This tour is a perfect occasion to explore some of the most famous and less famous regions in North Italy. Veneto, Lomabardia, Liguria, Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio all have very different histories, wine, gastronomy, and nature. Every day there are highlights which are perfect reminders of these features; a glass of spumante in a famous wine cellar, a stroll in a well-preserved medieval town, lunch in the country, wine tasting and to end it all a few days in Rome. You will travel through varied and beautiful landscapes, from the Venetian hills to Lake Como, down to the coast in Liguria and Tuscany's hilltop towns set in the landscape that is familiar from numerous celebrated paintings from the renaissance period, Perugia wich lies in the green heart of the Italian region Umbria also known for Assisi.

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Day 1: Arrival to Venice
Arrival to Venice Airport and transfer to the hotel.



Day 2: .This morning after breakfast we will have a half-day walking tour of Venice conducted by a licensed local English-speaking guide. Then, you are free to explore. In the night we will have a group welcome dinner at a restaurant outside the hotel. B & D






Day 3: Exploring on your own
Day on your own, the tour leader gives advices on how to move asound in Venice and maybe visit the famous islands in the lagoon Murano, Burano and Torcello. B

Day 4: Venice > Bergamo > Lake Como

Today we will leave Venice and head to the Bergamo area. We will stop at Castello di Grumello to visit the castle and then have wine tasting in their wine cellar. For lunch, we will enjoy a meal full of local products at an Enoteca (food and wine shop) in a small village. We’ll then head toward Colico, an area of Lake Como that is known for its medieval fortresses. B & L.

Day 5: Colico > Cinque Terre/Monterosso
We’ll take a very scenic drive along the east side of Lake Como today, passing the small villages of Olgiasca, Dervio, Bellano and Varenna. We’ll then take a ferry boat to Bellaggio, where you’ll have some time to explore and enjoy lunch.We’ll hop on the ferry to Cadenabbiaand then rejoin our bus to take us down to Monterosso, one of the five medieval villages that dot the fantastically beautiful area known as Cinque Terre. The location of this village offers you the perfect base from which to explore this unique area of the world. We spend three nights in a nice, clean three-star hotel. The beach is only a block or so away and the little town has plenty of shops and restaurants at which to choose your dinner meals.
Monterosso is the only one of the five villages that a car can reach by road. The others are reached by boat or by a train that runs back and forth by the villages many times a day.
Mountains that rise from the edge of the sea, covered with terraced vineyards, characterize the area. The five villages were built in the Middle Ages in some of the coastal nooks and little bays in this area, and in days gone by, could only be reached by boat. Each town is unique and great to explore and enjoy a beverage and lunch, etc. There is a hiking trail that runs between the five towns. It starts off with a flat easy walk along the sea from the southern-most village to the next village. The walks become progressively more difficult between towns as you head north. We’ve never had anyone say it was hard to complete the whole trail, only that (if there were recent rains) the last hike between village four and five was a little slippery in spots. There is also a very nice hike from the harbor of the southern-most village that goes to the south. You can walk for an hour or so and then come back to the little village. This hike is not part of the walk connecting the five villages, but is well worth your time.
What people normally do the next two free days is to take one day and ride the local train northward an hour or so to visit the famous picturesque harbor port of Portofino.The other free day they use to take the local train to the southern most village in Cinque Terre (about a 30-minute ride) and hike up the coastal trail to at least village number three and then have some wine and lunch by the harbor. Some do the whole trail. Some use both days to explore the Cinque Terre area and skip going up to Portofino, all good choices. You will love this special area! B

Day 6: Exploring Monterosso in the Cinque Terre
In this area the best way to movearound is on foot along the many pre marked routes or using the train to reach the nearby towns and walk back. B

Day 7: Monterosso
Day on your own to explore this fascinating area, your tour leader gives you advices on ow to get around. B

Day 8: Monterosso/Cinque Terre > Pisa > Florence
We leave the beautiful coastal area and head into the heart of Tuscany. On the way to Florence, we will stop at Pisa so you can have your picture taken at the Leaning Tower. In Florence we are staying at a nice, simple, clean, quiet, three-star hotel. We will have two nights in this historic city. There are lots of shops and cafes/restaurants to choose from. There is more to see and do around Florence then you have time for. You are on your own for dinner tonight. B.


