June 15-27, 2010
It is with great enthusiasm that we invite you to join St. George's Episcopal Church members and friends on this pilgrimage led by Reverend Marcia King, Associate Rector and Director of Ministry and tour manager, Gunter Walter. As they detail historical and religous highlighs, we will enjoy timeless treasures such as da Vinci's "Last Supper", the astonishing Renaisannce art in Florency and the glory of the Vatican in Rome. A living treasure will also be offered by the residents of the small village of Obermmergau, who every ten years, offer their time to perform the renowned Passion Play. Along the way we will enjoy the beauty of God's creation in these three lovely countries. Won't you join us for this once in a decade opportunity?

Special Included Features to Note: 

Trip Itinerary:

JUNE 16, WED: MUNICH-OBERAMMERGAU. Airport welcome by your tour director, then travel south through Alpine foothills past mountain lakes and country farm houses to the Passion Play Village of Oberammergau. The balance of the day is yours to relax, enjoy shopping for woodcarvings, admire beautifully-decorated houses or simply take in the special spirit of this village with its scenic setting at the edge of the Bavarian Alps. Tonight enjoy a special Welcome Dinner of local fare and wine. (D)

JUNE 17, THU: OBERAMMERGAU. After a leisurely breakfast enjoy a short drive to Linderhof, a little jewel of a palace, built by King Ludwig II (Mad King Ludwig). As with all of Ludwig’s castles, he hoped to create the grandeur of earlier eras in architecture, history and myth. Return to Oberammergau for lunch and this afternoon and evening witness the Passion of Christ performed by amateur actors, who were either born in Oberammergau or have lived there for the past 20 years. In the last festival year (2000) some 2,200 of the 5,300 or so inhabitants were involved either on stage or backstage, 550 of them children. (B,L,D)

JUNE 18, FRI: OBERAMMERGAU-LUCERNE. Our first stop this morning is the Wieskirche, a masterpiece of Bavarian Rococo. The splendor of gilded stucco, wood carvings and vividly-colored frescoes is overwhelming. Dominikus Zimmermann, the architect, was so pleased with the result that he spent the last ten years of his life in a small house near this church. For our lunch break we stop in Lindau, beautifully located on the shores of Lake Constance, then continue east past Zurich to Lucerne, Switzerland’s most popular destination. (B,D)

JUNE 19, SAT: LUCERNE-STRESA. See the sights of the city this morning on a leisurely walking tour then enjoy free time to explore this delightful town. Dozens of shops invite with watches, embroideries and cuckoo clocks. After lunch we go south via the St. Gotthard Pass  and  the Ticino (the Italian-speaking canton of the Swiss Confederation) to Stresa, picturesquely located on Lago Maggiore. (B,D)

JUNE 20, SUN: STRESA. After a leisurely breakfast board a private motorlaunch to Isola Bella, privately-owned island of the Borromeo family. First we visit the Baroque Palace, containing magnificent state apartments, numerous paintings and a gallery of 17C Flemish tapestries. Next enjoy a stroll through the Italian-style garden with its water theater, 10 terraces rising like a ship’s prow out of the water, and exotic flowers, shrubs and trees. A short ride away is Isola dei Pescatori, or Fishermen’s Island, which has retained its original atmosphere with small narrow streets and quaint little houses. The balance of the day is free to enjoy the many pleasures of Stresa at your own pace. (B,D)

JUNE 21, MON: STRESA-FLORENCE. Today we drive south to Milan, the lively capital of the Lombardy, where we have an appointment to view Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper”.  Then passing Bologna, one of the oldest university cities in Europe, we arrive in Florence, the cradle of Renaissance. Enjoy an orientation walk around the old town with your tour director before tonight’s dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

JUNE 22, TUE: FLORENCE. The whole day is devoted to this great city of art. Our first stop this morning with our Florentine lecturer is the Accademia, giving us an excellent idea of the extraordinary personality of Michelangelo. Admire the monumental figure of David, the symbol of youth, and the powerful figures of Four Slaves, trying to struggle free from the marble. Highlights of our day are: the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its priceless works of art,  Piazza della Signoria, beautifully decorated with the Fountain of Neptune, the equestrian statue of Cosimo I, the Loggia and the Palazzo Vecchio. All afternoon is yours to browse and shop for leather or jewelry around Ponte Vecchio or Piazza Santa Croce. (B)

JUNE 23, WED: FLORENCE-ROME. Morning sees us traveling south through the Tuscan countryside to Tivoli for a visit of the gardens of the Villa d’Este, built in the 16C by Cardinal Ippolito d’Este. Enjoy its celebrated fountains, pools and water jets during a leisurely walk. After lunch, we continue to nearby Rome, the Eternal City. A special Roman dinner with wine is planned on pleasant Piazza Navona, the most beautiful square in Rome. (B,D)

JUNE 24, THU: ROME. For more than 2500 years Rome has played an intricate role on the stage of world events, from politics to the arts and religion. First we visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest and most awe-inspiring edifice in Christendom. See the perfect La Pieta by Michelangelo, the venerated statue of St. Peter and the bronze canopy of Bernini’s high altar. Continue down to the crypt of St. Peter’s, or Sacred Grottoes, located on the floor level of the old basilica. Admire beautiful tombs of more than 20 popes (John Paul II’s as the latest one), 2 queens (Christina of Sweden and Charlotte of Cyprus) and legendary Bonny Prince Charlie, the Old Pretender of Scotland. Next highlight is the Vatican, a walled city-state. It is the repository of the greatest and most valuable collection of fine art in the world. A guided tour through the museum takes us to the Sistine Chapel where Michelangelo spent 4 years painting his breathtaking frescoes of the Bible, the Creation and the Flood in the splendid vault. The afternoon is yours for further exploration or take a leisurely stroll with your tour director to the ancient Pantheon, elegant Spanish Steps and beautiful Trevi Fountain. (B)

JUNE 25, FRI: ROME. Spend a free day to enjoy the many attractions of Rome at your own pace or join an optional excursion to the ancient city of Pompeii, buried beneath the ashes of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79. A guided visit through the remains of the ancient city includes the Forum, Roman Baths, Casa dei Vettii and other attractions. (B)

JUNE 26, SAT: ROME. First highlight this morning is a visit to the Coliseum, that immense structure, where gladiators and wild beasts fought to death. Continue to follow our resident guide-lecturer on a walk through the Roman Forum, today a series of ruins of which you will hear fascinating tales of Caesar, Titus, Antonius and Augustus. The balance of the day is free and this evening we meet for a festive Farewell Dinner with wine at a popular restaurant. (B,D)

JUNE 27, SUN: ROME. Transfer to Leonardo da Vinci airport for your daylight flight to the USA. (B)

Trip Price:

For land arrangements: Land cost $4420.00 per person sharing a twin or double room. Singles add: $880.00.
Price based on minimum group size of 24 and 1.30 to 1 euro. 

DEPOSIT TO RESERVE SPACE:
$600.00 per person to hold space and time-sensitive and limited Passion Play arrangements

AIRFARE:
Belle Meade Vacations will be happy to assist clients in purchasing the best available tickets. Travellers are welcome to arrange their own air or use frequent fliers or upgrades.  Roundtrip hotel/airport transfers are included only at group flight times. Please call Linda Walter, 525-8889 to coordinate these times and flights before having independent tickets issued.

CANCELLATION: 
• Deposit is non-refundable due to Passion Play tickets
• From final payment until departure: 100% of land costs

Insurance:  On receipt of deposit, trip cancellation medical/baggage insurance will be offered. This covers illness or death in immediate family of traveller or traveller’s roommate and many other benefits described on policy.