Newcastle-Tyne, Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo

• Newcastle historic city centre: Elegant Victorian buildings, Grey’s monument
• Mosley Street, the first in the world to be lit by electricity in 1881
• Anglican Cathedral and Newcastle Castle
• Historic bridges across the River Tyne
• Stop for photos at the Angel of the North, a steel sculpture

• We set off from the port of Tyne and head by coach to the city of Newcastle, located on the northern banks of the River Tyne in the English county of Tyne and Wear in Northumberland not far from the border with Scotland.
• The city was founded in Roman times with the name of **Pons Aelius as a strategic outpost for Hadrian's Wall. The name changed to the current one around the year 1000, when the new Norman castle was built (new castle). The city then developed during the Industrial Revolution to become an important centre for the extraction of coal as well as a leading hub for shipbuilding and trade with Scandinavia. Nowadays Newcastle is a great University and business city with a busy trading port featuring a shipyard of great relevance for the entire territory.
• We start our tour with a walk around the historic city centre, where we admire some elegant Victorian buildings and pass in front of Grey’s Monument, erected in honour of the famous Liberal PM who modernised the British election system is now nowadays probably better known for the tea named after him.
• We continue along the famous Mosley Street, the first in the world to be lit by electricity in 1881.
• We then reach the impressive Anglican cathedral, built in 1448 in the Gothic style and dedicated to St. Nicholas, and Newcastle Castle, known as Castle Keep and inaugurated around 1168 by Henry II and where the city got its name. The castle has towering walls and huge halls dating back to the most ancient traces of Norman architecture.
• We end our walk along the banks of the River Tyne where we can admire some of the city’s historic bridges such as the High Level Bridge and the futuristic Millennium Bridge.
• We get back on our coach headed out of the city , where we stop to take a few pictures of the extraordinary Angel of the North, a modern steel sculpture depicting an angel with outstretched wings towering over the surrounding scenery at 20 metres tall.
• The time has come to go back to our ship, and we do it driving through the charming countryside surrounding Newcastle and once brimming with coal mines, to which the city owed large part of its development in Modern times.

Let us immerse ourselves in the botanical marvels of the fabulous Alnwick Garden overlooked by a majestic castle and appreciate the perfect combination of natural and skilful man-made scenery.

• Sightseeing tour of Northumberland
• Medieval town of Alnwick
• Guided tour of Alnwick Garden
• Rose Garden and Ornamental Garden
• Grand Cascade
• Free walk

• We leave the port of Newcastle behind us and head on an interesting sightseeing tour of Northumberland, a region with a long fascinating history and characterised by panoramas of unparalleled beauty filled with castles, cobbled alleyways and large beaches.
• We head north to the Medieval town of Alnwick, an elegant maze of narrow cobbled alleyways where time seems to have stopped.
• It is dominated by the Norman Alnwick castle, residence of the Dukes of Northumberland ever since the early 14th century.
• The destination of our excursion is Alnwick Garden, which was brought back to life by the current Duchess.
• We stroll along this enchanted place designed to surprise and entertain with water features, lovely paths, a maze and one of the largest tree houses in the world.
• Together with our guide, we visit the main sections of the garden such as the lovely Rose Garden, home to 800 different rose varieties and the majestic Ornamental Garden with over 15,000 plants 
• We also admire the Grand Cascade, a masterpiece made up of 120 separate jets gushing over 30,000 litres of water collected by 21 tanks.
• After our guided tour, we have some free time available to explore the garden at our own leisure before returning to the ship.

• A special scooter and itineraries for wheelchair users are available at Alnwick Garden.

We jump back to Roman times as we travel part of the path traced by Hadrian’s Wall, of which we visit some forts and settlements dating back to two thousand years ago.

• Sightseeing tour of the Tyne valley
• Hadrian's Wall
• Chesters Roman fort
• Cawfields fort
• Stops for photos

• We go on a relaxing sightseeing tour on the gentle Pennine Hills along the river Tyne headed West.
• Hadrian’s Wall - the imposing fortification begun by the Romans in 122 AD and marked the border of the Empire protecting it from barbarians. A significant portion of the wall still stands, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
• Following the path along the ancient fortification, we reach the Chesters Roman Fort (or Cilurnum), one of the best-preserved along the vallum. Surrounded by woods and meadows and overlooking a river, it was used by the Roman cavalry. We can see the remains of a bridge, parts of the gatehouse and a spa.
• We continue our excursion and make a short stop at Cawfields fort, perfect example of the so-called milecastles built at regular intervals of approximately one and a half kilometres along the vallum with in between two watchtowers 500 metres from each other.
• We make a few stops for photos (weather permitting) to better appreciate the grandeur of this construction and admire the fabulous scenery stretching to the entire Tyne valley.

• A steep dirt road leads to the Cawfields fort. 
• This excursion is not recommended for guests with mobility problems or wheelchair users.

• Beamish Open Air Museum: reconstruction of the typical Victorian lifestyle
• Reconstructed buildings, galleries, emporiums and period artefacts
• Characters in period costumes
• Various attractions: miners’ village, steam train, railway station from 1825
• Farm, Pockerley Manor,confectionery factory, dental practice

• We leave Newcastle behind us on a 45-minute transfer to the village of Beamish and the famous Beamish Open Air Museum, opened in 1970 and reproducing the life and work of people living in northern England during the Victorian era between the early XIX and early XX centuries. 
• The small town that appears before our eyes was recreated exactly to reproduce a city of 1913 with a wide range of reconstructed buildings and galleries, emporiums and period artefacts. 
• In addition to the architecture and buildings, the Beamish Museum also features horse carriages and characters in period costume taking us back to times past until we almost forget we live in the XXI century. 
• We can move at leisure to visit this open-air museum with a lot of free time available to discover the numerous attractions: we can enjoy a guided tour of the Colliery Village, the miners’ village located next to a coal mine or go for a ride on the picturesque steam train departing from Pockerley Waggonway, a 1825 railway station taken from a village located on the mountains of county Durham 25 km from Beamish. 
• In addition to the railway station, the period farm and Pockerley Manor, inspired by a fortified manor house built in Medieval times, also deserve a visit. 
• Surrounded by this atmosphere of days gone by, we wander around the shops and emporiums and can even observe sweets being made in the old confectionery factory and pay a visit to a typical dental practice to learn more about the tools of the trade.

• There is limited availability of Italian speaking guides; if none are available, the excursion will be conducted in English.
• At Beamish, the guides will provide information about the museum and how to navigate it without them. Guests will therefore be able to visit it on their own
  

The ancient city of York reveals all its secret thanks to a guided tour of its amazing Gothic cathedral and a walk at our own leisure to explore alleyways, squares and monuments.

• Sightseeing tour towards York
• Gothic cathedral
• Free walk around the centre
• The Shambles
• City walls

• We leave the port of Newcastle behind us and get on a coach headed south along what used to be an old Roman road and is now the motorway running through rural landscapes of great beauty characterised by green hills, enchanted woods and grazing animals.
• We reach the ancient city of York, founded by the Romans, conquered by the Vikings and still surrounded by marvellous Medieval walls.
• Once in the centre, we go on a guided tour of the imposing Gothic cathedral, the largest in Europe built in this style. A true work of art that laves us speechless with its spires, two large richly-decorated towers and wide stained glass windows.
• Walking along the immense aisle - 32 metres tall and supported by thin columns - we enter the 13th-century chapter house, a sublime example of stone reliefs depicting over two hundred heads and expressions.
• After our visit, we have some free time to explore York on foot losing ourselves in the alleyways, visiting the monuments we choose and enjoying the unique atmosphere that characterises its streets and squares.
• A stone’s throw from the Cathedral we find The Shambles, often considered the best-preserved Medieval street in Europe where narrow timber buildings overlook the ancient pebbled street housing a myriad of picturesque shops.
• When we start feeling peckish, we can stop for lunch in one of the many restaurants and bistros and maybe enjoy some local specialities.
• We cannot miss the opportunities to walk on the city walls and take in a view of the city from above.
• After the visit, we gather at the meeting point and return to Newcastle.

• The coach transfer takes approximately 2 hour each way.
• The excursion includes a local rep during the transfer to York and a guide once at our destination.

• Angel of the North
• Durham historic city centre
• Durham cathedral
• Norman castle
• Rural scenery between Durham and Newcastle

• We leave Newcastle by coach and head out of the city where we stop to take a few pictures of the extraordinary Angel of the North, a modern sculpture towering over the surrounding scenery at 20 metres tall.
• We then continue our short transfer to the city of Durham, located on a hill almost entirely surrounded by River Wear.
• Once there, we go on a walking tour of the centre, a maze of steep cobbled alleyways declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Together with our guide, we visit the magnificent Durham cathedral a monumental church which is a masterpiece of the Anglo-Norman Romanesque style.
• Across the Palace Green, we can admire imposing Durham castle, also dating back to Norman times and now seat of the third oldest university in England after Oxford and Cambridge.
• The time has come to go back to our ship, and we do it driving through the charming countryside between Durham and Newcastle once brimming with coal mines, to which the city owed large part of its development in Modern times.

• This tour does not include a visit to the castle interior.
• This excursion involves long walks, including a 20 minute walk to reach the cathedral. It is therefore not recommended for guests with mobility problems.
• Comfortable shoes are recommended.
• Taking photos inside the cathedral is not permitted.
• Guided tours are not permitted inside the cathedral. Information will be provided outside.
  

Let us visit the city of Newcastle, a city which dates back to Medieval times, with a comfortable coach tour: we admire all its main sights and visit the contemporary art gallery moving as far as its suburbs to take in views of its fertile countryside.

• Grey's monument
• Theatre Royal
• Norman castle
• Historic bridges
• Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (optional visit)
• Angel of the North and countryside

• We get on our coach to start our sightseeing tour of Newcastle, a surprising combination of history and modern elements. The Tyne divides the city into two parts, connected by various bridges.
• We cross the city centre admiring some elegant Victorian buildings and spot Grey’s Monument, erected in honour of the famous Liberal PM who modernised the British election system is now nowadays probably better known for the tea named after him.
• We then see the majestic Theatre Royal, a monumental building with a Neoclassical pronaos with six Corinthian columns surmounted by a large gable.
• We admire the remains of the imposing Medieval walls as well as those of an enchanting Norman castle that gave the city its name.
• Driving along the river, we take in the succession of historic bridges such as the magnificent Tyne Bridge inaugurated by King George V in 1928 and a prototype for the more famous Harbour Bridge in Sidney.
• We cross the bridge to reach the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, one of the main art galleries in the UK open in 2002 in a former mill skilfully converted into a museum.
• We have free time available to visit the gallery as we please or go for a walk along the river to reach the futuristic Millennium Bridge, the only tilting bridge in the world.
• We get back on our coach headed out of the city , where we stop to take a few pictures of the extraordinary Angel of the North, a modern sculpture towering over the surrounding scenery at 20 metres tall.
• The time has come to go back to our ship, and we do it driving through the charming countryside surrounding Newcastle and once brimming with coal mines, to which the city owed large part of its development in Modern times.

• Please note that the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is closed on Monday. Guests will have free time to walk along the river and reach the Millennium Bridge.

• Northumberland coast
• Whitley Bay and Ashington
• Amble, Alnmouth and Warkworth
• Alnwick castle
• Cheviot Hills

• A coach takes us on a fascinating sightseeing tour of the coast of Northumberland, picturesque and sparsely inhabited where lovely villages often overlooked by spectacular castles alternate with long deserted beaches.
• We head north along the coast passing by the fishing town of Whitley Bay, with its colourful houses overlooking the sea and large white lighthouse, and of Ashington, once famous for its coal mines.
• From here, the coast opens up in a series of peaceful beaches dotted with small characteristic fishing villages such as Amble, Alnmouth and Warkworth. The latter was built in the shade of a lovely castle now in ruin.
• We can see the remains of imposing fortresses that narrate the turbulent history of the region bordering Scotland. A land conquered by the Vikings and scene of countless battles with the neighbours.
• Our destination is the largest manor house in the region, the imposing Alnwick castle, residence of the Dukes of Northumberland ever since the early 14th century.
• We admire its majestic fortifications, imposting square and round towers, battlements and surrounding lawns.
• We visit the opulent halls - the sitting rooms, dining room, gatehouse and library are all richly decorated and furnished with a myriad of works of art hung on the walls, including paintings by Titian and Canaletto.
• After our visit, we continue our tour and take in charming rural views that include the gentle Cheviot Hills before heading back to Newcastle and to the ship.

• Guided tours are not permitted inside the castle. Information will be provided outside.

Let us visit the city of Newcastle, a city which dates back to Medieval times, with a comfortable coach tour: we admire all its main sights moving as far as its suburbs to take in views of its fertile countryside.

• Grey's monument
• Theatre Royal
• Norman castle
• Historic bridges
• Angel of the North and countryside

• We get on our coach to start our sightseeing tour of Newcastle, a surprising combination of history and modern elements. The Tyne divides the city into two parts, connected by various bridges.
• We cross the city centre admiring some elegant Victorian buildings and spot Grey’s Monument, erected in honour of the famous Liberal PM who modernised the British election system is now nowadays probably better known for the tea named after him.
• We then see the majestic Theatre Royal, a monumental building with a Neoclassical pronaos with six Corinthian columns surmounted by a large gable.
• We admire the remains of the imposing Medieval walls as well as those of an enchanting Norman castle that gave the city its name.
• Driving along the river, we take in the succession of historic bridges such as the magnificent Tyne Bridge inaugurated by King George V in 1928 and a prototype for the more famous Harbour Bridge in Sidney.
• We get back on our coach headed out of the city , where we stop to take a few pictures of the extraordinary Angel of the North, a modern sculpture towering over the surrounding scenery at 20 metres tall.
• The time has come to go back to our ship, and we do it driving through the charming countryside surrounding Newcastle and once brimming with coal mines, to which the city owed large part of its development in Modern times.

• Please note that the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is closed on Monday. Guests will have free time to walk along the river and reach the Millennium Bridge.

A visit to the city of Newcastle at our own leisure to discover two fascinating sides of the same coin: its ancient soul inhabited by Medieval and Victorian castles and buildings, and its modern dynamic one made up of clubs, pubs, museums and cultural centres. A perfect place to have fun and indulge in all kinds of interests.

• Newcastle historic city centre: Elegant Victorian buildings, Grey’s monument
• Mosley Street, the first in the world to be lit by electricity in 1881
• Anglican Cathedral and Newcastle Castle
• Historic bridges across the River Tyne

• We go for a stroll around Newcastle’s historic city centre where we can admire, among others, elegant Victoria buildings and the Grey Monument, walk along the famous Mosley Street (the first in the world in the world to be it by electricity in 1881) and reach the impressive Anglican Cathedral and Newcastle Castle, inaugurated around 1168 by Henry II and where the city got its name.
• Walking along the banks of the River Tyne we can admire some of the city’s historic bridges including the High Level Bridge and the more recent futuristic Millennium Bridge.

• This excursion does not include a guide, but a map of the city will be handed out.