The No-Sweat Approach to Southern Europe
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| October brings richer colors to Europe's back door destinations. |
Savvy October travelers beat the crowds...and the heat!
Southern Europe is eye-opening, thrilling and flat-out fun whenever you visit. But if summer offers a little too much sizzle for your taste, it's hard to beat the comfort of traveling in the fall. October's warm days, cool nights and dwindling crowds combine to create what may be the most relaxing month for travel in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Spain and Portugal. And if you act fast (relax once you're over there!) you can still grab seats on Rick Steves' October 2010 tours to these fall-friendly destinations...
Heart of Italy
In nine dazzling days, you'll experience the very heart of Italy. Beginning with the amazing art of Renaissance Florence, you'll journey to the cliff-hugging villages of the Cinque Terre, the pedestrian-friendly streets of Lucca, and the quintessential hill towns of Tuscany, ending in the eternal city — Rome. Along the way, you'll enjoy Italy's most distinctive art, wine and food. See all that's included...
- Meet Heart of Italy guide Cecilia Bottai
Best of Venice, Florence & Rome
Your ten masterpiece-packed days covering Italy's three greatest cities begins with Venice's timeless St. Mark's Square and Basilica, then on to Michelangelo's stunning David and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, and ends with Rome's ancient Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon, Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. You'll also enjoy guided neighborhood walks, memorable meals, and full-bodied Italian wines. See all that's included...
- Meet Best of Venice, Florence & Rome guide Jamie Blair Gould
Athens & the Heart of Greece
In this two-week journey that begins and ends in Athens, you'll experience the rich history and culture of Greece, from Athens' majestic Acropolis and treasure-filled National Archaeological Museum, to the must-see ancient sites of Delphi, Olympia, Epidavros and Mycenae — plus local wine and olive tastings, and the friendly, relaxing 'back door' villages and harbors of the Peloponnese Peninsula. See all that's included...
- Meet Athens & Heart of Greece guide Colleen Murphy
Best of Turkey
Beginning in Istanbul, our most exotic tour will take you across Western Turkey in 13 days. You'll marvel at Istanbul's Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia and Grand Bazaar, Cappadocia's 'fairy-chimney' landscape, the Ancient Greek sites of Ephesus and Aphrodisias, and a day sailing the Mediterranean. You'll also experience legendary Turkish hospitality first-hand, from artisans to Imams. See all that's included...
- Meet Best of Turkey guide Lale Aran
Heart of Portugal
Starting in lively Lisbon and ending in proud Porto, our dozen days in the heart of Portugal combine history-rich Roman, Moorish and Baroque architecture with the small towns, seacoast, food, wine and music that make up the heart and soul of Portugal. This is an intimate tour, connecting you with the Portuguese people, from Évora and Nazaré to Coimbra and the vineyards of the Douro Valley. See all that's included...
- Meet Heart of Portugal guide Cristina Duarte
Best of Spain with Morocco
Beginning in beautiful Barcelona and ending in sensual Sevilla, this 16-day tour is a sumptuous cultural buffet, with rich helpings of Catalunya's Gaudí, Toledo's El Greco, masterpieces of Madrid's Prado, Moorish and royal treasures of Granada and Sevilla, Andalusian hill towns, prancing horses, tasty tapas, fine sherry — and spiced with a fascinating two-night stay in exotic Tangier, Morocco. See all that's included...
- Meet Best of Spain with Morocco guide Federico Garcia Barroso