The Heart of Italy

E&M Travel, Online Agency. Upscale vacations for discerned traveler.

   E&M Travel
Division of EMCO Travel, LLC.
                     Since 1993

Experience the charms of Italian culture, history and cuisine by staying in the uncontested jewel of the “Heart of Italy”: Bologna!, which will offer a personal touch to your “Italian” experience and will stimulate your senses, pamper your taste buds, and leave you with memories that will last a lifetime!

Saturday, Day 1 – Depart from USA – Depart your hometown for an overnight flight.

Sunday, Day 2 – ARRIVAL BOLOGNA AIRPORT - "Benvenuti in Italia!" Welcome to Italy! Our base for the 7 nights will be Bologna. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your Hotel. Please note that if you arrive later than 11.00am, you must transfer to your Hotel at your own expense.

Time permitting, take part in an orientation tour of Bologna. Enjoy the city’s numerous Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance palazzos. Spend time at the beautiful Piazza Maggiore. Few squares in Italy are more animated and endlessly fascinating than this piazza. Throughout the day it is the setting for play, conversation, music, parenting, romance, and discourse. As in most of the region, nothing in Bologna is done to appeal to what is perceived to be “tourist’s” taste. In this regard, it will give you a much more palpable sense of what real life is like in Italy than you will find in Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples, which is yet another reason that Bologna deserves to be visited as often as possible.

Monday, Day 3 - VENICE – Full-Day excursion to Venice, city of romance and fantasy which invites you to discover her fascinating treasures. Your walking tour today will begin in Piazza San Marco, Venice’s hub of activity, the world famous marble square which is lined with galleries, luxury shops and charming cafès. Dominating the square is the magnificent Basilica San Marco, whose mixtures of styles: Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic and profuse decoration, reflect the history of Venice. You’ll marvel at the shimmering mosaics encrusted on its interior walls, the precious sculptures and rare marble. Admire the beautiful ‘Campanile’, its simple lines contrasting sharply with the sumptuous décor of the church, the Clock Tower whose famous “Moors” have been striking the hours for over 500 years. Visit the magnificent Doges’ Palace with its splendid Renaissance paintings by Titian, Veronese and Tintoretto. Crossing the Bridge of Sighs, which connects to the Piombi Prisons, will complete your morning tour. (B)

Tuesday, Day 4 - PARMIGIANO CHEESE FACTORY - BALSAMIC WINE ESTATE - Morning visit of a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory in the vicinity of Bologna, with a tasting opportunity. Learn how this famous cheese is made, how it is stored and aged, and what makes it so special. Then, continue on through the beautiful Emilia Romagna fields to a traditional Balsamic wine estate for a taste of the “Aceto Balsamico” (the traditional balsamic vinegar). This is product of the Kings! Modena Balsamic vinegar is a noble vinegar that ages for a median of 30 to 50 years and is a pure treat to your senses!

Culinary lunch at the Balsamic wine estate, featuring local dishes prepared with “aceto balsamico” (B.L)

Wednesday, Day 5 - FLORENCE – Full Day excursion to Florence. Upon arrival to the city, you will enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour of Florence, a city of artistic wealth and beauty, which holds many treasures for you to discover. Begin your visit at the majestic Piazza del Duomo to see the delicately patterned green, white and pink Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, crowned by Brunelleschi’s dome. Then see Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Romanesque Baptistry of St. John with the exquisite bronze doors by Ghiberti (Michelangelo called them “The Gates of Paradise”). You will also visit the Academy of Fine Arts, which houses Michelangelo’s superb “David” and many of the master’s unfinished works. (B)

Thursday, Day 6 - BOLOGNA – Full day at leisure in Bologna for your own discovery and some shopping at the very colourful boutiques in town. We suspect that you’ll enjoy shopping very much in this city, as Bologna is particularly centred on design, innovation and beauty. (B)

a) Why not spend your day immerging yourself in the culinary delights of the region? Take part in a morning cooking demonstration of different kind of pasta (Ravioli, tortellini, Lasagna, etc.)

b) OR, enjoy a full-day excursion to FERRARA, once the capital of the Dukes of Este. Its small university, Renaissance palaces and castles bear witness to the incredible splendor of its past.

