Wineries, Villages & Pageantry of Tuscany & Umbria
September 14 - 26, 2007

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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.

After a preliminary night in Rome we travel north to discover the secrets of Umbria, then it's on to Tuscany - a place where time stands still and life is good!

DETAILED ITINERARY - fully escorted by Rose Tomassini

Sep 13 - allow for overnight flight from North America to Rome, Italy (we are happy to assist).

Sep 14 - Meet up with our group and enjoy a welcome dinner together. Overnight in Rome - meet up with our group and enjoy a welcome dinner together.

Sep 15 - We will be offering a transfer from Rome airport to our destination in Umbria, a region of dramatic, verdant hills. Our first introduction to Umbria is our visit to an ancient town perched high on an outcrop of tufa rock with a magnificent Gothic Duomo, so beautiful it is referred to as the 'Wedding Cake Church'. We have a memorable lunch and a wine tasting of 'Orvieto Classico' here. Our accommodation is in the ancient 'borough' of Spello a hilltown that sits like a broach on a hillside overlooking the surrounding countryside. We are very pleased to return to the 4 star "La Bastiglia" www.labastiglia.com

Sep 16 - 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 17 After breakfast we travel today to one of Umbria's, and Italy's most beautiful secret towns.

TODI is outstanding for its beautiful hillside position, and enchanting medieval atmosphere - its central Piazza del Popolo is widely held to be the most perfect medieval piazza in Italy.

Just imagine the pageantry that has taken place here as you enjoy an alfresco lunch facing the grand staircase that descends into the square from the Palazzo on the opposite side of the square. As we travel north the Tiber Valley broadens out into a plain where the superior clay has allowed the production of ceramic ware from the 14th century. We will visit the lovely town of Deruta, considered the world capital of 'maiolica' (Italian for enamelled ceramic). After more than 700 years of continuous production, Deruta ceramics are admired around the world - and there are over 200 workshops, most of which retail their own goods.

Sep 18 - 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.

Sept 19- 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 for lunch in his farm restaurant to enjoy 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"

Sep 20 -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 in 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'. www.relaisilchiostrodipienza.com

Sep 21 - 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 22 -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 from 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 23 -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 24 -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 25 - 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 26- After breakfast our program is complete. We are happy to assist you with your Flight arrangements and any custom land arrangements around this program.

Required: A valid passport with at lease 6 months validity beyond your return date

Tour Cost : $3989.00 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
  • Welcome dinner in Pienza
  • 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 throughout by Rose Tomassini

This trip is limited to a maximum of 14 participants !