European Sampler
For the traveler with limited time, who is looking for a broad overview of the diverse culture and landscape of Europe. This tour is a perfect introduction, mixing blockbuster sights, small town charm, and some jaw-dropping scenery. From the ancient world of Rome we’ll wind our way up through the villages, art and edibles of Italy, breath deep in the thin air and snow capped peaks of the Swiss Alps, savor the good life in the vineyards of Burgundy and finish off in the city of lights.
The tour will start June 23, 2010 in Rome, Italy and end on July 7, 2010 in Paris, France. You would need to leave the US on June 22, 2010 to arrive in Rome on the morning of June 23. You will need to arrive at Rome airport before noon on June 23 in order to meet your guide for transportation to our first hotel. Departure from Paris can be any time on July 7.
The tour is 14 nights, 15 days, and the cost is $5150 per person. Note: this tour was custom designed for a private client with a total of four people traveling on the tour. If you would like information about scheduling this tour for your private group, please contact us.
Price includes: accommodations in comfortable, characteristic hotels, all in central locations; all ground and rail transportation from arrival in Rome to departure from Paris; breakfast each morning; entry and tour of all sights mentioned in the itinerary; the services of your Hand Crafted guide, who also acts as driver, interpreter, and window on European culture and history.
Not included: airfare to and from Europe; meals other than breakfast; free time transportation and sightseeing.
The tour is 14 nights, 15 days, and the cost is $5150 per person. Note: this tour was custom designed for a private client with a total of four people traveling on the tour. If you would like information about scheduling this tour for your private group, please contact us.
Price includes: accommodations in comfortable, characteristic hotels, all in central locations; all ground and rail transportation from arrival in Rome to departure from Paris; breakfast each morning; entry and tour of all sights mentioned in the itinerary; the services of your Hand Crafted guide, who also acts as driver, interpreter, and window on European culture and history.
Not included: airfare to and from Europe; meals other than breakfast; free time transportation and sightseeing.
Day 1: Welcome to Rome
After meeting your guide at the airport in Rome, we’ll drive about one hour to our hotel in central Rome. After a chance to settle in and freshen up, we’ll get out and explore the historic heart of Rome, visiting the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and the Piazza Navona.
Day 2: Ancient Rome
Today we’ll explore the best of ancient Rome, the nerve center of Western civilization for more than a thousand years. Our stops will include the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon. Late afternoon free for wandering and shopping on your own.
Day 3: Vatican City
A country-within-a-country, the independent state of Vatican City will be our focus today. We’ll start with an early morning visit to St. Peter’s Basilica, enjoying the peace and serenity before the storm of tourists arrive. After a break for lunch and a chance to climb the dome of the basilica we’ll tour the Vatican Museums, capping off with a visit to the Sistine Chapel.
Day 4: Hill Towns of Tuscany
Leaving Rome behind, we’ll drive about three hours north to the Tuscan hill town of Siena. Along the way we’ll stop for lunch in Orvieto, where we’ll also see the unique Apocalypse Fresco in the cathedral. Once in Siena we’ll visit the ornate interior of the cathedral, and take an orientation walk through the historic core to hear about the town’s history and bitter rivalry with Florence.
Day 5: Renaissance Art
We’ll drive an hour north to Florence, the capital of Tuscany and birthplace of the Renaissance. Here we’ll visit the lively farmer’s market, see Michelangelo’s David, and tour the Uffizi Gallery. You’ll have some time for shopping before our late afternoon return to Siena.
Day 6: Towers and Cliffs
We’ll continue another three hours north to the Cinque Terre, five picturesque fishing villages that are virtually inaccessible to cars. Along the way we’ll stop in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower, as well as the neighboring buildings on what’s known as the Field of Miracles.
Day 7: Riviera Recharge
Day free to enjoy the Italian Riviera. Relax on the beach, ride the train, hike, or take a boat tour.
Day 8: Lakes and Mountains
We’ll experience a vast change in scenery on our longest drive of the trip, as we leave Italy behind and climb up into the Swiss Alps. We’ll stop along the way for lunch overlooking scenic Lake Maggiore , then cross into Switzerland. The last leg of our trip will be by train, as our home village of Zermatt is a car-free village.
