Excursion - Europe 2022

Monday, October 17th, 2022 - Palma De Mallorca, Spain $50

Palma is a resort city and capital of the Spanish island of Mallorca (Majorca), in the western Mediterranean. The massive Santa María cathedral, a Gothic landmark begun in the 13th century, overlooks the Bay of Palma. The adjacent Almudaina is a Moorish-style Arab fortress converted into a royal residence. West of the city, hilltop Bellver Castle is a medieval fortress with a distinctive circular shape.

Palma Cathedral is a must-see on your visit to Palma. The cathedral was built during Jaime II’s reign, on the walls that surrounded Palma’s old town. The Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral has a 144-feet-tall nave – the second highest nave of all Gothic cathedrals in the world (after the Beauvais Cathedral in France).

The Bone features a tree-lined street that has become known as the 'Golden mile. In the past few years, Paseo del Borne has become the most important shopping street in Mallorca, with Rialto Living, the Louis Vuitton store, Hugo Boss, Carolina Herrera, Nicolás Joyeros, Twin-Set, and vintage handbags from ROUGE Mallorca– making this the ‘designer street’ for luxury shopping. You cannot afford to go to Spain without a trip to Palma.

This excursion highlights the following: The city of Palma and the surrounding areas.

Excursions are non-refundable

Tuesday, October 18th, 2022 - Marseilles And Cassis, France $90

Road via Col de la Gineste is a scenic drive offering superb panoramic views over crystal blue waters, the mountains, Cassis & la Ciotat. You can’t afford to miss this beauty. There are plenty of places to stop and take pictures along the way. Don’t forget to take your camera because the view is breathtaking.

Cassis is a Mediterranean fishing port in southern France. Overlooked by a centuries-old château, it’s known for pebbly beaches and its Calanques, narrow inlets framed by steep, limestone cliffs. The harbor features pastel-colored buildings, sidewalk cafes, and restaurants. Local vineyards are known for producing Cassis white wine. Trails run along the huge, rocky Cap Canaille headland for panoramic sea views.

The A50 autoroute is a French motorway connecting Marseille to Toulon. The motorway is 65 km and has a mixture of 2x2 and 2x3 lanes that run through mountainous coastal terrain along the Mediterranean. At the eastern end of the A50, drivers can choose between entering Toulon by the RN 8 or crossing under the city by going through the tunnel de Toulon.

Vieux Port Marseille is the focal point of Marseille’s history. This medieval town was also built around the Old Port. From then on, the port entrance was guarded by two forts, Saint-Nicolas and Saint-Jean fort. Surrounded by limestone cliffs, the city is naturally orientated towards the Mediterranean Sea. The primary purpose of Marseille’s ‘Vieux Port’ was trade and over time, the city established networks with increasingly remote destinations.

This excursion highlights the following: The Road Via Col De La Gineste, + Stop in Cassis + Motorway A50 + Stop in Marseille Vieux Port area.

Excursions are non-refundable

Wednesday, October 19th, 2022 - The Leaning Tower of Pisa And Florence, Italy $95

The Leaning Tower of Pisa or simply, the Tower of Pisa, is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of Pisa Cathedral. It is known for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation. The tower is one of three structures in Pisa's Cathedral Square, which includes the cathedral and Pisa Baptistry.

The height of the tower is 55.86 meters (183 feet 3 inches) from the ground on the low side and 56.67 m (185 ft 11 in) on the high side. The width of the walls at the base is 2.44 m (8 ft 0 in). Its weight is estimated at 14,500 tonnes (16,000 short tons). The tower has 296 or 294 steps; the seventh floor has two fewer steps on the north-facing staircase.

The tower began to lean during construction in the 12th century, due to soft ground which could not properly support the structure's weight. It worsened through the completion of construction in the 14th century. By 1990, the tilt had reached 5.5 degrees. The structure was stabilized by remedial work between 1993 and 2001, which reduced the tilt to 3.97 degrees.

Florence, the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. One of its most iconic sights is the Duomo, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and a bell tower by Giotto. The Galleria dell'Accademia displays Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. The Uffizi Gallery exhibits Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation.”  This excursion will take us to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the shopping district of Florence.

Excursions are non-refundable

Thursday, October 20th, 2022 - Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy $150

Rome is the capital city of Italy. It is also the capital of the Lazio region, the centre of the Metropolitan City of Rome, and a special comune named Comune di Roma Capitale. With 2,860,009 residents in 1,285 km2 (496.1 sq mi), Rome is the country's most populated comune and the third most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. The Metropolitan City of Rome, with a population of 4,355,725 residents, is the most populous metropolitan city in Italy. Its metropolitan area is third-most populous in Italy. Rome is in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, within Lazio, along the shores of the Tiber. Vatican City (the smallest country in the world) is an independent country inside the city boundaries of Rome, the only existing example of a country within a city. Rome is often referred to as the City of Seven Hills due to its geographic location, and as the "Eternal City". Rome is generally considered to be the "cradle of Western civilization and Christian culture", and the center of the Catholic Church.

Our tour takes us to the colosseum where we will see the arch of Constantine, the Colosseum (from the outside), ancient Rome from the view of the famous street Fori Imperiali, Trajan Markets, Colone of Trajan, and the Trevi Fountain. After lunch, our stops include the Trevi Fountain and a walk to Piazza Venezia and to Theatro Marcello, where the bus is waiting to bring the group to Sant Peters square. We will continue our tour to Sant Peters square, if the lines are not too long and there is still enough time, we could also visit the church from the inside. Tour includes headsets so that everybody can hear the tour guide. Extra fee: If we have enough time and want to visit Sant Peters Dome from the inside, there is an extra charge of 1,50€ a person. This guided tour takes you through downtown Rome.

Excursions are non-refundable

Friday, October 21th, 2022 - Sorrento Pompeii and Naples, Italy $110

Pompeii

Pompeii, a flourishing resort city south of ancient Rome, was nestled along the coast of Italy in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano. Its most famous eruption took place in the year 79 A.D. when it buried the city of Pompeii under a thick carpet of volcanic ash. The dust “poured across the land” like a flood, one witness wrote, and shrouded the city in “a darkness…like the black of closed and unlighted rooms.” Two thousand people died, and the city was abandoned for almost as many years. When a group of explorers rediscovered the site in 1748, they were surprised to find that beneath a thick layer of dust and debris, Pompeii was mostly intact. The buildings, artifacts, and skeletons left behind in the entombed city have taught us a great deal about everyday life in the ancient world.

Sorrento

Sorrento is one of Italy's most famous resort towns. Placed on a perch high above the Mediterranean, it is like a balcony over the sea with views that extend from the island of Provide across the Gulf to Naples and Mt. Vesuvius. The city sits on the bluff that ends abruptly at a sheer cliff that plummets straight down to the sea. It has, for more than two millennia, enjoyed the status of a seaside destination, starting with the Greeks. It came into its own as a summer destination during the Roman era, when emperors Agrippa, Tiberius, and Augustus had their splendid villas here.

Sorrento sits in a sheltered spot on the promontory, protected by the surrounding hills. It has been an important port for centuries of seafarers. It has been called "La Gentile" ("the nice one") for its mild climate, elegant streets and gardens, and friendly residents. It has many millennia of welcoming travelers, and the tradition of hospitality is carried on proudly. This guided tour takes you through historic Pompeii and the world-famous beautiful city of Sorrento. Tour includes headsets and entrance to Pompeii.

Excursions are non-refundable

Excursions are non-refundable