Rome, where you will enjoy welcome and farewell dinners with wine at

local restaurants, and visits to St. Peter’s Square. Travel to Spoleto,

stopping in the hilltop town of Narni, inspiration for the Chronicles of

Narnia, where you visit the Convent of San Domenico. Highlights are a

pasta demonstration by a chef to learn the art of homemade Manfricolo

pasta, followed by lunch, and an olive oil tasting in Spello. Stay two nights

in Assisi, and hear all about St. Francis and St. Clare, as you visit their

basilicas with a Local Guide. Also visit the St. Mary of the Angels Basilica.

Enjoy an excursion to Perugia, where a visit to the Perugina Baci

chocolate factory is included, as well as dinner in the town of Deruta,

famous for its ceramics. Stop in Cortona, where the author of the book

Under the Tuscan Sun used to live, then, stay two nights in Siena, with an

included excursion to picturesque Pienza, famous for pecorino cheese,

and Montalcino, where a Brunello wine tasting, and lunch, await you.

Enjoy picturesque San Gimignano and the town of Volterra, before arriving

in Orvieto, high atop a volcanic rock, and hear about the Etruscans during

a unique visit to the Etruscan underground Labirinto. An exclusive dinner

has been prepared for you by the famous Italian cook Maurizio. An

unforgettable vacation! Transfer by high-speed train to Sorrento; enjoy

three nights and a morning guided walking tour through the Old Town. All

services, including Local Host assistance, are provided by Monograms.

Itinerary

DAY 1 Arrive in Rome, Italy

Welcome to Rome! At 5 pm, join your Tour Director and traveling companions, and leave the hotel for a special welcome

dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (Dinner)

DAY 2 Rome–Narni–Spoleto

Your discovery of the green province of Umbria, made famous by the movie My House in Umbria with unforgettable Maggie

Smith, starts in the hilltop town of Narni, almost 800 feet high. Narni is the town that is said to have been the inspiration for

the Chronicles of Narnia. Enjoy a guided visit of the CONVENT OF SAN DOMENICO basement, and see a cell where

prisoners of the Inquisition wrote graffiti on the walls. Then, a true highlight: learn the art of homemade Manfricolo pasta from

a chef during a PASTA DEMONSTRATION, and, of course, enjoy lunch afterwards. Next is Spoleto, a former Roman

municipium and capital of an important Lombard duchy from the 6th to the 8th centuries. During your walking tour with a

Local Guide, take pictures of La Rocca, the former papal fortress that was used as a high-security prison until 1982; admire

the Ponte delle Torri, erected on the foundations of a Roman aqueduct; and visit PIAZZA DEL DUOMO. This evening, a

special dinner with wine awaits you at a local restaurant. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3 Spoleto–Spello–Assisi

In Spello, enjoy an OLIVE OIL TASTING at an authentic oil mill. Time for lunch and to browse through the little shops before

continuing to Assisi. Visit ST. MARY OF THE ANGELS BASILICA, where St. Francis consecrated St. Clare as the “Bride of

Christ,” then start your guided walking tour with visits to ST. CLARE’S CHURCH and ST. FRANCIS’ BASILICA, the hub of a

religious order devoted to the ideals of humility, forgiveness, simplicity, and love for all God’s creatures. (Breakfast)

DAY 4 Assisi. Excursion to Perugia & Deruta

A short drive brings you to Perugia, capital of Umbria and an important university town. A guided walking tour features the

PIAZZA IV NOVEMBRE, one of the grandest squares in Italy, graced by the Fontana Maggiore. Admire the gothic cathedral,

the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria, and Perugia’s stunning medieval municipal palace. Then, a special treat: visit the original

PERUGINA BACI CHOCOLATE FACTORY, and taste Italy’s most delectable candy. End in Deruta, and enjoy dinner at a

local taverna, L’Antico Forziere. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 5 Assisi–Cortona–Siena

Enter Tuscany and stop in the town of Cortona, made famous by the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. Arrive in Siena, and

follow your Local Guide on a walk through ancient, narrow lanes to PIAZZA DEL CAMPO. Hear about the biannual Palio,

Siena’s spectacular medieval-style horse race that is held on this square. This evening, an optional dinner outing to

Monteriggioni is available. (Breakfast)

DAY 6 Siena. Excursion to Pienza & Montalcino

Famous for pecorino cheese, Pienza has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to a member of the

Piccolomini family who became Pope Pius II in the 15th century and redesigned the town in perfect renaissance style.

Continue to Montalcino, beautifully located in the Tuscan Hills, and enjoy a Brunello WINE TASTING, followed by lunch with

local specialties. Return to Siena. An optional excursion to Asciano to visit the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, followed by

dinner, is available to make the most of your stay. (Breakfast, Lunch)

DAY 7 Siena–San Gimignano–Volterra–Orvieto

A scenic day: visit San Gimignano, the most picturesque of Italy’s perfectly preserved medieval towns. Next is the town of

Volterra, an important Etruscan center, where the famous movie New Moon in the Twilight Sagas was made. On to Orvieto,

perched high atop a volcanic rock, where a unique visit to the ETRUSCAN UNDERGROUND Labirinto (labyrinth) awaits you.

This evening, an exclusive dinner has been prepared for you by the famous Italian cook, Maurizio. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 8 Orvieto–Rome

Hear the history of this fascinating town from your Local Guide during a pleasant walk through the narrow lanes and visit the

CATHEDRAL with its San Brizio Chapel. Return to the “Eternal City” for a drive past Rome’s main highlights, ending at ST.

PETER’S SQUARE. A special farewell dinner with wine at a local restaurants awaits you to celebrate the success of your

vacation in Umbria and Tuscany. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 9 Rome–Sorrento

Transfer by HIGH-SPEED TRAIN to Sorrento. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (Breakfast)

DAY 10 Sorrento

Morning guided walking tour through the OLD TOWN. (Breakfast)

DAY 11 Sorrento

Full day at leisure. Ask your Local Host for suggestions. (Breakfast)

DAY 12 Sorrento

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning (the nearest airport is Naples). (Breakfast)

PRICING INFORMATION:

PLEASE CALL RICHARD CECE FOR PRICING

Travel Insurance also available, ask for details.

Richard Cece

RDC TOURS

401-231-7880

rdc823@cox.net