Paris is a city of wide boulevards and hidden urban gardens. Venture to the riverside terraces of the Seine. The water shimmers in the city's evening light. Board the river cruise to gain an unparalleled first impression of Paris.
Explore to the city known for its splendid monuments and indulgent culture. You reach a large roundabout where 12 separate avenues converge around the staggering Arc de Triomphe & the most famous of the friezes known as La Marseillaise.
Pass through the towering thin trees of Fountainbleau Forest, and alongside the meandering vines of Burgundy. The hills turn into rugged mountains as you ascend the foothills of the Swiss Alps. You reach Lucerne and the Lake Lucerne. The edge of town is reflected in the placid lake.
The clouds are close enough to touch in the morning drifting past Mount Pilatus. The city fills with the aroma of blossoming flowers and the sweet fragrance of a cherry tree growing on the rooftop of Via Pretorio.
The sunrise casts a silver beam over the stoic lake. You leave the Alps behind, venturing over the border of Italy and to the Tuscan university town of Pisa & to Piazza dei Miracoli, the square known for containing the Leaning Tower of Pisa & the tower adheres.
Florence is a city blanketed in Renaissance beauty. The Arno River trickles softly against the riverbanks flowing underneath the lively Old Bridge. Santa Croce Church stands at the top of the square & the L'accademia dell'Arte.
You stroll through St. Peter's Square to find the open plaza brimming with people, each one excited to stand in the presence of the basilica, a sparkling fountain, and the pope's graces. Vist the Vatican Museum.
The Po River meanders around the cityscape and adds a cooling quality to the quiet breeze. Visit the the Estense Castle, constructed in the 14th century as a refuge for the ruling Este family. The elegant balconies were made with white stone and rest on corbels to carry the weight of the structure.
Venice is a city made of labyrinthine walkways divided by canals. The Byzantine domes of St. Mark's Basilica rise over the Grand Canal beneath the staggering bell tower. The famous Pala d'Oro altarpiece contains 1,300 pearls and 300 sapphires, along with emeralds and garnets.
You reach the charming city of Innsbruck. You venture through Brenner Pass taking you out of Italy and into the Austrian Alp. The city sits in the Inn Valley surrounded by rugged mountains. Visit the Court Church, the Tomb of Emperor Maximilian I.
Venture outside of Munich and arrive at the polished medieval gem of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which means 'Above the Tauber River'. Visit the Jakobskirche is Rothenburg's Lutheran Church & The Holy Blood altarpiece.
The Rhine River runs through the lush hills and valleys around the German landscape. You step aboard a riverboat for the best way to explore the scenery. See the hillside at the fabulously preserved Marksburg Castle in Braubach, the only hillside castle on the riverbanks.
The canals bisect Amsterdam in a web of beauty, creating tranquil strolls and an extra roadway for people to explore. West Church was erected in the 17th century with embellished Gothic features, both on the exterior and interior of the edifice.
The morning washes over Amsterdam and the bright facades of the buildings begin to shine. Boats wade on the gentle current in the canals. Spend time, this last morning, enjoying the city and its enchanting ambiance.