Price includes roundtrip air from Atlanta

"The Cinque Terre-literally "five lands"-is a charm bracelet of picturesque, traffic-free villages where you can enjoy the views, hike the scenic trails between the villages and dine on a succulent seafood feast as you hear the roar of the surf.".......Rick Steves

"Cinque Terre---Along the Rivera di Levante a cluster of self-contained villages, seemingly untouched by time, gets our vote as the most beautiful strip of coastline in Italy. Along a centuries-old footpath, Sentiero Azzurro, you can reach each of the villages Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The walk takes you along a coastline with "heart attack" views of these romantic fishing villages that rise from the cliffs and rocky mountains with their gravity-defying grape vineyards, lemon and olive groves.".....Frommer's Italy 2009

National Park of the Cinque Terre

"A territory in which sea and land join to form a unique and evocative area. Eighteen kilometers of rocky coastline filled with abundant bays, beaches, and deep sea, surrounded by mountains running parallel to the coast. Terraces cultivated with vineyards and olives, kept under control by old dry stone walls. With a naturalistic heritage of great variety, paths and mule tracks look on to breathtaking views. Five villages, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso face onto the sea. An environment in which centuries old work of generations has transformed an inaccessible territory into a landscape of extraordinary beauty. A Protected Marine Area and a National Park which protect the absolute uniqueness. The "Cinque Terre" was declared a World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1997." www.cinqueterre.it

ITINERARY

10/5 Tuesday - Depart Atlanta 5:15pm on LH 445 for Frankfurt

10/6 Wednesday - Arrive Frankfurt 8:15am

Depart Frankfurt at 11:55am Arrive Florence at 12:35 pm

Transfer by private bus to Monterosso Al Mare-Cinque Terre-arrive: 5:00pm +/- Hotel: Hotel la Colonnina www.lacolonninacinqueterre.it

Family Style: Welcome Dinner 7:00pm

10/7 Thursday - Buffet Breakfast 7:30am-10:15am included

9:30 am Walking Tour of the City & History of the Area

Break for Lunch

Afternoon: Hike Il Sentiero Azzurro- The Blue Trail - This hike can be accomplished on foot, by ferryboat, by rail, or by any combination of the above. www.cinqueterre.it under "The Paths", click on "Il Sentiero Azzurro"

"The Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path) is one of the most appreciated pedestrian routes of the whole peninsula, both because it does not present particular difficulties and for the many views given to the millions of walkers that walk there in all seasons of the year. This is an itinerary which existed in Medieval times (except for the segment which coincides with the via del'Amore (Walk of Love), dating back to 1900), for centuries it was the only road between the inhabitants of the coast. From Sentiero Assurro (blue path) also dozens of mule-tracks leave which go up to the crest of the hill, tracing a tight network of routes crossing dry stone walls, small populated nuclei and Santuari(Sanctuaries). It is possible to walk the path in a single day or to split up the walk into stages."

10/8 Friday - Buffet Breakfast 7:30am-10:15am included

Optional Excursion to Portovenere by boat including islands of Palmaria, Tino, and Tinetto ($20+/-). Hike back from Portovenere to RioMaggiore and take the train back to Monterosso Al Mare. www.cinqueterre.it under "The Paths" click on "Other Paths", then click on "Towards Portovenere".

10/9 Saturday - Buffet Breakfast 7:30am-10:15am included

Hike La via die Santuari - The Trail of the Sanctuaries with a local guide www.cinqueterre.it under "The Paths", click on "La Via dei Santuari" "To each of the five villages of the Cinque Terre, halfway up the hill, corresponds a Santuario (Sanctuary) to which the inhabitants have always been tied by profound devotion. Five Churches linked to their respective villages by steep mule-tracks, real "Via Crucis" routes still used today by believers during annual Festivals. The Via dei Santuari (road of the Sanctuaries) is of great historic and naturalistic interest. Its horizontal route unites all five buildings of worship. We are dealing with a historic itinerary, which crosses terraced land, allotments, old cottages, small nuclei of houses often abandoned, and which gives incomparable views of the Cinque Terre with notable points of historic interest and spiritual reflection. A simple route, easy for anyone, which can be split up into stages."

