© 2007 Intimate France
21 November 2007
Hill towns, medieval art, Eurochocolate Festival - Book it!
Personally escorted by Intimate France founder George Nevin
12 days - Oct. 5-17, 2008
Tour begins and ends in Florence
$3,695 per person, double occupancy - Singles, add $450
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Detailed Itinerary Day 1 (Sunday, Oct. 5) We begin our tour in the lobby of the Hotel San Marco, in Prato (near the Florence airport). From here, in less than two hours, we arrive at the tiny village of Montichiello, just within Tuscany on its border with Umbria. Here, stretch your legs and enjoy a fantastic LUNCH. Later, it's less than an hour to our first home, Orvieto, and our centrally located hotel. At day's end, we find a café for a WELCOME APERITIF. OVERNIGHT – ORVIETO Day 2 (Monday, Oct. 6) We get to know pretty Orvieto today. The town is justly famed for its old streets of medieval houses and for its cathedral. For once, the outside and inside are equally impressive. On the outside, the bold colors of the facade, clad with small panels of colored marble, make this the richest of Italian Gothic buildings. Inside, take in the glory of the Chapel of the Madonna of San Brizio, sumptuously frescoed in the 15th century by Luca Signorelli. After LUNCH, we visit Underground Orvieto – a fascinating world of cellars and caves dug out of the soft tufa rock. OVERNIGHT – ORVIETO Day 3 (Tuesday, Oct. 7 We make a day trip into nearby Lazio, the province that includes Rome. Passing by the pretty Lake Bolseno, we visit two very different parks near Viterbo – the lovely gardens at Villa Lante, and the rugged hillside that is the home of the Park of Monsters – enormous statues carved from the native rock in the 16th century by Vicino Orsini. Back in Orvieto, we have DINNER. OVERNIGHT – ORVIETO Day 4 (Wednesday, Oct. 8) From Orvieto, it is not far to proud Amelia, perched on its hill in southern Umbria, and onward to medieval Narni (lunch here). In the afternoon we arrive in Spoleto and climb the hill to our comfortable, centrally located hotel. You'll enjoy this lively and pretty town, which can easily be explored on foot. OVERNIGHT – SPOLETO Day 5 (Thursday, Oct. 9) We explore the far reaches of Umbria today, climbing out of Spoleto's river valley to the lofty town of Norcia, known both for its scenic streets (and interesting town museum) and for some of the finest sausages and meats of Italy. Following a special LUNCH in the nearby town of Scheggino, we take in the sights at the Abbey San Pietro in Valle, founded in the 7th century and featuring 12th-century frescoes and Roman sarcaphagi. OVERNIGHT – SPOLETO Day 6 (Friday, Oct. 10) We stay in Spoleto today, visiting its top sights. Spoleto boasts a lovely cathedral (13th century mosaic facade, frescoes by Fra Filippo Lippi), an impressive fortress overlooking the town and deep river valley, and a lovely fortified bridge, the renowned Ponte delle Torri, which soars 262 feet above the Tessino River. DINNER in the old town, illuminated by gaslight. OVERNIGHT – SPOLETO Day 7 (Saturday, Oct. 11) The capital of Umbria is gorgeous, historic, lively Perugia, and we get to spend five nights here! Moreover, Perugia is home of Italy's most renowned chocolate maker and the site of the Eurochocolate festival. We time our visit to take in this lively event, a series of chocolate-themed activities throughout the old town. Today we approach Perugia from the south, first visiting the pretty villages of Montefalco and Bevagna (lunch here) before entering Perugia late in the day and settling into our centrally located hotel. OVERNIGHT – PERUGIA Day 8 (Sunday, Oct. 12) On a day trip, we visit a ceramic workshop and sales outlet in Deruta, home of Italy's finest earthenware; and ancient, hilltop Todi. The town museum here has some lovely treasures. On our way back to Perugia, we drive along the shores of Lake Trasimeno. Back in Perugia, we have DINNER. OVERNIGHT – PERUGIA Day 9 (Monday, Oct. 13) We immerse ourselves in chocolate today – but only if you wish, as Perugia has a wealth of cultural, architectural and culinary opportunities. Besides attending various venues of Eurochocolate, we explore some of the churches of this beautiful city (magnificently decorated San Pietro, round chapel of Sant'Angelo); the sumptuous frescoes and carved wood of medieval guild rooms of the Notari and Collegio del Cambio; and the Etruscan walls and medieval alleys of old Perugia. In the evening we have DINNER in a fine restaurant. OVERNIGHT – PERUGIA Day 10 (Tuesday, Oct. 14) This morning we explore the countryside north of Perugia, in the upper valley of the Tevere (ancient Tiber) River, which flows south to Rome. Through hill and valley, we come to ancient Gubbio, also a ceramic center and home of an impressive art museum and cathedral. In the afternoon it's on to Città di Castello, worth visiting for its intact medieval walls and alleyways, and its fine arts museum, with works by Raphael, Signorelli, Ghirlandaio and Lorenzetti. At day's end we return to Perugia. OVERNIGHT – PERUGIA Day 11 (Wednesday, Oct. 15) We make a day trip to nearby Assisi to visit Catholicism's most revered site (after Rome), the Basilica of St. Francis. We tour this magnificent church – actually two churches in one, with stunning frescoes both above and below. After LUNCH, we return to Perugia for last-minute shopping or sightseeing. OVERNIGHT – PERUGIA Day 12 (Thursday, Oct. 16) Leaving Umbria in the late morning, we drive to a small village in the hills south of Florence, where we enjoy an authentic LUNCH with Tuscan native Beatrice Andreucci and her family. It's our chance to find out about life in a small Tuscan town. Late in the day, we drive to Prato, an elegant town near Florence convenient to tomorrow's flights. OVERNIGHT – PRATO Getaway day (Friday, Oct. 17) It's time to say arrividerci to Italy, with your flight home from Florence.
Notes MEALS – Tour includes breakfast every day, as well as five lunches and four dinners, as indicated in BOLD CAPS on the itinerary.
OUR HOTELS Hotel San Marco, Prato Hotel Duomo, Orvieto Hotel Charleston, Spoleto Hotel Fortuna, Perugia
HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS – Subject to change according to availability.
ITINERARY – Details of this itinerary could change. An updated itinerary will be issued prior to trip departure. |
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