Day 9: To the Top
We’ll explore the mountains surrounding Zermatt, either riding a cogwheel train up to the Gornergrat, or a cable car to Klein Matterhorn. Afternoon back in the village for relaxing an shopping.
Day 10: Profound France
From the heights of the Alps we’ll descend into France, driving about five hours to Beaune in Burgundy. This region encompasses everything that is storybook France—good food, great wine, beautiful scenery, and a relaxed, carefree lifestyle. After arrival in town, we’ll take a walk through the historic core, and visit the Hotel Dieu, a 15th century hospice.
Day 11: Vineyards and Castles
Beaune’s weekly farmer's market takes over the center of town today. We’ll line up with the other locals doing their shopping, and we’ll assemble a picnic lunch. With food in the bag, we’ll head out to the countryside for a lunch with a view. Afterwards we’ll visit La Rochepot, a beautifully preserved medieval castle.
Day 12: Medieval Paris
Our last leg of the journey takes us three hours from Beaune to the city of Paris. After checking in to our hotel we’ll get out and explore the foundations of this magnificent city on the island where it all started. Along the way we’ll visit Notre-Dame cathedral and wander the Latin Quarter.
Day 13: Best of Paris
We’ll start the morning by seeing the best of the Louvre, including statues by Michelangelo and paintings by daVinci. Afterwards we’ll walk along the Champs-Elysées, see the Arc de Triomphe and ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Day 14: A Living Masterpiece
From Paris we’ll take a short day trip to Giverny, where Monet build his home and gardens, arguably his greatest work of art. Late afternoon back in Paris for some free time shopping, and then prepare for tomorrow’s departure.
Day 15: Depart Paris
Tour over after breakfast. You’ll be transported to the airport for your departure.
After meeting your guide at the airport in Rome, we’ll drive about one hour to our hotel in central Rome. After a chance to settle in and freshen up, we’ll get out and explore the historic heart of Rome, visiting the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and the Piazza Navona.
Day 2: Ancient Rome
Today we’ll explore the best of ancient Rome, the nerve center of Western civilization for more than a thousand years. Our stops will include the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon. Late afternoon free for wandering and shopping on your own.
Day 3: Vatican City
A country-within-a-country, the independent state of Vatican City will be our focus today. We’ll start with an early morning visit to St. Peter’s Basilica, enjoying the peace and serenity before the storm of tourists arrive. After a break for lunch and a chance to climb the dome of the basilica we’ll tour the Vatican Museums, capping off with a visit to the Sistine Chapel.
Day 4: Hill Towns of Tuscany
Leaving Rome behind, we’ll drive about three hours north to the Tuscan hill town of Siena. Along the way we’ll stop for lunch in Orvieto, where we’ll also see the unique Apocalypse Fresco in the cathedral. Once in Siena we’ll visit the ornate interior of the cathedral, and take an orientation walk through the historic core to hear about the town’s history and bitter rivalry with Florence.
Day 5: Renaissance Art
We’ll drive an hour north to Florence, the capital of Tuscany and birthplace of the Renaissance. Here we’ll visit the lively farmer’s market, see Michelangelo’s David, and tour the Uffizi Gallery. You’ll have some time for shopping before our late afternoon return to Siena.
Day 6: Towers and Cliffs
We’ll continue another three hours north to the Cinque Terre, five picturesque fishing villages that are virtually inaccessible to cars. Along the way we’ll stop in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower, as well as the neighboring buildings on what’s known as the Field of Miracles.
Day 7: Riviera Recharge
Day free to enjoy the Italian Riviera. Relax on the beach, ride the train, hike, or take a boat tour.
Day 8: Lakes and Mountains
We’ll experience a vast change in scenery on our longest drive of the trip, as we leave Italy behind and climb up into the Swiss Alps. We’ll stop along the way for lunch overlooking scenic Lake Maggiore , then cross into Switzerland. The last leg of our trip will be by train, as our home village of Zermatt is a car-free village.
