- 6 Nights – Spello
- 4 Nights – Pienza
- 2 Nights – Florence
Travel back with us into an old world and simpler place.
Where villages perched on hilltops guard the vineyards sloping into the valleys and stately cypress trees rim the ridges.
Where markets today have the same produce and treats they did hundreds of years ago and the food and wine tell you that they come from this good earth.
ITINERARY - fully escorted by Rose Tomassini
Sep 16 - allow for overnight flight from North America to Rome, Italy
Sep 17 -We will be offering a transfer from Rome airport to our destination in Umbria, a region
of dramatic, verdant hills. Our accommodation is in the ancient 'borough' of Spello
a hilltown that sits like a broach on a hillside overlooking the surrounding countryside.
Sep 18 - About 20 minutes from Spello is the town of Foligno - a town of the 21st century
that abundantly displays its medieval past and history in its beautiful historic
centre. Today is the 'Giostra della Quintana' - Since 1946 Foligno has recreated
the atmosphere of a 17th century Jousting Tournament. During the 1613 carnival noble knights challenged
each other to a contest involving jousting skill. A breathtaking display of speed and accuracy on horseback
as a representative from each of the city's 10 boroughs compete for the palio. This whole day event has
a medieval atmosphere with brilliant costumes, flag throwing demonstrations, parades, music and ancient
culinary delights.
Sep 19 - On route to Perugia we will stop in Torgiano for a visit of the Lungarotti Wine Museum, probably the most
important of its kind in Europe, then visit their winery for a tasting. In the afternoon we visit an amazing city
and capital of Italian chocolate, Perugia. Outside escalators take us up hundreds of feet through the
ancient, medieval town to the new 'old town' and pedestrian streets of this hip, ancient, and exciting city.
We have a guided walk to see how this University City lives in the 21st century amongst wonderful
Renaissance buildings and treasures, then free time for exploring, shopping or the Galleria Nazionale.
Sep 20 - After breakfast we will make a stop at a cashmere factory that has a salesroom offering discounts on
ladies' and means' cashmere. Then it's on to Orvieto where there will be time for lunch in the ancient
town perched high on an outcrop of tufa rock with a magnificent Duomo, so beautiful it is referred to as
the 'Wedding Cake Church'. We have lunch and a wine tasting of 'Orvieto Classico' here.
Sept 21- Today we first go to Montefalco 'The Falcon's Mount' (also referred to as 'The Balcony of Umbria' and
the home of 'Tessuti di Montefalco'. We then go to Nocera to one of our favourite farmhouse restaurants
to enjoy a lunch featuring truffles with filet of boar and roast hare, and of course good wine.
This is where we find the rare Umbrian wine 'Sagrantino' found nowhere else in Europe.
In the words of Italian wine guru Burton Anderson -
"The sagrantino has a remarkable 'dark purple-garnet colour', rich berry-like scent, and
warm rich full flavour, voluptuous body and staggering strength"
Sept 22 - Today it's time to take a day off. Our 4-star hotel has a swimming pool and is within an ancient town
that beckons to be explored with time to wander, sit, eat - be Italian !
Sep 23 -Today we move from Umbria to Tuscany and our next location - Pienza. On route we will visit Assisi,
the home of St. Francis and the famous frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue. We will also visit Montepulciano
(we are now Tuscany) and home of the famed 'Vino Nobile' (claiming the title "King of Wines" for a tasting.
Our destination -Pienza was labelled "The Ideal Renaissance City"- and is still much as it was in the 15th
century overlooking the Val d'Orcia. We stay within the walls of the village of Pienza in a converted 15th
century convent, now a 4-star Hotel Relais "Cloister".
Sep 24 - Today we visit Sant'Antimo - s stunning Romanesque Cistercian abbey rising
amid ancient olive groves. On to Montalcino to enjoy lunch featuring local cured
meats and pecorino cheese along with their specialty Tuscan wine "Brunello
di Montalcino"
Sep 25 -Today we visit Siena. In the Middle Ages Siena was a great banking and textile
rival of Florence and developed a highly sophisticated civil life. We will have a
walking tour through the web of streets and end up in the 'fan-shaped'
Piazza dell Campo for a lunch break. Siena is the home of the 'Enoteca Italiana'
A true wine library housing wines form all over Italy. We will visit the enoteca which is
housed in the great Medici fortress and here we have the opportunity to sample some
of Italy's famous and very diverse wines from other regions of the country.
(A great opportunity to try Barolo, Amarone, Prosecco).
Sep 26 -Today we travel the "Chiantigiana" in the prestigious Chianti Classico region.
According to Daniel Thomases, author of "The Wines of Tuscany" -
"In the case of Chianti Classico, the landscape seems to have been transferred
directly into the wine, its contrast of the sensual and the austere, the reality of
lush beauty balanced by order and restraint"
We will drive the roads of the "Gallo Nero" region to Gaiole in Chianti and the
location of the spectacular Brolio Castle (dating from the 11th century) and the
residence of Baron Bettino Ricasoli, a powerful and controversial statesman in the
newly-united Italy, as well as the inventor (130 years ago) of the Chianti blend as we
know it today. We will have our lunch stop in the town of Greve with its huge arcaded
market square. Then on to the charming wine estate Vignamaggio built in 1404 and
reportedly the birthplace of Mona Lisa where we will have a wine tasting.
Sep 27 -Today we will go onto another medieval favourite - San Gimignano, the 'city of
beautiful towers' We will follow the route of the pilgrims along the narrow flagstone
Via San Gimignano to its interlocking squares - the Piazza della Cisterna with its
centerpiece - a 1237 well and the Piazza del Duomo, both squares guarded by
the tall medieval towers that will remind you of the movie 'Tea with Mussolini'.
We later arrive in Florence and check into our hotel for the next two nights in the
historic centre. After checking in we will meet our guide for a walking tour to
orient us with the main landmarks.
Sep 28 - Today belongs to you. This day is for our passengers to do whatever they
have in mind - see David at the Accademia, visit the Uffizi Gallery, the Pitti
Palace & Boboli Gardens, shop the outdoor leather market or any of the
hundreds of shops, or sit, eat & relax in one of the many piazzas people watching.
Sep 29 - After breakfast our program is complete. We will be happy to assist with arranging
Flights and any custom arrangements you would like to add onto this program.
Tour Cost : $4849.00 Canadian Funds per person sharing twin/double room
Included Features :
- 12 nights accommodation
- All transportation as per itinerary
- Guided sightseeing – Perugia, Orvieto, Siena, Florence
- Guided orientation – Spello, Montefalco, Pienza, Chianti Classico, San Gimignano
- Breakfast daily
- 3 Lunches, (2 featuring specialty regional wines – Sagrantino, Brunello)
- 5 wine tastings – Torgiano, Orvieto Classico, Vino Nobile, Chianti Classico, Vernaccia
- Entrance to the Medieval 'Giostra della Quintana' jousting tournament
- All Taxes
- Fully Escorted by Rose Tomassini
