ROME  

When we all gather at our hotel in Rome, this tour officially begins.  We'll give you easy to follow maps and directions to major monuments, museums and areas of interest in Rome. We will teach you how to quickly and easily get from our hotel's neighborhood to the famous piazzas Campo Fiori and Piazza Navona.  Our hotel is just minutes away from them once we have shown you the main landmarks and shortcuts in this ancient village.

After Trastevere, we'll walk  across the Tiber River on the Ponte Sisto Bridge to nearby Piazza Farnesse and into Campo Fiori with its flower market and wonderful outdoor cafes. We then go on to  Piazza Navona with it's three famous Bernini fountains.  

Outdoor cafes surround Piazza Navona - probably the most beautiful and interesting square in Rome.  It was once the stadium of Emperor Domitian.   Chariot races were watched by over 30,000 people. You can peek at the ruins from an area at the north end of the Piazza. In the 1500's the famous sculptor Bernini designed three beautiful fountains that are today's focal point for this wonderful "people place".  Beautiful buildings and two churches surround the piazza. Nowadays this is where you'll find Rome's artists selling  their paintings as the gypsies sell their wares and the tiny souvenir kiosks are scattered around.  Everyone has a camera in one hand and a gelato in the other. This is a great place to sit back and relax as you watch street entertainers and the things that happen when so many tourists gather to absorb the beauty of this place.

From here we continue on to the Pantheon and the beautiful church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.  We’ll see the ruins of a Roman temple at Piazza Largo Argentina and then we'll ride a tram back to Trastevere. 

ROME   (  Breakfast  & Welcome Dinner with wine included )

Today we will go as a group to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel for a guided tour.  Depending on what time our reservation is we will visit St Peter's before or after the tour. Castello San Angello is just a short walk from the Vatican and worth the visit  or  you may want to visit other parts of Rome or just return to Trastevere. The afternoon is free.

As you explore Rome, Larry and I are never far away.  We are available to answer questions, point the way and help you decide what you want to see and do. We'll make sure you enjoy Rome to the fullest.    Some of you  might want to see  "out of the way" places while most focus on the major attractions. Let us know. We'll make sure you don't miss anything.

Tonight is our Welcome Dinner.  We have chosen a "typically Roman"  restaurant near our hotel in Trastevere that we are sure you will love as much as we do.  You can choose what you want from the menu and an expansive antipasto bar.  House Wine is included.

ROME    ( Breakfast and  Night time driving tour included )

If you have special places you've dreamed of visiting in Rome, be sure to let us know. If you want to shop or check out the art museums, the choice is yours.  You may choose to simply  wander around and try to "take it all in".  There's nothing more fun than that! 

After breakfast we drive to Orvieto.  On the way we visit Civita di Bagnoregio, an ancient town practically uninhabited today. It is widely referred to as the “dying city”.  In the morning fog it seems to float in the clouds. The old town perches on a volcanic outcropping which is at risk of crumbling. It can only be reached on foot, across a pedestrian bridge. Today the village is inhabited by artists and craftsmen who are trying to rescue this beautiful town.

We arrive in Orvieto, one of the most beautiful hill towns in Italy, in early afternoon. The residents take great pride in their city and its history and are always glad to share it with visitors. It has an impressive cathedral  with spectacular frescoes painted by Signorelli in the San Brizio Chapel .  Michelangelo is said to have used these as an inspiration for his work in the Sistine Chapel.

Orvieto was first settled by the Etruscans about 500 BC. There is a fascinating guided tour of Etruscan caves which wind under Orvieto.  A small Etruscan museum is worthwhile after a visit to the caves. When you are in the Etruscan museum ride the elevator to the observation room where you get a great view of the facade of the cathedral and it's beautiful mosaics.

You may also visit Saint Patrick’s well (Pozzo di San Patrizio) which is  near the funicular and the fortress. It is an engineering marvel that provided water to the town when they were under siege. Some will enjoy a climb to the top of the Torre del Moro near the hotel from which you get a great view over the rooftops of the city.

ORVIETO (breakfast included)

Today is Orvieto’s market day for fresh food and dry goods. The market is held in Piazza di Popolo right outside of our hotel.  It is  fun to experience a local market where you can search out bargains and get a look at the things Italians consider essential for house keeping. I am always fascinated to find gadgets and cookery items and try to guess their use.  Be sure to take a close look at the produce and meat offerings.  This is where locals do their shopping - the food is fresh and appealing. You'll also find clothing and household accessories.

Orvieto’s narrow streets are lined with charming shops and tempting restaurants serving Umbrian cuisine. This hilltop town is a wonderful place to shop, relax and explore to your heart’s content.  If you are interested in ceramics, Orvieto is a great place to find just what you are looking for.  There are many shops so you can you can compare prices and designs.

