A special itinerary through rolling hills, vineyards and olive groves, interrupted by picturesque medieval villages. Basilicas, churches and small chapels beautifully decorated with frescos. Roman cities, necropolis, historical bridges and ancient aqueducts. Plazas full of life, cheerfulness and colours… From the magnificence of Rome to the refinement of Florence, through the romantic, beating heart of Italy…

[OVERVIEW]

ROME - ORVIETO, DERUTA AND BEVAGNA - ASSISI, SPELLO AND MONTEFALCO - SIENA, PIENZA AND MONTEPULCIANO - PERUGIA - SPOLETO, NORCIA - FLORENCE

It is a special tour to discover a land full of history, art and culture. An ancient land exuding great vital energy, ready to embrace you and tempt your curiosity; to open your mind and your heart. You will get in touch with the masterpieces of the great painters of the Italian Renaissance, kept in Museums or jealously guarded in churches and chapels, away from tourist crowds. You will get an insight of the stillness of the undulating landscapes and lose yourself in the soft colours of the landscape which look like they have come straight out of the same frescoes. You will retrace the path of the ancient people who lived in these lands for more than 3000 years. You will catch the mystical spirit of San Francis of Assisi, one the most loved saints in the world and perhaps the first true pacifist in history. You will taste the famous Tuscan and Umbrian wines. You will also taste the thousand flavours of the local cuisine and will discover its secrets. And then you will observe how the skilful artisans give shape to their precious ceramics, you will walk through narrow and winding alleys, crossing colourful plazas, enjoy enchanting views… the enormous, beating heart of Italy will win your heart forever.

Highlights of this Tour

• Get an insight of the Roman atmosphere walking along the most famous streets of the Eternal City as well as the less famous ones and discover their little secrets.
• Enjoy a special tour through the places that are still today a testimony of the greatness of ancient Rome
• Admire the typical landscape of central Italy embraced by the green of the vineyards and olive groves and surrounded by abbeys, castles, walls and medieval towers
• Discover the charm of the small villages of Umbria and watch the mastery of the Umbrian artisans while they work
• Taste the renowned Sagrantino wine and the delicacies of the Umbrian hams, sausages, salamis and cheeses in a special visit to one of the most popular wineries in Montefalco
• Admire some of the rare gems of renaissance painting: Luca Signorelli’s frescoes, jealously guarded in the wonderful Church of Orvieto, Pintoricchio’s work in Spello and Perugino’s (the Divine Painter) paintings in Perugia
• Live the magic of the city of Assisi and the mysticism of the Franciscan sites
• Let us take you through the medieval alleys of the most beautiful cities of Umbria and discover the precious gems they guard: Orvieto, Spoleto, Perugia and their superb plazas, cathedrals, fountains, fortresses
• Taste and experience the authentic Italian cuisine and its inimitable recipes: within a fascinating context, an expert chef will guide you, step by step, through the making and tasting of some of Italy’s most famous dishes
• Be charmed by the colours and the landscapes of Siena and Val d’Orcia: intense yellows, lively reds, golden ochre, oranges that pulsate in green meadowlands and valleys
• Pamper yourself with an extremely refined dinner in an elegant restaurant managed by a young chef who has been able to appreciate the products of his land with creativity and respect for tradition
• Follow our guide through the hidden streets of Florence, visiting the most beautiful masterpieces of Michelangelo
• Be amazed by the prestigious “Made in Italy” brands, which you will be able to buy at affordable prices at outlet shops where Italians do their shopping.

[MORETEXT]

8 Days - Tour starts SATURDAY - Tour ends SATURDAY

Your Fuoritinerario – discover your Italy journey includes:

• 8 Nights Accommodation: 2 nights in Rome, in an exclusive, fascinating 4 star or higher Hotel centrally located, in one of the most striking areas of the city; 6 nights in Umbria at a fabulous Mansion with 5 star services with accommodation in superior bedrooms
• 8 American breakfasts with a delicious buffet, all inclusive; 4 lunch meals in different typical Italian restaurants; 5 Dinners at exclusive and characteristic restaurants (drinks included with meals)
• Private minibus with private English speaking driver available all throughout the tour for all transportations as specified in the programme
• All guided tours indicated in the programme with specialized local guides (professional local  English speaking Guides) and all entrance fees to visited places included:

–    Rome Orientation Tour

–    Orvieto Guided Tour

–    Visit to the artisans’ workshops in Deruta

–    Guided tour to Spello, Assisi and Franciscan Sites

–    Visit to the cellars of Montefalco

–    Guided tour to Siena and Val d’Orcia villages (Pienza and Montalcino)

–    Guided tour to Perugia, with National Gallery of Umbria and Collegio del Cambio

–    Cooking lessons of a typical Italian menu by an expert chef

–    Orientation tour to Florence, visit of Classical Florence and visit to the Gallerie dell’Accademia

–    Guided tour to Spoleto and the Valnerina villages (Norcia, Castelluccio, Preci)

