WWII CANADIAN BATTLEFIELDS TOUR: ITALY
Transcription
WWII CANADIAN BATTLEFIELDS TOUR: ITALY
View of Leonforte Ruins in Pompeii Cassino War Cemetery WWII CANADIAN BATTLEFIELDS TOUR: ITALY April 16 – 29, 2015 Canada’s role in the Second World War was significant and the sacrifices Canadian soldiers made helped determine the outcome. I am excited to invite you to join me and military expert and retired Lieutenant Colonel Larry Wong on a World War II tour of Italy. As you read the itinerary you will see that, after a start in Sicily where Canadian soldiers landed in July 1943, we will follow the footsteps of our soldiers along coastlines and through mountainous terrain with visits to military sites like Ortona, Monte Cassino, Rimini and Ravenna. We will also take breaks from a military focus with stops at Mount Etna, Pompeii with extra time for sight-seeing in Rome and Venice. This tour is an opportunity to experience a fascinating part of Europe and to learn from our military expert about one of the most important events in history. I hope you can join us in the Spring of 2015. Vera Pezer, Ph.D. Chancellor Emerita and Tour Host PRESENTED BY WORLDWIDE QUEST INTERNATIONAL | TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-1483 / 416-633-5666 | [email protected] WWW.WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM | 491 KING ST. E. TORONTO, ON M5A 1L9 OUR ITINERARY Getting There Most flights from Canada are overnight, arriving in Catania the next day. You will leave Canada on Wednesday, April 15. Worldwide Quest would be happy to make your flight arrangements and any pre- and post-tour hotel stays. Thursday, Apr. 16: Arrive Catania Participants will be met on arrival at Catania Airport and transferred to our hotel in the centre of the city. After freshening up, we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner at our hotel and meet our Italian expert guide. Overnight: Hotel Excelsior Palace, Catania Meals: Dinner Friday, Apr. 17: Catania excursion to WWII landing sites Soldiers from the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade joined the first Allied assault on Sicily in the early morning of July 10, 1943. The British and Canadian troops came ashore along a 60-kilometre stretch of coastline near Pachino, at the southern tip of Sicily. Fierce fighting lasted more than four weeks through kilometres of mountainous terrain. More than 2,300 Canadian soldiers became casualties, 562 of which were fatal. We’ll visit some of the sites associated with the Sicily campaign including Pachino Beach to see the monument to Operation Husky in the main square and the town of Grammichele (site of the first encounter of the Three Rivers Tank Regiment and the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment with the German Army). Overnight: Hotel Excelsior Palace, Catania Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Saturday, Apr. 18: Catania Today we continue our exploration of Canadian WWII sites including Assoro where the “Hasty Pees” carried out one of the most spectacular exploits of the campaign, scaling the mountain terraces in partial Mount Etna moonlight and the villages of Leonforte and Agira where the Canadians suffered their heaviest loss of the campaign. Agira is now home to the Canadian War Cemetery. Back in Catania, we’ll visit the Disembarkation Museum which includes the Operation Husky 2013 Canadian Display, a new permanent exhibit to Canada’s contributions during the Sicily Campaign. We’ll enjoy some free time in Catania later this afternoon. Overnight: Hotel Excelsior Palace, Catania Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Sunday, Apr. 19: Drive to Messina Today our travels take us to Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe. Encompassing 590 square kilometres, the mountain’s varied landscapes range from snowcapped summits to lunar deserts of black lava, to beech forests and lush vineyards. We’ll have lunch with a local wine producer on Mt. Etna and then continue our route to World War II sites on our way to Messina. Overnight: Hotel Parco degli Ulivi, Messina Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Praino Messina Catania WORLDWIDE QUEST INTERNATIONAL | TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-1483 / 416-633-5666 | [email protected] WWW.WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM | 491 KING ST. E. TORONTO, ON M5A 1L9 Villa San Giovanni Monday, Apr. 20: Transfer to Praiano (Amalfi Coast) Today we follow the route of the Canadian forces across the Strait of Messina to the Italian mainland, then travel north paralleling the Aspromonte mountain range to the Gulf of Taranto. We’ll travel by coach to the port of Messina, then travel by ferry across the Strait of Messina to Villa San Giovanni. We’ll board our coach on the mainland for the drive to Praino, arriving at the end of the day to our beautiful hotel overlooking the Mediterranean. Overnight: Hotel Tramonto d’Oro, Praiano Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Tuesday, Apr. 21: Praiano Today we’ll visit Pompeii, Italy’s most famous archeological site. With our guide, we’ll explore the site, buried in AD79 when Mount Vesuvius exploded. The fascination here lies not only in the major public buildings such as the theatre, temples and the forum but also in the numerous domestic dwellings, from cramped apartments to luxurious villas that reveal the everyday life of the ancient world. This afternoon is at leisure to enjoy our gorgeous seaside resort. Overnight: Hotel Tramonto d’Oro, Praiano Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Wednesday, Apr. 22: Drive to Rome Today’s drive to Rome takes us first to Monte Cassino, site of some of the fiercest fighting of the Italian campaign. We’ll visit the Benedictine Monastery, entirely rebuilt after 1944, home to a Commonwealth War Cemetery and, within the cemetery, the Cassino Memorial which commemorates over 4,000 Commonwealth servicemen who took part in the Italian campaign whose graves are not known. We continue to Anzio where Allied forces landed in 1943. The end of the day brings us to Rome. Overnight: Hotel Porta