Day 9: To the Top
We’ll explore the mountains surrounding Zermatt, either riding a cogwheel train up to the Gornergrat, or a cable car to Klein Matterhorn. Afternoon back in the village for relaxing an shopping.
Day 10: Profound France
From the heights of the Alps we’ll descend into France, driving about five hours to Beaune in Burgundy. This region encompasses everything that is storybook France—good food, great wine, beautiful scenery, and a relaxed, carefree lifestyle. After arrival in town, we’ll take a walk through the historic core, and visit the Hotel Dieu, a 15th century hospice.
Day 11: Vineyards and Castles
Beaune’s weekly farmer's market takes over the center of town today. We’ll line up with the other locals doing their shopping, and we’ll assemble a picnic lunch. With food in the bag, we’ll head out to the countryside for a lunch with a view. Afterwards we’ll visit La Rochepot, a beautifully preserved medieval castle.
Day 12: Medieval Paris
Our last leg of the journey takes us three hours from Beaune to the city of Paris. After checking in to our hotel we’ll get out and explore the foundations of this magnificent city on the island where it all started. Along the way we’ll visit Notre-Dame cathedral and wander the Latin Quarter.
Day 13: Best of Paris
We’ll start the morning by seeing the best of the Louvre, including statues by Michelangelo and paintings by daVinci. Afterwards we’ll walk along the Champs-Elysées, see the Arc de Triomphe and ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Day 14: A Living Masterpiece
From Paris we’ll take a short day trip to Giverny, where Monet build his home and gardens, arguably his greatest work of art. Late afternoon back in Paris for some free time shopping, and then prepare for tomorrow’s departure.
Day 15: Depart Paris
Tour over after breakfast. You’ll be transported to the airport for your departure.
Listed below are some recommended books to help get you in the mood and better prepare you for your trip. By no means do I think you should read all of them, but read through the descriptions and pick out a few that grab you.
Agony & the Ecstasy, by Irving Stone
This classic novel puts flesh on the life story of Michelangelo, combining well-researched facts with insight into human behavior to bring to life the people, politics and spirit of the time. An absolute must read for anyone planning a trip to Florence or Rome (note that the movie, starring Charleton Heston as Michelangelo, is really bad; ignore it and read the book).
Masters of Rome series, by Colleen McCollough
An excellent complement to Gibbons’ Decline & Fall, this series essentially ends where Gibbons starts: with the Roman Empire. In the First Man in Rome McCullough begins setting the scene for the arrival of Julius Caesar, detailing the last decades of the Roman Republic and its fall. Better known for her popular novel, The Thornbirds, McCullough has done a masterful job of research on this novelized version of Roman history. Read them in this order: The First Man in Rome; The Grass Crown; Fortune’s Favorites; Caesar’s Women; Caesar; The October Horse.
Menu Master Italy, by Marling
A handy little pocket-sized language book that focuses on menu items. The brilliant part is that it doesn’t just translate what the words mean, but gives a full-blown description of the dish, and how it is usually prepared.
When in Rome: A Journal of Life in Vatican City, by Robert Hutchinson
An irreverent look inside the daily operation of Vatican City, one of the world’s richest and most powerful corporations. With boundless curiosity and seemingly unfettered access to the inner sanctum of the church, Hutchison reveals everything from how much a cardinal makes, to where the Swiss Guard go drinking when they’re not on duty.
Heidi, by Johanna Spyri
Heidi is a young orphan sent to live with her grumpy grandfather in the Swiss Alps. Much more than a children's story.
Hitler's Silent Partners, by Isabel Vincent
About the role of Swiss banks in laundering gold stolen from the Jews during WWII.
Innocents Abroad, by Mark Twain
Twain turned his jaundiced eye on The Grand Tour, as he traveled through Europe in 1867. Hilarious, and every bit as relevant today as it was 150 years ago.
La Place de la Concorde Suisse, by John McPhee
Travelers to Switzerland are struck by an overwhelming sense of tranquility. Knowing that Switzerland is peaceful and neutral, most assume the country doesn't have an army. In fact, Switzerland is one of the most heavily armed countries in the world.