–    Guided tour to “Ancient Rome”, with entrance to the Coliseum

• All your luggage handling
• All the tips for guides, drivers, restaurant and hotel staff
• Supporting Trip information for your itinerary

The Fuoritinerario – discover your Italy advantage:

• “Exclusive” itinerary by Fuoritinerario-discover your Italy, which will allow you to discover a more authentic Italy
• 8 full days of Tour and 8 Nights Accommodation
• Private group, max 12 persons, including all the indicated services, exclusively reserved for your group
• Support of our escorts and local guides for the entire Tour
• Start and end of the Tour in Rome (this location will make easier your air connection, or any other transportation you decide to take)
• Guaranteed Tour price and value for money absolutely competitive

The price does not include:

• Air Transport to/from Italy (Air transportation, airport taxes, passport expenses and visas if required)
• Fees for transportation, guides and sightseeing not included in the itinerary
• Personal and shopping expenses
• Insurance (Health, Accident, Baggage and Trip cancellation insurance)
• Everything that is not specifically included in the section “the price includes”

An artistic journey through Italian sites that have been declared World Heritage by UNESCO. Museums, art collections, Palladian villas, treasures of the Vatican, Venice and its lagoon, the cultural heritage of Assisi, the ruins of Pompeii…

[OVERVIEW]

ROME, TIVOLI (Villas) – POMPEII, NAPLES, CASERTA (Royal Palace) – ASSISI, DERUTA, MONTEFALCO – RAVENNA – VENICE, VENETO: Villas by PALLADIO and ASOLO – FLORENCE – SIENA, PIENZA, MONTALCINO – TARQUINIA and CERVETERI

A magical and thrilling tour set out to discover the Italian genius in the magnificence of Rome, the liveliness of Naples, the charm of Venice and the elegance of Florence. Italy appears first on the list of protected sites, prepared by UNESCO, due to its exceptional artistic and cultural richness and to the beauty and diversity of its natural environment.

Our itinerary, original and spectacular will give you the opportunity to admire some of the most beautiful World Heritage Sites you could possibly visit.

We will take you to the most beautiful locations of those cities, real and characteristic outdoor museums in the form of palaces, plazas, basilicas, churches and castles.

You will be able to personally enjoy the tangible expression of Italy’s millenary history: the splendour of the Roman emperors in the Villa Adriana (Hadrian’s Villa) of Tivoli, the every-day life in 79 AD in Pompeii, the ancient Etruscan civilization whose remains are still visible in the Necropolis of Tarquinia and Cerveteri, the splendour of the Royal Palace of Caserta and the classic perfection of the Palladian Villas.

And moreover: Siena and the hills of the Val d’Orcia, Assisi and the magic of the Franciscan sites, where you will discover amazing landscapes and places where secular traditions are still alive. You will taste the marvellous wines from Tuscany and Umbrian, famous for their outstanding quality and taste. You will discover the thousands of tastes of Italian cuisine. You will be able to observe artisans creating precious terracotta ceramics just like their ancestors have done for centuries.

History, art and poetry in a tour that will make you live an enchanting and unforgettable experience.

Highlights of this Tour

• Enjoy a special tour of sites that still today, witness the magnificence of ancient Rome.
• Follow our expert through the treasures of the Vatican Museums and the wonders of the Sistine Chapel, far from the tourist crowds.
• Relive the splendour of the Roman emperors in the Villa Adriana (Hadrian’s Villa) in Tivoli and the Bourbon Kings in the Royal Palace of Caserta.
• Explore Pompeii and discover an ancient world still intact today, after 2000 years.
• Taste the authentic Neapolitan pizza: a “real” pizza chef will reveal to you the secrets of the best pizza you will ever taste.
• Discover the charm of the small villages of Umbria and observe the mastery of the Umbrian artisans at work.
• Taste the renowned Sagrantino wine and the delicacies of the Umbrian hams, sausages, salamis and cheeses in a special visit to one of the most popular wineries in Montefalco.
• Live the magic of the city of Assisi and the mysticism of the Franciscan sites.
• Be amazed at the sight of the thousands of colourful and golden tessera of the Byzantine Mosaics in Ravenna.
• Discover the “Hidden Venice”, following our expert through a secret itinerary unknown to most tourists.
• Travel through the channels of Venice in the most romantic way: aboard a gondola.
• Attend an unforgettable concert of Venetian strings.
• Admire the perfection of style of Andrea Palladio and his marvellous Villas.
• Pamper yourself with a very refined dinner in one of the best gourmet restaurants in Florence.
• Follow our guide through the streets of the picturesque neighbourhood of Oltrarno and visit the workshops of master Florentine artisans.
• Enjoy a marvellous visit to the Vasari Corridor, the most beautiful and inaccessible area in the Uffizi Gallery, exclusively open for you.
• Discover the secrets of the mysterious and refined Etruscan civilisation in the Necropoli of Cerveteri and Tarquinia.
• Be charmed by the colours and the landscapes around Siena and Val d’Orcia: the intense yellow, lively reds, golden ochre, oranges that pulsate in green meadowlands, hills and valleys.

[MORETEXT]

13 Days - Tour starts MONDAY - Tour ends SATURDAY

Your Fuoritinerario – Discover Your Italy journey includes:

• 13 Nights Accommodation in exclusive and fascinating 4 star or higher Hotels, centrally located, in the most suggestive spots of the city, with accommodation in Superior rooms, when available
• 13 Full American breakfasts with a delicious buffet or with exclusive table service, all inclusive; 6 Lunches in different typical Italian restaurants and 5 Dinners in characteristic and exclusive restaurants (meals include drinks)
• Private minibus, with private English speaking driver, available for the entire Tour, as indicated in the programme and all the transfers during the Tour, as indicated in the programme
• Transfers by private boat from/to the hotel in Venice
• All the guided visits indicated in the programme, with professional local English Speaking Guides and including the entrance fees to the visited sites:

– Orientation tour in Rome

– Guided visit “Ancient Rome”, including entrance ticket to the Colosseum

– Guided visit to the Basilica ofSan Pietro, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, including entrance ticket and fast track entrance to the Museums

– Full Day excursion, with guided visit to Tivoli, Villa Adriana (Hadrian’s Villa) and Villa d’Este, including entrance tickets into the villas

– Guided visit of the archaeological site of Pompeii, including entrance ticket

– Guided tour to the centre of Naples, including entrance tickets for the Churches visited

– Cooking lesson – “Pizza Making”

– Guided visit to the Royal Palace of Caserta, including entrance ticket

– Full Day excursion, with a visit to the artisan ateliers in Deruta and wineries of Montefalco and guided visit to Assisi and Franciscan Sites

– Guided visit in Ravenna, including entrance tickets to the Basilicas and Mausoleums

– Orientation tour in Venice

– Guided visit “hidden Venice”, including entrance tickets to the Frari Church

– A private gondola tour

– Booking and entrance ticket for a Venetian music concert

– Full Day excursion to Asolo and Palladian Villas, with guided visit to Villa Emo, Villa Foscari, Villa Barbaro, including entrance tickets to the Villas

– Orientation tour of Florence, including entrance ticket to the Galleria dell’Accademia

– Guided visit “Oltrarno and the Artisan workshops in Florence”

– Guided visit to Uffizi Gallery and Vasari Corridor, including fast track entrance and ticket to the Museum and exclusive opening of the Corridor

– Full Day excursion with a guided visit to Siena, Montalcino and Pienza

– Guided visit to the sites of Tarquinia and Cerveteri, including entrance ticket

• All your laggage handling
• All the tips for guides, drivers, restaurant and hotel staff
• Supporting Trip information for your itinerary

The Fuoritinerario – Discover Your Italy advantage:

• “Exclusive” itinerary, designed and organized by Fuoritinerario-discover your Italy, which will allow you to discover the most authentic Italy
• From your arrival to departure, all is taken care of; accommodation for every single night and tour activities during every single day of your stay
• Private group, minimum 6 and maximum 12 persons, including all the indicated services exclusively reserved for your group
• Full personalised support from our hosts and local guides during the entire Tour
• Start and end of the Tour in Rome: this central location will make it easier for you to take your air connection or any other means of transportation
• Guaranteed Tour prices, great value for money, absolutely competitive for the very high level of services included

The price does not include:

• Air Transport to/from Italy (Air transportation, airport taxes, passport expenses and visas if required)
• Fees for transportation, guides and sightseeing not included in the itinerary
• Personal and shopping expenses
• Insurance (Health, Accident, Baggage and Trip cancellation insurance)
• Everything that is not specifically included in the section “the price includes”

Retracing the Consular Road which heads north from Rome, an original and unique tour through the past to discover the history of italian civilisation. From Rome to the Etruscan necropolis of Tarquinia and Cerveteri, from Orvieto to the beautiful villages between Umbria and Tuscany, from the beautiful places of St Francis in Assisi to the liveliness of Perugia, you arrive at Pisa with its “Field of Miracles” and Volterra with its unique marvels. Then on to Florence and Rome, to discover a wealth of arts and to experience Italian life today!

[OVERVIEW]

ROME -  CERVETERI, TARQUINIA, CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO – ORVIETO, PITIGLIANO/SORANA/ SOVANA (‘Vie Cave’) - ASSISI, PERUGIA, DERUTA - PISA, VOLTERRA - FLORENCE

Right at the very heart of the Empire: The Consular Roads connected Rome, the capital of the Empire, to its more remote provinces. Retracing them today, in their well-preserved beauty, not only can their clearly visible glorious past be seen, but there is also the incredible richness of landscapes, towns and villages is waiting to be discovered along their traces.

This original itinerary will take you along one of the most evocative parts of the Via Aurelia, the main roman connection between Rome, Pisa, and finally Florence. Submerged in the magic of the landscapes in Central Italy, the crossroads between Lazio, Umbria and Tuscany.

Landscapes that still now bare witness of its millennial history, ancient clues which emerge from this magical ancestral land: the World Heritage sites of Tarquinia and Cerveteri Etruscan burial sites, the intricate Vie Cave, roads cut out in stone, and the villages sculpted in “tufo” sandstone near Orvieto, the magnificent superimposition of history in the ancient and medieval cities of Perugia and Volterra.

And whilst visiting Italy’s glorious past experience the Italian way of life in present days: you will be accompanied through the buzzing Italian life in a Florence street market or the quarter of Trastevere in Rome. Skillfull craftsmen will create their works of art before your eyes; beautiful traditional ceramics in Deruta, works of art in alabaster in Volterra. Tasting of traditional salami, pecorino cheese and good wine!

And witness the art of Italy’s magnificent culture: The frescos by Signorelli in the Cathedral of Orvieto, the magic of Giotto in the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, the masterpieces of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, the genius of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel in Rome, the marvels of the Campo dei Miracoli in Pisa. An itinerary rich in treasures and emotions!

Highlights of this Tour

• Enjoy a special tour of sites that still today, witness the magnificence of ancient Rome
• Breath Rome’s atmosphere walking along the most famous streets of the Eternal City and discover its secret corners.
• Live the glamorous Roman “Dolce Vita”; From Trastevere to Piazza di Spagna, visiting the places the Romans themselves like best.
• Admire Michelangelo’s masterpiece in fresco : “The Creation” and “ The Last Judgement” in the spectacular Sistine Chapel.
• Discover the secrets of the 3000 year old mysterious and refined Etruscan civilisation, in the burial sites of Cerveteri and Tarquinia.
• Be captivated by the “ghost town” of Civita di Bagnoregio  or the narrow Etruscan ways cut out in the “tufo” sandstone of the Vie Cave.
• Let us take you through the medieval streets of the  most beautiful cities of Umbria to discover the precious gems they guard: Orvieto and Perugia and their superb plazas, cathedrals and fountains.
• Admire some of gems of renaissance painting: Luca Signorelli’s frescos, jealously guarded in the wonderful Cathedral of Orvieto and Perugino’s (the Divine Painter) paintings in Perugia.
• Live the magic of the city of Saint Francis, Assisi
• Taste the authentic Italian cuisine and their inimitable recipes in some of the most authentic restaurants and farm inns of Umbria and Tuscany.
• Observe the mastery of craftsmen at work: Artistic traditional majolica pottery at Deruta, works of art  in alabaster in Volterra.
• Contemplate the marvels of the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) at Pisa, with its fascinating Leaning Tower.
• Enjoy a marvellous visit to see the masterpieces of Florence, far from the crowds  and so much more intense.
• Let yourself be guided through the masterpieces of one of the most famous museums in the world: The Uffizi Gallery.
• Follow our wine and food expert through the central market of Florence and taste a wealth of traditional and characteristic of products directly from the market stalls.
• Pamper yourself with an extremely refined dinner in a Florentine gourmet restaurant.

[MORETEXT]

9 Days - Tour starts FRIDAY - Tour ends SATURDAY

Your Fuoritinerario – Discover Your Italy Tour includes:

• 9 Nights Accommodation in exclusive and fascinating 4 star or higher Hotels, centrally located in the most suggestive spots of the cities, with accommodation, where appropriate, in Superior rooms.
• 9 Full American breakfast with a delicious buffet or with exclusive table service, all included; 4 Lunches in different typical Italian restaurants and 4 Dinners at exclusive and characteristic restaurants (all meals include drinks)
• Private minibus with English speaking private driver, available for the entire Tour, as indicated in the programme and all the transfers during the Tour, as specified in the programme
• All guided tours and visits indicated in the programme with specialised local English Speaking Guides,  including all the entrance fees to visited sites:

–    Rome Orientation Tour

–    Guided tour “Ancient Rome”, including entrance ticket to the Colosseum

–    Guided tour to St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, including preferential access and entrance ticket to the Museums

–    Guided tour of the archeological sites of Tarquinia and Cerveteri,  including entrance tickes

–    Visit to the ghost village of Civita di Bagnoregio

–    Guided visit to the “Vie Cave” and the villages of Pitigliano/Sovana/Sorano

–    Guided tour to Orvieto, including entrance ticket to the Cathedral

–    Guided tour of Assisi and all the Franciscan sites

–    Guided tour to Perugia, including entrance ticket to the Collegio del Cambio

–    Guided tour to Pisa, including entrance tickets to the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral, the Baptisery

–    Guided tour to Volterra

–    Orientation tour of Florence, including entrance ticket to the Galleria dell’Accademia

–    Guided visit to Uffizi Gallery and Vasari Corridor, including fast track entrance and ticket to the Museum

–    Guided visit to “Florence traditional markets”, including food tastings

–    Guided tour to Trastevere neighborhood in Rome

• All your luggage handling
• All the tips for the guides, drivers, restaurant and hotel staff
• Trip Literature for your itinerary

The Fuoritinerario – Discover Your Italy advantage:

• “Exclusive” itinerary, designed and organized by Fuoritinerario-discover your Italy, which will allow you to discover the most authentic Italy
• From your arrival to departure, all is taken care of; accommodation for every single night and tour activities during every single day of your stay
• Private group, minimum 6 and maximum 12 persons, including all the indicated services exclusively reserved for your group
• Full personalised support from our hosts and local guides during the entire Tour
• Start and end of the Tour in Rome: this central location will make it easier for you to take your air connection or any other means of transportation
• Guaranteed Tour prices, great value for money, absolutely competitive for the very high level of services included

The price does not include:

• Air Transport to/from Italy (Air transportation, airport taxes, passport expenses and visas if required)
• Fees for transportation, guides and sightseeing not included in the itinerary
• Personal and shopping expenses
• Insurance (Health, Accident, Baggage and Trip cancellation insurance)
• Everything that is not specifically included in the section “the price includes”

A unique tour to discover the true spirit of Italy through its hidden jewels. The Cities of Art: Perugia, Urbino, Ravenna, Parma, Lucca, Pisa, Siena, amazing open-air museums.  The magic of the Franciscan sanctuaries at Assisi and La Verna, the austerity of the Benedictine monasteries at Valnerina and Camaldoli, the mystery of the Medieval Castles in Montefeltro.  The 5 Terre villages clinging on the cliffs and the Tuscan hills dotted with cypresses and vineyards in Valdorcia. The unmistakable flavours of the local food and wine, as well as the gorgeous colours of the arts and crafts.

[OVERVIEW]

ROME – SPOLETO, NORCIA and VALNERINA – ASSISI, SPELLO, MONTEFALCO – BEVAGNA, DERUTA, PERUGIA– URBINO, SAN LEO and GRADARA (Montefeltro Castles) – RAVENNA – PARMA and Food Valley – LE 5 TERRE – LUCCA, PISA, AREZZO (Il Casentino) – SIENA and VAL D’ORCIA

A Tour to discover of the immense wealth of culture, art and landscapes … north of Rome.

A unique Tour to the most beautiful places, away from the usual overcrowded tourist routes.

Italy is the land of ‘100 Cities of Art’: Small capitals where you can taste the lively atmosphere of the Italian province, custodians of amazing jewels of art and culture: The Corso Vannucci in Perugia, the Ducal Palace of Urbino, the Cathedral and Baptistery in Parma, the Amphitheatre Square in Lucca, the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) in Pisa, the Piazza del Campo in Siena. Be astounded by the wealth of works of art inside the churches and museums of these towns: the frescoes by Giotto in Assisi and the byzantine mosaics at Ravenna.

Italy is a land abosrbing landscapes, where life and land are expressions of millennia of history and civilisation. Valnerina, Montefeltro, the Cinque Terre (Five Lands), Casentino, and Val d’Orcia. Visit ancient villages, fortresses, castles and monasteries, where life flows peacefully amongst the beauty of these places and the wealth of local traditions.

Italy is the land of artistic craftsmenship and design. You will admire them create true works of art: Gorgeous ceramics, fabrics and hand-made paper. You will relive the atmosphere of a ‘Roman holiday’ onboard the mythical ‘Vespa’, at the Piaggio museum. You will get the chance to shop where the Italians themselves buy their ‘Made in Italy’!

Italy is the land of food and wine. Discover the thousands of flavours of Italy’s products in the local cuisine. Taste them in their places of origin and you will understand exactly why they are so famous and inimitable: White Truffles, Reggiano Parmesan, Parma Ham, Liguria Pesto. You will get the chance to prepare a dish which is symbolic of Italian cuisine and will go on a ‘hunt’ for Truffles.  Taste famous Tuscan and Umbrian wines.

An original and extremely rich heritage of art, culture and land which will surely astonish you!

Highlights of this Tour

• Breath  Rome’s atmosphere walking along the most famous streets of the Eternal City and discover its secret corners.
• Admire the typical landscape of Umbria ‘the heart of Italy’, covered by green vineyards and ancient olive groves and cluttered with abbeys, castles, medieval walls and towers.
• Live the magic of the city of Assisi and the mysticism of the Franciscan sites.
• Discover the charm of the small villages of Umbria and watch the mastery of the local artisans at work.
• Taste the renowned Sagrantino wine and the delicacies of the Umbrian hams, sausages, salamis and cheeses in a special visit to one of the most popular wineries in Montefalco.
• Be captivated by the unforgettable taste of the precious White Truffle.
• Admire the perfection of the Renaissance style of Urbino, ‘ The perfect city’, and home to Raphael.
• Stand in awe before the majesty of the Montefeltro Fortresses and Castles and the history and secrets they hide.
• Be delighted by the thousands colourful and gold tessera of the Byzantine Mosaics of Ravenna.
• Admire the ‘Whirlwind of Angels’ painted ‘up in the heavens’ by Correggio in the Dome of Parma Cathedral.
• Discover the secrets and enjoy the unique taste of the King of Cheeses (Reggiano Parmesan) and the King of Hams (Parma Ham).
• Take a bicycle trip following the city walls that enclose Lucca or take a stroll around the fabolous town centre and admire the gorgeous windows of antique shops.
• Be amazed by  the breathtaking landscape of the 5 Terre, while you walk along the “Via dell’Amore” (the Trail of Love).
• Contemplate the marvels of the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) in Pisa, with its fascinating Leaning Tower.
• Relive the atmosphere of a ‘Roman holiday’ onboard the mythical ‘Vespa’, at the Piaggio Museum.
• Contemplate the stone bed of St. Francis in the Sanctuary of La Verna and buy cosmetic products from the monks in the ancient pharmacy of the Monastery of Camaldoli.
• Taste and experience the authentic Italian cuisine and its inimitable recipes: within a fascinating context, an expert chef will guide you, step by step, through the  making and tasting of some of Italy’s most famous dishes.
• Be charmed by the colours and the landscapes of Siena and Val d’Orcia: the intense yellow, lively reds, golden ochre, oranges that pulsate in green meadowlands and valleys.

[MORETEXT]

14 Days - Tour starts SUNDAY - Tour ends SATURDAY

Your Fuoritinerario – discover your Italy journey includes:

• 14 Nights Accommodation in exclusive and fascinating 4 star or higher Hotels, centrally located in the most suggestive spots of the cities, with accommodation, where appropriate, in Superior rooms.
• 14 Full American breakfast with a delicious buffet or with exclusive table service, all included; 7 Lunches in different typical Italian restaurants and 7 Dinners at exclusive and characteristic restaurants (all meals include drinks)
• Private minibus with English speaking private driver, available for the entire Tour, as indicated in the programme and all the transfers during the Tour, as specified in the programme
• All guided tours and visits indicated in the programme with specialised local English Speaking Guides,  including all the entrance fees to visited sites:

–    Guided visit to Spoleto and Valnerina (Norcia, Castelluccio and Preci, with the abbey of Sant’Eutizio)

–    Full day excursion, with a visit to Spello and  wineries of Montefalco and guided visit to Assisi and Franciscan sites, including entrance ticket to the Basilica of Saint Francis.

–    Full Day excursion, with a visit to the artisan ateliers in Bevagna and Deruta and guided visit to Perugia and Perugino’s frescos, including entrance ticket of Collegio del Cambio.

–    Guided visit to the National Centre for Truffles Production, including a “Truffle Hunt” demonstration.

–    Guided visit to Urbino, including entrance tickets to the Ducal Palace and Marche National Gallery.

–    Guided visit to Gradara  and San Leo, including tickets Gradara Castle and San Leo Fortress.

–    Guided visit to Casentino, the Sanctuary of La Verna, the Monastery of Camaldoli, the wool production of Stia.

–    Guided visit to Ravenna, including entrance tickets to the Basilicas and Mausoleums.

–    Guided visit to Parma, including ticket to Battistero, National Gallery and Farnese Theatre

–    Guided visit to “The Food Valley”, the Parmesan cheese and the Parma Ham production factories.

–    Guided visit to Lucca.

–    Guided visit to 5 Lands, including entrance tickets and boat excursion.

–    Guided visit to Pisa, including tickets of  the Cathedral and the Baptistery; guided visit of the Piaggio Museum.

–    Guided visit to Siena.

–    Italian Meal Cooking lesson.

–    Full Day excursion to Val d’Orcia, Montepulciano, Montalcino and Pienza.

• All your luggage handling
• All the tips for the guides, drivers, restaurant and hotel staff
• Trip Literature for your itinerary

The Fuoritinerario – discover your Italy advantage:

• “Exclusive” itinerary, designed and organized by Fuoritinerario-discover your Italy, which will allow you to discover the most authentic Italy
• From your arrival to departure, all is taken care of; accommodation for every single night and tour activities during every single day of your stay
• Private group, minimum 6 and maximum 12 persons, including all the indicated services exclusively reserved for your group
• Full personalised support from our hosts and local guides during the entire Tour
• Start and end of the Tour in Rome: this central location will make it easierfor you to take your air connection or any aother means of transportation
• Guaranteed Tour prices, great value for money, absolutely competitive for the very high level of services included

The price does not include:

• Air Transport to/from Italy (Air transportation, airport taxes, passport expenses and visas if required)
• Fees for transportation, guides and sightseeing not included in the itinerary
• Personal and shopping expenses
• Insurance (Health, Accident, Baggage and Trip cancellation insurance)

DISCOVER YOUR ITALY will attend the LUXURY TRAVEL EXPO 2011 in Las Vegas from December 6th to December 8th 2011 where it will present its UNIQUE TOURS TO ITALY.

DISCOVER YOUR ITALY offers the Best Italy Travel, Luxury Tours, Luxury Vacations and Independent Travel to Italy. We pioneer new destinations, find new ways of exploring and discovering Italy

LTE – Luxury Travel Expo 2011 is truly the who’s who of the luxury travel market, and appeals to luxury travel professionals from around the globe. Top travel agents representatives of the best industry associations (Virtuoso, Ensemble Travel Group, Signature Travel Network, etc.) will attend the trade show. No other travel show delivers a chance to exchange ideas and make profitable connections with thousands of luxury travel services providers from across the world directly on the exhibit hall floor.

Discover your Italy will guide its business partners through the best of Italy travel opportunities in the GREEN HEART OF ITALY (Umbria: the area of Italy north of Rome and south of Florence) has to offer such as: local festivals, music & art performances by world renowned artists, wine & food gourmet specialities (wine, truffle, olive oil, and many more), in amazing SICILY and in the other best places to travel in Italy which are specifically designed to discover the many beauties of the enchanting regions of Italy.

Discover your Italy will exhibit at BOOTH 132 and will be happy to assist all luxury travel professionals interested in knowing more about the business model of the this luxury tour operator in Italy (cultural tours, small groups, FITs, food & wine tours, romantic honeymoons, special interest tours, pre & post cruise tours, local festivals, art events, sustainable tourism) and its 2012 catalogue:

• LUXURY ITALY PRIVATE JOURNEYS

• LUXURY ITALY WINE TOURS

• LUXURY ITALY HONEYMOONS

All interested tour operators and travel agents are invited to visit DISCOVER YOUR ITALY at LTE – LUXURY TRAVEL EXPO 2011 and have an individual meeting with its representatives in order to discuss specific needs and how Discover your Italy may meet their expectations.

DISCOVER YOUR ITALY is looking forward to meet travel agents, tour operators and travel consultants at LTE – LUXURY TRAVEL EXPO 2011 on December 7th and 8th 2011 in Las Vegas (BOOTH 132). For scheduling an individual meeting please contact us.

Basilica of Santa Croce: Frescos Up Close

The Basilica of Santa Croce, in Florence, is one of the most beautiful and renowned churches in all of Italy. Built in 1385 the Basilica shows gothic architecture at it’s best and is a great sight from the outside. Inside it offers breathtaking Frescos by Agnolo Gaddi, which are truly unique to this church. The main Frescos are in the Cappella Castellani. The Frescos have a narrative cycle, which visually tells stories of St. Anthony, St. John and St. Nicola. The church is keeping its label of “under restoration” until May of 2012, and oddly enough that is the reason why you should visit the church! Scaffolds are up around the church and guided tours on the scaffolds are being offered to give visitors a better view of Gaddi’s masterpieces. This truly unique opportunity allows visitors to see the Frescos up close and be to explore all of the intricacies. This is a limited offer and an offer that one should not miss out on because these are truly some of the best works of religious art in the whole world, to see them up close is truly a breathtaking sight.

The scaffolds will be open for tours until May of 2012.

For a video on this opportunity, click here.

Couscous Festival-San Vito lo Capo

In San Vito lo Capo, on the Northwestern tip of Sicily, there a couscous festival takes place each September. The festival is solely dedicated to couscous and includes weeklong celebrations in which some of the best couscous in the world is eaten, a truly unique and worthwhile experience. The couscous that is showcased is typical of this part of Sicily with an obvious Arab and North African influence of course but still with it’s own dishes inspired by other Sicilian foods. Also at night free concerts take place under the magnificent night sky. At the festival there will be true cross-cultural experiences due to the amount of people that come from all over the world. You will also be able to experience the lovely San Vito lo Capo and it’s splendid beaches during a truly beautiful time of year.

This year the event will take place starting on SEPTEMBER 20 until SEPTEMBER 25.

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A poetic shaper of Italian and world architecture, his spatial compositions are fluid, magical, and alive. And his is an exceptional case—there is no other type of architecture so closely tied to a single name. It’s the case of Andrea Palladio.

I’m on my way to Vicenza. Instead of the nameless, monotonous highway, I decide to take a smaller road that passes through the countryside. The undulating landscape is carpeted with multihued fields that, when bathed by the rays of the sun, take on subtle nuances of color. Suddenly, my eye is caught by a stretch of land on the horizon that seems more pronounced. I turn the car toward it and approach little by little until the picture becomes clearer. The line suspended at the horizon is underpinned by a magnificent complex of arches, verandas, and columns above which rises the graceful slopes of a dome. Then I see the pediment, the statues, the staircase…. It’s an extraordinary spectacle. Not only am I captivated by the sheer massiveness and grandeur of the structure, I am enchanted and seduced by the synthesis of the perspectives and wonderful harmony of the dimensions. I haven’t got the shadow of a doubt: it’s a villa designed by Andrea Palladio. His architecture changed first the face of Europe, then crossed the Atlantic and defined American architecture. Perhaps one could say that his work was the first real export labeled “Made in Italy.”

