Friday March 2, 2012 departure return Sunday March 11, 2012. See Mr. Keaveney for details or pick up information booklet in main office.

EUROPE TRIP 2012

Switzerland and Italy March 2012Lucerne, Lake Cumo, Venice, Florence, Pisa and Rome plan on being part of this great trip.

Flight to ZurichOver night flight finds us arriving Saturday morning in Zurich. World center for insurance companies and banking. Once we meet our tour director we board our bus to Lucerne.

Chapel BridgeDue to its location on the shore of Lake Lucerne, within sight of Mt. Pilatus and Rigi in the Swiss Alps, Lucerne is a very popular and was voted 5th most popular destination in 2010 by Tripadvisor

Lion Mounument (Lowen-denkmal)Begin our tour in front of this famous sculpture dedicated to the Swiss Guards who were slain in 1792 in Paris storming the Tuileries.

Jesuit Church 17th Century (first stone laid 1667) The city is a center of Catholic faith in Switzerland as this magnificent church built next to a Jesuit college. Lucerne was key in leading the counter reformation .

Just one of the many buildings displaying brightly colored FrescoYou will have lots of free time to explore the beauty of the city, to shop and be sure to check out the world largest display of Rolex watches and other fine jewelry.

Mt. PilatusWhat will surely be one of the highlights of the trip is taking the cable car to the top of the mountain. If you are afraid of heights you may want to keep your eyes closed.

View from atop Mt. PilatusPictures just do not do justice to the experience of being on top of the mountain

We leave Lucerne to travel through the Italian Alps into ItalyThe drive 2 and ½ hour drive will be one you won’t soon forget. It includes of course beautiful mountains but also a chance to drive through a mountain using one of the longest tunnels in the world.

Lake CumoThis famous lake is world renowned for its breath taking beauty . So popular in fact many celebrities have villas on the lake. You will experience the lake from the deck of a boat as we cruise along the lake.

Bellagio a small town on lake CumoThe pearl of lake Cumo is just one of the towns we explore while in the Lakes district of Northern Italy

Original Hotel Bellagio (before Las Vegas)Great food, great shopping and lots of interesting streets to explore

Day 5 finds us in the City of VeniceThe grand canal just one of the famous landmarks of” la Serenissima “(most serene) According to Napoleon one of the finest drawing rooms of Europe

Gondolas abound, in the background is the famous bell tower and St. Mark’s SquareIn the 11th century it is believed that St. Mark’s remains were smuggled into Venice in a barrel of salt pork to prevent Muslim guards from finding his remains.

14th Century Doges’ PalaceThis was the center from which the Venetian dukes once ruled.

Bridge of SighsYou will stroll across the bridge of sighs, linking the palace with its prison. It gets its name because prisoners as they took one last glance of the beautiful city would sigh knowing what lay ahead for them. Casanova made a daring escape from the prison in 1756

Venice is also famous for its fine glassware

Heating of the glass

You will take in a glass blowing demonstrationNo that’s not what you think it is…. He is actually blowing into that tube.

Santa Maria de Fiore CathedralDay 6 finds us traveling to Florence, one of the birth centers of the Renaissance Period

Piazza della SignoriaFlorence is a beautiful city, its buildings and artwork will be something you will remember forever.

Ponte VecchioOne of the city’s only bridges to survive WWII. It connects the Pitti palace to the Palace of Uffizi

Chiesa di Santa Croce CathedralThis is the final resting spot of many famous people including such noteworthy people as…..

Michelangelo

Galileo

Machiavelli

Leaning Tower of PisaPart of Day 7 will find us in Pisa. Your chance to see this famous icon. The city is thought to be where Galileo developed his laws of gravity

Day 8 we travel to the famous city of Rome

The mighty Coliseum RomeConstruction began in 70 AD and finished in 80 AD. This amphitheater could hold up to 50,000 spectators.

Inside the ColiseumThis was the site of incredible public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts and of course the site where gladiators fought to the death.

Saint Peter’s Basilica Day 9 begins with a visit to the Vatican City the world’s smallest country

Vatican MuseumWe begin with a visit to the Vatican museum

Vatican Museum staircaseCheck these stairs out

Sistine ChapelHere is where Michelangelo first attempt at working in fresco. He did this work while standing up and craning backward from a scaffold.

Trevi FountainAfter the visit to the Vatican we do a guided walking tour of some of the world famous sites of Rome

Side walk cafes other charming establishments await youDuring your free time take in the sites.

Why not Pizza in Rome?

Nothing beats Italian ice cream

Spanish StepsAt the end of the day we meet at the famous Spanish Steps to go to fine Italian dinner. A great way to end our European vacation.