TUSCAN AND UMBRIAN JEWELS

DAY 1- ARRIVAL IN CHIANTI

Arrival at Florence airport. Private transfer to your elegant country relais in Chianti region Time to relax and to enjoy the wonderful natural surroundings. Welcome dinner at your country relais with special Tuscan dishes and local, excellent wines. Overnight in Chianti countryside

ESSENCE SPECIALS:

 

• Welcome dinner with excellent typical dishes based on seasonal products and authentic Chianti wine.

DAY 2-VOLTERRA, COLLE VAL D’ELSA, MONTERIGGIONI

In the morning leave for an original full-day excursion. Visit Volterra, one of the most important Etruscan and medieval sites of Tuscany, with its magnificent walls and its medieval buildings. Lunch on your own in Volterra. After lunch, explore Colle Val d’Elsa, its fine 16th-17th-century noble houses and its castle and tower houses. To end the day, visit of the beautiful medieval village of Monteriggioni. Return to your country relais. Dinner on own. Overnight in Chianti.

 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

 

• Volterra imposing Etruscan walls and Palazzo dei Priori, seat of the political power during the Middle Age


• Colle Val d’Elsa, the elegant Renaissance town surrounded by Tuscan countryside


• Monteriggioni and its fortified city centre and towers

DO NOT MISS:

 

• Alabasters shops in Volterra


• A dinner at Restaurant l’Antica Pesa, located in the typical Trastevere areaers.


• Enoteca del Duca in Volterra, rewarded by Italian cuisine magazines, offering you typical Tuscan dishes

DAY 3 -CORTONA, MONTEPULCIANO, TODI

Check out and transfer to Cortona. Visit of the city on own: walk down its narrow, medieval original streets and admire its scenographic squares. After the visit, enjoy a light lunch in a local, prestigious wine estate in Montepulciano area. In the afternoon, visit of Deruta, famous for its potteries and artistic objects: buy a souvenir and admire the potteries laboratories. Afterwards, check-in at your hotel in Todi. Dinner on own and overnight in Todi

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

 

• Visit to Cortona, one of the jewel centres of Italy, with evidences of Etruscan, Roman and Middle Age civilzation


• Visit of Deruta, an enchanting village full of potteries, craftmen’s shops and laboratories

ESSENCE SPECIAL:

 

• Light lunch and wine tasting leaded by professional sommelier, serving excellent regional appetizers at the Montepulciano wine estate Poliziano.

 

DO NOT MISS:

 

• The wonderful panorama from Cortona hills


• Cocoa ice-cream shop in Cortona


• The Taverna del Gusto where you can have a wonderful aperitif with local products

 

DAY 4-MONTEFALCO, TORGIANO, BEVAGNA

In the morning, private transfer to Montefalco. Visit of the city at leisure: enjoy a tour of this beautiful historical village, whose glorious history dates back to XIII° century. Wine tasting and light lunch at one of the most prestigious wineries of the area. After lunch, visit Torgiano, listed in the most beautiful "borghi" (medieval hamlets) in Italy; explore Bevagna, a historical centre famous for its refined production of linen and draperies. Return to your hotel, balance of the day at leisure. Dinner in your hotel. Overnight in Todi

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

 

• Visit of Montefalco, Torgiano and Bevagna, listed in the most beautiful historical villages in Italy and still preserving their medieval and Renaissance architecture

ESSENCE SPECIAL:

 

• Wine tasting and light lunch based on typical products in the prestigious Arnaldo Caprai wine estate, that received several awards for the excellent quality of its wines

 

DO NOT MISS:

 

• Montefalco wine


• Wine and Oil museum in Torgiano, where you will have the possibility to travel back in time and to know the secrets of their production.


• The medieval craftmen’s shop in Bevagna, that will bring you back to another era.

DAY 5-PERUGIA AND ASSISI

In the morning, enjoy a free walking tour of Perugia, capital of Umbria, elegant town with its medieval palaces and squares. Lunch at leisure. After lunch departure to Assisi and guided visit of the city and its main highlights. Return to your hotel and balance of the day at leisure. Dinner on own. Overnight in Todi.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

 

• Perugia city centre, with Piazza IX Novembre, the Fontana Maggiore. The Cathedral and the Palazzo dei Priori


• Assisi and its wonderful Cathedral with Giotto masterpieces that marked the transformation from Medieval to Gothic art
  
  

ESSENCE SPECIAL:

 

• Guided visit of Assisi, that will help you discover its main attractions and Giotto’s artistic genius

DO NOT MISS:

 

• Patisserie Sandri in Perugia, with the best pastries of the area


• Truffles shops in Assisi and truffle pasta dish in local restaurants

DAY 6-TODI, SPOLETO AND SPELLO

In the morning, departure towards Todi, originally an Etruscan frontier settlement, and a prosperous commune during the Middle Ages. Visit on own of this nice little town. Lunch at leisure. After lunch departure towards Spoleto, that is famous for its Roman museum. Visit of the town on your own. Finally departure for Spello, a wonderful "borgo" with medieval towers and Renaissance palaces. Return in hotel and balance of the day at leisure. Typical Umbrian dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Hotel.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

 

• Todi city centre with its medieval monuments — the co-cathedral church (Duomo), the Palazzo del Capitano, the Palazzo del Priore and the Palazzo del Popolo


• Spoleto and its archeological museum


• Spello city centre where you will take a walk back in history

ESSENCE SPECIAL:

 

• A typical Umbrian dinner based on local specialties and authentic wines: local cold cuts, pasta with truffle and meat sauces, porchetta meat

DO NOT MISS:

 

• Craftmen’s shops in Spello


• Festival dei due Mondi in Spoleto: a cultural festival full of interesting events and exhibitions taking place in July


• Pane e Vino restaurant and wine bar in Todi

DAY 7-ORVIETO AND ROME

In the morning, private transfer to Orvieto and visit of this wonderful jewel-city at leisure. Afterwards, transfer to Rome and check-in at your hotel. Lunch on own .Afternoon at leisure to visit Rome . Dinner on own and overnight in Rome.tel.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

 

• Orvieto, its fantastic Cathedral and its medieval city centre with several historical buildings


• Rome and the magic of the eternal city

DO NOT MISS:

 

• Local salami shops in Orvieto


• Rome sunset on the river Tevere

DAY 8-CHECK OUT

Private transfer to Rome FCO airport or to alternative destinations on request.

OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR THE TOUR: 3*, 4*, 5* HOTELS, VILLAS AND HISTORICAL RESIDENCES, ALL THE TOURS CAN BE PERSONALIZED AND TAILOR MADE

PRICE: ON REQUEST AT INFO@ESSENCEOFITALY.IT