10/10 Sunday - Buffet Breakfast 7:30-10:15am included

Optional Excursion to Portofino by Train or Boat ($ +/-) or a combination of hiking /train/bike & boat. www.cinqueterre.it Under Paths click on "Other Paths", then"Towards Levanto" "Portofino---The Italian Rivera's most romantic little port, with its trompe l"oeil, pastel-washed houses and chic cafes, remains the best place in Italy for an illicit tryst. It is still the most exclusive resort on the mainland, though it no longer enjoys the reputation it did in the1970's and '80's when it was the hot spot for the champagne&caviar set. Artists discovered the romantic port decades before the yachts arrived." Frommers Italy 2009

10/11 Monday - Buffet Breakfast 7:30-10:15am included

A Free Day for shopping, an excursion to Genoa by Train, or for the hearty a chance to tackle the Sentiero dei Crinale (The Crest Trail www.cinqueterr.it Under "Paths" click on "Sentiero dei Crinale" "The Sentiero Alto (high path,n.1) is an old mule track, perhaps dating back to Roman times. It runs along the ridge which separates the coast from the hinterland. The complete route, the major part of which is inside the Cinque Terre, starts at Levanto, on the west and terminates at Portovenere on the east, lasting for over 40 kilometers and touching quotas of 800 meters with a total difference in levels of about 1,300 meters. Crossed by many secondary paths which go down towards the sea, both towards La Spezia and to Val di Vara, the Sentiero alto (high path) is very straight and clean, medium level but accessible to everyone, who is reasonably fit and dressed appropriately. The whole path takes at least ten hours, but can be split up into stages, resting in the refreshment points which you find along the walk."

10/12 Tuesday - 7:30am Buffet Breakfast included

8:30am Depart from Monterosso al Mare

Arrive Pisa 10:30am+/- Free time to tour Pisa

Depart Pisa 12:30pm for Florence, time permitting we hope to make a stop in the medieval city of Lucca - Arrive Florence 4:30pm+/- Hotel: Hotel Capitol Santa Croce, Viale Giovanni Amendola, 34, 50121 Firenze (l), Italy TEL 055 234 3201 www.florence-hotels-capitol.com

10/13 Wednesday - Breakfast included

Optional Two Hour Guided Walking Tour of Florence ($ )

Free time in the afternoon to visit the many museums of Florence

Suggested Museums are Uffizi Gallery (8:15am-6:15pm, $10+/-),

Galleria de l'accademia (8:15am-6:15pm, $10+/-)

Bargello Museum (8:15am-1:50, $6+/-)

Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens (8:30am-6:30, $12 & $9 +/-)

Optional Group dinner for our last night on the main trip (details TBD)

10/14 Thursday - Main Group departs for USA, Airport Transfer provided to airport at_______am

Flight Departs Florence at 5:50am LH 4067 to Frankfurt arrives 6:35 am, LH 444 departing Frankfurt at 11:50am arriving in Atlanta at 12:30 pm

Extension Group

Florence and Venice

10/14 Thursday - Breakfast included Free Day or Optional Excursion

10/15 Friday - Breakfast included Free Day or Optional Excursion

We are currently working on optional excursions which will take you outside of Florence proper into the surrounding countryside. In particular excursions for a wine tasting along the Chianti Road, to the walled town of San Gimignano with it's 13 towers from the middle ages, and the medieval city of Siena, Italy's showcase of Italian Gothic.

10/16 Saturday - Breakfast included

Travel Day from Florence to Venice, depart hotel for train station at _____am - Train departs Florence:_____am arrives Venice:______

Hotel: Hotel Tritone -Venice, Viale Stazione, 16, 30171 Venice - Mesre (VE), Italy TEL 041 538 3125 www.hoteltritonevenice.com

Optional Guided Walking Tour of Venice ($____+/-)

10/17 Sunday - Breakfast included - Free day to explore Venice and its many museums

10/18 Monday - Breakfast included

Optional train excursions to explore areas just outside of Venice

Vicenza & Verona - Optional: Evening - Singing Gondola Ride to Group Dinner ($____+/-)

10/19 Tuesday - xtension Group departs for USA

Transfer from hotel to the Airport ____am

LH 4091 Departs Venice 6:35am arrives Frankfurt at 7:20am

LH 444 Departs Frankfurt at 11:35am and arrives Atlanta at 12:15pm