This tour goes to some of the prettiest and most historic areas of
Italy. We begin by spending three nights in Rome where you can visit the Vatican Museum (Sistine
Chapel), St. Peter's Basilica, the
Coliseum, Roman Forums, the Pantheon and the beautiful Piazza
Navona.
Our hotel is located in
Trastevere, just across the Tiber from ancient Rome. This older
(yet trendy) neighborhood is like a little village tucked into the
center of Rome. It is where the Romans go to
eat and socialize on weekends. We love it because you get a
feeling of being absorbed in Roman life while staying
there. You'll see. We think there's no other place like it
inside Rome. We' think you'll agree!
From Rome we head north stopping at Civita Bagnoreggio for lunch and a
brief
visit. This town was built on a hilltop by the
Etruscans and prospered until in the 1600's when it's footing collapsed
leaving only a small town with no access. The long abandoned town
is now accessible to those who cross a pedestrian bridge that rises up
to its only remaining portal. We'll stop for a few hours so
you can explore what remains on this amazing hilltop.
We have a surprise for you...
The next two nights we've planned a special surprise for this
tour. After we leave the highway that goes north from Rome we'll drive
on an small road that
wanders haphazardly through the countryside with grape vines on each
side. Finally we come to an
opening and find that a tiny village has sprung up around an ancient
stone
farmhouse. Our small van couldn't be an inch wider and still be
able to squeeze through the archway carved into the ancient
wall that is the only way into the courtyard in front of our hotel. We'll probably
notice some of
the few residents who live there stretching their necks to get a peek
at us. ( If you wave they give a welcoming wave back. ) Once
we enter the hotel's unassuming front door, we'll find
comfort
and style in a home that has been turned into a four star hotel. It has
a delightful restaurant that specializes in Umbrian recipes. the
charming rooms each have their own personality. You'll enjoy a
delicious breakfast where homemade jams, breads and honey are
offered. Alessandra runs the hotel and restaurant while, Sergio, her
husband, oversees the vineyard and wine making.
We've asked
that they prepare dinner for us the next two nights and
we'll also be treated to a tour of the family wine cellars that go deep
into ancient Etruscan caves below the hotel.
Next morning after a late breakfast and when you can tear yourselves away from
our amazing hideaway, we'll drive to nearby Orvieto. This
city was founded by the Etruscans 700-900 years before the Romans
became powerful. It is perched high on volcano rock with views
into the Umbrian countryside. Once there you'll see one of
the
most amazing Cathedrals outside Rome. Its exterior glistens with
intricate and breathtakingly beautiful mosaics. Inside there is a
chapel painted by Signorelli that is said to have inspired
Michelangelo.
We hope that you will
take a guided tour of an Etruscan cave. It provides a fascinating view into
the ancient yet brilliant civilization that preceded the Romans by
nearly a thousand years. There is also a small Etruscan museum in the center of town - a larger museum awaits in Volterra.
Since we'll be in town on the day of the weekly street market you'll be able to shop and find some great bargains. Orvieto is
the place to buy ceramics if
you want to compare many styles and types. The streets are lined with ceramic shops.
When we leave our Umbrian " farmhouse hotel" we'll drive into pristine
Tuscan countryside
along the famous "wine road of Tuscany". We'll stop for a visit in
Pienza and then head off for lunch at
a Pecorino cheese farm. At our included lunch featuring a tasting
of
pecorino cheese and wine we'll see a demo showing us how its
produced. Pecorino cheese is a necessity for Italian cook. It is right "up there" with olive oil and garlic.
We'll visit several villages during our five days in
Tuscany. We'll stay in both Montalcino (small hilltop wine town) and
Volterra (ancient hilltop city of the Etruscans) before we
arrive in Florence. To find out more about these five days in
Tuscany check out our daily schedule.
See the daily schedule for this tour
Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance.
There you can walk in the footsteps of Michelangelo. You'll be
able to admire his "David" in the spot it was meant to be and
in the gallery designed to display it. Shopping in
Florence is a dream. Whether you prefer the famous designer shops
near our hotel or bargain shopping in the enormous street markets that
surround it, you'll love shopping there.
For our final three days we'll be in Venice. Composed of 117 islands and over 400 bridges Venice sets
the stage for the grand finale of this grand tour of Italy.
We hope you can join us!
See the daily schedule for this tour
above: street in Montalcino