With a population smaller than New Jersey's, Switzerland has a standing army of 650,000 ready to be mobilized in less than 48 hours. Every farmhouse contains firearms, and men and women trained to use them.
After reading this book, you'll understand why the Israelis patterned their army after the Swiss.
Wilhelm von Tell, by Friederich von Schiller
The classic Swiss story, everyone knows the basic kernel of the story, with William shooting an apple off his son's head. But do you know why he did it?
A Place of Greater Safety, by Hilary Mantel
The book centers on the three main characters of the early days of the revolution: Danton, Robespierre, and Desmoulins. Mantel uses character study and history to flesh out the lives and personalities of the people who shaped the course of the revolution, who initiated the Reign of Terror and who were ultimately overcome by their creation. A happy marriage of historical fiction with a page-turning plot.
French or Foe, by Polly Platt
Go to France expecting rude behavior and you'll surely find it. But if you make even the slightest attempt to understand French culture and manners, you'll find wonderful, warm experiences await you. Mainly designed for expats planning to spend an extended period living and working in France, this book (and Platt’s Savoir Flair) provide great insight into a rich and rewarding culture and are useful even for the casual tourist.
Marianne in Chains, by Robert Gildea
A good, balanced look at life in occupied France, seen from the view of collaborator vs. resistance. Things were seldom B&W. Most people were just trying to survive and enjoy life.
Menu Master France, by Marling
Do you know what andouillette is? Most menus will translate this simply as sausage, but Marling lets you know it's sausage made from strips of pig intestine (tripe, in other words). If that's not to your taste, better have a Menu Master handy, a phrasebook devoted to food, and organized like the typical menu. The brilliant part is that it gives you not just a translation, but a description of how the dish is usually prepared.
Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follet
Don't start this one 30 minutes before bed-time, or you'll be up turning pages all night. A multi-generational saga that explores the shift in architecture from Romanesque to Gothic, in the process bringing to life all of the facets of 12th and 13th century society, from the nobility and clergy maneuvering for land and power, to the poor, landless peasants and trades people just trying to earn their daily bread.
Set mostly in Britain, with a bit in France, but Gothic is such an important part of any visit to Germany that you should read it for that, as well.
Wine & War: The French, the Nazis and the Battle for France's Greatest Treasure, by Donald Kladstrup
Wine is a critical part of French culture, and has often been a major sub-plot of French-German conflicts dating back centuries. You won't learn much about French wine if you don't already know it, but you will get a great sense of the German desire for revenge in the aftermath of the punitive reparations imposed on them following WWI, the importance of wine and food in the French culture, and the dangers that some vintners were perpared to risk to save precious vintages.
Agony & the Ecstasy, by Irving Stone
This classic novel puts flesh on the life story of Michelangelo, combining well-researched facts with insight into human behavior to bring to life the people, politics and spirit of the time. An absolute must read for anyone planning a trip to Florence or Rome (note that the movie, starring Charleton Heston as Michelangelo, is really bad; ignore it and read the book).
Masters of Rome series, by Colleen McCollough
An excellent complement to Gibbons’ Decline & Fall, this series essentially ends where Gibbons starts: with the Roman Empire. In the First Man in Rome McCullough begins setting the scene for the arrival of Julius Caesar, detailing the last decades of the Roman Republic and its fall. Better known for her popular novel, The Thornbirds, McCullough has done a masterful job of research on this novelized version of Roman history. Read them in this order: The First Man in Rome; The Grass Crown; Fortune’s Favorites; Caesar’s Women; Caesar; The October Horse.
Menu Master Italy, by Marling
A handy little pocket-sized language book that focuses on menu items. The brilliant part is that it doesn’t just translate what the words mean, but gives a full-blown description of the dish, and how it is usually prepared.
When in Rome: A Journal of Life in Vatican City, by Robert Hutchinson
An irreverent look inside the daily operation of Vatican City, one of the world’s richest and most powerful corporations. With boundless curiosity and seemingly unfettered access to the inner sanctum of the church, Hutchison reveals everything from how much a cardinal makes, to where the Swiss Guard go drinking when they’re not on duty.
