Monday, June 4

Depart Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Rome, Italy.

Tuesday, June 5

Arrive in Rome, the capital of Italy.  The bus with the tour guide will be waiting for you at the airport to take you to the hotel. After a short rest, we will depart for a wine tasting at an Italian winery followed by dinner at the family-run trattoria.

Wednesday, June 6

Today we will tour the Vatican, the smallest state in the world and the seat of the Pope.  If the Pope is in the country, we attend a general audience.  We will visit St. Peter’s Square, the beautiful masterpiece surrounded by 140 statues of the Saints.  We will see St. Peter’s Cathedral, the largest cathedral in the world – it can hold 60,000 people.  We will visit the Vatican museums featuring many rooms containing artistic masterpieces, including the most precious one, the Sistine Chapel.  You will have the opportunity to get a bird’s eye view of Rome from a terrace of the cathedral – truly a site to see.  In the afternoon, you will have free time for shopping, especially for religious articles if you wish. 

Thursday, June 7

After breakfast, we will take a sightseeing tour of ancient Rome starting with the Coliseum.  This unforgettable attraction used to hold 50,000 spectators who came to watch duels, gladiators wrestling lions, chariot races and even naval battles.  We will see the Roman Forum, once the religious, political and trade center of ancient Rome, which reflects the twelve centuries of history.  From there, we will visit Venezia Square with the equestrian statue of the first king of Italy, Vittorio Emmanuel.  We will then see the famous Fountain de Trevi, the largest Baroque fountain and the venue of a number of renowned movies.  In the afternoon, we will visit the Pantheon, the oldest church in Rome, and then the Basilica of St. Paul. Late in the afternoon, depart to Orvieto for overnight stay.  Dinner at the hotel.

Friday, June 8

Depart for northern Italy in the morning.  We will stop along the way and take a scenic cruise to the popular Italian Rivera known as the Cinque Terre.  This picturesque area of coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillside are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Time for exploring and shopping before embarking.  Continue on our way to the northern part of Italy to the Alps.  Check in and have dinner at hotel.

Saturday, June 9

In the morning we will depart our hotel for the Bernina Express train ride stopping along the way to take pictures of the scenic Lake Como.  We will experience one of the most spectacular ways to cross the Alps.  This winding mountain railway connects northern and southern Europe without the use of any toothed-wheel mechanism.  A particular high point of the ride is the panoramic view from the train as it passes mighty glaciers on its descent to a land of swaying palms from Tirano in Italy to St. Moritz in Switzerland.  From there our bus will take us to Innsbruck.  A beautiful city situated in the valley of the Tyrolian Alps, it is an internationally renowned winter sports center that hosted the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics.  Check in at the hotel and have dinner.

Sunday, June 10

In the morning, you will have free time for shopping, lunch or whatever you desire in Innsbruck.  In the afternoon, you can choose from two options:  1.  We will drive to one of the highest points of the city for a spectacular view of the city and the surrounding mountains from the top of the Olympic ski-jump and return to town and/or drive to the small town of Wattens not far away from Innsbruck to view the permanent exhibit on Swarovski Crystal.  2.  Free time in Innsbruck.

In the evening, we will attend a Tyrolean Evening with typical Austrian music, dances, drinks & food! 

Monday, June 11

We will depart in the morning for the Eagle’s Nest situated just a few miles from Salzburg in Germany.  It was given to Adolf Hitler for his 50th birthday.  Very few of the original furnishings remain.  There is currently a restaurant there, but you can still view the original tearoom with a fireplace made of Carrara marble – a gift from Mussolini.  The view of the surrounding mountains with Salzburg in the background is unforgettable.

Check in our hotel in Salzburg.  Late in the afternoon, enjoy a tour one of the most beautiful cities of Europe seeing Mozart’s birthplace, Residenz Square, the Cathedral, and the fortress Hohensalzburg overlooking the city.  Dinner at the hotel.

Tuesday, June 12

Today we will depart for the Czech Republic stopping enroute in Valtice, an important Moravian wine-growing area, for lunch at approximately 1:30 p.m.  Continue on our way to Moravia, check in our hotel in Buchlovice.  Dinner and dancing at the hotel.

