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TRAVEL - Tuscany, Italy / October 2024


SOLD OUT!
DISCOVER AND EXPLORE TUSCANY, ITALY

with Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce

October 11, 2024 to October 20, 2024

Early Bird Discount: $3,499.00 per person if deposited by December 31st!  - $3,599.00 per person if deposited by April 11, 2024

Trip Highlights

Round trip scheduled airfare from Chicago
Round trip transfers between airports and hotel
7-nights first class Hotel
Superb cuisine, daily breakfast, and four dinners
   City tour of Florence, see the Cathedral, Baptistery, and the famous
   Gates of Paradise.
City tour of Pisa
Visit San Gimignano
Visit the WWII Florence American Cemetery (weather permitting)
Chianti Wine Tasting
Discovery Program guide

Itinerary:

Board Your Trans-Atlantic Flight

Today depart the U.S. on an international flight to Italy.

• Transatlantic flight


Day 2: Montecatini

Upon arrival, proceed to baggage claim. After clearing customs, you will be met by your English-speaking Discovery Program Guide who will assist you onto your deluxe motorcoach. You will arrive at the nearby spa resort town of Montecatini, your home for the next seven nights. Montecatini is situated in the northern part of Tuscany, just outside of Florence, in the heart of the Italian art cradle. One of the many highlights of this tour is that there is no “packing and unpacking” . . . a relaxed way to experience this wonderful region of Italy. Have a Welcome Cocktail and briefing this evening at the hotel. Then enjoy your first real Italian meal this evening in the dining room. Dinner is at the hotel.

• Arrive in Italy and transfer to your hotel for the next 7 nights
• Dinner at your hotel


Day 3: Pisa

In the morning, you will visit Pisa. The square of Mirades contains some breathtaking monuments: the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral, the Baptistry, the monumental cemetery and the Opa Museum. Exploring is easy as everything is located within a few hundred yards of each other. Maybe taste a local cappuccino at one of the cafes on the square.

• Breakfast at your hotel
• Tour of Pisa
• Dinner at your hotel



 

Day 4: Florence

After breakfast, you’ll travel to the heart of the Tuscan region and the city of Florence, which has produced famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Dante and Michelangelo. Your tour of Florence will include a visit to the Piazza del Duomo to see its massive bronze “Gates of Paradise,” Signoria Square, the 13th century Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Giotto Tower and the Church of Santa Croce where Michelangelo is buried. The afternoon will be free to sightsee or shop in Florence.

• Breakfast at your hotel
• City tour of Florence
• Chamber Experience

Day 5: Montecatini (Cinque Terre)

Today, enjoy an Optional Tour of Cinque Terre where you’ll find rugged beauty and a slow pace. Named for the five towns of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, this portion of the Italian Riviera is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with a string of centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. In each of the five towns, colorful houses and ancient vineyards cling to steep terraces, fishing boats bob in harbors and trattorias turn out seafood specialties along with the Liguria region’s famous sauce, pesto.

• Breakfast at your hotel
• Full day at leisure in Montecatini
• Optional trip to Cinque Terre

Day 6: Montecatini(San Gimignano - Chianti)

After breakfast we travel into the heart of Tuscany. As we travel south you will recognize many of the landscapes from the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun,” filmed in this area. Visiting the walled city of San Gimignano, the best-preserved medieval village in Italy, you will admire the many towers that once served as the skyscrapers of the 13th and 14th centuries. We will stroll around the tiny streets leading to the top of the village, maybe stop in one of the many cafes and small trattorias for a sandwich and a “gelato”... Italian ice cream. [Chamber Experience] Later, visit the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial. (weather permitting) This WWII cemetery covers 70 acres, and between the two entrance buildings, a bridge leads to the burial area where the headstones of 4,393 of our military dead are arrayed in symmetrical curved rows upon the hillside. They represent percent of the U.S. Fifth Army burials originally made between Rome and the Alps. After, continue south through the wine country of Chianti this afternoon, your stop will include a winery to taste the local superb wine. Enjoy local wines and an educational program as brought to you by the leaders of the local wine industry. This evening enjoy cooking class with home-made pasta making and dinner with wine tasting.

• Breakfast at your hotel
• Tour into the Heart of Tuscany & San 
   Gimignano Chamber Experience
• Dinner at your hotel

 

Day 7: Montecatini (Venice)

Day at leisure or take an optional full day tour to Venice. Enjoy a city tour of Venice where you will see St. Mark’s Cathedral and Doge’s palace. This afternoon, make a life memory as you enjoy the sights, sounds and the hustle and bustle of Venice while cruising the Grand Canal aboard a traditional wood carved gondola boat. While cruising be sure to look for the Rialto Bridge which is the most famous and oldest of the four bridges that span the Grand Canal. Venice is a must-do Italian experience. Enjoy!

