Insight Vacations

Highlights

• Florence: Enjoy a stroll through Renaissance Florence and admire the medieval buildings that gave birth to this new style of architecture.
• Pisa: Your Local Expert will show you the baptistery bristling with marble spines, and the colonnaded bell tower lurching behind the 11th-century cathedral - the famous Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles.
• Venice: With your Travel Director cruise to St. Mark's Square and see the Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs and St. Mark's Basilica.
• Venice: Delight in the magic of this charming city as you glide along the canals by gondola.
• Visit the Vatican Museums, witness the genius of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel and see St. Peter's Basilica.

Highlights

• Amsterdam: Cruise along the waterways, discovering the architectural gems of the old city, including mansions dating from the Golden Age of the 17th Century.
• Aalsmeer: The colossal Aalsmeer Flower Auction is the size of 200 football pitches and even has its own fire brigade, hairdresser and bicycle repairman! Over 30,000 species are featured, with 43 million flowers and 5 million plants are sold daily Monday to Friday. The most popular varieties are roses, tulips and chrysanthemums.
• Bruges: Visit the Market Square and famous belfry of the Market Hall with your Local Expert. See the Gothic town hall in Burg Square and the frescoes on the walls of the Holy Blood Chapel.
• Giverny: Visit the fascinating house and gardens where Claude Monet, the Master of Impressionism, lived and worked from 1883 until his death in 1926. Revel in an oasis of color, both within the house and in the fragrant gardens.
• Chambord: The stunning Loire Valley is world-famous for its magnificent Chateaux, as well as beautiful landscapes and delicious wine. Visit two of the most famous Chateaux: Chenonceau Castle, and Chateau de Chambord, and be transported back in time as you explore them and their gardens.

Highlights

• Madrid: See the highlights of the city with your Local Expert. Visit the Old Town, traveling along the elegant Paseo de la Castellana, past the fountain in the Plaza de Cibeles, the Cervantes Monument and Royal Palace, before crossing the Puerta del Sol.
• Segovia: Visit the medieval streets of this fortified city to see the 14th-century Alcazar Palace and extensive Roman aqueduct.
• Salamanca: See the handsome arcaded Plaza Mayor, the honey-colored cathedral and the 16th century university buildings as you explore the city with your Local Expert.
• Porto: See the iconic bridges and buildings decorated in tiles.
• Obidos: Lead by your Travel Director, walk through the picturesque narrow streets up to the main square of this ancient walled town.

Highlights

• Dublin: See Custom House and travel along the River Liffey. See the Guinness Storehouse, Christchurch Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral.
• Galway: Fascinating stories and interesting locals take center stage on your orientation of the historic heart of Galway. Visit the Lynch Memorial Window. Then make your way to the Church of St. Nicholas - the largest medieval parish church in Ireland in continuous use, Spanish Arch and Eyre Square.
• Cliffs of Moher: Towering cliffs and the dramatic sea, the Cliffs of Moher has inspired countless travelers. Visit the Exhibition Center and look out over the Wild Atlantic Way from these majestic cliffs that rise over 700 feet high. Gain insights from your Travel Director into the cliffs’ geology, history and the species that find sanctuary in its nooks and crannies.
• Adare: Experience a village walk through the main street lined with thatched cottages.
• Killarney: Enjoy hearing of the history of Killarney during your city orientation.

Highlights

• Athens: Ascend the Acropolis with a Local Expert to admire the Parthenon, built in 5th century B.C. Steps away you'll see the Temple of Athena Nike, also known as the Temple of the Wingless Victory, and the six stone-carved caryatids that make up the Porch of the Maidens on the Erechtheion.
• Athens: See the Arch of Hadrian, erected in honor of the Roman Emperor and used as a divider between the ancient city and the new Roman district, along with the remaining columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
• Thermopylae: See the Leonidas Monument dedicated to the brave warrior and his 300 Spartans.
• Metsovo: Visit Metsovo, the authentic traditional village on the picturesque mountainside.
• Ioannina: Cruise to the island of Ioannina, spreading out around the beautiful lake Pamvotida. Walk around the old town, see the Ali Pasha and Revolutionary Period Museum, where Ali Pasha was killed and decapitated by the sultan's troops in 1822, marvel at the museum's rich collection. See the Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Philanthropinoi – an important site as the island is Greece's third-largest monastic community.

Highlights

• Palermo: Visit the spectacular 12th-century Palatine Chapel. Its sombre exterior gives away few clues to the riches inside. Step into a world where the walls glitter with 12th-century mosaics, the best of their kind in the world.
• Agrigento: Admire magnificent Hellenistic remains in the Valley of the Temples, such as the massive Temple of Concord and clifftop Temple of Juno.
• Piazza Armerina: Travel to the Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO site since 1997. The Villa is one of the most luxurious of its kind, showcasing it's rich and intricate mosaics which decorate almost every room.
• Ragusa: During your walking tour with your Local Expert see the famous Baroque buildings and churches.
• Modica: Experience Modica's celebrated hand-made chocolate.