$34.99
Four half-hour shows featuring:
Milan & Lake Como, Italy: Milan symbolizes the powerhouse Italy of the 21st century – a European center for finance and fashion. We explore Italy’s most extravagantly decorated Gothic cathedral, look at Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Last Supper and shop, shop, shop. A visit to the Milan Design Museum shows how, for the Milanese, everyday life is art. We take a train north to serene Lake Como, where we ferry-hop among lakeside villages, explore elegant villas and stopover at the historic Villa D’Este Hotel. A side trip to the ancient city of Bergamo and an alpine festival in the Valtellina complete our journey.
Tips on train travel and boat itineraries.
Italian Riviera: We’re off to the Italian Riviera seeking la dolce vita in one of the world’s most romantic places. With death-defying cliffs and beaches that shimmer like jewels, the Riviera is as stunning a coastline as anywhere in Europe. In the port town of Genoa, we tour palaces for a taste of old-world elegance and dine on world-class pesto. Then we head south to the famous resort of Portofino and the sea cliff towns of the Cinqueterre. Finally, we battle vertigo at Pisa’s leaning tower.
Tips on using train passes and finding addresses.
Italian Hilltowns: Castles, vineyards, walled cities and a fierce medieval rivalry that lingers today – we’re out for an adventure in the Italian hill towns. Our base is dramatic Siena, home of the intensely competitive Palio horse race. From Siena, we explore the multi-towered town of San Gimignano, watch grapes being harvested at a winery and drop in on the cheese festival in Pienza. Then south to Rudy’s secret pick – the haunting hill towns of Pitigliano and Sovana. In Umbria we discover Etruscan tombs, visit the home of St. Francis of Assisi and pick up some pottery in quaint Gubbio.
Tips on driving through the maze-like streets of a hill town and finding a place to stay.
Sicily, Italy: We wend our way across this largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Once the hub of the ancient world, Sicily offers up a vibrant, sun-soaked brew of history, tradition, and intense cultural pride. At Palermo, a city bursting with its atmospheric past, we visit the lively market and marvel at Monreale Cathedral, which shows off remnants of its Arab, Norman, and Byzantine past. The finest classical Greek temples outside of Greece stand near Segesta and Agrigento, while the Villa Romana del Casale houses the most extensive and unspoiled Roman mosaics surviving from the ancient world. Then it’s on to ancient Syracuse, once the rival of Athens for wealth and power. Finally, we climb to the top of Mount Etna, for steaming craters and unearthly views.
Tips on getting around the island and when to visit.
Blu-ray Plus Combo Pack-
In addition to the Blu-ray disc, this combo pack also includes:
1. DVD version of the program(s) that you can play in your DVD player, vehicle or computer.
2. Digital copy of the program that you can download to your computer and/or transfer to your mobile devices.$19.95 - Sold Out
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