Day 1 - Umbria
Morning arrival in Rome, then transfer to Umbria¹s 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 tonight¹s
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, an inventory of the best vintage wines in Italy
* 1 cooking class in Umbria
* Truffle-hunting (weather permitting)
* Guided walking tours with local, professional guides in Siena, San Gimignano, Assisi, Perugia,
Florence, Modena, Parma
* Transportation throughout
* Bilingual tour manager/guide
* All local taxes and charges
2008 DEPARTURE DATE: October 5
PACKAGE PRICE: €2,649 per person, based on double occupancy.
PLEASE NOTE: PRICE INDICATED IN EURO CURRENCY
USE THE CALCULATOR TO FIND THE EQUIVALENT IN USA
DOLLARS.
CURRENCY CONVERTER
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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.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 1-888/287-8733
email: info@travelingtoitaly.com
Tour Booking code GT09
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