Thanksgiving in Tuscany

Transcription

1 The Italian Cultural Society of Sacramento Presents: Thanksgiving in Tuscany Florence, Siena, Lucca, Chainti Wine Region, Pisa, San Gimignano, Vinci and Volterra November, 20-28, days $2,199*/person double occupancy Tour Includes: 7 nights in Tuscany 4 Star Villa Hotel All buffet breakfasts All Multi Course Italian Dinners Full time Tour Escort private and English Speaking guides Welcome Cocktail and Wine tasting tour Sightseeing Tours and Admissions Incredible Olive Oil tasting and Farmhouse Lunch Pre-Tour Orientation and Travel Guide Booklet * Prices are per person based on a minimum of 16 passengers: Airfare and tips are not included: See Italy at its Best with the Italian Cultural Society Phone: 916 ITALY00 ( ) fax 916 ITALY09 ( )

2 Welcome to the Heart of Italy! Benvenuti in Toscana! D Discover the heart of Italy with this Italian Cultural Society exclusive tour. This tour highlights the romantic, legendary region of Tuscany. Discover a region that is brimming with the finest Italian art, history, culture, scenic beauty and culinary delights. In Tuscany travelers will discover Florence, known as the little flower. Florence is a living museum, and the Cradle of the Renaissance. But Florence is just one of the many spectacular cities in Tuscany s rich bouquet! Tuscany is also Pisa, with its famous leaning tower and the Piazza of Miracles. Tuscany is Siena, with its stunning Piazza del Campo, where each July 2 and August 16, the breathtaking Palio delle Contrade the world s most exciting horse race takes place. Tuscany is a land of lush olive groves, sweet hillsides, Chianti vineyards, and romantic hamlets. Tuscany is the wonderful walled city of Lucca, the city of one hundred churches. Lucca is the birthplace of famed Italian Opera composer Giacomo Puccini, who wrote La Boheme, Madame Butterfly, Tosca and many other famous operas! Our grand tour of Tuscany will take us to the rich Etruscan city of Volterra, famous for its beautiful alabaster, and to picturesque San Gimignano with magnificent towers built in the Middle Ages and cobblestone streets lined with wonderful shops. We will wine taste on the legendary Chianti wine and visit the town of Leonardo da Vinci. In Vinci we will visit his museum and his home, as well as enjoying lunch on a hillside olive oil estate. All the splendors which have brought travelers to Tuscany for hundreds of years await you on this THANKSGIVING IN TUSCANY tour. ITINERARY: Day 1: Depart for your flight to Florence, enjoy Dinner and Breakfast in-flight movies. Day 2: Arrival at Florence Airport and transfer to your hotel: Villa delle Rose, where you will be staying for the next 7-nights. Hotel Villa delle Rose is located in Pescia, a wonderful area at the foot of the Abetone Mountains, alongside the Pescia River. Enjoy welcome cocktails and a delicious multi course dinner at the hotel. (An evening Passeggiata may be the perfect way to end this first day in Italy.) Welcome to Italy!! Day 3: After breakfast depart for Full day excursion to Siena and the Chianti wine road: Siena- as legend has it, was founded by Senus, Remus's son. Remus was one of the legendary founders of Rome along with his twin brother Romulus. Siena is a city of remarkable color. During the famous Palio her 17 contrade proudly display their colorful flags. Everywhere you look Siena s gorgeous colors will reveal themselves. Even the color Sienna takes its name from this brilliant city. We will admire the famous Piazza del Campo, Siena s bowl like shaped piazza and the zebra striped marble cathedral. We will see the public palace with the Mangia Tower, which is one of the tallest medieval Italian towers. We will visit Siena s great cathedral begun in the 12th century in the Romanesque style, but transformed in the 13th century into one of the finest examples of Italian Gothic. The church s interior is covered with black and white marble, and its marble floors have decorative inlays by Domenico Beccafumi, treasures by Nicola Pisano and Michelangelo, painted frescoes by Pinturicchio, a magnificent baptismal font by Jacopo della Quercia, Donatello, and Lorenzo Ghiberti all make this one of the world s most thrilling cathedrals! Lunch on your own. Siena is famous for its delicious Panforte and delicate Ricciarelli almond cookies. Enjoy! In the afternoon we will drive through the famous Chianti Wine Road, and stop at a Tuscany Winery for wine tasting and to enjoy one of the most beautiful Tuscan sunsets in the heart of Chianti Hills. ~Breakfast & Dinner at your hotel in

