Italian Sideways for FIT

1st day: Arrival at the airport in the morning. Free 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. Overnight in Ferrara.
2nd day: Breakfast. In the morning, free departure to Bologna where you can visit the city, the regional capital and a prestigious 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. Or you can reach Parma where you can enjoy a nice visit to the town where the world-wide famous Parmigiano Reggiano “Parmesan” cheese is made. Enjoy the local dishes with a glass of the good and famous Lambrusco, typical wine of the region. Return to our Monastery-hotel in Ferrara. Overnight.
3rd day: After breakfast, this fantastic trip continues travelling to Tuscany (free transfer), 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. Half day guided visit to Florence. Return to the Villa in the evening and Overnight.
4th day: Breakfast. The day is dedicated to discover exclusive places of Tuscany. We can suggest you to reach Sant'Antimo (South of Montalcino). You can have the possibility of listening 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 free 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 at the Fattoria de Barbi, 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. Overnight.
5th day: Breakfast. Full day guided 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. 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 Florence. Overnight.
6th day: Breakfast. In the morning, free 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 a splendid Monastery-hotel located in the downtown of Spoleto. Overnight.
7th day: After breakfast, departure to Rome, recommending 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 throughout 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. Overnight in our wonderful Monastery-Hotel.
8th day: Breakfast. Half day guided tour of Rome, 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. Time for shopping. Return to the Villa. Overnight.
9th day: Breakfast. Today you 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. (On request guided tour of the Roman Castles). In the evening, return to Rome. Overnight.
10th day: Breakfast. 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 we’ll be glad to suggest. Overnight in the Monastery-hotel.
11th day: Breakfast. In the morning free transfer to Rome airport and departure for your final destination. End of our services.

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