This delightful seven day excursion will take you on a journey to discover a fascinating corner of Italy often overlooked by hurried tourists.

This is the land of ancient hill towns, sweeping vistas, incredible cuisine and unparalleled wines.

Your excursion will begin in Tuscany and include medieval Siena, the renaissance jewel of Pienza, and famous Cortona.

You will discover their ancient traditions that still live on today and are practiced by the Tuscans with fierce local pride.

Then you are on to the “Green Heart of Italy”, Umbria.

The views you’ll see here seem to come off of a postcard.

You will visit Assisi, home to St. Francis as well as Deruta with her fine ceramics, and Orvieto with her one of a kind cathedral. 

Umbria is an area often overlooked by the millions of tourists who visit Italy every year.

It is an land once inhabited by the Etruscans filled with ancient ruins, villages perched on cliffs and vineyards surviving in the most unthinkable places.

Come and discover it for yourself.

DAY 1 •  SIENA

Private transfer from Florence to Siena. You will have time to get settled into your hotel and rest up before the first dinner of your seven day adventure.

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DAY 2 •  SIENA

With your local guide you will discover the secrets, history and traditions of Siena. You will visit the Piazza del Campo where twice a year the Palio horse race is run, the truly majestic Duomo cathedral and historic jewels throughout the town.  Lunch will be in a local Enoteca, close to the Campo where you will taste local fare accompanied by fantastic Tuscan wines. You will then have the afternoon and evening free for shopping and to discover even more of Siena on your own.

(B/L)

DAY 3 •  SIENA - PIENZA - MONTALCINO – MONTEPULCIANO – LAKE TRASIMENO

Experience the true flavour of Tuscany on a day dedicated to wine and cheese. You’ll visit  the town of Pienza, where you can try their famous Pecorino cheese, Montepulciano, land of Vino Nobile and Montalcino. Come to be known as the “ideal city” due to it’s renaissance town planning, Pienza is a perfect place to enjoy Tuscany at it’s best.  For lunch you will head to Monticchiello a nearby (but incredibly small) village where you will dine at the only restaurant in town.  In the afternoon we are off to one of the most prestigious wine producing areas of Italy, Montalcino. Before heading up to town you will stop for a visit at a well known producer of Brunello for a tour and tasting of their incredible wines. Take in the countryside as you head up to Montalcino a hill top village that was, in days gone by, a site for bloody battles between Florence and Siena. You can wander the streets and visit the imposing fortress before heading back to Siena.  Now a peaceful, sleepy village, Montalcino will top your list of fantastic Tuscan hill towns. In the evening you will arrive on the banks of Lake Trasimeno where you will find your hotel and dinner reservations awaiting you.

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DAY 4 •  LAKE TRASIMENO – CORTONA – ASSISI

Today you are off to discover two well known Tuscan jewels, Cortona and Assisi. Recently made famous by the book turned movie “Under the Tuscan Sun” Cortona is now known throughout the world for it’s unforgettable beauty and romantic atmosphere. Here you will have time to visit the city and be treated to a special lunch featuring bruschetta and a wide range of local products accompanied by local wine. In the afternoon you will reach Assisi where you will have a guided visit to the famous Basilica di San Francesco. Construction began in 1228 and is actually a two story church with a magical atmosphere above all in the lower section where you will find the crypt of St.Francis and stunning frescoes by Giotto, Cimabue and Simone Martini.

(B/L/D)

DAY 5 •  LAKE TRASIMENO - TORGIANO – DERUTA – TODI

Today will be dedicated to the discovery of traditional Umbrian products. Here we are talking about fine wine, fresh olive oil and the world famous ceramics from Deruta. In the morning you will visit the Wine and Olive Oil Museum of Torgiano. Here you will learn about the production of two of the most important ingredients in the Italian diet. You will then get to taste the local wine at a well known cellar in Torgiano. You are then off to Deruta where you can lose yourself in the fine ceramics shops and watch the masters at work and also find time for lunch. This afternoon you will find yourself in Todi. Situated on the side of a hill and completely surrounded by ancient walls, the fascinating atmosphere in Todi will take you back to medieval times and is definitely a place to leave your modern worries behind. You will have time to explore Todi on your own before heading to Orvieto. Explore the town and enjoy dinner on your own after checking into the hotel.

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DAY 6 •  ORVIETO – CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO – CIVITELLA D’AGLIANO

This morning you will discover the two worlds of Orvieto. Learn about the amazing history of this city and visit some of the numerous works of art on your guided tour. Discover what’s above and what’s below! Orvieto sits high on a plateau of soft volcanic rock and offers immense beauty and art. However, below there are endless tunnels originally built by the Etruscans and used as recently as WWII to hide citizens from advancing soldiers, that are still open to the public and can be visited on guided tours. You will lunch in an ancient cellar on the main piazza in view of the Duomo cathedral.  You will then be off to visit Civita di Bagnoregio, the almost ghost town situated high on a cliff that can only be reached by foot bridge. To end your spectacular day you will dine in Civitella d’Agliano at a noted restaurant with ancient cellars carved into the volcanic rock beneath the city. After dinner you will head back to Orvieto.

(B/L/D)

DAY 7 • ORVIETO - ROME

After breakfast you will be taken to Rome where you can continue your adventures on your own.

(B) 

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