Friday, Day 7 - VERONA – Full-day excursion to Verona. in which, upon arrival, you will enjoy a half-day sightseeing visit of the town of the eternal lovers Romeo and Juliet. Verona has retained its medieval character completely and is a true gem of northern Italian architecture. One of the key attractions is the 14^th century Capuleti Palace with Juliet’s famous balcony & the third largest surviving amphitheatres of the Roman World: the enormous Arena, which was constructed with massive pink marble blocks and dates to the end of the 1^st century. (B)

Saturday, Day 8 - BOLOGNA – Full day at leisure in Bologna, free time to relax, drink a cappuccino and watch Bologna life go by at some central piazzas. Bologna is one of the most overlooked gems in Italy, one of the most architecturally unified in Europe - a panorama of sienna-colored buildings, marbled sidewalks, and porticos. Located at the crossroads between Venice and Florence and surrounded by hills, Bologna provides the best of several worlds; it has beautiful piazzas, churches and museums, as well as being a thriving university town, filled with cafes, bars and nightlife. The bars, cafes, and squares fill up with students, and an eclectic mix of concerts, art exhibits, and avant-garde ballet and theater performances always marks the calendar. (B)

This afternoon, why not go to the historic town of PARMA for a guided of this wonderful city. Parma is connected with the Farnese family, who gave to this city (and Italy) the taste of architectural and artistic beauty; with the Bourbons who gave the grandeur of the Spanish court and with Marie Louise, the passion for music.

Sunday, Day 9: BOLOGNA/USA – “Arrivederci, a nostalgic goodbye but a promise to return. Today our representative will be ready to take you to the Bologna Airport for your flight back to the United States. Please note that if you depart later than 1.00pm, you must transfer to the airport at your own expense.

Stay at the wonderful superior First Class 4* Hotel Corona D’Oro, both high standard Hotels offering the charms of old Europe aristocratic elegance combined with modern amenities, centrally located in Bologna (www.bolognarthotels.it )

Highlights of the Tour:

- Guided visits of: Bologna, Venice, Florence, Verona (w/ entrance fees where listed on itinerary);

Babies 0-2 years….………………free of charge in baby cot (parents will pay directly whatever expense)

All prices are subject to change, depending on space availability, rate of exchange & your specific needs in the tour. For more details, we kindly ask you to contact us at 877-466-2934

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Departure date Return date	P.P. in TWB – Land Only	P.P. in TWB – Land & Air
May 26 / June 03 - Sold Out	$1,978.00 pp	$2,830.00pp
June 09 / 17	$1,978.00 pp	$2,970.00pp
June 23 / July 01	$1,978.00 pp	$3,245.00pp
June 30 / July 08	$1,978.00 pp	$3,245.00pp
July 14 / 22	$1,978.00 pp	$3,245.00pp
July 21 / 29	$1,978.00 pp	$3,245.00pp
Aug 18 / 26	$1,978.00 pp	$3,245.00pp
Sept 01 / 09	$1,978.00 pp	$ 2,915.00 pp
Sept 15 / 23	$1,978.00 pp	$ 2,915.00 pp
Sept 29 / Oct 07 – Sold out	$1,978.00 pp	$ 2,915.00 pp
Oct 06 / 14	$1,978.00 pp	$ 2,915.00 pp
Oct 13 / 21	$1,978.00 pp	$2,800.00pp
Oct 20 / 28	$1,978.00 pp	$2,800.00pp
Nov 03 / 11	$1,978.00 pp	$2,530.00pp

From $ 1,799.00 pp – land only

Highlights of the Tour: