Day 0 - 1

Depart US/Fly overnight to Rome/Transfer to Spoleto (pop. 36,000). Upon arrival in Rome you will be met by a "La Contadina" representative who will assist you with your transfer to Spoleto and your centrally located hotel. Time to settle in, stroll in the heart of the medieval walls and enjoy a welcome dinner at one of Spoleto's oldest restaurants.

Day 2

Breakfast and a visit to Bevagna (pop. 2,400) and Montefalco (pop. 5,500).  These hilltop villages are lined with cobblestone streets and old shops.  While in Bevagna we will visit a local winery for a wine tasting.  On our way back, we will stop in Montefalco, and from the “Balcony of Umbria,” we will savor the panoramic views of the Umbrian hills and let the scenery gently revive our senses.  After snacking on pizza we will shop for a wonderful local wine (Sagrantino di Montefalco or a Rosso di Montefalco).  Back to Spoleto for dinner and a night “passeggiata” along the Bridge of the Towers – an ancient aqueduct that dates back 2000 years.

Day 3

Breakfast and transfer to Assisi (pop. 26,000) for a wonderful day trip. Assisi is considered one of the greatest centers of Christianity and the world’s city of peace. Today we will see the church of St. Clare and the famous Basilica of St. Francis. Lunch at a local trattoria in Assisi.  Transfer back to lovely Spoleto for a free evening of exploring, shopping, and dinner on your own.

Day 4

Breakfast and off to the open food market.  Today we learn to shop for fresh ingredients and cook Italian style. Paolo is our local renowned chef. At Paolo's restaurant you will learn to mix simple ingredients and create sophisticated dishes that will impress your friends and family. After our morning in the kitchen we will relax and enjoy our scrumptious meal! Afternoon and evening to explore more of Spoleto or the hills of neighboring Monteluco, shop, or relax at the local cafés.  This would be a great day to indulge in an optional spa treatment for the ultimate luxury!

Day 5

Breakfast and transfer to a Todi (pop. 17,000).  This ancient town occupies a lovely spot on an Umbrian hilltop and is surrounded by Etruscan, Roman, and medieval walls.  Enjoy being in the magnificent Piazza del Popolo with its three medieval palazzi (palaces) and its Duomo, a 12th century cathedral with a simple façade and beautiful rose window.  Have fun exploring the tiny ceramics shops and narrow cobbled streets.  Once back in Spoleto, the rest of the afternoon is yours until we rendezvous for dinner and passeggiata.  Tomorrow is our last full day together.

Day 6

Breakfast and transfer to Orvieto (pop. 21,000), a city built on a high outcrop of tufa stone.  We will visit an Etruscan necropolis from the 6th century BC and explore the maze of passages and caves carved into the rock beneath the city.  Above ground, we might find ourselves staring down into St. Patrick’s well, or sipping a famous Orvieto wine while admiring the façade of one of the most majestic Gothic-style cathedrals in all of Italy.  After some free time for shopping, we head back to Spoleto for a bit of rest before our last dinner together.

Day 7

Arrivederci everyone and till next time. Transfer to Fiumicino Airport and buon viaggio!

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