AACI's 14 night Kosher Cruise - May 19-June 2, 2013 - Sold Out

 

AACI Kosher & Friendly Budapest May 20-23, 2013 - Sold Out

 

 

 

AACI Kosher Tour - St. Petersburg & Moscow - June 9-19, 2013 Sold Out

 

AACI Kosher Tour - St. Petersburg & Moscow - July 21-31, 2013 - Sold Out

 

The Verona Opera Festival  & Shabbat in Florence July 21-28, 2013 - 2 places remaining

 

 

 

 

Northern Spain, November 2013 - Details coming soon. Please keep checking this page.

 

 

Jerusalem travelers will meet up with Study Vacation friends coming from the north, south and center of the country ready to take off for our “Dan Region” adventure.

We will begin our trip with a visit to the “Shafdan” regional sewage treatment center to learn about this innovative project - helping to irrigate our crops and preserve our precious fresh water resources.

After a lunch break we will continue our first day tour with a visit to the Rishon LeZion Museum and Synagogue

 

Following that visit, we move on to Kibbutz Galon - check in, rest up before dinner followed by our AACI social evening.

 

The next three days will be spent roaming the region, stopping in Holon where we will meet with the Samaritans and learn about their culture and traditions. Once again, we’ll have a lunch break and then drop into the Cartoon Museum and the Puppetry Museum. Fun, fun, fun……

 

On the agenda is a visit to Rehovot for a tour of the Tnuva Visitors Center, a stop at the Ayalon Institute, the Minkov Orchard Museum and the Weizmann Institute, including a visit to the home of the first President, and, time permitting, a walk around the Clore Garden of Science.

   

On our last day we will focus on Ramle where, after checking out of our rooms at Kibbutz Galon, we will visit the Karaim Center hear about their history, then take a drive through Ramle and stop at the “Arch Pool” (Brechat HaKeshatot) where you can hop into a rowboat and take a look around.

 

After a lunch stop, we will all head for home - probably tired, but better informed about this interesting and diverse region of Israel.

 

Cost of the trip NIS 1700 per person sharing a double room - NIS 2300 Single supplement.

Sign up now and reserve your place!!

 

Looking forward again..

Judy, Stew, Maurene, Selma,. Prudence, Fridel, Marsha & Dorothy

AACI Continuing Education Committee                    

AACI’s 14 NIGHT KOSHER CRUISE - Sold Out

Barcelona - A Gothic and Modernist marvel on the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona is quirky, cosmopolitan and effortlessly cool. Palma de Mallorca -explore its mazes of narrow alleys and cobblestone streets. Olbia- where jetsetters and the ‘glitterati’ go to indulge in la dolce vita Sardinian-style. Malta -is a treasure trove of cultures. Valletta, its fortified main city, rises dramatically from the water. Chania–a land of striking contrast and a place where different civilizations have flourished throughout the centuries. Argostloli-Greece's best-kept secret and largest island of the Ionian chain in western Greece.  Santorini- of all the Cyclades Islands, Santorini is often considered the most dramatic.

 

We will be sailing on the wonderful “Golden Iris" - a hotel at sea, enjoying delicious, and freshly prepared, kosher meals (3+) daily. Lecture and entertainment programs throughout the day, jacuzzi, pool, running deck, gym, casino, duty free shopping, and more. You will enjoy the company of a warm and diverse English-speaking group from Israel and around and the world.

 

*The program and itinerary is subject to change without notice and minimum participation required. Please note that some land tours may include strenuous walking. Price does not include insurance or personal expenses.

Prices are subject to change due to fuel increases or brochure price fluctuation.

