Food Wine Culture Tours
216 Lindbergh Avenue
Frederick, MD 21701 USA
Toll free (866) 874-4219
Phone: (301) 663-9160
For the sight, sound and taste of Italy, it doesn’t get any better than
this. From the Amalfi Coast and Bay of Naples at our southern start point, north
to the rugged hills and mountain towns of Umbria, on to medieval Siena and a
last night in the eternal city of Rome, this journey will provide you insight
into the enticing variety of Italy’s people, landscape, culture, cuisine
and wine as no other journey can. From high above the Amalfi coast we will visit
Pompeii and its antiquities preserved in Naples, the origin of much of the American
image of Italy. And the Bay of Naples presents its jewel for us – a day
on Capri as counterpoint to bustling Naples. The wines of Campania, ancient
Rome’s original vineyard, are just inland and awaiting an introduction.
Umbria is rugged territory with wonderful rustic cuisine, ancient hilltop towns
dating from before Rome and pious saints, such as Francis of Assisi, and the
churches they left for us. Siena, Florence’s medieval archrival, provides
us insight into Brunello, Chianti and Super Tuscan wines; Tuscan cuisine and
culture and its pallete of browns against Tuscan olive green. We close in the
heart of Rome, near to the Trevi Fountain just up one of those seven hills from
the Coliseum. Rome is an adventure in itself and we provide you a first taste.
• 11 days / 9 nights in 3 and 4 Star Hotels in Ravello, Todi, Siena and
Rome
• All Breakfasts, 4 Dinners, 4 Lunches
• Wine tastings, education and vineyard visits – Orvieto whites,
Umbrian reds, Brunello, Chianti, Super Tuscans, Vernaccia and Olive Oils from
throughout the regions we visit
• Gastronomic experience in Norcia, the rugged heart of Umbria
• Guided tours of Pompeii, the National Museum of Naples and Siena
• Boat the Bay of Naples to Capri and explore
• Visits of the ceramic centers of Vietri and Deruta
• Visits of Assisi and Perugia in Umbria including St. Francis’
Basilica
• Stroll the Tivoli Gardens and Hadrian’s Villa
• Visits of Montalcino, Volterra and San Gimignano in Tuscany, their wines
and medieval fortresses and towers
• A day in Rome beginning with a bus tour introduction – explore
the Coliseum, the Vatican or the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain on foot
• Leisurely stroll through neighborhoods, markets and shops, festivals
• We provide ample private time to relax and flexibility to adjust daily
excursions and activities
• Full-size luxury coach
• Full-time tour escort and bilinqual city tour guides
• Limited to 22 travelers
• Prices per person, double occupancy
• Round trip international air fare available
Itinerary:
Day 1, Friday – Depart USA for Rome
Day 2, Saturday – Vesuvius
After a morning arrival at Rome’s airport, we embark in our luxury
motorcoach to Vesuvius on the Bay of Naples. We will make our way to the observatory
to observe an active volcano (in slumber). We will settle into our hotel in
Ravello, high above the Amalfi coast, and have time for a rest from a busy travel
day before meeting for a welcome dinner at our hotel in Ravello.
Day 3, Sunday – Ancient Pompeii and Naples
After breakfast, we will be escorted through Pompeii and the National
Archeological Museum of Naples where the really interesting pieces of Pompeii
are housed after having been preserved under dozens of feet of Vesuvius’
ash since Roman times. We will have lunch in Naples with its famous reputation
for pizza. In the afternoon, we will visit the Campagnian wine region around
Avellino where vintners are reintroducing ancient grape varietals such as aglianico
and flanghina. Vietri, a ceramic center at the base of the Sorrento Peninsula
will be a stop on the way home. Dinner suggestions in Ravello will be offered
for your choosing. Hotel in Ravello
Day 4, Monday – Capri
The Blue Grotto, the white washed villages of Capri and AnaCapri, funiculars
and minibuses to take you throughout the island will be a part of your day.