Heidi, by Johanna Spyri
Heidi is a young orphan sent to live with her grumpy grandfather in the Swiss Alps. Much more than a children's story.
Hitler's Silent Partners, by Isabel Vincent
About the role of Swiss banks in laundering gold stolen from the Jews during WWII.
Innocents Abroad, by Mark Twain
Twain turned his jaundiced eye on The Grand Tour, as he traveled through Europe in 1867. Hilarious, and every bit as relevant today as it was 150 years ago.
La Place de la Concorde Suisse, by John McPhee
Travelers to Switzerland are struck by an overwhelming sense of tranquility. Knowing that Switzerland is peaceful and neutral, most assume the country doesn't have an army. In fact, Switzerland is one of the most heavily armed countries in the world.
With a population smaller than New Jersey's, Switzerland has a standing army of 650,000 ready to be mobilized in less than 48 hours. Every farmhouse contains firearms, and men and women trained to use them.
After reading this book, you'll understand why the Israelis patterned their army after the Swiss.
Wilhelm von Tell, by Friederich von Schiller
The classic Swiss story, everyone knows the basic kernel of the story, with William shooting an apple off his son's head. But do you know why he did it?
A Place of Greater Safety, by Hilary Mantel
The book centers on the three main characters of the early days of the revolution: Danton, Robespierre, and Desmoulins. Mantel uses character study and history to flesh out the lives and personalities of the people who shaped the course of the revolution, who initiated the Reign of Terror and who were ultimately overcome by their creation. A happy marriage of historical fiction with a page-turning plot.
French or Foe, by Polly Platt
Go to France expecting rude behavior and you'll surely find it. But if you make even the slightest attempt to understand French culture and manners, you'll find wonderful, warm experiences await you. Mainly designed for expats planning to spend an extended period living and working in France, this book (and Platt’s Savoir Flair) provide great insight into a rich and rewarding culture and are useful even for the casual tourist.
Marianne in Chains, by Robert Gildea
A good, balanced look at life in occupied France, seen from the view of collaborator vs. resistance. Things were seldom B&W. Most people were just trying to survive and enjoy life.
Menu Master France, by Marling
Do you know what andouillette is? Most menus will translate this simply as sausage, but Marling lets you know it's sausage made from strips of pig intestine (tripe, in other words). If that's not to your taste, better have a Menu Master handy, a phrasebook devoted to food, and organized like the typical menu. The brilliant part is that it gives you not just a translation, but a description of how the dish is usually prepared.
Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follet
Don't start this one 30 minutes before bed-time, or you'll be up turning pages all night. A multi-generational saga that explores the shift in architecture from Romanesque to Gothic, in the process bringing to life all of the facets of 12th and 13th century society, from the nobility and clergy maneuvering for land and power, to the poor, landless peasants and trades people just trying to earn their daily bread.
Set mostly in Britain, with a bit in France, but Gothic is such an important part of any visit to Germany that you should read it for that, as well.
Wine & War: The French, the Nazis and the Battle for France's Greatest Treasure, by Donald Kladstrup
Wine is a critical part of French culture, and has often been a major sub-plot of French-German conflicts dating back centuries. You won't learn much about French wine if you don't already know it, but you will get a great sense of the German desire for revenge in the aftermath of the punitive reparations imposed on them following WWI, the importance of wine and food in the French culture, and the dangers that some vintners were perpared to risk to save precious vintages.
Listed below are some recommended movies to help get you in the mood and better prepare you for your trip. By no means do I think you should watch all of them, but read through the descriptions and pick out a few that grab you.
A Room with a View, with Helena Bonham Carter, Maggie Smith
Italy entices visitors to abandon rational thought and pursue their emotions. Sometimes the effect is temporary, but for others it colors the rest of their lives. In this wonderful adaptation of the EM Forester novel, a young woman on holiday in Tuscany weighs her feelings for two suitors: one socially appropriate but passionless; the other a lower class romantic. If the scenery doesn’t make you want to move to Tuscany nothing will.
Gladiator, with Russell Crowe
Blood and gore abound, but the history and depiction of life in ancient Rome are reasonably accurate. A must see film for anyone who sets foot in the Colosseum.
