountains, including Bernini s masterpiece Fountains of Rivers in the centre. (Any entrance fees at own expense.)

2 Day 4: ROME (B) Thu 10 th Apr After breakfast meet your guide for your full-day walking tour of Ancient Rome. You will see the inside of the Colosseum, first opened by the Emperor Vespasian in 80AD. With a circumference of 580 yards and height of 157 feet, the Colosseum would have been able to hold 50,000 Romans at any one time. You will then continue on with your tour by visiting the Arch of Constantine, the Roman Forum, the Victor Emmanuel Place, the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Il Campo dei Fiori and the Caracalla Baths. (Entrance fee to the Colosseum organised by Mercedes College, reservation to the Colosseum included.) DAY 5: ROME-POSITANO-POMPEII - ROME (B) Fri 11 th Apr An early start will see you board your coach for today s journey to the picturesque coastal town of Positano. Your coach will drop you off in the parking area just outside of Positano where you will make your own way in with your teacher by local bus. (own expense) Here in Positano you will stop for lunch, (own expense). You will then make your way back with your teacher to the coach parking area by local bus (own expense). You will then reboard your coach to Pompeii; here you will have a half day guided tour of this ancient city, destroyed by a volcanic eruption of Mt Vesuvius in AD79. Your guide will take you on an incredible journey describing the life and death in this ancient Italian township. You will then re-board your coach back to Rome. (entrance fee to Pompeii organised by Mercedes College) Day 6: ROME (BD) Sat 12 th Apr Today is a free day for teacher organised sightseeing. You can visit the Santa Maria in Cosmedin Church; this is regarded as one of the finest medieval churches in Rome. It has a 7-story bell tower and its interior is heavily decorated with Cosmatesque inlaid marble. The main attraction however is the Bocca della Verita (Mouth of Truth). Legend has it that if you put your right hand into the mouth, while telling a lie, it will snap shut. Or you may like to make your way (walking or local bus at own expense) to the Time Elevator. This is a multi-sensorial attraction showing 3000 years of Roman history from Romolus and Remus to the present day in an exciting and fun way. (any entrance fees at own expense today) Dinner tonight will be at the hotel or local restaurant. Day 7: ROME - ORVIETO (B) Sun 13 th Apr This morning you will depart Rome by coach to Orvieto. Upon arrival you will make your own way to your hotel. This afternoon at 4:00pm you will have a guided tour of Orvieto you will see sights such as the main square, the Piazza del Duomo, with its magnificent cathedral, considered to be one of the most beautiful in Italy with its bold mosaic and gold façade. (any entrance fees at own expense). This evening at 5:30pm you will have a welcome drink at the school.

3 Day 8: ORVIETO (B) Mon 14 th Apr hours of Italian language lessons, commencing at 9:30am. This afternoon at 3:00pm you will have your afternoon excursion to Bolsena and Civita by coach with a guide from Lingua Si. In the ancient part of Bolsena, there is the Collegiata church with its Romanic style of Santa Cristina; it was built in XI century on old Christian catacombs or you can find a chapel built in 1693 on the memoirs of the Eucharistical Miracle of The castle (XIII-XIV century) dominates the village from the top, it's been recently restored. You will then continue on your afternoon excursion to Civita, like Orvieto was built upon tufa rock so rests on layers of clay which over time tend to slip downwards. This explains why it is called il paese che muore, the dying town. Civita is connected to the town of Bagnoregio by a narrow pedestrian bridge. The walk is long but the view is spectacular! After your visit you will be transferred back by coach to your hotel in Orvieto. Day 9: ORVIETO (B) Tue 15 th Apr This morning after breakfast you will be divided into 2 groups. Both groups will have 4 hours of Italian language lessons, commencing at 9:30am. This afternoon you will meet at Lingua Si Language School where you will be divided again into 2 groups (A&B) for this afternoon s activities. Group A will have an afternoon of fun at a ceramic course starting at 5:00pm. Group B will also enjoy an afternoon of fun at a pizza making course starting at 4:30pm. The pizzas will be eaten for their dinner. Day 10: ORVIETO (B) Wed 16 th Apr hours of Italian language lessons, commencing at 9:30am. This afternoon meet at Lingua Si Language School where the two groups will swap (A&B) for this afternoon s activities. Group B will have an afternoon of fun at a ceramic course starting at 5:00pm. Group A will also enjoy an afternoon of fun at a pizza making course starting at 4:30pm. The pizzas will be eaten for their dinner. Day 11: ORVIETO (B) Thu 17 th Apr hours of Italian language lessons, commencing at 9:30am. This afternoon at 3:00pm you will have your afternoon coach excursion to Perugia to visit the Baci Chocolate Factory. Here you will be able to see how chocolate is made, and you may also be able to try some. You will then re-board your coach back to Orvieto.

