The Trip

Travel through three of Italy’s most wild and least known provinces on a trip designed by our favorite Italian countess, Alessandra Gardino. This is the perfect outing for those of you who long to go back in time to places in Italy where the past is still alive!

Itinerary

DAY 0 – May 9: Fly from the US to Rome, Italy

DAY 1 – May 10: You will be greeted at Leonardo Da Vinci Airport in Rome and transferred by Alessandra’s hand-picked driver to our hotel in the historic center. You will have time to rest up before a welcome prosecco and dinner in a quaint local restaurant. Sleep in Rome

DAY 2 – May 11: We will start our day with a visit to the famous city of L’Aquila – once the pride of the Abruzzo region. Heavily damaged by a terrible earthquake two years ago, L’Aquila is well on its way to reclaiming its former glory. You will be moved when you see what has been done to restore the city centre! Outside the city walls we will stop to behold the church of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, one of the city’s symbols and its most important monument. After L’Aquila, we will take in Campo Imperatore, one of the highest pastures in Europe. We will enjoy amazing views at the feet of Gran Sasso mountain, and then continue towards Santo Stefano di Sessanio where we will unpack our bags for two nights. Sleep in Santo Stefano di Sessanio

DAY 3 – May 12: Today we will visit several of the most charming villages of Abruzzo, including the dramatic Rocca Calascio, an unforgettable rock-top fortress. Next, we will stop to taste the area’s “Canestrato” – a fabulous sheep cheese that we will pair with a refreshing glass of local white wine. We will then admire the beautiful local ceramic arts in the village of Castelli before we head back to Santo Stefano. Sleep in Santo Stefano di Sessanio

DAY 4 – May 13: This morning we will travel back a few hundred years in time to Scanno – a village where time has seemingly stood still. The village’s medieval layout, well preserved architecture and local traditions make it quite unique. We will meet with local young women who are still keeping alive their proud traditions by wearing dresses unique to Scanno. The women will explain how they make their dresses, how much each dress weighs and why they don’t want to let this tradition disappear. After admiring the beauty of Lake Scanno we will hit the road for a two-night stay in Sulmona, the birthplace of the famed Latin poet/writer Ovid. We must not forget to try “confetti” – an awesome local treat of sugar-coated almonds usually reserved for weddings and special celebrations. Sleep in Sulmona

DAY 5 – May 14: This morning we will drive to Pescocostanzo, one of the region’s most charming villages. After a visit to the beautiful Basilica of Santa Maria al Colle we will have time to wander this picturesque city centre before we learn the beautiful secrets of “merletto al tombolo” (hand-made lace) that many of the women of Pescocostanzo continue to produce. We will then drop in at an Abruzzese winery to sample the local red wine, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and the local white, Trebbiano. Sleep in Sulmona

DAY 6 – May 15: This morning we will say good bye to Abruzzo with a visit to three more charming centers: the medieval Citta’ Sant’Angelo, the old Roman centre of Silvi Paese and the beautiful village of Atri. En route we will dine at an amazing farmhouse where we will learn the secrets of the local cuisine. In Atri we will pay a visit to an ancient Roman cistern and then learn about the production of a local favorite: liquorices candies. We will then make our way to the Marche region and our first stop, the lovely city of Ascoli Piceno. Sleep in Ascoli Piceno

DAY 7 – May 16: We will spend the morning exploring beautiful Ascoli Piceno, enjoying its amazing main square, Piazza del Popolo, and its remarkable bell towers and ancient buildings. We will pay visit to the historic Caffe’ Meletti, one of the oldest and best known caffes in Italy, and after a very pleasant light lunch we will hit the road to reach the Adriatic coastline.  We will stop to visit Loreto, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Europe and home to impressive art and architectural masterpieces dating from the mid 15th and 16th centuries. We will then reach Pesaro, where we will check into a very special hotel – our home for the next three nights. Sleep in Pesaro

DAY 8 – May 17: This morning we will first pay a short visit to the impressive walled village of Corinaldo and then take in some more of the Adriatic coastline with a stop at the charming city of Fano, where we will enjoy a very special seafood lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the beautiful centre of Gradara. We will learn about its timeless castle and one of the most romantic and dramatic love stories of all time: the love story of Paolo and Francesca. Sleep in Pesaro

DAY 9 – May 18: We will spend the day exploring Urbino and learning about its interesting history. Birthplace of Raphael and Bramante, this city became famous across Europe during the lifetime of Federico di Montefeltro. Today we can visit the Ducal palace and the incredible Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, where we will admire timeless masterpieces by the most important artists of the Italian Renaissance.  Sleep in Pesaro

DAY 10 – May 19: This morning we will say good-bye to the Adriatic coastline and make our way to one Marche’s greatest attractions – the magical Caves of Frassasi. After a local lunch we will stop to visit the medieval centre of Fabriano and one of the best pastry shops in the world. We will also learn about traditional paper making in Fabriano’s paper museum before we head to the final stop of the day, the medieval town of Gubbio. Sleep in Gubbio

