Divine Western European Tour – 14 Nights

Board your overnight flight to London today. 

Ride a high-speed train to Amsterdam. Then, take to the water for cruise with a local tour guide, who’ll introduce you to the Dutch capital’s iconic waterways. 

• Amsterdam’s 60 miles of grachtens, or canals, criss-cross the city, earning it a fitting nickname—the Venice of the North.
• You’ll also float by the Jodenbuurt, the former Jewish Quarter, and reflect on the city’s long association with Jewish culture.
• Cruise by icons like the Dutch National Opera & Ballet building and beneath the Magere Brug—the famous “Skinny Bridge” that spans the River Amstel.
• See the Dancing Houses, cockeyed structures painted in flashes of vibrant color and keep an eye out for flower bikes. More than 300 of these bloom-bedecked cycles can be found around the city, decorated and placed by an American expat known simply as “the Flower Bike Man.”
• Disembark and make your way to the Rijksmuseum, the national art collection populated with the works of Dutch masters like Vermeer, Van Gogh, and Rembrandt. Follow it up with a short trek to the Van Gogh Museum and feast your eyes on the largest collection of the artist’s paintings, drawings, and letters in the world.

The Manor Amsterdam

Take your last full day in Amsterdam at your leisure. While the day away in a canal side cafe. Nearby, you’ll find the Dappermarkt, which is one of the busiest markets of Amsterdam where there are many products of interest to the city’s residents of Surinamese, Antillean, Turkish, and Moroccan origin, giving the market and the surrounding neighborhood a strong multicultural feel.

Rembrandt House, where he lived and worked for nineteen years, in the heart of Amsterdam. Nearly 400 years later, The Rembrandt House Museum is the only museum in the world entirely devoted to Rembrandt. Step into the 17th century and get inspired by Rembrandt the man.

Dam Square,is a vibrant hub of history and modern culture, surrounded by iconic landmarks like the Royal Palace, the National Monument, and Nieuwe Kerk. The square’s lively atmosphere, street performers, and bustling energy add a dynamic element to any photoshoot. Its blend of historic architecture and contemporary city life creates versatile backdrops.

On to Heidelberg

   Cradle of Civilization Divine Knowledge by the Neckar River and the Odenwald mountain range, that the university of Heidelberg is famous for. Today, embark on a guided tour and enjoy the charm of this UNESCO City of Literature is famous for.

• Wander into the heart of Heidelberg’s Baroque Old Town and take in the sights and sounds of the Marktplatz—the elegant Market Square, one of the oldest plazas in the city. The city became synonymous with Romanticism in Germany, inspiring artists, writers, and poets – the most notable mention being Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
• Explore the campus of Heidelberg University.  Heidelberg University Library, refer right, is the oldest university library in Germany one of the oldest in the world. Its origin coincides with the founding year of the University of Heidelberg in 1386. 
• The university has the reputation of producing some of history’s most accomplished professionals. Among its alumni: Dmitri Mendeleev, the creator of the modern periodic table of elements; Robert Schumann, the famous classical composer; and Wilhelm Wundt, a pioneer of modern psychology.
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• Ride a funicular up to the Renaissance-era Heidelberg Castle. Protecting the city below from its perch on the slopes of the Königstuhl, this rose-colored ruin ranks among the area’s most iconic features.

This morning, we’ll travel to Vienna airport for flight to Milan Malpensa Airport and transfer to Lake Como, 46 miles away, and enjoy the beautiful architecture, breathtaking views, and turquoise waters of the area on the way. We’ll check into our hotel in Lecco, NH Pontevecchio.

• Optional visit to Villa Carlotta, a lush botanical garden and art museum with striking, sparkling vistas of Lake Como. Built at the end of the 17th century by the marquises Clerici of Milan, it boasts fragrant rose gardens, splashy azalea bushes, and a pair of citrus-rimmed tunnels that date to the first occupants of the villa. 
• Take to the glittering waters of Lake Como and float by some of Italy’s most sumptuous residences and gardens, draping the hillsides in their regal splendor.  
• Pass charming lakeside towns and arrive in Bellagio, a village blessed with an unbeatable view of the lake and mountains. 
• Enjoy free time in Bellagio to grab lunch, shop, and walk along its meticulously landscaped waterfront promenade. For a great view and even better pictures, take the step streets—the village’s pedestrian thoroughfares made of paved steps—to the upper part of the village.

Return to your hotel in the Lake Como region and enjoy a free evening. Ask your Tour Director for dinner recommendations and remember that Italians typically eat late and linger over their meals.

It’s easy to fall in love in—and with—Verona’s maze of ancient Romanesque, Gothic, and Byzantine architecture, tucked into the bends of the Adige River. (No wonder it served as the backdrop for Romeo and Juliet.) Join your Tour Director for a walk through its UNESCO-recognized center.

• Imagine your own “Oh, Romeo, Romeo” moment with a visit to Casa di Giulietta, site of the famous balcony built in honor of Shakespeare’s ill-fated lovers.
• Soak in the history of the oldest square in Verona, Piazza delle Erbe, then enjoy some free time to explore the less-crowded Gothic surrounds of Piazza Dante—named for famed Italian poet Dante Alighieri of The Divine Comedy fame.

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  Marvel at the grandeur of the 2,000-year-old Verona Arena—still in use today—whose pink and white stones have stood witness to gladiator shows, opera productions, and modern concerts.

Enjoy free time to swoon through the streets of Verona before continuing to Venice, where you’ll sit down for an included group dinner, served with beer or wine.

Surrender to the beauty of Venice’s labyrinthine canals, elegant bridges, and ornate Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Close your eyes and let the sound of lapping water and passing gondolas soothe you, but not for too long—there’s so much to see! You’ll meet up with your local guide and explore the heart of Venice on foot and (if you’d like) by vaporetto, or water taxi.

• Feel the energy of St. Mark’s Square, with its thriving cafes and sumptuous buildings, and marvel at the bell tower, the domes, mosaics, and arches of St. Mark’s Basilica— one of the symbols of Venice. 
• Watch a Murano glassblowing demonstration, where artisans keep the Venetian glasswork tradition alive. Observe as they skillfully use the distinctive millefiori technique to create intricate patterns by fusing tiny glass rods.

Spend a free afternoon exploring Venice on foot or board a gondola and cruise down the city’s famous canals on today’s optional experience. Gondola Rides are available, $95 for one and $169 for two.

Overnight: Venice – Hotel Giorgione

Travel to Rome by train, crossing the Apennine Mountains and basking in views of the Italian countryside. Upon arriving in the Eternal City, take a guided walk to discover its centuries-old squares and fountains.

• • Stroll past the Spanish Steps, where Pietro Bernini’s Baroque-style Fontana della Barcaccia has stood since the 1600s, and head to the intricately carved Trevi Fountain. The latter, a Baroque beauty carved of Travertine marble, has served as the dreamy backdrop to La Dolce Vita and Roman Holiday. Legend says that if you throw one coin into the fountain, you’re bound to return to Rome. 
  • Step inside the Pantheon, home to the world’s largest unenforced concrete dome. There, you’ll learn about the engineering skills of the ancient Romans and how they created this well-preserved temple. 
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  • End at Piazza Navona and see Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, commissioned by Pope Innocent X in the 17th century. It symbolizes the four major rivers of the four continents where papal authority had spread at the time.
  • Explore the highlights of Rome’s most famous ancient site, the Colosseum.

Rome – Genova Hotel

We’ll take a guided tour inside Vatican City—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most sacred places in Christendom. Upon arrival, turn on your pre-distributed headset and dive into the Vatican’s rich history with your local guide.

First, visit the Vatican Museums, which are more than 500 years old and house many of the world’s most important Classical- and Renaissance-era sculptures.

Next, step inside the Sistine Chapel, whose frescoed ceiling is arguably Michelangelo’s greatest masterpiece.

Finally, pay a visit to the enormous St. Peter’s Basilica, the epicenter of the Roman Catholic faith. The artists who have contributed to its glory are some of the best Italy has ever known—Bramante, Peruzzi, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Masterpieces await at every turn, from Bernini’s magnificent bronze canopy to Michelangelo’s Madonna della Pieta.

Please note: Should this excursion fall on a Sunday, it’ll be moved to another day of the tour. Backpacks aren’t allowed in the Vatican, and shorts and sleeveless shirts are strictly prohibited. Due to closures of certain entrances and pathways, wait times may extend to several hours during busy travel months.

Then, join your group at tonight’s celebration dinner. As you dine, you’ll be treated to a multi-course, traditional Italian meal with a side of live music entertainment.

Transfer to the airport for your flight