CONTINENTAL INTRODUCTION - 2010

15 days incl. travel, or 14 days from Paris to Amsterdam (HY)

Return to Austria Vacations

Vacation Overview

This trip gives you a satisfying taste of the heart of Europe. Enjoy 2-night stays in Paris, Rome, Venice, and Amsterdam, and single-night stays in Lucerne, Lugano, Florence, Munich, and Germany’s Rhineland. Guided sightseeing introduces you to all the major sights, like Notre Dame Cathedral and a bird’s-eye view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower; the Lion Monument in Lucerne; the Baptistry’s “Gate of Paradise,” Signoria Square, and Michelangelo’s David in Florence; Rome’s Colosseum and Sistine Chapel; St. Mark’s Square, Doges’ Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs in Venice; the Olympic Stadium and Nymphenburg Palace in Munich; and a canal cruise in Amsterdam. Other highlights include Pisa’s Leaning Tower, a private boat transfer and glassblowing demonstration in Venice, Ferrara, Innsbruck, medieval Rothenburg, Cologne, and a cruise down the romantic Rhine—the best way to see Europe in two weeks!

Special Departure:
Dec 17th Departure - Christmas Eve in Rome

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Extend Your Vacation in London by Eurostar Train (HYT)

Things to see on your vacation: View Vacation Photo Slideshow

A Vacation Story La 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."