Wednesday, June 13

We will depart a short distance to Velehrad, a truly holy village that has become a destination for pilgrims.  It was formerly thought to have been the capital of the Great Moravian Empire and the starting point of St. Cyril and Methodius’ mission.  Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral in 1990.  The basilica is the third largest in the Czech Republic.

We will then tour the beautiful chateau Buchlovice built in the first half of the 18^th century known for its extensive French and English park.  With its quality of architecture, wide collections, famed owners and importance in the last decades of the Habsburg monarchy, it is the most important baroque aristocratic residence in the Czech Republic.

Lunch will be on the terrace at the restaurant of Hotel Buchlovice.

After lunch we will visit VINAŘSTVÍ JAKUBÍK, a local winery that is owned and operated by a very good friend, and taste his award-winning wines! Wines from this South Moravian region are very well known for its quality throughout Europe!

Then it’s back to our hotel to rest for a bit before the party at the Holy farm.  In the late afternoon, we will travel to Steavy’s ancestral home, Podhradi, where we will enjoy a picnic complete with klobase, kolaches, beer, wine, slivovice and music!!

Thursday, June 14

Departure to Wallachia, the site of today´s bailiff house museum.  A primary school was opened in 1785 for teaching writing, counting and religion. You will find a live exposition here showing a school office, the teacher’s private room, and most of all, the classrooms as they looked at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Lunch will be at a local restaurant in the village of Kozlovice, a town founded in 1294.  Located in the Moravian-Silesian Region between the Beskydy Mountains and the hill country below it, Kozlovice occupies the northernmost point of the area known as Wallachia.

Following lunch, we will stop in Lichnov, to visit the Dr. Simicek’s Texas museum consisting of records on the emigrants to Texas from this region.

We will return to our hotel, so you will have time to rest and prepare for the party at Koliba Vlcina with Moravian wine, beer, music and grilled chicken!

Friday, June 15

Depart in the morning for Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic.  We will check in our hotel and have time for shopping or to just enjoy this majestic city.  In the evening, we will be treated to a Czech music, dinner and a folklore show.

Saturday, June 16

In the morning, we will have a guided walking tour of Prague beginning with Prague Castle and then on to St. Vitus Cathedral, Hradcany and the Church of Our Lady Victorious, which houses the famous Infant Jesus of Prague.  We will walk across the famous 14^th century Charles Bridge and continue on to Old Town Square to see the Astronomical Clock. 

In the afternoon, we will end the tour at Wenceslas Square, which has historically been the sight of many significant events, including the 1989 Velvet Revolution demonstration.  You will have free time for sightseeing and shopping at the numerous stores lining the square. In the evening, we will take a 2-hour dinner cruise along the Vltava River, where you will be able to view the beautiful sights of Prague illuminated at night!

Sunday, June 17

Depart to Prague’s Ruzyne Airport in the morning for our flight back to the US.

NOTE:  Itinerary subject to change depending upon availability

Check your passport expiration date

Check your passport when booking your trip to confirm it has not expired. If your passport expires within 6 months of your international travel, you will need to renew it before you leave. Renew early to avoid rush fees.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

Tues. & Wed.                 June 5 & 6                     taly                               Rome

Thursday                        June 7                          Italy                               Orvieto

Friday                             June 8                          Italy                               Lake Como area

Sat. & Sunday                June 9 & 10                  Austria                          Innsbruck

Monday                          June 11                         Austria                          Salzburg

Tues. & Wed.                 June 12 & 13                Czech Republic             Buchlovice

Thursday                       June 14                         Czech Republic             Roznov

Friday & Sat.                 June 15 & 16                 Czech Republic             Prague

Flight Schedule:

Departure:

June 4, 2018

Lufthansa #439

DFW-Frankfurt

Departs DFW 3:50 p.m. /arrives Frankfurt 8:50 a.m. on June 5

Lufthansa #232

Frankfurt-Rome

Departs Frankfurt 10:35 a.m./arrives Rome 12:20 p.m.

Return:

June 17, 2018

Lufthansa #1403

Prague-Frankfurt

Departs Prague 6:00 a.m./arrives Frankfurt 7:10 a.m.

Lufthansa #438

Frankfurt-DFW

Departs Frankfurt 10:10 a.m./arrives DFW 2:05 p.m.

For more information, please email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Renee at 469-867-1785