Saturday, June 14, 2008

A visit to the 16th century Castle Velthurns is followed by a picturesque drive to Val Gardena and up to the Seiseralm via cable car.  The Seiseralm is the largest alpine plateau in Europe.  There are magnificent views of the Dolomite mountain peaks.  You may enjoy a nature walk around the plateau or take an optional chairlift to the mountaintop. Later, we will explore the variety of architectural styles found in the historical buildings of south Tyrol.  A casual wine tasting will close the day. 

Sunday, June 15, 2008

The Val Gardena area is formed by three main villages: Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva Gardena.  Ortisei, also known as St. Ulrich, has a rich history and a layout that blends harmoniously with the landscape.  The center and pedestrian area are wonderful meeting places and ideal for shopping.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Two diverse towns in northern Italy await exploration.  Bolzano (Bozen) clings very much to its Austrian traditions, while Merano is clearly Italian.  While in Bolzano, we will visit the Museo Archeologico dell'Alto Adige, which is the resting place of the mummified Oetzi the Iceman, who is estimated to have died 5,300 years ago.  In Merano, we will take time to peruse the Duomo di San Nicolo Cathedral.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Along the trip to Bavaria, we will stop in Innsbruck, the capital city of Tyrol.  After a short city tour, you will have time to appreciate this lovely Alpine city and eat lunch. 

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Our first destination of the day is Linderhof Castle.  Linderhof is the most elegant castle of King Ludwig II.  Next, we’ll visit the delightful city of Oberammergau, most famous for its Passion Play presentation.  The village of Oberammergau is home to nearly 100 woodcarvers and numerous Christmas shops.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Bavaria's capital city of Munich has much to see and experience.  This is a free day with your choice of destinations such as the transportation museum or the famous Hofbräuhaus.  Eins Zwei G’suffa!

Friday, June 20, 2008

Without question, the landmark of Germany is  Neuschwanstein Castle.  You can see for yourself the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella castle.  Later in the day we will visit Wies Kirche - the Church in the Meadow  .  This breathtaking church is the epitome of Rococo architecture.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

With many new friends and much heavier bags, we will head back to Munich for our flight home.  We'll reminisce about the past two weeks and start planning our next tour with Alpenfest.