Between Culture, History & Religion (Netherlands - Germany)
Day 1 - AMSTERDAM
Arrival in the Netherlands, a country of windmills, tulips and the colorful flowers and home of the great painter Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890), and the philosopher Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466-1536). Meeting with guide and transfer to Amsterdam, city of 165 canals, 1281 bridges, 2,500 houseboats, the house closer in the world (1 m wide), museums e. .... Arrival at the hotel, accommodation in rooms reserved. Overnight.Day 2 - AMSTERDAM
Breakfast. Meeting with the guide and panoramic tour of the city: Founded in 1275 on a hundred islands in the old town retains its ancient channels which makes it one of the most fascinating cities in Europe. The elegant buildings facing the water were the property of merchants enriched by the East India Company, and processing of diamonds, among which we remember the "Cullinan" (the biggest diamond in the world) and the "Koh-I-Noor" (which was cut for the British crown jewels in 1852). We admire the Dam, the Central Square, the Royal Palace, the Vondel Park and the Town Hall, etc,. Return to the hotel. Overnight.Day 3 - AMSTERDAM / ZAANDAM / THE HIGH DAM / VOLENDAM / AMSTERDAM
Breakfast. Departure with the guide to Zaandam, a village famous for the presence of several windmills and for its factories Dutch clogs. Continuation to the High Dam Afsluitdijk, the first colossal work of engineering built to tear the high land to sea to prevent flooding: Built between 1927 and 1933, the dam is 32 km long, 90 m wide and reaches a height of 7.25 m above the sea level. Connect Noord-Holland to Friesland. The Afsluitdijk is the most important of hydraulic Zuiderzee project, which has separated the inlet of the Zuiderzee from the North Sea, turning it into a freshwater lake (the IJsselmeer) and allowing the water to rescue the territories that today constitute the Flevoland. Short stop and continue to Volendam, the village seems picture-perfect with windmills, houses of fishermen from the roof peak and people in costumes typical of the area. To walk through the narrow alleys and small houses will give you the impression that they have entered into a framework. Next trip is the island of Marken, connected to the coast, and treated equally authentic. Continue for a visit to a typical farm which produced the famous Dutch cheese, and tasting of the same and is also possible to buy them. In the evening, back at the hotel. Overnight.Distances:
Amsterdam - Zaandam = 22 Km
Zaandam - Dam Afsluitdijk = 78 Km
Dam Afsluidijk - Volendam = 68 Km
Volendam - Amsterdam = 22 Km
Day 4 - AMSTERDAM / DELFT / KEVELAER
Breakfast. Departure to Delft, a town of Netherlands, famous for its blue porcelain from the drawings, the tall bell tower (109 m) and the houses overlooking the canals. Proceeding to Germany: home of the great poet JW Goethe (1745-1832), physicist A. Einstein (1879-1955), philosopher I. Kant (1724-1804), composer L.van Beethoven (1770-1827), writer T. Mann (1875-1955), and the inventor of printing with movable J. Gutenberg (1390-1468). Arrival in Kevelaer, place of Marian devotion and pilgrimage for nearly 2 million pilgrims every year who come mainly from Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg. Pilgrims arrive in this town, to honor the "Lady of the Afflicted" that has made this place, one of the most important pilgrimage centers of Germany. Arrival at the hotel and . Accommodation in rooms reserved. Overnight.Overnight.
Distances:
Amsterdam - Delft = 62 Km
Delft - Kevelaer = 180 Km
Day 5 - KEVELAER / XANTEN / COLOGNE
Breakfast. Departure to Xanten, a town located in north-west of Germany near the border with the Netherlands. This small town has one of the Roman archaeological parks of great importance, where there is a Roman amphitheater, which hosts a popular summer festival of opera, classical and contemporary. In Xanten is the Gothic church of San Vittore, which is, after the Cologne Cathedral, one of the most beautiful churches built at that time in Germany. Arrival, meeting with the guide and visit the cathedral. Proceeding to Cologne: a city with its 2000 years of history and its unique personality, it attracts millions of visitors each year. Cologne is the fourth largest city in Germany. Whether it be the triennial music, "Cologne Pride", the fireworks and lights of the "Kölner Lichter" or Christmas markets, it offers in every season, an extensive program of events of all kinds and even invents. A fifth season of world-famous: the famous Cologne Carnival. It is also nicknamed the "Cathedral City": it is long 144 meters wide, 86 m. high and 157 m. During the course of the excavations were found relics of Roman and among other things, the remains of an early Christian church, enlarged probably in the sixth century and later replaced by "Old Cathedral" in the ninth century under Archbishop Hildebold. Arrival at the hotel. Accommodation in the reserved rooms. Overnight. Distances:
Kevelaer - Xanten = 21 Km
Xanten - Cologne = 99 Km
Day 6 - COLOGNE
Breakfast. Meeting with the guide and panoramic tour of the city that will conclude with a visit to the famous Cathedral (St. Peter and St. Mary), one of the largest in Europe, already the site of a Roman temple dedicated to Mercury. With the transfer from Milan relics of the Magi by Archbishop Reinald von Dassel, it was decided to build a cathedral more solemn. The first stone was laid on August 15, 1248. Since the beginning of the sixteenth century, however, work was suspended and resumed in 1842. 15 October 1880 Emperor Wilhelm I began the cathedral completed. Time available. Return to the hotel. Overnight.Day 7 - COLOGNE / DÜSSELDORF / AMSTERDAM
Breakfast. Departure to Düsseldorf: regional capital of NRW (North Rhine-Westphalia), once a region of coal and steel is a industrial heartland today, modern technology center, a region rich in culture and head office for the new tecnology media. City of the great poet Heinrich Heine (1799-1856).Historical residence of electors princes, is characterized by wide streets lined with elegant shops and a belt of parks and gardens that meander through the perimeter of the center. Its location on the riverside of the Rhine it is also a major river port. Meeting with the guide and panoramic tour of the city : The Gothic church of S. Lambertus century. XIII-XIV, stone and red brick with a tower of 72 m on the front and the Theater of Opera, the Königsallee (central artery) of walking and shopping street with art galleries and boutiques of the most famous names in fashion. The old city with the Burgplatz, which is the square of the ancient castle and the old city center, the Schlossturm (castle tower) only remnant of the grand ducal castle (XIII-XVI), which was destroyed in 1872, the Altes Rathaus (the old town hall) at the center of the square with the monument of the Prince Elector Johann Wilhelm, etc;. Proceeding to Amsterdam. Arrival at the Hotel. Accommodation in the reserved rooms. Overnight.
Distances:
Cologne - Düsseldorf = 38 Km
Dusseldorf - Amsterdam = 238 Km