Times Journeys™ — Pre-Cruise Option 1: Milan, Parma, and Bologna

	DAY/ACTIVITY	DESCRIPTION
	SUNDAY, SEPT. 30 ARRIVE MILAN Welcoming reception	Your Insight Cruises host will meet you after you have claimed your luggage and passed through customs. You will transfer via private bus from the airport to the Hotel (Grand Hotel Visconti or comparable) in Milan. Join us in the early evening for a welcoming cocktail party and then have the remainder of the evening at leisure (no other services included this evening). [Grand Hotel Visconti or comparable.]
	MONDAY, OCT. 1 MILAN Basilica of Saint Ambrose Il Duomo (Santa Maria Nascente) Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II La Scala Theatre	In the morning we’ll visit the Basilica of Saint Ambrose, originally built in the fourth century and reconstructed in the medieval period. The Basilica is known for its twin belltowers (legacy of an intense religious rivalry), ancient mosaics and history as a bastion of early Christian doctrine. While Milan Cathedral’s architecture gets mixed reviews (Oscar Wilde: “Monstrous and inartistic ... it is, however, imposing and gigantic as a failure.” Henry James: “Not supremely interesting, not logical, not ... commandingly beautiful, but grandly curious and superbly rich. ... A supreme embodiment of vigorous effort.”) It’s the fourth largest cathedral in the world, and the largest in Italy. Poet Percy Bysshe Shelley used to read inside the Cathedral, Alfred, Lord Tennyson paid a call and Mark Twain wrote about Il Duomo. We’ll check it out. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II links Milan Cathedral and La Scala Theatre. We’ll walk the Galleria’s neo-Classical corridors to enjoy its glass and iron vaults and experience the dynamic nature of Milan. Onward to La Scala Theatre, one of the world’s leading opera and ballet theaters. We’ll delve into the strategic history of Milan with a look at the Sforza Castle, former seat of the Duchy of Milan and a fortress which protected access to the Italian peninsula from the Alps. After a leisurely lunch in a wonderful Milanese restaurant, you have the afternoon to explore and shop and have dinner on your own. [Grand Hotel Visconti or comparable.] (Breakfast and lunch are provided.)
	TUESDAY, OCT. 2 MILAN and PARMA Pinacoteca di Brera Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” viewing Transit to Parma	Our day begins with a private bus transfer from our hotel to Pinacoteca di Brera — home of an eminent collection of Italian art, from Caravaggio to Tintoretto to Raphael — for the visit of the Museum with a private English-speaking guide. At the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie, we’ll view Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” After a final experience with Milanese cuisine at lunch, we’ll transfer down the Po River Valley to Parma on our motorcoach. After checking into our hotel in Parma, you’re free to explore the city including the Romanesque Parma Cathedral, noteworthy for the illusionistic fresco by Renaissance painter Antonio da Correggio in its dome. The adjacent Baptistery of Parma is an important medieval structure modeling the transition from Romanesque to Gothic architecture. Dinner is at leisure. [Starhotel Du Parc or comparable.] (Breakfast and lunch are provided.)
	WEDNESDAY, OCT. 3 PARMA Rocca Meli Lupi di Soragna Villa Verdi	The Rocca Meli Lupi di Soragna is a 14th-century fortress still occupied by descendants of its founders. Know for its Baroque and neo-Classical artwork, we’ll explore this frescoed, gilded, luxuriously furnished residence. After a fabulous lunch in a local restaurant, we’ll head to the settlement of Villanova sull’Arda (about one hour one way) to visit Villa Verdi, the home of 19th-century Italian Romantic composer Giuseppe Verdi. The Maestro lived, composed and cooked in the Villa for 60 years. Returning from Villa Verdi, you’ll have time to get to know Parma on your own. Dinner is at leisure. [Starhotel Du Parc or comparable.] (Breakfast and lunch are provided.)
	THURSDAY, OCT. 4 PARMA and BOLOGNA Piazza Maggiore Basilica San Petronio	Bologna beckons. Known for its vibrant cultural scene, rich musical tradition (A UNESCO “City of Music”), educational institutions and wealth of architecture, it’s a city that enjoys sharing its heritage. We transfer from Parma to Bologna by motorcoach after breakfast. After checking into our hotel, we’ll get oriented with a visit to Piazza Maggiore, heart of one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe, lined with buildings in the Romanesque and Gothic styles. We’ll get the details on the Basilica of San Petronio, known for its role in the Baroque music period, and its sundial (calculated and designed by the astronomer Cassini) — at 219 feet in length it’s the longest in the world. After a special luncheon in a local restaurant, we’ll visit the G.B. Martini Conservatory of Music home to an incredible repository of musical instruments, documents, paintings and artifacts of Bologna’s musical legacy. We’ll have dinner in the hotel, and prepare for our transition to Venice and the Times Journeys cruise. [Hotel Majestic or comparable.] (Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided.)
	FRIDAY, OCT. 5 BOLOGNA to VENICE Onward to Times Journeys!	After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll transfer via motor coach from Bologna to the cruise ship terminal in Venice to embark Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam. (Breakfast is provided)
	DETAILS	Trip includes: Five (5) nights accommodation in outstanding four-and-a-half star hotels. Ten meals: five (5) breakfasts, four (4) lunches, one (1) dinner at our carefully selected restaurants. Welcome cocktail reception. Services of an English-speaking host and local tour guides. All land transportation (as listed on the itinerary). Entrance fees to all tourist sites (as listed on the itinerary). Local guide and driver gratuities. Baggage handling, city and hotel taxes. Not Included: International airfare to/from Italy, visa-processing fees (if needed), travel insurance. Personal expenses such as alcoholic beverages, imported mineral waters, telephone charges, room service and laundry charges. Gratuities to the host (gratuity is at guests discretion with a suggested tip of $7 to $10 USD per guest per day). Misc. and Pricing: The price of the above is €2,249 pp. For those requiring single occupancy accommodations, a supplementary charge of €575 will apply. Deposit is 10% ($300 pp based on double occupancy and current exchange rate). Please note that our Italian host will eat with you during lunches and dinners throughout the trip. This is to ensure that you are receiving the best service. If, at any time, you would prefer to dine on your own, please let the host know. All pricing is based on the Italian currency (Euros) and could be subject to change. The conversion to US dollars will be made on the Final Payment Deadline (July 1, 2012). Optional La Scala Opera (evening of Oct. 1): Opera ticket (“medium” ticket priced — upgrades available). Pre-opera cocktail. Pre-opera hors d’oeuvres. Full dinner after the opera. The price for this optional event is €225. Cancellation Charges Should you decide to cancel your place on this tour between the time of deposit and 90 days prior to the tour, you will forfeit $150 USD pp; between 90 and 60 days prior to departure, you will forfeit your deposit; between 60 and 30 days prior to departure, you will forfeit 25% of the tour price; between 30 and 15 days you will forfeit 50% of the tour price; from 14 days or less, you will forfeit 100% of the tour price. All notices of cancellation must be written to be effective. The date of cancellation will be the date of reception by Insight Cruises’ personnel.

Times Journeys

Pre-Cruise Option 2: Milan, Parma, and Bologna