Maggiore, Rome Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Thursday, Apr. 23: Rome We’ll devote the day to visiting the sites associated with World War II in Rome. We’ll walk in the city centre and we plan to visit one or more of the major military museums; the Ufficio Storico Stato Maggiore Esercito, the Museo Storico della Fanteria and the Museo Storico dei Bersaglieri. Overnight: Hotel Porta Maggiore, Rome Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Friday, Apr. 24: Rome Today we’ll concentrate on the historic sites in the city starting with a tour of the Vatican Museums. The Museums contain one of the world’s greatest art collections including the spectacular classical statuary and Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. In the afternoon, we’ll tour the sites of Ancient Rome including the Forum and the Colosseum. Overnight: Hotel Porta Maggiore, Rome Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Saturday, Apr. 25: Drive to Ortona Today is the 70th anniversary of Liberation Day in Italy. We plan to attend this morning’s ceremony in Rome, laying wreaths at the “Altare delle Patria.” Following the events, we drive to Ortona; the battle for the town of Ortona was one of the best known battles fought by Canadians in WWII, nicknamed “Little Stalingrad.” We’ll visit the town and the nearby war cemetery at Moro River. Overnight: Hotel Mara, Ortona Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Sunday, Apr. 26: Rimini The Gothic Line, renamed Green Line in Jun 1944, was the final main German defensive line in northern Italy. The line stretched from the area south of La Spezia on the west coast of Italy through the Apennine Mountains to the area between Pesaro and Ravenna on the east coast. We follow this route this morning as we drive to Rimini. In the afternoon we visit the sites and enjoy our seaside resort. Overnight: Hotel Marina Bay, Rimini Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Monday, Apr. 27: Drive to Venice Today’s drive takes us north along the Adriatic Coast to Venice. On our way, we’ll stop to visit Ravenna, the site of the 1st Canadian Corps’ Operation Chuckle, December 1944. Two battalions of 1st Brigade, the Royal Canadian Regiment and the Hastings and Prince Edward Regt., suffered close to 200 casualties in this ill-advised, chaotic action. We arrive in Venice Mestre in the afternoon where we stay for two nights. Overnight: Hotel NH Laguna Palace, Mestre Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Tuesday, Apr. 28: Venice This morning we travel by vaporetto to the historic city centre for a guided tour of the area around Saint Marc’s Square. The afternoon is free to explore independently in this magical place. Overnight: Hotel NH Laguna Palace, Mestre Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner Wednesday, Apr. 29: Depart Venice This morning we will be transferred to the airport for homewardbound flights. Meals: Breakfast Note: The itinerary and accommodation is subject to change. Weather changes, logistical arrangements, or local events may require changes in the published itinerary. WORLDWIDE QUEST INTERNATIONAL | TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-1483 / 416-633-5666 | [email protected] WWW.WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM | 491 KING ST. E. TORONTO, ON M5A 1L9 Cassino War Cemetery TOUR DETAILS Tour Cost* (per person based on double occupancy): C$4995 Taxes and Gratuities: $350 Tour Cost for Guaranteed Single Accommodation*: C$6295 We would be happy to try to match you with a suitable roommate. *Based on an exchange rate of C$1=Euro 1.5 and a minimum of 24 paying participants Group Size: 24 – 30 participants Cost Includes: • Airport transfers at destination for passengers arriving and departing as per the group itinerary • Accommodation based on double occupancy in hotels listed or similar • Meals as listed (breakfast and either lunch or dinner daily) • Transportation by private coach throughout • Expert local guides for sightseeing • All activities and entrance fees • Tour accompanied by our English speaking tour manager, specialized in WWII history • Gratuities for group activities, including meals, hotels, guides (as indicated above) • Taxes (as indicated above) • Trip hosted by Vera Pezer and Larry Wong BOOKING Not Included: • Roundtrip airfare from your home to join the tour • Meals other than those mentioned above • Beverages with meals • Fuel surcharges, if applicable • Excess baggage charges • Items of a personal nature • Travel insurance • Additional arrangements required due to any emergency or other situation • Any item not mentioned in “tour cost includes” above Payment Details: A non-refundable deposit of C$500 per person is required to reserve a space on this tour. A second payment of C$1000 per person is due October 30, 2014. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure (January 12, 2015.) WHAT TO EXPECT Level of Activity: Moderate A good level of fitness is important for this trip as we will be exploring the city centres and World War II sites on foot. You must be comfortable walking for up to two hours at a stretch on irregular paving and climbing stairs. Please be in touch with us for any questions. Accommodation We are staying in centrally located three star plus and four star hotels, equipped with all conveniences. Two of our hotels (in Praiano and in Rimini) are seaside resorts. Transportation We will be travelling in a comfortable, air conditioned motor coach. Weather We expect sunny skies with daytime temperatures ranging from 18 to 25 degrees Celsius. Overnight temperatures will be about 10 degrees. Travel Documents You will require a passport for this trip. Please ensure it is valid for at least 6 months beyond your scheduled return home. Currently, Canadian passport holders do not require a visa to visit Italy. Questions? Ready to book? Please call Kerry at the Worldwide Quest office at toll-free 1-800-387-1483. WORLDWIDE QUEST INTERNATIONAL | TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-1483 / 416-633-5666 | [email protected] WWW.WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM | 491 KING ST. E. TORONTO, ON M5A 1L9 TICO#2667946