3 Day 4: Vinci and Pisa: Today we drive to Leonardo da Vinci s hometown. We go through some of Tuscany s magnificent countryside and see a part of Italy seldom seen by tourist. We have arranged your visit to the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum and to his family home in Vinci. End your visit to Vinci overlooking the ancient city from a beautiful hillside frantoio (olive oil estate) where we will sample the estate s own olive oil and enjoy a fabulous farmhouse lunch prepared by the farmer s wife and sister including homemade wine! After Vinci we will head for the famous town of Pisa with the Fantastic Campo Dei Miracoli, the Baptistery and the Cathedral and the world famous Leaning Tower. (Travelers wishing to climb the 296 steps to the top must purchase tickets in Pisa at 18 euros per person.) ~Breakfast & Dinner at your hotel. Day 5: A full day excursion to Florence: Upon arriving in Florence meet your step-on guide to visit the famous Accademia Art Gallery which was founded in 1563 and was the first school in Europe to teach the techniques of drawing, painting and sculpture. The highlights of this museum are Michelangelo's colossal David and the Four Prisoners. See Dante s home and stroll where he strolled. Discover the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Lily Flower, considered one of most impressive examples of Italian Gothic Style, the Campanile, also called Giotto s Bell Tower and the baptistery with the "Gate of Paradise" by Lorenzo Ghiberti. See the elegant Signoria Square with the Public Palace and the Loggia Del Lanzi, which is a real open air museum of marble and bronze statues. Magnificent day in Florence continues with a glance at the Uffizi Palace and a stroll over Ponte Vecchio (old bridge famous for sumptuous gold shops). The last stop of our unforgettable tour is the Holy Cross Church considered the Pantheon of Florence, with its monumental tombs of famous artists such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and others. We will take a last breathtaking view of Florence from the Piazzale Michelangelo from which we will say arrivederci to Florence. ~ Breakfast& Dinner at your hotel. Day 6: Full day excursion to Lucca: Once the capital city of Tuscany and the most important city in Tuscany during Roman times, Lucca remains a city of great charm and beauty. After your buffet breakfast, depart by private motor coach for this Tuscan jewel: the walled city of Lucca. Half day guided tour of Lucca to walk on the famous walls built in the 16 century. We will visit the church and Piazza of San Martino which houses Lucca s most famous and beautiful pieces of art il Volto Santo and incredible wood carved crucifix and the white marble sarcophagus of Illaira del Carretto. We will see the lovely San Frediano church with its mosaic front, The beautiful facade and square of San Michele St, see the home of Giacomo Puccini, Stroll the city s most famous street -Via Fillungo and the Roman amphitheater, climb the mysterious Torre Guinigi. **Highly recommended optional lunch. ~Breakfast and Dinner at your hotel Additional time in the afternoon for strolling the city, shopping and sightseeing. Optional: A wonderful concert of Puccini Arias will be offered this evening if possible. Price will be announced in Tuscany. **Optional Lunch: Join us for lunch at Lucca s most famous restaurant La Buca di Sant Antonio a Michelin Star Rated Gourmet Restaurant (the restaurant dates back to at least 1700s and is one of the oldest in Italy). Traditional Lucchese 7 course lunch including Lucchese wines and bottled water, coffee, tax and tip. 50. (Collected at our orientation meeting.) Day 7: Day at Leisure- Now that you have seem many cities in Tuscany you will have a free day to rest or to select one city to return to. Our hotel is just 500 meters from the train station making excursions from the hotel very easy. Your tour hostess will be happy to assist you. ~Breakfast & Dinner at your hotel in Pescia

4 Day 8: Full day excursion to Volterra and San Gimignano: Volterra is famous for its Etruscan roots and its beautiful alabaster. We visit this ancient Etruscan town whose original walls still stand, and explore the historical downtown with the Priori Palace, the Duomo or you can visit the Guarnacci Museum on your own. A favorite chocolate shop sells chocolate salamis and chocolates depicting love making positions. Lunch is on your own, and you will have many nice choices of eateries! Continue to San Gimignano, one of the most charming towns in the heart of the Tuscan region rich in works of art, good shops and with a formidable gastronomic tradition. San Gimignano is famous for its excellent white wine called Vernaccia di San Gimignano, saffron, honey and wild boar called cinghiale. We will be stopping at a farm-winery to sample the Vernaccia! We will visit the ancient medieval center with its beautiful squares and picturesque narrow streets, the People Palace and the Duomo. Walk to the castle's ruins in the historical center and admire the breathtaking view of the hills and the vineyards surrounding San Gimignano. Time at leisure to shop and sightsee. ~Breakfast and Dinner at your hotel in Pescia. Day 9 Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport for the flight home. * All Sightseeing subject to changes* Italy is a dream that keeps returning for the rest of your life Anna Akhmatova Thank you for trusting the Italian Cultural Society with your Italian Dream Vacation! Nota Bene: Guest must be able to walk approximately 1.5 miles over uneven and cobble stone surface, inclines and 40 to 65 steps. Comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended. Due to the nature of this tour, it is not recommended for guests using walkers or wheelchairs.

5 Italian cultural Society of Sacramento presents: Tuscany s Wine Region Nov 20, 2016 Terms & Conditions COVINA HILLS TRAVEL is not the source or supplier of the travel services requested, and acts solely as an agent for the actual suppliers of such services. The suppliers whose names appear in the information supplied are those who are actually responsible for providing the travel services purchased. Client agrees not to hold COVINA HILLS TRAVEL responsible should any of these suppliers: 1) fail to provide the travel services purchased; 2) fail to comply with any applicable law; or 3) engage in any negligent act or omission that causes any sort of injury, damage, delay or inconvenience. COVINA HILLS TRAVEL is not responsible for, nor liable for, any injury, damage or loss client may suffer on account of any conditions, actions or omissions that are beyond its reasonable control. Client will review all travel documents for accuracy upon receipt and understands that client may contact COVINA HILLS TRAVEL if client has any questions. Client understands that discounted fares typically involve restrictions and that changing any aspect of travel arrangements may result in the payment of additional money. A $40 per revision fee for any changes after 15 days of receiving your invoice, including name corrections, may apply. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires client to carry a government issued identification card in order to board a flight. The name, date of birth and gender that appears on the identification card must exactly match the same such data that is listed on clients airline ticket and in client booking records. Client acknowledge that failure to strictly comply with these requirements may result in denied boarding or an undue delay at an airport security checkpoint causing client to miss his/her flight. If traveling internationally, Client must have a valid passport and depending upon destination and nationality, and may need to obtain one or more visas. Note to Client: Passport and visa information may be obtained by contacting the Travel Advisory Section of the U.S. State Department at or by visiting the State Department's Web site at travel.state.gov. Non-U.S. passport holders should be sure to contact the embassies of their destination and transit countries to obtain entrance requirements. To obtain medical information, you may contact the Centers for Disease Control at or visit the CDC's Web site at Airline tickets or air tours are subject to supplemental price increases that may be imposed after the date of purchase. Post-purchase price increases may be applied due to additional costs imposed by a supplier or government. Client acknowledges that he/she may be charged additional sums by COVINA HILLS TRAVEL to offset increased fees, fuel surcharges, taxes, fluctuations in foreign exchange markets or any combination thereof. Client consents to any post-purchase price increases and authorize COVINA HILLS TRAVEL to bill client for such additional amounts. A deposit of $250 per person is due at time of booking and final payments are due 75 days prior to departure. All payments for this tour must be by check, credit cards are not accepted for this tour. If payment is not received by due date the reservation is subject to cancellation and deposit will be forfeited. Cancellation fees apply to this tour. When the cancellation is received in writing after deposit a $75 penalty applies in addition to the following: 90 days to 76 days prior to departure $100; 75 days to 65 days prior to departure $250; 64 days to 40 days 50% Penalty; 39 days or less or NO-SHOW 100% Penalty. Client may purchase travel insurance to cover certain risks inherent in travel such as supplier bankruptcy and the inability to travel due to a medical or personal emergency. Please advise us if you wish to purchase travel insurance. Residents of NY, TX & WA cannot purchase our group insurance, they are encouraged to purchase their own insurance. Contact: Patrizia Cerruti (916) Italian Cultural Society of Sacramento Covina Hills Travel 940 N. Grand Ave Covina, CA Ph * info@covinahills.com / California Seller # Revised 11-Feb-16

