CONTINENTAL INTRODUCTION - 2010

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

Return to Germany 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 Vatican Museums

"In the early 1500s, Rome was full of neglected ruins from the days of the ancient Empire, which still contained artworks buried amongst the rubble. The Renaissance had seen a sudden growth of interest in all things classical, and the popes – cultivated men who were in touch with the intellectual currents of the day – were the richest art collectors in Italy. They began offering substantial cash rewards for any sculptures, until Rome was scoured by freelance treasure hunters on the hunt for pagan masterpieces. The most dramatic discovery occurred in 1506, when a Roman father-and-son team of excavators reported a promising find near the ruined Baths of Titus. The artist Michelangelo himself excitedly hurried over to help with the work, followed by the pope’s official agent, Guiliano da Sangallo. When the excavators brushed away the dirt of 1,000 years, they found an enormous marble sculpture, perfectly intact, of a muscular Trojan hero being attacked by giant snakes. Guilano cried out in amazement, “This is the very Laocoön described by (the ancient Roman author) Pliny!” The sculpture was carted off to the Vatican Museum."