In terms of his importance in the history and development of western architecture, Palladio really has no equal, not even in Bramante or Michelangelo. The White House in Washington, the Queen’s House in Greenwich, many fine structures in London—there are an infinite number of residential buildings in the world that are inspired by the Italian genius of Andrea Palladio. And perhaps the most interesting aspect of this great artist today, particularly this year when so many events are planned for the 500th anniversary of his birth, lies precisely in the modernity and the relevance of his thought and his work.

How is it possible that the son of Pietro della Gondola, a simple miller, went on to become the most famous architect of the last five centuries? It so happened that when he was thirty years old, Andrea di Pietro della Gondola, a humble stone mason from Padua, met the aristocratic writer and amateur architect Giangiorgio Trissino who, recognizing the young man’s potential, became his patron. It was also Trissino who gave Andrea the name of Palladio and who took him to Rome, where Andrea was able to admire the imperial monuments and study the construction techniques and spatial relationships of the impressive classic buildings that he loved. His destiny also included meeting his great contemporaries: Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bramante.

Commissioned by some of the most powerful families in the Veneto region—art lovers who were eager to invest the wealth they’d accumulated through their trades in the East—Palladio began to build a series of delightful country homes. His task was to combine the aesthetic requirements of his aristocratic patrons with the functionality they needed for their agricultural enterprises. And thus was born a new type of architecture—that wonderful center of living and business that is the modern agricultural villa. It was in this original image and style that the Villa Emo, Villa Badoer, Villa Barbaro, Villa Foscari, Villa Corner, Villa Capra, and many others were constructed, each named for the family who owned it.

But Palladio’s work was not limited to villas; he also built mansions, churches, theatres, and public buildings. For him, form and function did not necessarily go hand in hand; each type of building was represented by a layout meant to be interpreted freely, rather than a model meant merely to be copied. Hence the immense, bright rooms designed for religious rites inside San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice and, outside, the play on space that recalls the iridescent domes and the narrow bell tower of the Basilica of San Marco, silhouetted in the distance.

And hence, in Vicenza, the Teatro Olimpico, the Basilica, and the Loggia del Capitano, where the ancient classic was not a mere model but rather a borrowed and refined ideal. Rich with subtle shades of color, the horizontal and vertical elements of these buildings form the base of their great conceptual clarity.

And hence once more the urban buildings whose size and materials, rather than create a showy display of wealth and power, transmit the sense of a universal space in their open, extended structures and the distinct play of light and shade on the slender columns and recessed arches of the main façade. From street level the buildings on either side, with their first-floor base lines running along the horizon, can appear as two separate buildings or just one splendid structure creating a “building” out of the very street—the facades become the walls and the sky the ceiling.

And if Palladian facades seem like paintings hung in an urban gallery, the villas seem like well-placed ornaments hung on the branches of the landscape. The defined architectural form of a Palladian structure becomes an integral part of the boundless space of nature, creating a harmonious and perfectly balanced relationship—from the monumental entrance to the simple rustic shapes and the grace with which the side buildings unfold like wings into the natural space, their lines extending to the parks and gardens beyond and connecting the architecture to the hills and surrounding woods.

The villas, like most Palladian buildings, are often painted by alternating slight gradations of the same color or by matching the tones of the natural stone and the intensity of the light—devices specifically used so as not to bore the eye with chromatic monotony. And this is to say nothing of the frescoes inside. The partnership of Palladio and the painter Paolo Veronese resulted in architectural and pictorial elements that mutually support and complement one another. An association between an architect and a painter was never so harmonious and fruitful.

There are dozens and dozens of monuments and Palladian villas scattered throughout the Veneto region, a truly immense wealth of art. Most of the villas are open to the public, some are hotels, and others are prestigious wineries. The extraordinary thing is that as you approach one, you see yet another in the near distance. There are at least thirty-nine works in Vicenza and the surrounding area alone. These buildings, as well as the entire historic center of the city, also shaped by the genius of Palladio, left a definitive mark on the architecture of the 1500s and of the subsequent centuries, and still dictate the rules of urban planning in most European countries and worldwide—so much so that in 1994 Vicenza was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Simply reading about the architecture of Palladio is to gain an imperfect knowledge. One must see his work in person to truly appreciate its marvels—the sumptuous building complexes, the grandeur of the imposing buildings, the harmony of scale, the synthesis of perspective and symmetry, the elements that reach into and shape space, and those that retreat into themselves to form recesses dappled with fantastic shadows. Only then can one grasp the magnitude and originality of this extraordinary artist and experience the feelings that inspired the history of world architecture.