Life is Beautiful, with Roberto Bagnini
Bagnini gained fame in Italy for his wild and spontaneous comic outbursts, sort of an Italian version of Robin Williams. Here he proves he can handle more serious subjects in this Academy Award winning film about the persecution of Jews in Italy during WWII.
Tea With Mussolini, with Cher, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench
A band of British and American women, known as I Scorpioni for their stinging wit, witness the change from the genteel era of Italy between the wars to the thuggish brutality and mistrust of the rising fascist dictatorship.
Heidi
The movie gives good views of the Swiss Alps and countryside.
Amelie, with Audrey Tautou, Matthieu Kassovitz
Amelie is a rebel mind trapped in a conservative body, wanting to break out of her comfortable but somber existence, but too shy to act. When a chance meeting occurs she seizes the opportunity, but will she make it all the way? Funky, fast paced and just plain funny, you've got to watch it at least twice (or have the replay button handy) to catch everything. Winner of the 2001 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film.
Madeleine, with Frances McDormand
Adapted from the classic children's books about the school girl misadventures of Madeline, a young French orphan. Here the sly and witty Madeline seeks to save her school from being sold by its owner, the widower Nigel Hawthorne. Not simply for kids, this high quality film includes many colorful Parisian locations.
The Bourne Identity, with Matt Damon, Franka Potente
Loosely based on Robert Ludlum's 1980 bestseller, the plot is wound tight as a watch in Zurich when a man with no memory of his name, profession, or recent past enlists a down on her luck German to assist in finding his missing identity. The pace is fast and furious as Bourne slowly discovers his own lethal abilites while leaving a trail of bodies from Switzerland to Paris. Great footage of modern European scenery, especially in Paris.
A Room with a View, with Helena Bonham Carter, Maggie Smith
Italy entices visitors to abandon rational thought and pursue their emotions. Sometimes the effect is temporary, but for others it colors the rest of their lives. In this wonderful adaptation of the EM Forester novel, a young woman on holiday in Tuscany weighs her feelings for two suitors: one socially appropriate but passionless; the other a lower class romantic. If the scenery doesn’t make you want to move to Tuscany nothing will.
Gladiator, with Russell Crowe
Blood and gore abound, but the history and depiction of life in ancient Rome are reasonably accurate. A must see film for anyone who sets foot in the Colosseum.
Life is Beautiful, with Roberto Bagnini
Bagnini gained fame in Italy for his wild and spontaneous comic outbursts, sort of an Italian version of Robin Williams. Here he proves he can handle more serious subjects in this Academy Award winning film about the persecution of Jews in Italy during WWII.
Tea With Mussolini, with Cher, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench
A band of British and American women, known as I Scorpioni for their stinging wit, witness the change from the genteel era of Italy between the wars to the thuggish brutality and mistrust of the rising fascist dictatorship.
Heidi
The movie gives good views of the Swiss Alps and countryside.
Amelie, with Audrey Tautou, Matthieu Kassovitz
Amelie is a rebel mind trapped in a conservative body, wanting to break out of her comfortable but somber existence, but too shy to act. When a chance meeting occurs she seizes the opportunity, but will she make it all the way? Funky, fast paced and just plain funny, you've got to watch it at least twice (or have the replay button handy) to catch everything. Winner of the 2001 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film.
Madeleine, with Frances McDormand
Adapted from the classic children's books about the school girl misadventures of Madeline, a young French orphan. Here the sly and witty Madeline seeks to save her school from being sold by its owner, the widower Nigel Hawthorne. Not simply for kids, this high quality film includes many colorful Parisian locations.
The Bourne Identity, with Matt Damon, Franka Potente
Loosely based on Robert Ludlum's 1980 bestseller, the plot is wound tight as a watch in Zurich when a man with no memory of his name, profession, or recent past enlists a down on her luck German to assist in finding his missing identity. The pace is fast and furious as Bourne slowly discovers his own lethal abilites while leaving a trail of bodies from Switzerland to Paris. Great footage of modern European scenery, especially in Paris.