Italy Untold

In the morning, we pick up the rental car at Fiumicino airport or Termini station, then departure towards Civita di Bagnoregio, the ‘dying city’, suspended in time and space: perched on the top of a tuff hill and reachable only through a narrow pedestrian bridge from which you can enjoy a wonderful panorama, it is undoubtedly one of the most impressive Italian hill-top villages. We then continue to Perugia, a city rich in history and monuments and home of the Baci, the world-famous chocolates with love phrases in their wraps. Here it is possible to visit the historic centre on your own or with a private guide. At the end of the day accommodation and overnight stay at the hotel. Meals included: –

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Walk with a private guide in Perugia (private).

Breakfast at the hotel, then departure for Siena. Here you can join a guided tour of the city to admire the famous shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and learn about the history and traditions of the famous Palio.Then we continue towards Florence, driving along these roads will be a pleasure for the eyes and the mind, among rolling hills and fortified villages. Do not miss a stop in San Gimignano, the medieval ‘City of the Hundred Towers’: here you can take a guided walk in the surrounding nature, with the opportunity of a nice tasting of the famous local white wine, called Vernaccia, and of other exquisite typical local products.At the end of the day we reach Florence, where we spend the night at the hotel. Meals included: Breakfast.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Guided tour of Siena (private).

Breakfast at the hotel, then full day trip dedicated to discovering Florence: a food voucher is included to taste the typical local products while walking through the streets of the city centre. We recommend visiting the interior of the Duomo, with the famous Brunelleschi Dome, or one of the main museums: the Uffizi Galleries, with the masterpieces of the masters of the Italian Renaissance (Leonardo, Caravaggio, Raffaello, Tiziano, Botticelli and many others), or the Accademia Gallery, which houses the original of Michelangelo’s famous statue of David. At the end of the visit to Florence, departure to discover the beauty of the authentic Emilia’s countryside with its picturesque “borghi, from which it will be possible to enjoy the peaceful landscape of this area and easily reach the main city such as Modena, Bologna or Ferrara at the feet of the Appennini mountains.Hotel overnight stay. Meals included: Breakfast.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Florence Walking tour (regular or private); Skip-the-Line guided tour of the Cathedral of Florence, with Brunelleschi’s Dome and Secret Terraces (small group); Guided tour of the Accademia Gallery (small group); Uffizi group tour (small group); Cooking class & Market tour (small group).

Breakfast at the hotel, then departure for Ferrara, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Free time to admire the most characteristic monuments, such as the Palazzo dei Diamanti, the Romanesque Gothic Cathedral and the Estense Castle. Continuation to Ravenna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its wonderful Byzantine mosaics, which can be visited on ones own or with a private guide. At the end of the day, return to your hotel and overnight stay at the hotel. Meals included: Breakfast.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Walk through Ravenna with a private guide (private); Bologna Walking tour (private).

Breakfast at the hotel, then morning dedicated to the visit of Bologna. The entrance ticket to the medieval Torre degli Asinelli, symbol of the city, is included, as well as a taste of a local product and an ice cream. Once climbed ca. 500 steps leading to the top, it is possible to enjoy an unforgettable panoramic view of the city. Before leaving Bologna, it is also possible to organize a cooking class with lunch at the house of a real ‘sfoglina’, one of those ladies who still make egg pasta by hand according to the ancient recipe. In the afternoon, continuation in the direction of La Spezia, and make a stop in Modena, where a visit to a vinegar factory is scheduled with a taste of the famous balsamic vinegar. Do not miss Piazza Grande, the heart of the town, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the Cathedral and the bell tower, called Ghirlandina. At the end of the day, arrival in La Spezia surroundings, a great location for exploring the Cinque Terre. Accommodation overnight stay at the hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast.OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Cooking class in Bologna with a real ‘sfoglina’ (semi-private); Train to San Luca & Picnic Box (regular).

Breakfast at the hotel, then day dedicated to the discovery of the famous Cinque Terre, the stretch of coast with the 5 fishing villages perched over the sea: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. A one-day Cinque Terre Train Card is included, which allows the access to the National Park area and to all the natural trails, as well as the use of local buses. For gastronomy enthusiasts, we can organize a tasting of wine and typical products in Monterosso, or a cooking lesson in Manarola to learn how to make the “pesto” according to the traditional recipe. Sports enthusiasts can opt for a mountain E-bike ride with a guide on one of the many scenic routes of the Gulf of Poets. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Wine tasting in Manarola or Monterosso (regular); Pesto experience in Manarola (small group); La Spezia Food tour (small group); E-bike tour from La Spezia (small group).

After breakfast at the hotel, we set off for Orvieto. Here plenty of time at your disposal for a self-guided visit of the town. Don’t miss the majestic Gothic Cathedral and the suggestive St Patrick’s Well. Then we continue towards Rome; along the way we recommend stopping at the bizarre Monster Park of Bomarzo, an enigmatic garden, dating back to the Renaissance period, adorned with impossible architecture and large sculptures of dragons, monsters, mythological subjects and exotic animals. Depending on the time available, another suggested stop could be in Narni, a picturesque Umbrian town that gives its name to the ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ by CS Lewis. Here you can visit the medieval historic centre and discover all the secrets of the ‘Underground Narni ‘, or simply relax in the surrounding nature in front of the clear turquoise waters of the Mole di Narni Lake, a small jewel known only by the locals. At the end of the day, return the car to Rome Fiumicino airport or Termini station, or you can continue the journey by hooking up another of our itineraries. Meals included: Breakfast.

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