6 Covina Hills Travel - Tour Booking form TOUR: Tuscany s Wine Region, Nov 20, 2016 Please complete form, sign the bottom and return with tour deposit. Return to: Covina Hills Travel 940 N Grand Ave Covina, CA Ph: / Fax: Info@CovinaHills.com California Sellers # IMPORTANT: Please Print your name EXACTLY as it appears on your government issued travel documentation. First: Middle: Last: Suffix: Nickname: Rooming with: First: Middle: Last: Suffix: Nickname: Address: City: State: Zip Code: Phone: ( ) Mobile: ( ) Address: Emergency Contact: Phone: ( ) Relationship: Please provide a copy of your passport as soon as possible. Make Checks payable to: Covina Hills Travel Terms & Conditions I understand that COVINA HILLS TRAVEL is not the source or supplier of the travel services I have requested, and acts solely as an agent for the actual suppliers of such services. I have been advised that the suppliers whose names appear in the information supplied to me are those who are actually responsible for providing the travel services I have purchased. I consent to and request the use of those suppliers and agree not to hold COVINA HILLS TRAVEL responsible should any of these suppliers: 1) fail to provide the travel services I have purchased; 2) fail to comply with any applicable law; or 3) engage in any negligent act or omission that causes me any sort of injury, damage, delay or inconvenience. I accept that COVINA HILLS TRAVEL is not responsible for, nor will I attempt to hold it liable for, any injury, damage or loss I may suffer on account of any conditions, actions or omissions that are beyond its reasonable control. I will review my travel documents for accuracy upon receipt and understand that I may contact COVINA HILLS TRAVEL if I have any questions. I understand that discounted fares typically involve restrictions and that changing any aspect of my travel arrangements may result in the payment of additional money. A $40 per revision fee for any changes after 15 days of receiving your invoice, including name corrections, may apply. I understand that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires me to carry a government issued identification card in order to board a flight. I have been advised that the name, date of birth and gender that appears on the identification card must exactly match the same such data that is listed on my airline ticket and in my booking records. I acknowledge that my failure to strictly comply with these requirements may result in denied boarding or an undue delay at an airport security checkpoint causing me to miss my flight. I understand that if traveling internationally, I must have a valid passport and depending upon my destination and nationality, I may need to obtain one or more visas. Note to Client: Passport and visa information may be obtained by contacting the Travel Advisory Section of the U.S. State Department at or by visiting the State Department's Web site at travel.state.gov. Non-U.S. passport holders should be sure to contact the embassies of their destination and transit countries to obtain entrance requirements. To obtain medical information, you may contact the Centers for Disease Control at or visit the CDC's Web site at I understand that the airline tickets or air tours I am purchasing are subject to supplemental price increases that may be imposed after the date of purchase. Post-purchase price increases may be applied due to additional costs imposed by a supplier or government. I acknowledge that I may be charged additional sums by COVINA HILLS TRAVEL to offset increased fees, fuel surcharges, taxes, fluctuations in foreign exchange markets or any combination thereof. I hereby consent to any post-purchase price increases and authorize COVINA HILLS TRAVEL to bill me for such additional amounts. I understand that a deposit of $250 per person is due at time of booking and final payments are due 75 days prior to departure. All payments for this tour must be by check, credit cards are not accepted for this tour. If payment is not received by due date the reservation is subject to cancellation and deposit will be forfeited. I understand that Cancellation fees apply to this tour. When the cancellation is received in writing after deposit a $75 penalty applies in addition to the following: 90 days to 76 days prior to departure $100; 75 days to 65 days prior to departure $250; 64 days to 40 days 50% Penalty; 39 days or less or NO-SHOW 100% Penalty. I understand that I may purchase travel insurance to cover certain risks inherent in travel such as supplier bankruptcy and the inability to travel due to a medical or personal emergency. Please check and initial your acceptance or refusal of travel insurance below. I wish [ ] do not wish [ ] to purchase travel insurance. (client's initials) (Cost based on land only, double occupancy, $147) Client's Signature: Date: