Italy in October is at its best. The weather is mild, the harvesting of grapes and olives is at its height, and the crush of summer tourism has ended. I plan the ten-day Italian Pleasures trip in October for these reasons. It is offered again in a revised and expanded itinerary and one departure only. The areas we explore are in the heart of Italy Tuscany and Umbria and to the north, Modena and Parma. There will be opportunities to experience truly off-the-beaten path places, yet still visit the major cities in the area. Participants will gain insight into the historical, artistic, and culinary treasures of the area. Visits to carefully selected producers of each regionπs foods and wines are complemented by evening meals that feature the best of Italian
regional cooking.

The trip bases from just three hotels during the ten days to minimize packing and unpacking, and each day begins with a complete breakfast rather than continental. The day trips are arranged to provide a balance of guided tours and independent exploration. We explore the majestic historic centers of cities Siena, Perugia, Modena, Parma, Florence and the small, tucked-away places in the country. In Modena, we visit the Galleria Ferrari and a museum of very rare racing and sport cars.

The goal is to introduce you to Italy so the people and places are distinct in your memory, not a blur. The daily pace is moderate rather than strenuous.

The trip includes visits to wineries that will excite wine enthusiasts, the opportunity to see how Balsamic Vinegar and Parmesan Cheese are produced, guided tours with knowledgeable, local guides and dozens of meals featuring the best of Italian cooking. This truly is an exploration of the Pleasures of Italy.

PIACERI ITALIANI (Italian Pleasures) – Typical Itinerary

Day 1 – Umbria
Morning arrival in Rome, then transfer to Umbriaºs quaint Roman town of Bevagna. Check-in at
the hotel. The remainder of the day will include a tour of the city and an opportunity to taste its celebrated Sacrantino wine. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2 – Assisi
Morning excursion to Assisi for a guided tour of the city and St. Francis Basilica. Stop at a local butcher shop which specializes in traditional Italian meats. A salami tasting will be offered. Season and weather permitting, after the Assisi tour, continue to Malvarina Farmhouse where our friend Nando, a champion hunter, will lead a brief truffle hunting session through the woods encompassing the farm. A cooking session with innkeeper Maria Maurillo will follow. Maria and Malvarina were featured in Bon Appetit magazine and on CNN Travel Now. Experience a unique Umbrian dinner here before returning to the hotel in Spello.

Day 3 – Perugia
Morning departure to Perugia for a walking tour of the underground fortress and highlights of the city. This cosmopolitan city offers good shopping opportunities. There will be free time for lunch, shopping and individual activities. In the late afternoon experience an olive-oil tasting at Il Molino del Fattore mill (producer of the best olive oil in the world.) Return to the hotel for dinner.

Day 4 – Cortona/Florence/Chianti
After breakfast travel to Tuscany. Stop at Villa Castello, one of the most beautiful Medici villas. Tour the garden with its many sculptures by Giambologna and Ammannati. Continue to tonight’s accommodations in the Chianti area. Check-in then time to relax before taking a short walking tour of Monteriggioni, the walled medieval hamlet outside of Siena. Dinner.

Day 5 – Chianti/San Gimignano/Siena
Morning in Siena. An English-speaking guide will take the group to local artistic and architectural treasures. Wine buffs will have a chance to visit Fortezza Medicea which hosts the Enoteca Nazionale, an inventory of the best vintage wines in Italy. Continue along the Black Rooster road in the Chianti area, enjoying scenic views of Castellina in Chianti, Radda in Chianti, before stopping at Castello di Volpaia for a wine tasting and tour of the cellar. Continue to San Gimignano for a guided walking tour with a local English-speaking guide. Return to the villa/hotel. Dinner.

Day 6 – Montalcino wine area

Travel to Montalcino to explore the area and its wines including Brunello, a superb Super-Tuscan wine. Visit the VILLA BANFI winery. Free time for lunch in Montalcino. Continue on to Sant’Antimo to admire its beautiful Benedictine Abbey. En route back to the villa/hotel, stop at Bagno Vignoni, a spa famous since the times of LORENZO DE’MEDICI (The Magnificent) who visited this village regularly to cure his gout. Dinner and overnight.

Day 7 – Florence – Free day
Early morning transfer to Florence. Full day free for personal activities, shopping, museum visit or just relaxation. Optional guided tour of Florence, with a local English-speaking guide, can be arranged. Dinner.

Day 8 – Parma
After breakfast travel to Parma. Check-in at the hotel before a visit to a Balsamic Vinegar factory
and tasting. Free time then dinner at the hotel. An evening concert at Teatro Regio di Parma,
pending availability, will end the day.

Day 9 – Parma
Begin the day with a walking tour of the city and the opportunity to see its undiscovered artistic treasures. Parma is the hometown of Giuseppe Verdi. There will be free time for shopping and individual activities. Enjoy an afternoon visit to a Parmesan cheese factory (cheese tasting included.) Time to relax before dinner.

Day 10 – Departure day
Breakfast prior to an early morning transfer to the airport for departure home.

Gabriele’s Travels to Italy continually strive to improve tour itinerary and features.
If improvement can be made, or unforeseen circumstances beyond our control make changes necessary,
we reserve the right to vary itinerary excursions and to substitute hotels and restaurants.
Final documents and paperwork, sent out about three weeks prior to departure date, will include
an updated itinerary.

PACKAGE INCLUDES:
• 9 nights accommodations in selected country inns and villas
• Traditional Italian breakfast and dinner daily
• Olive oil and wine tastings
• Field trips to Parmesan cheese and Balsamic vinegar factories and tastings
• Visit to Enoteca Nazionale, in Siena, an inventory of the best vintage wines in Italy
• 1 cooking class
• Truffle-hunting demonstration (weather permitting)
• Guided walking tours with local, professional English speaking guides in Siena, San Gimignano, Assisi, Perugia, Florence, Modena, Parma
• Transportation throughout
• Bilingual tour manager/guide
• All local taxes and charges
PACKAGE PRICE:€2890, per person, based on double occupancy.
Single room €3050.
Tour booking code: GT09.
Tour departure date September 24/2010.

Gabriele’s Travels to Italy is not responsible for typing mistakes and/or tour and places descriptions. We reserve the right to cancel any tour due to lack of participants or for circumstances beyond our control. In this case, a full refund of all payments will be made. Prices listed are based on tariffs and exchange rates at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice.