Chianti , Tuscany |
at an olive oil mill and enjoy a tasting of this staple of Tuscan cooking . Then , continue to a nearby town for a cooking lesson and lunch at an agriturismo farmhouse .
Meals : B , L , D | Villa Il Leccio or similar
DAY 8 • Pienza • Siena Transfer to Pienza , beginning with a short ride to Siena . Discover Siena ’ s Old Town , a UNESCO World Heritage Site , and stroll from Piazza del Campo to Porta Romana . Departing Siena , a scenic drive brings us through the hills of Tuscany before arriving in Pienza .
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to the village for lunch and conversation with a local shepherd about the Controversial Topic of truffle hunting .
Meals : B , L , D | Hotel Clitunno or similar
DAY 14 • Umbria • Rome Bid farewell to Umbria and begin the overland transfer to Rome . In Rome , enjoy a walking tour of the Trastevere district , a young and bohemian area of the city . Tonight , we ’ ll toast to our memories of Italy during a Farewell Dinner .
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WESTERN EUROPE |
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Meals : B , D | Piccolo Hotel La Valle or similar |
Meals : B , L , D | Hotel Savoy or similar |
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DAY 9 • Etruscan Museum • Montepulciano Visit the Etruscan Museum for a talk on the history of the Etruscans in the Chianciano community . After , travel to Montepulciano and stop outside of the Sanctuary of San Biagio , designed using the same architectural plan as St . Peter ’ s Basilica . Then , drive to the center of this Tuscan village to see Via San Gallo , a historic street . |
DAY 15 • Return to U . S . Transfer to the airport for your return flight home . Or , begin your Rome : Ancient Sites & Hidden City Gems post-trip extension . |
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A Day in the Life , Pettino |
Meals : B , L | Piccolo Hotel La Valle or similar |
Meals : B |
For departure dates & prices , visit www . oattravel . com / bta2024pricing |
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Martin ’ s Cathedral , which was originally built in 1063 . After a free afternoon to explore on your own , we ’ ll gather for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant . |
Meals : B , D | Hotel San Luca Palace or similar
DAY 4 • Lucca • Conversation about marble production • Carrara Marble Quarries • Home- Hosted Lunch
Depart for Carrara and visit the ancient marble quarries . Afterward , meet a former quarry worker to discuss the impacts of marble quarrying in the area . Later this afternoon , enjoy a Home-Hosted Lunch with a local family in Marina di Carrara before returning to Lucca .
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Meals : B , L | Hotel San Luca Palace or similar |
DAY 5 • Lucca • Florence • Chianti region Set off on a walking tour of Florence , birthplace of the Renaissance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Highlights include the Ponte Vecchio , the Church of San Miniato , the Oltrarno neighborhood , and the Piazza Santo Spirito . Later , depart for the Chianti countryside .
Meals : B , D | Villa Il Leccio or similar
DAY 6 • A Day in the Life in the Chianti Valley Enjoy A Day in the Life in the Chianti Valley , first stopping at a local goat farm to learn about sustainable agricultural methods and then enjoying lunch with our hosts . Later , join your Trip Experience Leader on an optional hike through the Chianti Valley .
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Meals : B , L , D | Villa Il Leccio or similar
DAY 7 • Chianti countryside • Olive oil mill • Cooking class & farmhouse lunch
Drive through the Chianti countryside , traveling through Tuscany ’ s rolling , vineyard-carpeted hills . Stop
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DAY 10 • Pienza • Optional Pitigliano & Sovana tour
Today is yours to make your own discoveries in Pienza . You might choose to explore the surrounding hills of the Val d ’ Orcia — whose landscapes are a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Or , join our full-day optional tour to discover the rich Jewish heritage of Pitigliano and the ancient Etruscan necropolis of Sovana .
Meals : B | Piccolo Hotel La Valle or similar
DAY 11 • Pienza • Perugia • Chocolate-making experience • Spoleto
We ’ ll depart Tuscany and set off for Umbria , known as “ the green heart of Italy .” We ’ ll first stop in Perugia , Umbria ’ s capital , where we ’ ll take a tour of the city and try our hands at chocolate-making at a local chocolaterie . Then , we ’ ll transfer to Spoleto .
Meals : B , L , D | Hotel Clitunno or similar
DAY 12 • Spoleto • Optional Umbrian Folk Music tour
Set off on a walking tour of Spoleto , a walled hill town framed by the towering Apennine Mountains . Later , join the optional tour to Spello and enjoy a concert in a local Umbrian musician ’ s home before dinner in a local restaurant .
Meals : B , L | Hotel Clitunno or similar
DAY 13 • Spoleto • Truffle hunting • Controversial Topic : Truffle exclusivity
Visit a small mountain village nestled in the Apennines and meet up with local truffle hunters and their dogs to seek out the precious mushrooms . Later , return
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PERSONALIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE
OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS
History and Culinary Delights of Bologna & Parma , Italy
PRE-TRIP : 6 nights from $ 1,995
Rome : Ancient Sites & Hidden City Gems POST-TRIP : 4 nights from $ 1,495
ARRIVE EARLY We recommend that you relax after a long flight or explore more in depth before your trip . Prices shown include accommodations and private airport transfer .
• Arrive early in Bologna before your Bologna & Parma pre-trip extension from $ 190 per room , per night
• Arrive early in Lucca before your main adventure from $ 130 per room , per night
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