• Breakfast at your hotel
• Full day at leisure in Montecatini
• Optional trip to Venice

Day 8: Montecatini (Siena)

Day at leisure or take an optional tour to Siena, in the heart of Tuscany. Your escort will lead you to the Piazza del Campo, the ancient Tuscan capitol, a fascinating art town. This is the site of the most famous “palio” in all of Italy. This race of men on horseback, held twice a year, is charged with electricity as the competitors race around the town square at a furious pace. Take the time to explore the museums and churches of Siena and the glamorous shops of the Via dei Banchi de Sopra. This evening enjoy a delicious Tuscan feast with your fellow travelers as a tribute to your new fond memories of Italy.

• Breakfast at your hotel
• Full day at leisure in Montecatini
• Optional Full day tour of Siena
• Tuscan Feast Dinner

Day 9: Montecatini - USA

After breakfast transfer to the airport for your return flight to the U.S.

• Breakfast at your hotel
• Transfer to the airport fly home.





Optional Tours: (Tours Brochure Details Click Here)

ROME Post-Tour (3 Nights $799.00)

Extend your stay with 3 extra nights in Rome, Italy’s majestic capital! Includes transportation, hotel, breakfast, and city tour. Optional tour of Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.

VATICAN AND SISTINE CHAPEL - ($129.00 per person)

ROME: Optional Pasta & Tiramisu Workshop - ($89.00 per person)


Accompanied by our guide, you will enjoy a unique and exciting tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Brilliantly decorated and lined with masterpieces, the Museums brim with treasures and history. Take a journey through art and religious history entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Avoid the long ticket lines and then enjoy your visit at your own pace. Wander through the Greek Cross Gallery to see elaborately-carved sarcophagi that might just contain the earthly remains of some of antiquity's famous kings and queens. See masterpieces by Renaissance masters in the Raphael Rooms, and rest for a while in the Borgia Apartments. Then, it’s time to marvel at Michelangelo’s exquisite Sistine Chapel, the crown jewel of the Vatican, and perhaps even of all the world’s art treasures.

CINQUE TERRE TOUR (Full Day Tour) - ($149.00 per person)

Today, enjoy an Optional Tour of Cinque Terre where you’ll find rugged beauty and a slow pace. Named for the five towns of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, this portion of the Italian Riviera is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with a string of centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. In each of the 5 towns, colorful houses and ancient vineyards cling to steep terraces, fishing boats bob in harbors and trattorias turn out seafood specialties along with the Liguria region’s famous sauce, pesto.

OPTIONAL: SIENA TOUR (3/4 Day Tour) - ($118.99 per person)

Venture back in time to Siena, an amazingly preserved medieval city with its architecture and towers that still mark out time. Siena is famous for its cuisine, art, museums, ancient cityscape and the palio. In this city the presence of fearless knights can be relived with this area’s characteristic alleyways that give Siena its proud and elegant aspect. Be sure to stop for a gellato or a taste of Italian cuisine during your free time!

OPTIONAL: LUCCA TOUR (1/2 Day Tour) - ($79.00 per person)

After your tour of Pisa, you may wish to enjoy the historic town of Lucca (if not, you will return to Montecatini for an afternoon at leisure). Being of Etruscan origin, Lucca once belonged to the ancient Roman powers, and then self proclaimed itself as independent for five centuries, making Lucca truly a gem in Tuscany. It is a haven filled with divine religious buildings, fascinating history and with fabulous places to eat. Lucca is absolutely a must visit in this region. Enjoy a ride on the Italian rail system for your return to Montecatini.



Pricing:

Room Type Price Per Person Early Bird Discount: $300.00
Single $4499.00 that's $3,499.00 per person
Twin $3799.00 *if deposited by December 31st
Double $3799.00  
Triple $3766.00  Click here for brochure.

Price Changes
The price is subject to supplemental price increases after the date of purchase due to additional charges imposed by a supplier or government for increased fees, fuel surcharges, taxes, fluctuations in foreign exchange markets, or a combination thereof.

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Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce
306 Main St.
West Chicago, IL 60185
Phone: 630-231-3003
Fax: 630-231-3009
Email: team@westerndupagechamber.com

Hours
Monday- Friday: 8:00 AM-Noon 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Saturday: By Appointment Only
Sunday: Closed