4 Day 12: ORVIETO (BD) Fri 18 th Apr hours of Italian language lessons, commencing at 9:30am. This afternoon at 5:00pm you will meet your guide for your guided tour of Orvieto underground. Orvieto is honeycombed with Etruscan and medieval caves, an intricate labyrinth of tunnels, galleries, cisterns, wells, quarries and cellars. (Any entrance fees to sites today at own expense) This evening you will have your final dinner. Day 13: ORVIETO SIENA - FLORENCE (BD) Sat 19 th Apr This morning you will depart Orvieto to Florence by coach. En-route you will stop in Siena, a beautiful township set amongst the hills of Tuscany. Its picturesque Piazza del Campo is the setting of the famous Palio, a bare back horse race which takes place every year and is one of the most beautiful Piazzas in the world. You may like to visit the Cathedral (Il Duomo), one of Italy s great gothic churches. You will then re-board your coach for Florence, upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel and the rest of the day is then free for teacher-organised activities. (Any entrance fees at own expense) Dinner tonight is at the hotel or a local restaurant. Accommodation: Hotel Rita Major Day 14: FLORENCE (B) Sun 20 th Apr Today is a free day for teacher organised activities, you may wish to visit the St Lorenzo Church (at own expense). San Lorenzo, one of the most famous buildings in the city, and one of the largest churches of Florence, is situated at the centre of the city s main market district. It was consecrated in 393 and is one of the many churches that claim s to be the oldest in Florence. It contains the Medici Chapel, a private chapel owned by the Medici family who were one of the most powerful families in Florence during the 15 th century. This afternoon you might like to visit the Accademia museum. Here you can see the splendid towering statue of David by Michelangelo. You may like to visit the elaborate Santa Croce church which contains the monumental tombs of Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Dante, actually a cenotaph, and many others. (Any entrance fees at own expense) Accommodation: Hotel Rita Major Day 15: FLORENCE PISA - FLORENCE (B) Mon 21 st Apr This morning make your way to the train station for your train journey to Pisa (train fare included). Here you can visit by far the best known sight of Pisa the famous Leaning Tower which is but one of many architecturally and artistically important structures in Pisa. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the campanile, or bell tower, of the Cathedral. It is situated behind the Cathedral and it is the third structure in Pisa's Campo dei Miracoli (field of Miracles). The tower is famous for its noticeable lean. It was intended to stand vertically, to serve as a bell tower, but began leaning soon after construction started in The Campo dei Miracoli is also the site of the beautiful Duomo (the Cathedral), the Baptistry and the Camposanto (the monumental cemetery). In the late afternoon re-board your train back to Florence. (Any entrance fees at own expense today.) Accommodation: Hotel Rita Major

5 Day 16: FLORENCE - VENICE (B) Tue 22 nd Apr This morning it s time to move on. Today you will depart Florence by train, you will board your coach for your local transfer to the train station with your teacher. (One way train fare included). Upon arrival into Venice, please make your own way with your teacher to your hotel, if time permits the rest of the day is free for teacher organised activities. (Any entrance fees at own expense today.) Accommodation: Hotel Dolomiti Day 17: VENICE (B) Wed 23 rd Apr This morning after breakfast you will have a half-day guided walking tour of the city (2 hours). You will see such sights as St. Mark s square, the Basilica, the Doges Palace, the Bridges of Sigh as well as the Grand Canal. The rest of the day is free to explore the city with your teacher. You can purchase a vaporetto pass (own expense) to visit the islands of Murano and Burano where you can see lace making and glass blowing demonstrations. Murano has been the home of the glass making industry since the 13 th century and Burano is the home to the lace making industry. (Any entrance fees at own expense.) Accommodation: Hotel Dolomiti DAY 18: VENICE VERONA - SIRMIONE - MILAN (BD) Thu 24 th Apr This morning after breakfast please make your own way to Venice train station where you will board your train to Verona. (One way train fare included) On arrival into Verona you will be met by your coach to store your luggage, while with your teacher you can take a stroll through la Citta Vecchia, visit the famed balcony of Juliet or visit the Arena. You will make your own way back to the coach with your teacher where you will board your coach to Milan, en-route to Sirimone. You will stop in Sirimone at one of Italy s most popular lakes, Lake Garda, a picturesque lake renown for its mild climate and the largest lake lying between the Alps and Po Valley. You will then re-board your coach and continue your journey to Milan. (Any entrance fees at own expense) Dinner tonight is at the hotel or a local restaurant. Accommodation: Hotel Ornato DAY 19: MILAN (B) Fri 25 th Apr This morning after breakfast you will board your coach to the centre of Milan where, you will meet your guide for your half-day guided tour of the city. You will visit such sights as the famous Chiesa Santa Maria delle Grazie, to see the original Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci and the famous La Scala theatre. You will then re-board your coach back to your hotel. (Entrance fee to Leonardo s Last Supper included) Accommodation: Hotel Ornato DAY 20: MILAN -PERTH (B) Sat 26 th Apr This morning after breakfast you will board your coach to Milan s Malpensa Airport for your flight back to Perth. Your Singapore Airlines flight SQ 377 will depart at 2:00pm and arrives into Singapore at 7:55am 27 th April. SINGAPORE AIRLINES FLIGHT SQ 377 DEPARTS MILAN AT 2:00PM/ARRIVES INTO SINGAPORE AT 7:55AM 27 th April)

6 DAY 21: PERTH Sun 27 th Apr On arrival into Singapore at 7:55am you will transfer to your Singapore Airlines flight SQ 223 which departs at 9:35am and arrives into Perth at 2:35pm. (Transit time in Singapore is 1 hour and 40 minutes.) SINGAPORE AIRLINES FLIGHT SQ 223 DEPARTS SINGAPORE AT 9:35AM/ARRIVES INTO PERTH AT 2:35PM Verona Sirmione Pisa Siena Perugia Orvieto Pompeii Positano