Cortona   ( Breakfast &  Dinner with wine  included) 

Our hotel is in the very center of historic Cortona just steps from Piazza Repubblica.  It was at one time a private mansion but it has now been converted into a comfortable hotel while maintaining most of its Tuscan charm. The public rooms are filled with nooks and crannies, archways and domed ceilings that reflect the age and origins of the building. Not often is a hotel's breakfast room worth discussion. However, this one is a wonderful and unique space on the top floor. Surrounded with large windows there is a breathtaking panoramic view over the rooftops of Cortona and out into the Tuscan countryside.  During breakfast you will likely find yourself entranced with the dance of purple martins as they dart and dive all around you but just beyond your reach. You feel as though you are in a birdcaage looking out at all the birds. A hauntingly beautiful Italian soundtrack is played in the background.   All this as you enjoy a buffet with pastries, meats, cheeses, yogurts and juice. This is the breakfast room where our people always linger.  You just don't want to leave.

You have two days to explore the town with its museums, churches, wonderful shops and cafes. For those who like to walk, you will enjoy the hike up to the church of Saint Margaret or to the monastery where St Francis reportedly received the stigmata. There is also a Medici fortress.  At the edge of town there is a botanical garden built as a War memorial. This calm and peaceful park is delightful and the views are outstanding. On weekends and during the evening passeggiata it is filled with people enjoying their traditional evening stroll.

Cortona  ( Breakfast included)

Today you are free to explore Cortona. Begin around the corner from our hotel at the weekly street market that sets up early in the morning and closes down in early afternoon. The locals do their shopping for fresh goods here just like they do in Orvieto.  Street markets have a big impact on daily life in Italy - and they always have. I love this market - especially the brightly colored Mediterranean  tablecloths!

Cortona is one of the oldest settlements in Tuscany thought by  many historians to be as old as Troy.  It was settled by the ancient Etruscans whose tombs and relics are here for you to investigate.   There is an interesting Etruscan museum in the center of town providing safe keeping for these priceless treasures.

Since you have two days to explore the town with its museums, churches, wonderful shops and cafe, those who like to walk may want to hike up to the beautiful church of Saint Margarite or to the monastery where St Francis reportedly received the stigmata. There is also a Medici fortress.  At the edge of town there is a beautiful botanical garden built as a War memorial. The calm and peaceful sight is delightful and the views are outstanding. 

Cortona's popularity has brought prosperity to a town that was ignored for centuries.  The local people are happy to have us there and you will recognize their friendly efforts to make you feel comfortable and enjoy your visit. It is also still a “family place”.Old men and young children congregate in the town’s squares and every day at sunset the people wander the streets and visit with each other. This evening walk is an ancient custom that is found all over Italy.  It is called the "passegiata". You can either take part or enjoy the promenade from a comfortable sidewalk cafe.

Often there is a special event going on in the main piazza and weekend weddings at the courthouse are a regular occurance. We've seen many brides and their families celebrating on the steps of the courthouse. We've also been in town when fashion shows, concerts or a lone street musician turns the piazza into a stage. Cortona is a fun place to visit. You never know quite what to expect. 

CASTELLINA IN CHIANTI  (breakfast & and tour of  wine cellars with wine tasting  included) 

Siena is infamous as the long time enemy of Florence. The competition between the two towns was a constant factor in the history of  Italy.  Even in the construction of the Cathedral in Siena you can see the effect of the competition.  Before the Black Plaque disrupted their plans the people of Siena were attempting to build a church bigger than the grand Cathedral in Florence. Competition wasn't just with Florence either.  For centuries the different neighborhoods within Siena itself competed at the annual Palio horse race.  Weeks before this main event the town celebrates with ceremonies, flag throwing and parades as a sendoff for this highly anticipated race. As you sit at one of the cafes in "il Campo" try to imagine it during the Palio horse race.  Where you are sitting is the racetrack and all the windows around the piazza will be filled with merry makers as they watch the frenzied  two minute race. 

Shopping is a popular activity in Siena. There are all sorts of shops to keep everyone interested. You'll find both shops filled with small and large souvenirs and you'll also be able to shop for beautiful leather and silk goods.  You can investigate the department stores of Italy to compare them with the ones we are familiar with.

After everyone has absorbed the dramatic history of Siena and/or  "shopped til they drop" we'll head to our palatial villa hotel for the next two nights - Castellina-in-Chianti. 

Our hotel in Castellina was once a palace that belonged to a family involved in the dramatic history of Florence and connected with the Medici's. The palace has been painstakingly restored into a beautiful and welcoming small hotel. We hope you'll take time to explore and appreciate all the architectural features that have been preserved. Somehow the renovation has also preserved a sense of  warmth and coziness that makes you feel right at home. Staying in this hotel you'll feel so comfortable that you won't want to leave.   There is a bar and terrace overlooking the Tuscan landscape and swimming pool.  There are gorgeous public rooms with original frescoes still intact and ancient beamed ceilings. You can relax  in the bar, the terrace or one of the lovely lounges. The rooms are all uniquely beautiful as well. Last year the talented owner completed a special project for your enjoyment.  Now there is a  beautiful spa for the guests' use.  

