Tuscany and Umbria
La Bella Vita
September 12-21, 2010
Sponsor:
-Washington & Lee Traveller
Trip cost - $4,645 per person, sharing
Single supplement - $795
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Savor the Pleasures...
...of the Italian countryside in early autumn as we explore the rustic villages of southern Tuscany and Umbria. This carefully paced itinerary showcases famous hill towns and art centers but with the leisure to enjoy the rich traditions of country life: Serene landscapes, delicious regional cuisine, ruby red Chianti served in thick glass cups, perhaps even a lively chat with the locals in the piazza.
Together, we’ll learn the art of “vivere bene”—living well, Italian style.
We begin our journey as guests of the Count and Countess Guicciardini in their spectacular Tuscan hilltop castello. After a thousand years at the crossroads between Arezzo and Siena, Castello di Gargonza has been lovingly restored with an award-winning approach that has preserved not just buildings but the definitive nuances of local culture as well. Here, the traditions of old Tuscany are very much alive—as you’ll see as we try our hand at making a fresco with a local maestro, taste fine wines in the Countess’ lovely rose garden, play bocce with the locals, and search for signs of wild boar on a hike with Gargonza’s huntsman. From this comfortable home base, we make a day trip to Siena, the best preserved of all of Tuscany’s medieval hill towns, where expert guides will help us explore the masterpieces of Sienese art and architecture.
From Gargonza, we move south into Umbria to Torgiano, one of the region’s great wine producing centers. Our charming hotel is situated in the village center, a perfect location for independent sightseeing, shopping, and the customary passeggiata—a quiet stroll after supper. Our excursions take us to some of the most fascinating towns in Umbria: Todi, with its landmark Medieval piazza; Gubbio, one of the most ancient of Umbrian towns; Orvieto, with its magnificent duomo; and spectacular Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Pre- and post-trip extensions are available in Florence and Rome.
Itinerary
Home/Florence — September 12
Depart the U.S. on independent flights to
Florence, Italy.
(meals aloft)
Florence Airport/Castello di Gargonza — September 13
Arrive in Florence and travel by motor
coach to the medieval hilltop hamlet of
Gargonza, just ninety minutes south of
Florence and our “campus” for the next
four days. Meet fellow participants at this
evening’s welcome reception in the rose-filled
limonaia, and then enjoy a dinner
of homemade pasta, roasted lamb, grilled
porcini mushrooms and fine wines at
Gargonza’s award-winning restaurant.
Castello di Gargonza (R,D)
Gargonza — September 14
Our program begins with our first
lectures and a series of hands-on activities
designed to introduce us to Tuscan culture
and tradition. A prominent local artist
demonstrates fresco technique and helps
us paint our own fresco. A wine expert
introduces us to the best Tuscan varietals,
gives tips on tasting, and guides us through
a sampling of some top vintages. Bring a
glass down to the bocce court for a lively
game with the locals. Take the rest of the
day to read, relax, and enjoy the swimming
pool, nestled in an olive grove with a
glorious view.
Castello di Gargonza (B,L,D)
Siena — September 15
Spend the day exploring the beautifully
preserved Tuscan jewel, Siena. This town
still retains its medieval character and is a
great place to get a feel for what Tuscany
was like in the Middle Ages. Our walking
tour includes the famous shell-shaped Piazza
del Campo, the Palazzo Pubblico and its
spectacular frescoes, and the Cathedral
with its brilliant marble façade. Lunch on
your own in one of Siena’s lively trattorias.
Return to Gargonza in late afternoon.
Castello di Gargonza (B,D)
Gargonza — September 16
Enjoy another full day at Gargonza as our
lecture program continues. Take a hike
through the scenic landscape around the
castle and learn from the castle’s huntsman
about the tradition of wild boar hunting
that is so much a part of Tuscan country
life. During our walk, search for boar—but
also for signs of precious black truffle and
porcini mushrooms. Later, learn the basics of
Tuscan cuisine from our own chef Andrea,
along with tips for pairings of wines and
pasta dishes.
Castello di Gargonza (B,L,D)
Gargonza/Gubbio/Torgiano — September 17
Bid farewell to Gargonza and begin our
journey into Umbria with a visit to one
of her quintessential medieval towns,
Gubbio. This ancient city has seen millennia
of history, from its origins under the
mysterious Umbri people to the Romans
and, later still, the Dukes of Urbino. Our
walking tour highlights the magnificent
buildings of the Piazza della Signoria and
Palazzo dei Consoli, considered among the
finest expressions of medieval architecture
in Italy. Lunch on your own in Gubbio.
Continue to Torgiano, ancestral home of the
Lungarotti family, responsible for bringing
Umbrian wines to international prominence.
Check into our historic hotel in the center
of town. There is time for a stroll through
Torgiano before our elegant dinner this
evening.
Hotel Le Tre Vaselle (B,D)
Assisi — September 18
Assisi, the city of birds and silence under
the protection of St. Francis, is built of
pink stone that fans out along the slopes of
Monte Subasio. This Umbrian landmark,
enclosed by ramparts and crisscrossed
by narrow streets lined with venerable
old facades, has changed little since the
Middle Ages. One of the world’s great
centers of art and architecture, the Basilica
of San Francesco has undergone massive
restoration following a major earthquake in
1999. Our walking tour features the main
sights in town, and guides us through the
overwhelming cathedral, where we admire
both the grandeur of the architecture and
the delicate colors and forms of Giotto’s
frescoes.
Afterward, walk or drive into the
woods just above town for an optional
picnic lunch at the Eremo delle Carceri,
the peaceful mountain hermitage where St.
Francis slept on a stone slab and spoke to
the birds. Here, high above the bustle of
Assisi, we can still feel the spiritual power
of the humble cloth merchant who gave
away the clothes off his back and dedicated
his life to God, becoming the most renowned
of Christian saints. Or, enjoy a splendid
pasta lunch on your own in Assisi. Return
to Torgiano in late afternoon.
Hotel Le Tre Vaselle (B)
Spello/Montefalco — September 19
Set out this morning for the ancient hill
town of Spello. Built in the beautiful pink
and white stone from the mountain behind
Assisi, Spello was once an important Roman
colony and still has well-preserved city walls
with six formidable gates. Spello also boasts
a number of beautiful Medieval churches,
and a visit to Santa Maria Maggiore is a
highlight of our day. With its gleaming
floors made from Deruta ceramic tile and
resplendent frescoes by Pinturicchio, it is a
masterpiece. Lunch on your own in Spello.
Our staff is on hand with suggestions for
sampling splendid regional dishes like rabbit, boar, and homemade pasta accented with
black truffles and fresh pecorino. Continue
to Montefalco. Spectacularly sited high on
the slopes of the Colli Martani, with its
great operatic main square, this lovely town
is known as “the balcony of Umbria.” In
the little Church of San Francesco, enjoy
the superb frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli.
Later, take time to shop for the beautiful
hand-stitched linens made here. Montefalco
is equally famous as the home of one of
Italy’s greatest red wines: the Sagrantino
di Montefalco. We call at the estate and
cellars of a local producer and enjoy a
tasting of this ancient wine, extolled by the
Romans. We continue to nearby Bevagna for
a spectacular dinner served in the restored
ruins of a first-century Roman theater.
Hotel Le Tre Vaselle (B,D)
Todi/Orvieto — September 20
Begin our day with a caffe latte in Todi,
another of Umbria’s fairytale Medieval
towns. The Piazza del Popolo is a
masterpiece, ringed by the 12th century
Duomo, and three grand palazzi. There is
time to explore the piazza and surrounding
shops before we continue to our last great
Umbrian landmark, Orvieto. This one-time
Etruscan stronghold is known today for its
crisp white wine and its Gothic cathedral,
one of the finest in Italy. The ornate
façade dazzles with its fine proportions and
multicolored marble decoration, while the
serene interior houses a lovely fresco cycle
by Signorelli. After lunch on your own,
explore the highlights with our guides.
Return to Torgiano in late afternoon.
Celebrate at this evening’s farewell dinner.
Hotel Le Tre Vaselle (B,D)
Torgiano/Rome/Home — September 21
Transfer to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport for
afternoon return flights home.
(B)
Optional Pre-Trip Extension In Florence
Visit one of the most
beautiful private villas, enjoy a day trip
to Lucca, art treasures at the Uffizi and
Accademia, top restaurants.
Optional Post-Trip Extension In Rome
See Galleria Borghese,
ancient Roman sites, Baroque Rome,
Vatican Museums.
Detailed extension itineraries will be
sent with trip confirmation. For more
information, contact Carla Munt at
Travel Concepts, (888-328-2089) or
carla@travelconcepts.us
For more information call 1.888.328.2089
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