Italian Sideways

Imagine yourself embark on a long road trip through Italian wine country, even tasting the magnificent italian product, like Parmigiano Cheese, admiring the most beautiful treasures, sometimes even hidden, of the Italian arts and ... Living in the most beautifully ornate residences, historical monasteries, abbeys and convents and private villas of noble families.
Imagine no more! You are in the movie! Your movie which you will never forget for all your life!

1st day: Arrival in Bologna or Milan airport in the morning. Transfer to Ferrara to our gorgeous Monastery-hotel Villa Ferrara for accommodation. In the afternoon, you can discover the Estense capital, a modern city full of ancient traditions. With its rich cultural life it preserves a wonderful historical heritage. The historical centre is perfectly preserved and has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, as an excellent example of Renaissance urban planning. Dinner and overnight.
2nd day: In the morning, departure to Bologna and half day guided visit of the city, the regional capital and a prestigeous city of art, culture and commerce. The medieval town centre is amongst the best-preserved in Europe and boasts a number of towers scattered among the rows of porticoes and luxurious historical homes. Continuation towards Parma where you can enjoy a visit to one of the certified dairy farms where the world-wide famous Parmigiano Reggiano “Parmesan” cheese is made. Here you will discover all of the process of making this delicious cheese, then enjoy tasting accompanied by a glass of the goos and famous Lambrusco, typical wine of the region. Return to our Monastery-hotel. Dinner and overnight.
3rd day: After breakfast, this fantastic trip continues travelling to Tuscany, one of the most beautiful regions of Italy, not only for its art and culture, but also for tastes and flavours of its genuine cuisine and wines. Arrival in Florence, built on the Arno's banks, in a harmonious settings of hills full of houses and villas. The main city of Tuscany has a universal reputation of wonderful richness and high quality of monuments and art treasures. Florence is considered the "Queen of Renaissance" and you will have the opportunity to see its world wide famous art treasure. Arrival and check-in at our Monastery-hotel Villa Duchessa Anna. Half day guided visit to Florence. In the morning visit the Uffizi Gallery and Piazza della Signoria reaching the picturesque Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) crossing the Arno river. Dinner and in the evening sightseeing coach tour of the city will take you to Michelangelo Square for an outstanding view over the city of Florence.
4th day: Full day excursion dedicated to discover exclusive places of Tuscany. In the morning, departure to Sant'Antimo (South of Montalcino). Listen to the monks singing during the Mass. The Abbazia is very famous, still not known to everyone, for the genuine "Gregorian Chant" without music, only human voice. It is known as the "The singing stone" for its particular travertine marble its nave is build in. Then visit of Montalcino, like an island in the heart of Tuscany, it offers to those who ascend from the valleys surrounding it the feeling of a gradual conquest, the sense of arriving in a snug harbour. Certainly the best image of Montalcino is revealed primarily by its wine, Brunello, the most precious gift of a land that is at the same time hard and generous. Wine tasting of the famous Brunello wine in an exclusive wine cellar of the XIV Century open only for you. Driving along the Chianti area, continuation to San Gimignano, the town of 100 towers, famous for La Vernaccia wine, where you can enjoy a stroll throughout its medieval streets. Return to the Monastery-Hotel of Florence. Dinner and overnight.
5th day: Half day excursion to Siena, the town with the best quality in life. This is the town where any single "stone" has remained unchanged over the centuries, the atmosphere is unique for everything bear witness to ancient past which is still alive in the celebrations for "Palio" taking place every year with renewed enthusiasm. Half day guided visit of the city. In the afternoon, return to Florence and time at leisure in order to have the possibility to do shopping. Dinner and overnight.
6th day: In the morning, departure to Cortona, wonderful Tuscan medieval city, surrounded by Etruscan walls, which narrow streets, cafes and typical italian shops are a little jewels for painters, photographers and Italian lovers. You will enjoy a wonderful stroll throughout the town ending in a elegant, peaceful and finely restored Monastery-Hotel built in the XIII century and located in a superb position from which you can admire the Chiana valley. Plunged into olives and Cyprus trees, it still holds a XII century wine cellar where we have arranged a special wine tasting, followed by lunch in the Renaissance Restaurant. In the afternoon, continuation to Umbria, the "green heart of Italy", admiring along the route also one of the most famous natural Italian lake: Trasimeno Lake. Accommodation will be in Villa del Patrono a splendid Monastery-hotel located in the downtown of Spoleto. Dinner and overnight.
7th day: After breakfast, departure to Rome, having a stop in one of the most famous enogastronomical town in Umbria: Norcia. It is located in an area particularly suited to the production of salamis and cured meats and it is from here that the most famous and best known Umbrian cured meat comes: Prosciutto di Norcia (Norcia Ham), which has recently received from the European Union the Protected Geographical Indication. Time at leisure to stroll throughtout the town and taste a typical Italian sandwich. In the afternoon, continuation to Rome, the Eternal city. Everybody arrives in Rome with a wealth of knowledge, images and stories accumulated in the course of a lifetime. Anybody is able to mention, maybe with a slight effort, its most famous monuments and the protagonists of its history. This is perhaps the key to the charm of a city that seems to invite every visitor to feel part of its complex reality and its millennial history. Dinner and overnight in our wonderful Monastery-Hotel Villa Domus.
8th day: Half day guided tour of the Italian Capital City. In the morning guided visit to the Ancient Roman Empire: the Coliseum, the Roman and Imperial Forum, the Palatine Hill. Afternoon at disposal to walk in the city center admiring the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, Navona Square, the Spanish Steps. Time for shopping. Dinner and overnight.
9th day: Today the group will discover the enchanting area surrounding Rome, called Roman Castles. The area to the southeast of the Eternal City has long been the playground of Rome's rich and famous jet set. As far back as the emperors, then medieval barons, then Renaissance princes and modern captains of industry have all appreciated the many deep blue lakes, dense forests, mild winters and cool summers of this region whose slightly higher altitude has always allowed idle vacationers to keep an eye on their palaces in the city, laid out in the valley below as far as the eye can see. Frascati, Grottaferrata, Rocca di Papa are all great places from which to see the sites of Rome. But there are loads of fascinating things to see right in this area too. Start with the world-renowned Tusculum Villas, all built and rebuilt by the famed architects and artists whose work you admire in every piazza romana. Then you will visit an ancient manor house that opens only for ZefiroWorld events and it is winner of Gambero Rosso prize 2001 for the best Roman Hills wine. Wine tasting luncheon including Italian typical "porchetta" meat and typical sweets. In the evening, return to Rome. Dinner and overnight.
10th day: In the morning visit the Vatican City: the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica. In the afternoon, time at leisure for shopping. This evening, you can greet Italy enjoying a wonderful Farewell Dinner in one of the most typical restaurant of Rome. Overnight in the Monastery-hotel.
11th day: In the morning transfer to Rome airport and departure for your final destination.

Our Wonderful Monastery-Hotels for this Tour:

Villa Domus in Rome

Villa Ferrara in Emilia Romagna

Villa Duchessa Anna in Florence

Villa del Patrono in Spoleto