Day 9: Florence
This morning we will have a half-day walking tour of the main attractions, conducted by one of the licensed city guides. The afternoon is free time for you to do as you wish. B.

Day 10: Florence > Greve > San Gimignano
We leave Florence this morning and drive south into more of the delightful Tuscany region. First we’ll stop in Greve to visit the famous butchery Antica Macelleria Falorni wherewe’ll taste some local salami. Next on our culinary adventure we’ll head to a local winery for a tasting of Chianti Classico, before heading to the little medieval town of San Gimignano. You will enjoy the flow of today! In San Gimignano, we’ll stay at a nice, simple, clean, quiet, three-star hotel.. B.

Day 11: San Gimignano
Free day to enjoy on your own. B.

Day 12: San Gimignano > Perugia
This morning we continue our drive through the Tuscan countryside to Siena, the capital of the Tuscany region. We will then enjoy a walking tour with a local guide of this beautiful historic city. We’ll have lunch in Siena close to Il Campo, and then we’ll head to Perugia. In Perugia, we’ll stay at a four-star Hotel. The evening is free for you to explore and find a great place for dinner. B & L.

Day 13: Perugia > Assisi > Perugia
Today we’ll take a day trip to another lovely region called Umbria to the hillside town of Assisi where St Francis once lived. It is a gorgeous small medieval town set on a hillside with an outstanding panoramic view over the valley. It provides you with yet another feel of what Italy is all about. The Franciscan Order of monks was founded here. The combination of the pastoral mountainside setting and things to see make Assisi a winner. After exploring Assisi, we’ll return to Perugia, where you are on your own for dinner. Remember, half the fun of visiting Italy is finding new places to eat! B.

Day 14: Perugia > Torgiano > Tivoli > Rome

After a short drive (about 30 minutes), we’ll visit Lungarotti , a famous wine producer, and have a wine tasting combined with a light lunch. After enjoying our meal, we’ll head to Tivoli, where we will visit the Villa d’Este, a masterpiece Italian garden and villa, that is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Then, as all roads lead to Rome, we will follow one to this magnificent city. When we arrive we check into our nice three-star Hotel for a three-night stay. We like this hotel because of its location, which is close to the Termini Central Station in the heart of it all. It also has a rooftop terrace/bar, which provides excellent views. There is no one place in Rome you can stay that makes you close to everything you want to see, but the location of this hotel puts you in the heart of it all and only 15-20-minute walk to the Spanish Steps/Trevi Fountain and 20 minutes walk in another direction to the Coliseum. It’s perfect! B & L.

Day 15: Rome
After breakfast we will enjoy a three-hour panoramic tour of Rome, which will end at the Vatican. Once our tour is done, you can either return to the hotel on the bus, or stay to explore more and make your own way back to the hotel. The afternoon is free time for you to do as you wish. If you want to see the Vatican Museum be aware that it closes around 3 p.m. daily, or at least it has in the past. B.

Day 16: Rome

Full free day to explore. Still plenty left to see in Rome (Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, museums, etc.). You could also arrange day trip outside of Rome. This evening we will have a nice farewell dinner party with music and a little wine for all (1/2 liter per person). B & D.

Day 17: Rome to USA
Welcome home!

EXTENSIONS

You could rent a car and spend three more weeks in Italy to see areas you’ve yet to enjoy. You've seen most all the major places there are to see north of Rome, except for Milan and Genoa and other parts of the lake region. Lots of charming smaller towns and cities will still be left to discover.

You may want to consider staying over and taking the train south to Naples and see Pompeii or even spend a couple of days in Sorrento, or Positano, or elsewhere, along the Amalfi Coast. You can reach the Island of Capri from Sorrento (or Naples). Two days there might be fun. Temperature should be in the mid 70s. You could also visit Sicily or even hop down to Malta.

Buy the trip in the USA at Pat & Mike's Travel Co.
Planned dates :: 14 - 31 of October 2010
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