DAY 11 – May 20: This morning we will enjoy the second phase of Gubbio’s “Race of the Candles”, Italy’s second largest folkoric/religious festival. Frequently compared to Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls, the “Festa d’ Ceri” is a vigorous feast for the soul. You will enjoy the “Ceri Mezzani” (the teenage running of the candles) from the comforts of your own balcony inside Alessandra’s 150-room family palazzo. Later you can climb to the top of Mount Ingino for a view of Gubbio, Italy’s best preserved medieval village. Tonight you will be cordially invited to the Ranghiasci Palace by Countess Alessandra for a lavish dinner. Sleep in Gubbio

Day 12 – May 21: This morning you will be transferred very early to the airport in Rome (2.5 hours) to catch your flight to the US – or you can start your trip extension in Umbria.  You can also enjoy an optional post-night in Rome in case your flight departs too late. If this is the case, we will help you see more of the Eternal City.

Trip Extension

For tour participants who wish to improve their Italian language skills, we have organized an extension of one week of TOTAL IMMERSION in Italian conversation. This unforgettable week-long trip will be based in the great Umbrian hilltowns of Gubbio (5 nights) and Orvieto (2 nights) and it will include local sightseeing trips that will create all kinds of situations for you to learn and practice Italian.

May 21- Day 12: If you are starting your trip extension after the Abruzzo and Marche tour, this morning you will visit the local market to learn how to bargain and chit chat with friendly local vendors. You will visit the butcher, salumeria and panetteria to learn the language of food and wine. In the late afternoon, we will gather in a special room at Alessandra’s palace to discuss the day’s activities IN ITALIAN. Sleep in Gubbio

May 22 - Day 13: This morning we will take all of the ingredients that you bought yesterday at the local market to a local home to cook up a great feast. This is a true rural Italian home where nobody speaks English so we will be forced to prepare our meal together IN ITALIAN. Sleep in Gubbio

May 23 - Day 14: Today we will visit a few of the most important sights of Gubbio including the impressive Duomo and most important museum. Our teacher will share with us the history of the city and ask questions IN ITALIAN. Later, we will meet at a local a café to discuss the day’s activities IN ITALIAN. Sleep in Gubbio

May 24 - Day 15: Today we will pay a special visit to a local ceramics laboratory where we will learn about this age-old art form from experts IN ITALIAN. At this point we will encourage you to ask questions IN ITALIAN. Sleep in Gubbio

May 25 - Day 16: We will start our day with a lovely drive to Lake Trasimeno where we will visit the very olive oil mill where Pavarotti bought his olive oil. The mill’s manager will explain how oil is made IN ITALIAN and we can ask questions IN ITALIAN. Sleep in Gubbio

May 26 - Day 17: Today we will make our way to the lovely hilltown of Orvieto following the middle watershed of the Tiber River. After checking into our centrally located hotel we will visit Orvieto’s world famous duomo with an Italian speaking guide. The tour will be conducted in Italian and we can ask questions IN ITALIAN. Remember – you can’t learn until you give it a try! Sleep in Orvieto

May 27 - Day 18: Today we will continue our exploration of Orvieto with a visit to a special handicrafts store called “Bottega Michelangeli”. The shop’s history will be explained IN ITALIAN. We will then proceed to a pastry shop owned by Maurizio, an early disciple of the Slow Food Movement, who will teach you a few Umbrian cooking secrets IN ITALIAN. Back at the hotel, we will meet with our teacher one last time to review the wonderful experiences we have had together IN ITALIAN. Sleep in Orvieto

May 28 - Day 19: This morning you will leave Orvieto very early in time to catch flights to the USA from Rome airport (a 1.5 hour drive)….

Or, if you don’t want to go home, we can find you a house in Umbria where you can live forever and ever!

What’s included in the trip:

• Accommodation in carefully selected, centrally-located hotels and charming country inns
• All group transportation in a deluxe private bus
• Meals: all breakfasts, one main meal a day (3 or 4 courses with wine)
• Tour leading by highly professional tour guides
• Entrance to museums and attractions as per itinerary
• Cooking class
• Wine, cheese, oil, local products tastings
• Pre and post tour planning assistance
  

What’s not included in the trip:

• International airfare to and from Italy
• Personal expenses
• Tips for drivers and guides
• Travel Insurance

12 days, 11 nights
US $3,895 per person in double room
US $680 single supplement

Itinerary details:
1 night in Rome
2 nights in Santo Stefano di Sessanio
2 nights in Sulmona
1 night in Ascoli Piceno
3 nights in Pesaro
2 nights in Gubbio

Trip extension in Umbria:

7 nights, 8 days
US $1,890 per person in double room
US $350 single supplement

Itinerary details:
5 nights in Gubbio
2 nights in Orvieto