SPECIAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL

Educational & Commemoration Project

BELLA ITALIA &

The Canadians Italy Campaign WWII

March 08 – 22, 2013 ( 15 days )

Day 01

Departure for your flight to Europe

Day 02

March 09, Sat: ARRIVE ROME

After arrival in Europe we connect to our flight

to Rome – upon arrival there we are met by our bus

and guide and drive to the hotel

where we check in and dinner (B,D)

Day 03

March 10, Sun: ROME

We start today with a City Tour including the Vatican with St.Peter,

the Vatican Museum, the Colosseum, and also see many other

sights on our panoramic tour - like the Forum Romanum

- in the afternoon we visit the catacombes and then there will also

be a bit of free time before returning to the hotel for dinner (B,D)

Day 04

March 11, Mon: ROME

Today there will be a walking tour, visiting the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon,

Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese park etc... and you also have the

opportunity to follow the tracks of Angels and Demons through some of the

historic quarters of the Eternal City (B,D)

Day 05

March 12, Tue: ROME – POMPEI – CASSINO

In the morning we leave for the south where we tour the amazing excavations of Pompei, a city that

was destroyed by an vulcanic erruption 2000 years ago – then we travel to Cassino – check in and dinner (B,D)

Day 06

March 13, Wed: CASSINO

Today we hike (that way the full effect of the incredible tasks of soldiers in WWII becomes more real –

as they tried to break the Hitler line) up to the top of the mountain to visit the incredible Benedictine

Monastery Montecassino (which has been destroyed 4 times throughout history) – after that we travel

into town and have lunch at a local restaurant – afterwards we visit the local museum, dedicated to

WWII and learn about the destructive battle for the Hitler Line around the town of Cassino – in the

afternoon we visit the Canadian Cemetery (B,L,D)

Day 08

March 15, Fri: ORTONA

We start with a visit to Ortona and the Peace Museum; then we explore

the streets which saw that horrific house to house fighting – we also pay our

respects at Moro River War Cemetery and the local civilian cemetery – then we

pass by Casa Berardi as we head to nearby Lanciano – today we also have a project

with the Canadian School in Lanciano and get together during with the local students

during an evening of fun and dancing (B,L,D)

Day 09

March 16, Sat: ORTONA – SAN MARINO – RIMINI

We travel north and stop to visit the oldest Republic in the world – then we continue on to Rimini – check in and dinner (B,D)

Day 10

March 17, Sun: RIMINI – VILLANOVA – RIMINI

Today we visit the village of Villanova where there will be a reception by the local community, welcoming the Canadian Veterans back and theren will be a special plaque dedication ceremony – in the afternoon we visit the local museum – we then return to our hotel in time for dinner (B,L,D)

Day 11

March 18, Mon: RIMINI – VENICE

In the morning we leave for Venice and we take the boat into the city and experience San Marco Square with the famous Basilica and the Campanile – check in and dinner (B,D)

Day 12

March 19, Tue: VENICE – FLORENCE

Morning departure across the Appenine Mountains and afternoon City Tour of Florence: the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Santa Croce … - check in and dinner (B,D)

Day 13

March 20, Wed: FLORENCE / TUSCANY

An all day excursion brings us to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower, historic Lucca and the small village of Vinci, hometown of Leonardo – optional you could also return to Florence to spend the day there, visiting the Academia or Uffizi Galleries (B,D)

Day 14

March 21, Thu: FLORENCE / TUSCANY – SIENA – ROME AREA

We stop in Siena, the great city of arts which always rivaled Florence ….and then end the day in the Rome area (B,D)

Day 15

March 22, Fri: ROME – CANADA

Transfer to the airport for the flight home where we arrive the same day (B)