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Basking Under the “Tuscan” Sun
May 23 – June 3, 2005
The Tour Highlights:
Florence/Siena/San Gimignano/Bivigliano/Lucca/Chianti/
Celle sul Rigo/Assisi/Rome and more……..
Along this journey you will prepare and enjoy regional cuisine and wine tasting.
Day 1 - Depart – Newark Liberty International Airport to Rome
Early this evening you will board our trans-Atlantic flight bound for Rome. Meals and entertainment and overnight will be aloft.
Day 2 – ROME to BIVIGLIANO
You’ll arrive at Rome Airport early, after Baggage Claim and Italian Customs formalities you will board your motor-coach for a peaceful ride northward to the Region of Tuscany. Arrival at your hotel in Bivigliano, a lovely countryside village in the Florentine suburbs, will be sometime in the early afternoon. You will have plenty of time to freshen up, relax and unwind from your long journey across the Atlantic. This evening you will enjoy a wonderful Tuscan meal at a fantastic and typical Florentine cantina with music. Overnight will be in the Parkhotel Giotto (4*)
Day 3 – SAN GIMIGNANO/FLORENCE (BIVIGLIANO)
Today after your Continental buffet breakfast, depart for the medieval city of San Gimignano, in the heart of the Tuscan region. This ancient city is famous for its many bell towers built in the Middle Ages. While in San Gimignano you will have a walking city tour of its most important buildings and churches. There will be free-time to explore or shop on your own.
Later today you are in for a treat! There will be a delicious wine tasting session in a typical Tuscan (cantina) wine cellar. Tonight enjoy dinner (included) and overnight in the Parkhotel Giotto (4*)
Day 4 – BIVIGLIANO – EXCURSION TO FLORENCE
This morning after your continental buffet breakfast, depart to Florence.
You will begin with a city walking tour with a local guide: the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo), Giotto’s bell tower, the Baptistery of St. John and the Academy of Fine Arts housing the “David” by Michelangelo and his famous “Prisoners in Stone”. Afterwards the rest of the day at leisure for lunch, free-time, personal visits or shopping on your own. You will return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 5 – Lucca – Full Day with City Walking Tour
Today there will be a full day tour of the ancient city of Lucca, with its rich heritage of churches, palaces and squares, which decorate the town. Your expert guide will show you this charming town, including a visit to the main cathedral dedicated to St. Martin, dating to the 11th century. You will also visit the birthplace of great composer, Giacomo Puccini which contains a fascinating collection of his memorabilia including the piano on which he composed Turandot. Lunch (included) in Lucca. Overnight in Bivgliano.
Day 6 - BIVIGLIANO – CHIANTI REGION – SIENA – CELLE SUL RIGO
Today, departure for Siena is after breakfast, via the “Chianti Road”. You will have a sto p in Castel Fiorentino, a beautiful castle which boasts one of the most famous vineyards in the region. Today at the castle cooking lesson will be offered. Get ready to get your hands dirty! Be sure to pay attention and listen well because you will eat what you have cooked! The cooking lesson is arranged in the courtyard inside the Castle. Additionally, chef’s hats, aprons and materials for making 2 or 3 types of fresh pasta will be available. At the end everyone will show the fruits of their labour and they will be evaluated. An apron and a written recipe will be given to everyone as a gift. After lunch, proceed to Siena for a guided tour of the city: the Church of San Domenico, the Mangia Tower, the Cathedral and Piazza del Campo. Later you will continue to Celle sul Rigo, a deluxe “agriturismo” (a family owned hotel in a working vineyard and winemaking facility) for dinner and overnight.
Day 7 – CELLE SUL RIGO – Excursion to Pienza and Montalcino
Today after your continental buffet breakfast, depart to Pienza, a little renaissance town sought after by Pope Pio II; some of its palaces are real jewels of the Renaissance. Your tour continues to Montalcino, centre of wine production of the “Brunello di Montalcino” well known world over. Once again you are in for a treat today, a delicious wine-tasting session in a typical Chianti Region cellar. This evening, return again to Celle sul Rigo for dinner and overnight.
Day 8 – CELLE SUL RIGO – ASSISI – ROME
 Continental buffet breakfast this morning is served once again before the departure to Assisi, the city of Saint Francis, is a splendid example of very well preserved medieval architecture. Upon arrival you will have a walking tour of the city with a local guide. Visit the Basilica of St. Francis, partially destroyed by the earthquake of 1997 and now restored with the famous frescoes of Giotto and Cimabue and the Church of Santa Chiara. This region of Italy, known as “Umbria” is called the Green Heart of Italy for the beauty of its landscapes. Umbria, from the Latin “umbra” meaning shade or shadow is so named for the magnificent shadows cast upon its landscape. This occurs naturally by the way the sun shimmers on its picturesque rolling hills. There will be some free-time to meander and shop for a while before your departure to Rome. Arrival in Rome will be in early evening. Tonight dinner will be on your own, overnight at Grand Hotel Beverly Hills or similar 4* hotel.
Day 9 – ROME – CITY TOUR
This morning after breakfast, there will be a half day guided visit of the Monuments of Rome: Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Navona Square and St. Peter’s Basilica. This afternoon is free time to shop or be at leisure in the Eternal City. Dinner included at a local restaurant. Overnight at the Grand Hotel Beverly Hills (4*) or similar
Day 10 Free Day - ROME– Free Day – Optional Tour with price to be announced
Today Continental buffet breakfast and overnight will be in Grand Hotel Beverly Hills (4*) or similar. Today you are free to do as you wish. You may want to sleep in and relax or get out early and shop or visit some sights that are not included in this tour package. Your tour escort will be happy to give you suggestions or help you to book some half or full day tours. An “Optional Excursion” will be planned and announced prior to the departure date for those wishing to participate.
Day 11 – Rome – USA
After breakfast today you will be escorted from the hotel to Fiumecino, Leonardo daVinci Airport for your journey home. Along with you will be fond memories of this “Tuscan Adventure”.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
INCLUDED
- ROUND TRIP AIR from NEWARK to ROME
- ROUND TRIP AIRPORT TRANSFERS IN ITALY
- 9 OVERNIGHTS IN 4 STAR PROPERTIES
- ENGLISH SPEAKING TOUR ESCORT FROM DAY of ARRIVAL to DAY of
- DEPARTURE
- ENGLISH SPEAKING LOCAL GUIDES THROUGHOUT
- ENTRANCE FEES INCLUDED
- 9 CONTINENTAL BUFFET BREAKFASTS with coffee, tea, juice/5 DINNERS/1 LUNCH with DRINKS INCLUDED
- DE LUXE AIR-CONDITIONED MOTORCOACH
- 2 VISITS OF WINE CELLARS WITH WINE TASTINGS
- 1 COOKING LESSON
- PORTERAGE in HOTELS in ITALY
- TAXES & SERVICE CHARGES
- ROUND TRIP TRANSFERS TO NEWARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
- PASSPORTS and/or VISA FEES
- GRATUITIES to DRIVER, GUIDES, TOUR ESCORTS
- PORTERAGE IN AIRPORTS
- ITEMS OF PERSONAL NATURE
- BEVERAGES at MEALS UNLESS LISTED IN THE ITINERARY
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