AACI Kosher & Friendly Budapest - Sold Out

 

 

On this trip we offer general cultural touring which will be woven into touring of Jewish sites, bringing the rich culture of Budapest to life. Visit the second largest synagogue in the world designed by Otto Wagner, as well as museums and other Jewish cultural sites. We will visit beautiful residential neighborhoods and hear stories of  local Jewish history. We will enjoy  drives through hidden backstreets and explore the glorious Castle District and take a tour of Buda's most exclusive residential districts. Experience the local bathing culture, and see indoor and outdoor baths that remain central to daily life. A highlight of this short, majestic trip, is a romantic cruise on the Danube River.

 

Day 1 Monday May 20 Arrive Budapest: panoramic city tour -the city known as Budapest actually consists of three cities: Obuda, the oldest section, with Roman ruins on the Buda side of the Danube; Buda in the gently rolling hills on the western bank, famous for its historic Castle Hill and beautiful residential area; and vibrant Pest with its shopping, government and commercial districts on the flat plain of the eastern bank. United in 1873, Budapest is renowned as the location of one of the most beautiful World Heritage sites. Despite spectacular development, Budapest has preserved its old charm and magic. The visitor will find side by side the remains of fortresses and buildings from Roman times, still operating Turkish baths, Gothic and Baroque buildings, and the incredibly rich Art Nouveau architectural heritage. It is a city where the pleasing harmony of different architectural styles and superb structures, the cafés, baths, the food and culture, combined with legendary hospitality blend into an unforgettable experience for visitors.

 

Our tour covers the major highlights of the city, showing the grandeur and Old World charm of Budapest. Visit both sides of the city: the colorful hills of Buda and the bustling businesslike boulevards of Pest. Explore the gorgeous House of Parliament, the elegant Andrassy Avenue, the impressive Heroes Square, the fascinating Market Hall, the medieval Castle District, the picturesque Fishermen’s Bastion and the Liberty Statue on Gellert Hill with its magnificent panoramic view of the city. 

 

Jewish Budapest tour starts in the Castle District where the first Jews of Buda settled in the 13th century. We visit the small, medieval synagogue in the former Jewish street; discover the facts about life during the Turkish occupation in the 15th -17th centuries. Still on the Buda side we can visit the statue of Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Hungarian Jews in the 2nd World War, and a memorial plaque of Gabor Sztehlo, a Hungarian Evangelical pastor who saved the lives of Jewish children and adults.

We will stop for cake and coffee in a kosher confectionery. Confectionery Froehlich in the Jewish Quarter

 

On the Pest side of the river we walk through the former ghetto area visiting the lovely oriental building of the famous Dohany street synagogue, the third largest in the world. There is a guided tour in the Jewish Museum, a small but rich collection of objects associated with religious holidays and rituals of everyday life. A sign on the wall indicates the site of the building where Theodor Herzl, the father of Zionism was born. Behind the synagogue is the Holocaust Memorial, a metallic weeping willow with names engraved on the leaves to remind us of the people who perished in the war. Passing through the court of the synagogue, this was part of the ghetto and turned into a cemetery for those who were killed here. Next to the synagogue we look at the Temple of Heroes, a simple modern building erected in the 1930s for the memory of the Jews fallen in the 1st World War. We visit the late art nouveau building of the orthodox synagogue in Kazinczy Street, which is one of the main places of worship for the orthodox community.

 

Visit the second largest Baroque Palace of the world in Gödöllő! After only a 30-minute drive from Budapest we arrive to the former summer residence of Queen Elisabeth (Sisi) and Francis Joseph (Habsburg Emperor & Hungarian King 1867-1916). This interior visit of the Museum and the tour through the garden of the Chateau, gives you a glimpse of times under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. You will become acquainted with the secrets of the private life, the hidden doors, rooms and lovers of the royal couple.

 We find records about the "miraculous" springs spurting up o­n the territory of the Bath from as early a date as the 15th century. These springs were later favored by the Turks as well, as they were larger and hotter than the Buda baths of the period. In the 17th century, the site was named Sárosfürdő (Mud bath) because of the fine spring silt that was pushed up together with the spring water and settled at the bottom of the pools.

The Gellért Thermal Bath and Hotel, known world-wide and highly favored by foreigners, built in a secession style, opened its gates in 1918 and was expanded in 1927 by the wave-bath and in 1934 by the effervescent bath. In the course of the modernization accomplished in our days, the sitting-pool in the swimming complex, the outdoor sitting pool and the children's pool were renovated; they were equipped with a state-of-the art water filtering and circulation device. At present, nearly all healing facilities may be used in the Gellért Thermal Bath. The Bath includes a department offering complex thermal bath acilities (daytime/outpatient hospital), it also has an inhalatorium.

 

Water Composition of Gellért Thermal Bath: Water supply to the Bath is ensured by the spring accesses established inside the Gellért hill. The water is hot spring water with calcium, magnesium and hydrogen-carbonate as well as sulphate-chloride, also containing sodium and with a significant content of fluoride ions.

 

This morning we will check out of the hotel and start our tour of the Danube Bend.

The Danube Bend – an excursion into Hungary’s history. This is an unforgettable tour along the "Blue Danube" with stops in Visegrad, Esztergom and Szentendre.

 

Visegrad: we walk on the 750 year-old stones of the formal Royal Residence, learn about life in the middle ages and enjoy the fascinating panorama on the Danube valley.

 

Esztergom: we visit the so-called Technology & Science House built in 1888, once serving as a synagogue for Esztergom’ s Jewish community, the oldest in Hungary, and now contains a regional government office. It was designed in Moorish Romantic style by Lipót Baumhorn, the master architect who was also responsible for the synagogues in Szeged, Szolnok and Gyöngyös.

 

Szentendre: On the way back we stop in the artist's village of Szentendre. It is a small baroque city at the gate of the Danube Bend, at the meeting place of the river Danube and the Pilis Mountains, in a beautiful natural environment. We walk around the baroque settlement, built on medieval ruins and go up the narrow streets to the panorama point to see the Danube. We then simply enjoy the special atmosphere of this village. You can also take the opportunity to visit the museums (for example the world-famous Margit Kovács Ceramic Museum, the Confectionery Museum-with buildings and people made of marzipan), or you can choose to visit the shops of the village.

 

Price Does Not Included:

• Any items of personal nature
• Insurance
• Minimum number of participants required
• Itinerary is subject to change without notice
• Please note there are no refunds for unused services or meals

 

Welcome to St. Petersburg! One of the world's most beautiful cities, St. Petersburg has all the ingredients, necessary for an unforgettable travel experience: high art, lavish architecture, wild nightlife, an extraordinary history and rich cultural traditions that have inspired and nurtured many of the modern world greatest literature, music, and visual art. From the mysterious twilight of White Nights to world-beating opera and ballet productions, St. Petersburg charms and entices everybody.

 

Moscow is unlike any other city on earth. It is the wealthy economic center for one sixth of the world's land mass and has over 120 ethnic groups and nationalities. A diverse and vibrant city with a strange combination of traditional Russian architecture and newer Soviet tastelessness, Moscow is an adventure waiting to happen!

 

DAY 1, Sunday, July 21, June 9- early departure from Ben Gurion 01:10am arrival in St. Petersburg 06:55am

Arrival to St. Petersburg
Welcome to St. Petersburg, Russia’s most beautiful city! St. Petersburg was the capital of Russia until the Revolution of 1917, but remains Russia's most dynamic and amazing city. With the canals of Venice, the palaces of Paris, and the churches of Rome, you will not be disappointed by its beauty and culture. Our driver will be waiting for us at the airport arrival gate and will take us to the Grand Choral Synagogue morning Shacharit. Consecrated in 1893 with thanks to the gracious patronage of Lily and Edmond Safra, this Moorish-style masterpiece of architecture has recently been restored to its former glory, and now contains a thriving Jewish day school. We then will enjoy a peek into the world of Jewish St. Petersburg as you enjoy our first day of sightseeing.

 

The culmination of the world’s best capitals, St. Petersburg is the crown jewel of travel destinations.  Our guide will take us to the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, and St Isaac's Cathedral. After four hours of guided touring you will have the chance to explore the city on your own.

 

Peter and Paul Fortress was designed to defend the city from naval attacks, but was used as a political prison for dissidents of the tsarist regime and as a museum during the soviet era. The fortress now stands as the tomb for the Russian imperial family.

 

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood was built to commemorate one of Russia's greatest emperors, Alexander II. It stands on the spot of the emperor’s infamous assassination at the hands of a radical dissident who threw a bomb into his carriage. Alexander II is most famous for liberating the Russian serfs two years before the abolition of slavery in the US.

 

St Isaac's Cathedral is one of the most impressive cathedrals in Europe. Because of its rich decorations, gigantic golden cupolas, and sprawling observation deck, it is one of the most popular tourist sites in St. Petersburg.

 

During this city tour we will also visit St. Isaac's Square and observe these from the outside: the Mariinsky Theater, the Hermitage, the Winter Palace, the Palace Square, the Spit of Vasilievskiy Island, the Bronze Horseman Statue, Peter's Log Cabin, Cruiser Aurora, Smolny Palace, the Nevsky Prospect, the Square of Arts, and more.

 

Boat Ride on Rivers and Canals of St Petersburg
To visit St. Petersburg without sailing across its rivers and channels means having not seen "the Venice of the North"! Starting your trip from the very heart of the city - Admiralteyskaya Embankment –We  will enter the Neva water area viewing one of the historical city sights, Strelka of Vasilievsky Island, famous for its Rastrelli Columns, admire panorama of majestic Hermitage and Peter and Paul's Fortress, going on along the Moyka River under the widest bridge of St. Petersburg - the Blue Bridge, enjoy the magnificent sight of St. Isaac's Cathedral, turn to the Fontanka River and the Kryukov Channel, catch a glimpse of the Mariinsky Theatre and return back to the moorage. Having seen the main historical sights of the Russian Northern Capital you will at the same time have the most romantic trip you could ever imagine!

 

Optional evening program: St. Petersburg boasts some of the best theaters in the world.

 

Today we will venture to the outskirts of St. Petersburg to visit Peterhof Palace, the summer residence of Russia’s royalty. Stroll in the vast Lower Park with 176 glorious fountains of various forms and styles, numerous gilded statues of ancient gods and heroes, including the famous Samson Fountain. Visit magnificent, beige and white Grand Summer Palace, lavishly decorated with the two white pavilions with gilded cupolas. While walking through its lavish parks and elegant rooms, be careful not to forget that you haven’t been transported to Versailles.

 

This day is reserved for the Hermitage Museum, which is to St. Petersburg what Kremlin is to Moscow. St Petersburg has dozens of beautiful palaces, but the Winter Palace stands above them all. First of all, it is one of the best collections of art in the world. Secondly, this collection is located in the very building where Russian emperors lived. It is here that they rose to power and it’s as if from these walls that they ruled 1/5 of the world's territories. It was also here that the Bolsheviks overthrew their reign. The Bolsheviks were tempted to destroy the palace, the symbol of tsars, but its artistic value was so immense that they transformed it into the museum.

 

The Hermitage. They say that if you were to spend three minutes by each of the exhibits in the Hermitage, it would've taken you three years to see the Hermitage. But don't worry - you will have an experienced guide, who will show you the best rooms and halls.

 

Optional Tour of the Diamond Room, a jewelry collection from 300 BC to present day) Visit to Diamond Room should be booked at least one month before the tour!

 

Catherine's Palace was a gift from Peter the Great to his wife Catherine, whom he loved very much, ironically he build the palace on the other side of the city. Catherine's Palace is located in the town of Pushkin (also known as Tsarskoe Selo). Experience the wonder of the Summer Palace, where gold and marble statutes adorn the beaming sea entrance from the cold stormy waters of the Baltic to this sun-drenched gold-dripped masterpiece. Enter into the Amber Room, a beauteous room built of pure amber that disappeared during German occupation in World War II to be restored to its original magnificence for your viewing pleasure.

 

The park and palace of Pavlovsk deserve as much attention as the Catherine Palace. The park is designed in a concept of a classic English landscape garden, an idealized landscape filled with picturesque pieces of classical architecture. It features elements of different European parks of the 18th century Paul I and his wife had seen when traveling incognito through Europe. Like the English landscape garden, it took much its inspiration from the romanticized landscape paintings of Hubert Robert and twelve of his paintings are now displayed in the gallery of Pavlovsk.
 

This morning after breakfast we stroll around the Summer Gardens. Then we are off to Palace Square: for our second visit to the world-famous Hermitage Museum, containing hundreds of masterpieces by great artists including DaVinci, Rembrandt, Renoir, Picasso, Matisse and many others. We can spend as much time there as we wish. A festive meal brings in Shabbat.

 

On Shabbat we can attend services at the lovely Choral Synagogue. The day is free to experience St. Petersburg on your own, join us for a walking tour or to relax.

 

 

The Yusupov Palace located on Moika Embankment is one of the most beautiful examples of classicism style constructions in Saint Petersburg. Decorated with six-column portico, the Palace delights with harmony of proportions and silhouette elegancy. It is best known as the Palace on the Moika River where Grigory Rasputin was murdered in 1916. Grigory Rasputin was one of the most controversial figures in Russian history. After the demise of the royal family to which he himself had greatly contributed, he was on the run. Prince Felix Yusupov lured Rasputin to the Palace and finished him off. Nowadays, the cellar where the dramatic events took place houses the exhibition “Grigory Rasputin: Pages of Life and Death”. The visitors can see the wax figures of Rasputin and plotters as well as other interesting exhibits.
In the late afternoon we will take the high- speed Sapsan train from St. Petersburg to Moscow.

Today, our guide will meet us at the hotel lobby and we will go on one of the most interesting tours in the world as we explore Moscow's most amazing sites. We will visit the famous Red Square and go inside St. Basil’s Cathedral, which was built by Ivan the Terrible in the 15th century.

Our next stop beside the Kremlin Walls. After a thorough tour of Moscow highlights and spending some time in the middle of the most famous square in the world, Red Square, that you have seen so many times on TV and in the movies, we will proceed to the St. Basil's Cathedral (the colorful church that stands on the Red Square that you are also very familiar with) and then to the Kremlin.

 

A visitor unsteeped in Russia's history could not even venture to guess that the beautiful basilicas and edifices comprising the Kremlin once comprised part of a royal fortress shielding Moscow from centuries of fierce Mongol invasions.  A beauty so deep imbibes the Kremlin that Stalin himself did not dare to disturb this crowning treasure, which astounds with an eclectic mixture of playful colors and architectural bravado and eerier sternness of structure and function in the form of Lenin's Mausoleum.

 

The Kremlin of Moscow is one of the most recognizable symbols of Russia and, as you will experience yourself, it is marvelous inside. Half of its territory is reserved for the government and the other half is open to the public. You will explore the Kremlin with one of the best guides in Moscow who will tell you many interesting stories that have took place inside the walls of Kremlin since 1147! 

And yet another surprise of the day, after strolling inside the Kremlin walls you will proceed to the highlight of the Kremlin grounds - the Armory Chamber museum revealing the most unique and precious  artifacts from different times in Russian history. This is where you have a chance to look at the famous Faberge Eggs and Catherine's the Great imperial dresses giving you the feel as you traveled back in time.

 

One of the most interesting sites in Moscow is located deep beneath the surface. On Stalin’s order, the Moscow Subway was built to display the advantages of socialism. Today the Soviet Union is gone, but the beautiful underground city is still active and carries millions of passengers each day. You will go on a quick subway ride for a true taste of Moscow living before heading to the best art gallery in the city, the Tretyakov Picture Gallery.

The Moscow Subway was constructed not only to streamline the city's transportation, but also to celebrate the accomplishments of the Soviets. The entire subway is works of socialist realism, making passengers feel as though they are entering various underground palaces, not merely riding the subway to work. On top of immense cultural value, Moscow's subway is a highly efficient transportation system that carries three million passengers daily and spans the entire city in a star-like fashion. Interestingly, the subway can also serve as a nuclear shelter in case of war.

The Tretyakov Picture Gallery is Moscow's most famous collection of art and one of the world's top galleries. It began as the private collection of a wealthy Muscovite merchant, Tretyakov, who lived in the 19th century and donated his collection to the city.

 

Our El Al flight takes us home to Ben Gurion, and we bid farewell to our traveling companions. We arrive in Tel Aviv in the afternoon.

 

Travel by the Sapsan high-speed train

 

Sapsan high-speed train
Modern and fast, Sapsan train departs and arrives to the city center and is, perhaps, the most convenient way to travel between Russia's two capitals. Named for the mythical Russian firebird, the Sapsan Trains travel at a top speed of 200km/hr. German engineers from Siemens unveiled this traveling marvel in 2009, offering to the world the smoothness of an airport tram with the speed of a commercial jet in the neat package of a stable train. It is fast without being too fast, never being uncomfortable in its pace. 4 hours from one city to the other.

 

 

 

 

The Verona Opera Festival  & Shabbat in Florence - 2 places remaining

 

Verona, besides setting the scene for Romeo and Juliet, is also the site of many important Jewish landmarks. The first stop is the city's ghetto, whose main street was Via Portici. In 1638 the Corte Spagnole was a narrow alley for the Sephardic Jews. The streets here have kept their original appearance and you will notice the buildings have arcades and projecting roofs.

 

At the heart of the ghetto is the German rites synagogue, which was opened in 1864. The present entrance is at no. 3 Via Portici. The complicated façade with its three vertical parts and false towers as well as the portal with its pillars full of images of Jewish symbols are a museum piece by themselves! The prayer room is furnished with oriental-like decorations, lush details and inlaid stonework and the wall with the Holy Ark is particularly beautiful. Of note is the richly decorated vaulted ceiling. Don't forget to visit Verona's Jewish cemetery, located at Via Antonio Badile, at Borgo Venezia, and dates back to 1855 replacing two earlier burial sites, the first of which dated from 1755 and was located at Porta Nuova in Orto Parolini.

 

Day 1: Sunday July 21 Flight from Tel Aviv to Milan 7:30am-10:45. Transfer with bus to our hotel in Verona. Afternoon free time to rest before our first performance this evening.  Evening at the Arena Opera- Aida

 

Day 2: Monday July 22 – morning visit to the Arena for a private lecture and behind the scene look into the world of Opera. Afternoon drive to Modena for a guided visit to the city, including  the artisans ‘shops, the ghetto, the synagogue, and the renowned Estense Library which features a collection of illuminated Jewish manuscripts. In Modena you will have the opportunity to visit the shops of ceramists and silversmiths who use traditional techniques. Evening free.

 

Day 3: Tuesday July 23- day tour on Lake Garda & Sirmione.  Evening at the Arena Opera La Traviata

 

Day 4: Wednesday July 24- Padua for a guided tour of the Jewish district with its narrow streets, which once was surrounded by 4 doors, and the only synagogue preserved, the Italian rite one. During the visit you will also admire the art beauties of the city, such as Piazza delle Erbe and the incomparable Scrovegni Chapel. We will organize a special itinerary among the Jewish cemeteries. 

 

Day 5: Thursday July 25- Verona sightseeing tour and leisure time.  Evening at the Arena Opera Nabucco

 

Day 6: Friday July 26 after breakfast we take our bus to Florence. Sightseeing. Getting ready to welcome in Shabbat

 

Day 7: Shabbat July 27- Shabbat services and walking tour

 

Day 8: Sunday July 28- after breakfast we depart Florence and drive to “little Jerusalem” Pitigliano and a guided tour of the Medieval center, with tasting of the famous wine "Bianco di Pitigliano". Lunch. Continue to Fiumicino Airport for our return flight to Israel.

 

• Round trip air on EL AL from Israel
• 5 nights first class Verona hotel
• 2 night’s at the deluxe Regency Hotel Florence
• Full board including preparations for making lunch
• Transportation by deluxe air conditioned coach
• Entrance fee as per the itinerary
• 3 Operas per the itinerary with seats on the centered steps numbered (see below)
• Tour leader from Israel
• AACI escort
• Tips & porterage for hotels , driver, local guide and waiters

• Medical insurance
• Items of personal nature
• Items not mentioned above
• Upgraded seats for the Opera or upgraded rooms in the Florence hotel

• Deposit of euro 500 per person at time of reservation
• Final payment due by April 29, 2013

Opera at the Verona Arena:

 

 

AACI Fun & Kosher 4 Night Cruise - Back by Popular Demand!

Sailing round trip from Haifa to Rhodes & Crete

 

Enjoy Rhodes, the largest, and most popular of the Dodecanese Islands. Legend has it that Apollo blessed this isle with sunshine and beauty. True to the myths, the "Island of Roses" is rich in magnificent scenery and umbrella-lined beaches this is a perfect combination of sea, sun and beautiful architecture…. Agios Nikolaos is a lovely city and picturesque port town with its fishing boats, cosmopolitan atmosphere and beautiful beaches, located on the island of Crete.

We will be sailing on the “Golden Iris" - a hotel at sea, enjoying delicious, freshly prepared, Kosher meals (3+) daily. Entertainment programs are offered throughout the day, including pool, jacuzzi, gym, a casino, disco, Duty Free shopping, and more. You will enjoy the company of a warm and diverse English-speaking group from Israel and around and the world.

 

The all Inclusive Package Price Includes:

For information and reservations call: Livia at 09-777-7100 

 

(Add 50 Euro per person for Non- AACI members or call today and take out a membership:

02-5661181 ext.302)

 

DON’T MISS THE BOAT!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are many places in Italy full of Jewish sights to see. Trieste known as the Gateway to Zion for its role as a point of emigration to Israel, this sophisticated, cultured city teems with literary significance and World War II-era history, and its Israelite Temple is one of Europe’s largest synagogues.  The famous Venice lagoon offers more than gondolas for tourists; it is also the site of the first ghetto in Italy and many other historical Jewish landmarks. The Jewish museum in Bologna highlights the Jewish cultural revival in the area. Florence offers visitors its Moorish-style synagogue and countless museums and libraries in which to explore its unique historical context. Pisa and Livorno were two cities established by the Medici families to complement each other and offered special economic advantages to the Jewish people including never forcing them to live in ghettos. Monte San Savino where you will discover the remains of a small ancient Jewish Community followed by a wine tasting at Castelnuovo Berardenga Winery. Siena's pre-emancipation synagogue was built in 1786 and gives visitors special insight into worship during the time of the ghetto, which was in effect from 1571-1859. On our final day we will stop in route to the airport to visit the towns of Todi and Spoleto with their historical monuments, the medieval atmosphere and the unique beauty of its countryside they are real jewels in the heart of Italy.

Sunday Sep. 29- departure from Israel on our charter flight direct to Venice.   Arrival in Venice airport and transfer to the hotel in Trieste, known as the "Gateway to Zion" In the afternoon guided visit to the historical center of this borderline city, with its beautiful palaces built in different architectural styles. Dinner. Overnight in Trieste.

Monday Sep 30- Trieste/Venice- Breakfast. Guided tour of Jewish Trieste, visiting the ghetto area, the monumental Synagogue, the Jewish Museum. During the walk stop at the historic cafe San Marco to taste one of the traditional Austro-Hungarian cakes. In the afternoon visit to the elegant Castle of Miramare.  In the afternoon we will have a guided tour of the city center, with its famous St. Mark's Square, the beautiful Basilica and Palazzo Ducale. Overnight and dinner in Venice.

Tuesday Oct 01- Venice- Breakfast. Discover Jewish Venice with a guided tour of the ghetto, characterized by its peculiar houses-towers with irregular façades, where the five synagogues were built in the upper floors. Lunch. In the afternoon visit to the Jewish cemetery on Venice Lido. Later it will be possible to choose between a tour the Murano and Burano Islands, or some free time. Dinner. Overnight in Venice. Dinner. Overnight in Venice.

Wednesday Oct 02- Venice/Bologna/Tavernelle Tuscany-Breakfast. Guided tour of Bologna, discovering its Jewish soul through the arts and architectural beauties. You will pass through the narrow streets of the ghetto, today revitalized by artisans and small shops, and will visit the Jewish Museum situated in the prestigious Palazzo Pannolini. The visit continues in the new Jewish quarter and the synagogue.  Continue on to Tavarnelle Val di Pesa in the heart of Tuscany for our next 6 nights.  Dinner.

Thursday Oct 03-Florence-Breakfast. Florence the famous city of arts, where you will enjoy a full day guided tour, including the synagogue, the Jewish Museum, the Accademia and Uffizi Galleries and the most famous landmarks such as Ponte Vecchio, Duomo and Piazza della Signoria.  Dinner and overnight in Tavernelle

Friday Oct 04- Tuscany- Siena-Guided tour of the historical center of Siena, the city of Palio, including the magnificent synagogue and the ex-ghetto area.  Transfer to the medieval town of San Gimignano and visit to its beautiful city center.   Dinner and overnight in Tavernelle

Shabbat Oct 05- Tuscany-this morning we will gather together for Shabbat services which we will be held at our hotel. In the afternoon perhaps you will like to take a leisurely stroll through the town and countryside.

Sunday Oct 06 Tuscany Pisa & Livorno-Full day excursion to Pisa and guided tour of the city center, including the famous leaning tower.  Transfer to Livorno, known as the "city without a ghetto", and guided tour including a boat ride in the Jewish sites of Livorno port.  Dinner and overnight in Tavarnelle

Monday Oct 07- Monte San Savino & Castelnuovo Berardenga Winery-Breakfast. Transfer to Monte San Savino where you will discover the remains of a small ancient Jewish Community. Transfer to a Chianti area wine cellar, where you will have a kosher wine tasting and will try the delicious Tuscany products.  Dinner and overnight in Tavernelle

Tuesday Oct 08- Tavarnelle Val di Pesa /Todi/Spoleto/Rome Airport/Israel

 

Prices are subject to change due to fuel or tax increases. The itinerary may vary.

 

Deposit of 350 Euro per person at time of reservation.

Final payment due by August 21, 2013

• Flights on Turkish Airlines  from Israel
• 2 domestic flights Beijing/Xian-Xian/Shanghai
• 9 night’s 4 star  hotel accommodation- as mentioned or similar                  
• Beijing (5 nights)      Metro Park Lido     
• Xian      (1 nights)     Days Hotel & Suites  Xinxing
• Shanghai (3 nights)  Golden Riverview Hotel
• Meals:  breakfasts in hotels, course Kosher dinners in Beijing and Shanghai at the Chabad House, 1 vegetarian /fish dinner at hotel in Xian , 8 lunch boxes
• Transportation in air conditioned coach as per itinerary
• Local guides for the excursions and visits as per program including entrance fees   
• Gesher Tour leader
• Porterage at hotels and tips for drivers and guides
• AACI staff escort 

• Chinese Visa
• Any items of a personal nature
• Any other items not mentioned in included
• Travel/Medical insurance