Once we board our ferry in Sorrento, it will be an island for you to explore
mostly on your own and with your newly made friends. So much to see and opportunities
for lunch in just two small villages on a small hospitable island with the scent
of lemons! We will meet back in Sorrento for our drive around the Amalfi Coast
and up to Ravello. Perhaps we will divert to Positano, but we will let you decide.
You will be more familiar with Ravello and can take each others’ dinner
suggestions. Hotel in Ravello
Day 5, Tuesday – The Tivoli Gardens and Hadrian’s Villa
Enroute to Umbria
We will be just east of Rome before midday to experience the fantasy
of the Tivoli Gardens with its grottos, waterfalls and singing fountains. Hadrian
built his wall in England to keep the Scots out of the Empire. See what he built
for himself and be amazed at how the Romans constructed their monumental architecture.
Before settling into our hotel in central Umbria, we will stop at Orvieto, an
original Etruscan city, fortified high above the Tiber River valley. The network
of caves beneath the ancient city houses wonderful wine cellars where we will
taste the wines of Umbria, especially the prized whites from Orvieto itself.
Dinner together and hotel in Todi.
Day 6, Wednesday – Assisi, Perugia and the Ceramics of Deruta
Assisi seen from a distance rises spectacularly above a plain with
the rugged hills of eastern Umbria behind. St. Francis’ Basilica is spectacular
and the legacy of gentle St. Francis is everlasting. Perugia is a city famous
for its chocolates, especially enveloping hazelnuts. It too is ancient, atop
its hill and a city to return to someday. We will lunch together in an Osteria.
Deruta may be Italy’s most recognized modern ceramics city, but its manufacturers
are ancient. You will recognize Deruta’s ceramics from home and find it
hard to choose. Dinner will be on your own tonight as you look forward to tomorrow
in a more rustic part of Umbria. Hotel in Todi.
Day 7, Thursday – Gastronomic Umbria
Today we visit the gastronomic capital of rustic Umbria, Norcia, to
partake of the heart of the province’s cuisine and a cooking lesson. Influences
from the wild countryside include boar and the black truffle. The rest of today
is for the outdoors and the myriad small towns of the countryside such as Spoleto
the Italian home of the Festival of Two Worlds. Hotel in Todi.
Day 8, Friday – Southern Tuscany and its wines
Brunello, montepulciano, vino nobile…The wine road into Siena
from the south passes through the towns of Montepulciano, Pienza and Montalcino.
The vineyards on these softly rolling hills bask in golden sunshine producing
wines among Italy’s best. We will visit Montalcino for tasting and lunch
before passing through the Cretes de Siena – the Siena clays. These rolling
hills covered in wheat fields will have already been harvested but you will
recognize the landscape in your heart and from the movies. And then, we arrive
in Siena , the site of the Palio, a horse race on a banked cobblestoned city
square hotly contested by the city’s 17 Contrada or neighborhoods. A guided
city tour will introduce you. We will again dine together. Hotel in Siena.
Day 9, Saturday – Tuscany and Siena
Volterra, the center of alabaster carving is close to San Gimignano,
the city of towers whose purpose remains a mystery. This area west of Siena
is known for its wines from the Vernaccia grape to which you will be introduced
over lunch with a magnificent view. The afternoon will be yours to explore Siena
at will. From atop the cathedral, the view is enormous and you will learn where
the colors umber and burnt siena were named. Hotel in Siena.
Day 10, Sunday – Rome
After breakfast we will transfer to Rome and enjoy a city tour by bus.
The Vatican, Colliseum, Forum Romanum, the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain
await you at your leisure and even though you’ll never be able to see
it all, you’ll get a first taste. Stay up late and wander the streets
and Navona Square after a farewell dinner together as we’re close to the
airport for tomorrow’s departure. Hotel in Rome.
Day 11, Monday – Home
After breakfast, we have a short transfer to the airport for our return
home. Let’s travel together again to more of the World’s wine regions.
We hope you enjoyed your experience of the food, wine and culture of Amalfi,
Umbria, Siena and Rome.