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Railfan’s Italy: Brenner Pass to the Boot
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Monday, May 8: Munich-Verona (L, D)
Meet your tour leader, Werner Schorn, and fellow passengers today by 1 p.m. at Munich’s DB first class lounge in the main station for the departure of a Eurocity train direct to Verona, Italy. We will travel via Innsbruck, the Brenner Pass and Bolzano and through the magnificent Dolomites. Have a three-course lunch in the restaurant car while taking in what the Thomas Cook Timetable calls one of Europe’s most scenic routes––a great introduction to Italy. Dinner will be together at our hotel in Verona.
Tuesday, May 9: Verona–Venice (B, D)
While our luggage travels separately to Venice, we enjoy a morning city tour of Verona’s Arena and relive Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In the afternoon, a Cisalpino train will whisk us to Venice within an hour-and-a-half. Have lunch on your own on the train. This afternoon, we’ll enjoy a city tour on foot and by private boat and dinner will be together tonight. Overnight Venice (2 nights).
Wednesday, May 10: Venice (B)
Today, choose between two options: a day trip to Trieste or further exploration of Venice*. The first option involves a pleasant train ride east to the border town of Trieste and its railway museum (includes picnic lunch). Trieste also boasts a nice funicular ride up to Opicina for fine views. Alternatively, stay in Venice and enjoy a walking tour with private guide*, including a visit to the Doge’s Palace, and a boat trip to observe glass blowing on the island of Murano.
Thursday, May 11: Venice–Naples (B, L, D)
This morning we leave early to depart on the Italian Intercity tain, giving us a peek at Bologna’s Centrale Station where we change to Eurostar Italia 9429. Again, we will be whisked across the beautiful countryside to Napoli, situated on a bay Mount Vesiuvius as the backdrop. Lunch included on the train. We’ll have a city tour upon arrival. Time permitting, you should be able to visit the famous National Archaeological Museum on your own. Dinner at our hotel tonight. Overnight: Naples (2 nights).
Friday, May 12: Naples (B, L)
After breakfast, we’ll enjoy a day trip on the Circumvesuviana, a private, electric narrow-gauge line around Mount Vesuvius from Naples to Sorrento. Our hotel will pack us a picnic lunch for this scenic day.
Saturday, May 13: Naples–Palermo, Isle of Sicily (B, L)
Today we’ll embark on an exciting journey from central Italy to the tip of Italy’s boot. Departing on an Intercity train, we will board after breakfast, have lunch in the restaurant car and cross onto the island of Sicily by ferry. We arrive Palermo, on the Tyrrhenian Sea, this evening. The trip is one of the most scenic in Italy, traveling along the coast for most of the way. Overnight: Palermo (1 night).
Sunday, May 14: Palermo–Acireale (B, D)
This morning, we will head east by train, cutting across the center of Sicily toward Catania on the coast. Our home for the next few days will be Acireale, just north of Catania. Dinner at our hotel together this evening. Overnight: Acireale (3 nights)
Monday, May 15: Acireale (B, L)
Today we take a picnic with us for our Catania Light Railway (FCE) trip around Mount Etna—largest and highest volcano in Europe—and enjoy a private tour of Taormina with our local guide. The FCE is a private, diesel narrow-gauge line. And Taormina is a classic little Italian town known for its natural beauty. As tour guide Werner Schorn says: "You haven’t been to Italy until you’ve been to Taormina."
Tuesday, May 16: Acireale (B)
Day at leisure to explore this coastal region on the Ionian Sea.
Wednesday, May 17: Acireale–Rome (B, L)
Today we travel by Intercity train to Rome, arriving in the early evening. Rome’s Termini Station has just been through a long and thorough renovation and, at 2.37 million square feet, is one of the largest stations in Europe. Overnight: Rome (2 nights).
Thursday, May 18: Rome (B, D)
Enjoy the famous sites of Rome, including the Vatican Museum and other highlights. There will be time to explore Rome on your own as well. We’ll have dinner tonight in a tram car restaurant.
Friday, May 19: Rome–Florence (B)
Today we head to Florence on another Eurostar Italia and enjoy the city as soon as we arrive at its lovely station. This afternoon we’ll take a walking tour, which includes the Duomo and the Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s "David." Overnight: Florence (2 nights).
Saturday, May 20: Florence (B)
Today we enjoy a railfan trip to Lucca and Aulla. The trip includes a day-long series of regional train trips, picnic lunch and a tour of Lucca, the famous walled city. Alternatively, choose an optional program in Florence*, with visits to the Uffizi Gallery and Pitti Palace. Lunch is on your own in a café.
Sunday, May 21: Florence–Milan (B)
Today we take our last Eurostar Italia train to Milan Centrale Station, one of the grand stations of Europe, opened in 1931. In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a tour of Milan and explore its streetcar system and see the "Last Supper" painting. Overnight: Milan (2 nights).
Monday, May 22: Milan (B, D)
Today, we connect by train to nearby Genova, birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Our destination is the Genova-Casella Railway, a private electric, narrow-gauge line that climbs from 307 feet above sea level in Genova, to 1,336 feet at Casella, traveling through 13 tunnels and offering breathtaking views of the Gulf of Genova. Tonight we’ll enjoy our farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Tuesday, May 23: Depart Milan (B)
Our tour ends after breakfast. Transfers to the airport are possible via the Malpensa Express train.
Tour pricing:
$5,899 per person, double occupancy
$1,330 single supplement
*Pricing not yet available for optional tours in Venice (May 10) and Florence (May 20).
Book now! Click here to download our 2006 tour booking form.
Price includes:
• Accommodation in four-star hotels
• Meals as listed in the itinerary
• Porterage of 1 large bag throughout the journey in/out of hotels
• Reservations on regular and special trains, and train supplements where necessary. Reservations are all in first-class wherever possible.
• Entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary
• Private transfers in our own motorcoach, which will follow us throughout the itinerary. In Venice, transfers by private motorlaunch with local guide.
• Private tours with private guides as outlined in the itinerary
• Gratuities for all included services except to your tour leader
• Separate hotel-to-hotel luggage transfers
• Service of full-time tour leader Werner Schorn
Extra Hotel Nights:
Includes taxes, service charge and breakfast per room, per night
Pretour Munich Maritim Hotel
Double room: $264 per night
Single room: $201 per night
Post-tour Milan Four Points Sheraton
Double room: $362 per night
Single room: $264 per night
Price does not include: Airfare; railpass; optional tours unless specified; costs of obtaining passports; meals not listed in the itinerary; any expenses of a personal nature, including all forms of travel insurance, laundry service, all alcoholic beverages and all personal beverages other than those included at group meals. Gratuities for tour leader, which is at your discretion.Railpass options:
Please note that a European railpass will be required for this journey. Since the tour begins in Germany and travels through Austria and Italy, your railpass will need to be valid for all three countries. The best option is a Eurailpass. Pricing (based on 2005 rates) is as follows:
15-day Eurailpass: $588 per person
15-day Eurailpass Saver: $498 per person
(Please note passengers must travel together at all times with Saverpass.)
Pass rates are subject to change when 2006 rates are announced.
If you wish to extend your vacation in Europe, you may prefer a longer pass. 2005 prices are: 21-day Eurailpass, first class: $762 p.p.; 21-day Eurailpass Saver, first class: $648 p.p.; 1 month Eurailpass, first class: $946 p.p.; 1 month Eurailpass Saver, first class: $804 p.p.
The Eurailpass is good in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.Click here to download our 2006 tour booking form.
Click here for complete tour terms and conditions.
Please call us with questions, bookings:
800-478-4881 or 502-454-0277
www.irtsociety.com
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