Some people  say  "the hotel doesn't matter".  We disagree.  This hotel and the others we choose are experiences in themselves. Every hotel on this tour is unique and we've chosen each of them for reasons unique to that hotel.  Some are fancier than others but all are close to the main sights in town and everyone of them has a great staff to welcome and assist you.  They and the charming people who staff them are part of what makes an experience in Italy - so real and so wonderful.

Before dinner we'll have a get together on the back terrace with its peaceful view out back. One time we were enjoying just such a get together when much to our surprise a wild boar shot across the field below us.  At certain times of the year the wild boar are "in season" and Tuscan hunters are out in full force in search of this traditional addition of wild game to many a restaurant's menu. Sorry, I've strayed from the main message which is that we hope you will join us for dinner at another of our favorite restaurants.  Maybe you'll want to order a sizzling veal steak tonight.  This is a specialty that cannot be found in the states  - a real surprise. Other delightful selections might be the melt in your mouth pasta , Canaloni or thick and tasty ribolita .

Today we will stay  in lovely Castellina to catch our breath and experience Tuscany.  The hotel has just opened a beautiful Tuscan spa that you can use at no additional charge except towels and robes (Whirlpool, steam room, sauna). There is an outdoor pool available (weather permitting).  There are enotecas (wine bars) and  interesting shops on the main street.  Enjoy a picnic poolside or on the terrace or a local restaurant for lunch. 

This morning we drive to Florence and soon you'll find yourself in the city of the Medici and the Renaissance. It is the city of art and its museums are brimming over with a  wealth of  priceless  paintings and sculptures.  Spending two days will give you  time to see the main sights and the top museums without rushing.   

Florence is where the Renaissance happened. The wealthy Medici family funded some of the greatest art in all history. Their offices or “Uffizi” are now one of the greatest art galleries in the world. Lines are notoriously long so let us know if you want a reservation to enter the Uffizi. You can "pass to the head of the line."  Recorded audio tours are excellent and available at the door. They will tell you about all the fantastic masterpieces you see at your own pace.  

Florence’s second museum, the Accademia, houses Michelangelo’s "David" and other Renaissance art. Before you reach the main hall with its star attraction, "David", you will walk through a corridor lined with Michelangelo's unfinished pieces.  

Florence is a shopper’s paradise.  Jewelry shops sparkling with gold and silver line the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. Our hotel is located between the streets lined with designer shops and the bustling street markets. You can choose to shop at  Gucchi, Ferragamo,Yves Saint Laurent or you can find great deals with the street market vendors.  Make an offer. Negotiating is half the fun! Last time Jill took home bargains in jewelry, tapestry pillow covers and a leather purse -  or two. 

Again we have chosen another favorite for our group's dinner tonight. You can join us for a fun evening of  food and new friends or let us know and we'll  be glad to help you choose another place for a romantic dinner for two.

VENICE    (Breakfast & three day vaporetto pass included )

This morning we'll enjoy breakfast before we drive to Venice. We will be traveling north through the Po Valley, go by Bologna, Reggio Emilia and Modena on our way to Venice - a city that delights the soul. We'll stop for a quick lunch on the way so you'll be ready to explore Venice as soon as you can.

Upon arrival, we will take a private water taxi along the Venice canals to our hotel. You will be given a three day pass that covers unlimited use of all vaporettos which are the public water bus system of Venice. 

Everyone will have time to settle into our delightful hotel before we gather for our orientation tour with Larry.  He'll show you around Dorsoduro (where our hotel is) and show you how to use the water busses.  First we will walk over the Accademia Bridge and through facinating neighbourhoods to St Marks's Square. We will ride the vaporetto from  St. Marks Square to the Rialto bridge. Venice is an easy city to explore once you get your bearings and understand how to use the vaporettos.

Free day in Venice. Don’t miss Saint Mark’s Square and Cathedral. Just around the corner are the opulent Doge Palace and museums overlooking the Grand Canal.  If you can, visit St Mark’s Basilica between 11:30 and 12:30 when special lighting is turned on to illuminate the brilliant mosaics. Save time for several rides up and down the Grand Canal admiring the waterfront mansions.

Venice is home to at least two special art museums – the Accademia and the Guggenheim (both near our hotel).  The Rialto bridge is remarkable with tiny shops up and down each side. There are shops everywhere and you could spend days just browsing. Consider a gondola ride at sunset. Maybe you’ll find a singing gondolier? 

On foot you can explore this extraordinary city’s unique neighborhoods and churches at your leisure. However, when you need a break from walking, hop aboard one of the vaporettos and ride out to Murano, Burano or Torcello Islands.  Burano famous for lace making has brightly colored cottages and pretty little canal down the middle. Stroll among the shops and stop for lunch or a gellato.  Be sure to leave time for Torcello.  It is the original home of the Venetians and their first Cathedral is still there with its beautiful mosaics. It is just a five minute boat ride from Burano.  Murano has been known for glass making for centuries.  There are many shops on the island where you can search out bargains from the glass factories that operate there.