Magnificent Emilia Romagna

     
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from $2,859

Departures from March 2014 – November 2014

Independent Tour: 8 Days/ 6 Nights

One of the richest and most developed regions in Europe, with Romanesque and Renaissance cities, home to the University of Bologna, Maserati and Ferrari to name a few.

Parma, Mantua, Ferrara, Ravenna, Bologna

Includes:

• Hotel accommodations in a 4* hotel for six nights (Parma-2 nights, Ferrara-2 nights, Bologna-2 nights) based on 2 persons sharing a room.
• Transfer from the airport in Milano to your hotel in Parma.
• Transfer from your hotel in Bologna to Bologna airport.
• Transfer from Parma to Ferrara via Mantova (Lombardy).
• Transfer from Ferrara to Bologna via Ravenna and Comachio.
• Breakfast daily.
• 1 lunch with wine and bottled water.
• 2 dinners with wine and bottled water.
• Private, local, professional guides in Parma, Mantua, Ferrara, Bologna and Ravenna.
• 24/7 English concierge service available by phone.
• Hotel taxes and service charges.
  **Tours are run by local city tour operators with certified, professional local tour guides.

Does not include:

• Round-trip air transportation from USA or Canada to Italy.
• Porterage at airports.
• Departure transfer.
• Beverages and meals not mentioned in the itinerary.
• Tips and optional excursions.
• Transit tax to be paid locally.
• Travel Insurance.

ITINERARY:

Note: First day of tour is your departure date from the USA. Actual tour in Italy begins the next day.

Day 1: Thursday
Departure from USA to Italy – with your own purchased airline tickets.
Day 2: Friday — Milan/Parma
Welcome to Italy!
Upon arrival  in Milan’s Malpensa airport please proceed through the passport control and collect your luggage inside the customs area. Meet your driver and transfer to your hotel in Parma.  In the evening, meet the tour host at the hotel and they will provide information regarding the program and destinations. Overnight in Parma.
Day 3: Saturday — Parma
In the morning, your tour host will guide you through Parma. Parma is known all over the world for three things: Ham (Prosciutto di Parma), Parmesan cheese (Parmigiano Reggiano) and Giuseppe Verdi.   Parma was the capital of the Duchy of Parma that enriched the city with a series of magnificent art works, like the Regio Theatre, Battistero, Pilotta Palace, and the house of the Farnese family. Tonight enjoy a typical dinner at a local Trattoria.  Overnight in Parma
(Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 4: Sunday — The Food Valley/Mantua
On route from Parma to Ferrara you will stop at a Parmiggiano Reggiano factory, during which you will see the great cheese makers at work creating a true gastronomic gem.  Along the road in the food valley, stop for a lunch and savour the delights of this region.  Continue on to Mantua, a city in Lombardy whose historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family made it one of the main artistic and cultural hubs in Northern Italy.  After your visit, continue on to Ferrara. Check-in at your hotel and overnight.
(Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 5: Monday — Ferrara
Today your guide will take you on a private tour to discover this wonderful town with broad streets and numerous palaces dating from the 14^th and 15^th centuries, when it hosted the court of the House of Este. Discovering Ferrara will take all day but you can look forward to relaxing in one of the many elegant cafes and enjoy la Dolce Vita Italiana going on all around you. Return to your hotel and overnight in Ferrara.
(Breakfast)
Day 6: Tuesday– Ravenna/Comacchio Valley
Today depart for Bologna. En Route stop at Ravenna to see some of the oldest churches dating back to the 6^th century and exquisitely decorated with best-in-the-West Byzantine mosaics. Then on to the Comacchio Valley where River Po ends and leads to the Adriatic. Continue on to Bologna and check-in at your hotel and overnight.
(Breakfast)
Day 7: Wednesday — Bologna
This morning your guide will take you on a walking tour of this often overlooked city that is also known as the gastronomic capital of Italy which is located between Florence and Venice. You will visit Piazza del Nottuno and many other interesting buildings including the Torre degli Asinelli. Bologna is the home of the oldest university in Europe. You cannot leave town without indulging in a gastronomic experience, so tonight enjoy a real Bolognese style dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Bologna.
(Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 8: Thursday — Bologna/US
After breakfast transfer on your own to the airport in Genoa for your return trip home, or you may extend your stay in any other city in Italy.

Please note that for operational reasons it may be necessary to substitute hotels and adjust itineraries due to local conditions.

DEPOSITS/PAYMENTS:
We accept American Express, Visa, Master Card and Discover credit cards as well as checks as forms of payment.  A deposit of 25% of the total price of the land services, inclusive of taxes and fees or full payment (depending on departure date) is required to confirm a reservation. Final payment is due no later than 90 days prior to departure.  Airline tickets must be paid in full prior to issuance regardless of departure date. Ticket prices cannot be guaranteed until paid in full and ticketed.  For full Terms and Conditions please click here.

Tour operated by Visit Italy Tours

TRAVEL TIPS:

Gratuities:
Tips to waiters, chambermaids, and to the Tour Directors, local guides, and drivers are not included. The following is a suggested guideline on tipping:
(a.) Euro 1.00 per person/per day for waiters and chambermaids
(b.) Euro 2.00 per person/per day for drivers and local guides
(c.) Euro 3.00 per person/per day for your Tour Director
Transfers: Add transfers to your tour so you don’t have to worry about how to get to your hotel and back. Price per one-way transfer is $159 per car if purchased with your tour. Car can accommodate 1 to 3 passengers depending on the number of suitcases you will have.
Transit Tax: As of July 1, 2011 all visitors to Italy are required to pay an additional tourist tax for their hotel stay. The new tax has been created mainly to help re-build the ancient cities and is based on how many stars a hotel has. This tax may vary by city and can range from 3 to 5 Euro per person, per night, for a maximum of 10 consecutive nights. This must be paid by the visitor, in Euro, directly to the hotel at time of check-out. It will be presented as a separate charge from any other charges accrued at the hotel. (Children under the age of 10 are exempt from this tax.
Baggage: First piece of baggage (up to 23 kilos and 158-203cm) is free. Second piece has an airline imposed fee of $55. Third piece $200. Baggage allowance is per passenger, each way. Different airlines may have other policies. For information on specific airline policies, please check your carriers web site.
Air Transportation: Air fares change often and vary by gateway city, season, day of week and seat availability. Our air fares will be quoted to you within two business days of your tour reservation and will include the air fare, fuel surcharges and government taxes as quoted by the airlines. You are under no obligation to accept our airfare quote and may elect to use your reward miles or your preferred airline. Typical airfares from New York to Rome varies from $1200 in March – May and September – October to $1500 in June – August but can change without prior notice. We highly recommend to reserve your seats early in order to obtain the best air fare.