On the path of Saint Francis and the Etruscans

Walk through the enchanting hilltowns of Umbria, Tuscany and Lazio on the ancient roads of the Etruscans and lesser-known routes of St. Francis, patron saint of Italy. The mysterious Etruscans, a civilization that flourished in central Italy 3,000 years ago, left behind excavated roads which once connected key centers of both commerce and worship. Today the traces of these roads intersect with the path that Saint Francis followed when he made his way across Central Italy in the late 1200’s.

This trip is dedicated to the traveller who wants to touch the soil of Italy and smell its unforgettable fragrances on an active walking trip. But don’t worry! We will also concentrate on art, history and an M&G specialty: food and wine.

May 18th 2008 - sold out - let us know if you are interested in a different departure date as we are thinking about adding a departure!!

Itinerary:
Day 0: Fly from the US to Rome

Day 1 – Orvieto
After your arrival in Rome, you will be greeted and transferred to Orvieto, a picturesque Umbrian town built on a high plateau of tufa rock. Tonight enjoy a special welcome dinner in a privately owned Etruscan cave.  Sleep in Orvieto

Day 2 – Orvieto
Explore the beautiful, crumbling village of Civita di Bagnoreggio and an earthy lunch cooked over an open fireplace in an old olive oil mill. Later, behold Orvieto’s Duomo and its amazing Renaissance frescoes – the very works of art that inspired Michelangelo to paint his Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel.
Sleep in Orvieto

Day 3 – Pitigliano and Sovana
Visit Pitigliano, an enchanting town that sits on a sharp bluff high above three rivers and then walk the “Vie Cave” or excavated roads of the Etruscans. These amazing walking paths were cut out of the tufa rock thousands of years ago. In Sovana we will visit an amazing little church that is a mix of pagan Mother Earth symbols and those of the Christian faith.
Sleep in Orvieto.

Day 4 – Gubbio
Transfer to Gubbio, one of the best preserved medieval villages in central Italy. You will be invited to an ancient palace where your hostess Alessandra will transport you back in time so that you can understand how her ancestors used to live, eat, pray and die. She will also explain Gubbio’s famous “Ceri Festival” and the important link Saint Francis had to this hilltown.
Sleep in Gubbio

Day 5 – Gubbio
This morning you are welcome back to Alessandra’s palace for a cooking class that will teach you some of the basics of Umbrian cuisine. Later, take a funicular to the top of Monte Ingino and walk back to town by way of a hidden valley and tiny church that was featured in a recent movie about St. Francis.
Sleep in Gubbio

Day 6 – Assisi and the Mount Subasio Park
During a special tour of Assisi you will see the treasures that adorn St. Francis’s basilica including the tomb of the Saint and Giotto’s frescoes. Later, you can climb to the mystic Eremo delle Carceri,a monastery hidden among oaks where Saint Francis communed with nature. Today the Eremo serves as a memorial for Saint Francis’s love and devotion to nature.
Sleep in Gubbio

Day 7 – Trasimeno Lake and Tuscany
Today you will make your way towards Tuscany, a region famed for its Sangiovese wine and incredible food. But instead of staying on the beaten path, you will visit Trasimeno Lake, the site of a bird sanctuary and environmental research centre. Here you will take a local boat to the unforgettable island of Polvese to search for rare birds including the African stork. On the shores of the lake you will be introduced to the region’s incredible olive oil. We are certaint  you will never think the same way about this amazing substance again.
Sleep in the Tuscan countryside.

Day 8 – La Verna
Today you will enjoy one of your journey’s finest walks on the Franciscan trail between Monte Calvano and La Verna, a key site in the great story of Saint Francis. You can sit in the very spot where Saint Francis is said to have received the wounds of Jesus or stigmata. No matter your faith, you will find “something special” here. After a lunch and visit to the monastery, you will enjoy a farewell feast with your fellow travelers.
Sleep near La Verna.

Day 9 – Transfer to Florence
Your journey ends this morning in Florence where you can either fly home or commence a post-trip stay which can include a visit to Venice, Rome nearby Liguria’s famed Cinque Terre.

Journey Details:
• Departure date for 2008: May 18
• Length: 8 days, 9 nights
• Price: $2,585 per person in double room (land only)
• $385 single room supplement
• Deposit: $500 is required to hold space

Highlights:
• Travel with a small group! We prefer 15 travellers but we NEVER accept more than 20.
• Eat the best Italian food in small boutique restaurants
• Sleep in an amazing countryside estate in the heart of Tuscany
• Enjoy special talks and visits with Alessandra and other intriguing Italian personalities
• Enjoy an amazing cooking class in our 150-room, ancestral palazzo.

It’s Included!
• All land transportation in private bus
• All hotel accommodation
• All breakfasts and 11 lunches or dinners
• Cooking class
• Olive oil tasting
• All entrances to museums and attractions as per itinerary
• Professional tour leading