Accommodation - OBrochure

70 Touring ITALY
O Day
O gelatos.
Umbrian Appetites
From: Foligno Operated by: Kit Australia
Duration: 8 days/7 nights Departures: 2012: 29 Apr, 13 May;
3, 24 Jun; 2 Sep; 7 Oct 12.
Walks and tastes of Tuscany
From: Siena Operated by: Kit Australia
Duration: 8 days/7 nights Departures: 2012: 8 Apr; 6 May;
10 Jun; 2 Sep; 14 Oct 12.
Day 1: Siena
Make your own way to Siena. This ancient Gothic town is
World Heritage listed. Stroll through the winding streets down
to the ‘Campo’, the beautiful rose-gold square where twice
each year they run the ‘Palio’, a medieval bareback horserace.
Join them for an enchanting stroll through the old streets to the
original marketplace before dining on the ‘Campo’, the main
square of Siena. (D)
Day 2: Siena, San Gimignano - Monteriggioni
This morning visit San Gimignano whose famous medieval towers
still dominate the skyline. Stroll through the town and in the
Piazza della Cisterna, enjoy one of Sergio Dondoli’s award-winning
1: Foligno to Montefalco - Wine Tasting
You will be met outside the main entrance of Foligno railway
station at 11.00am. After lunch on the estate, travel up to the
medieval town of Montefalco where you will be introduced to the
food, wine and artisan traditions of the town including a wine
tasting. Welcome drinks and dinner at the family run enoteca in
the town’s delightful piazza. (L, D)
Day 2: Montefalco - Markets & Villa Cooking
Today walk around town to experience the atmosphere of market
day. Then visit the local villa near the marketplace for your cooking
class. You will develop skills in making a complete Umbrian
meal from antipasti, through to dolci, including fresh pasta in
its local variation, ‘strangozz’ with its interesting definition as
priest strangler. In the afternoon, visit Foligno with a focus on
the kitchenware shop. After dinner, discuss the food and wine of
Umbria. (B, L, D)
Day 3: Montefalco - Ancient Traditions & Cellar visits
A short drive to a nearby farmhouse and visit a ‘carbonaio’ or
charcoal kiln that once provided the local area with wood coal.
See the ancient techniques and have lunch on the property.
In the afternoon, visit various local wine cellars where you can try
Montefalco’s award winning Sagrantino wine. (B, L, D)
Day 4: Montefalco - Olive oil tasting, Cooking
Visit a local oil mill and walk through the field of olives which
will include a field lecture on growing techniques and a detailed
tasting and comparison of some of the area’s excellent extra virgin
olive oils. Oil is an essential ingredient of Umbrian cooking and
the landscape displays evidence of years of tradition in the area’s
principal agricultural activity. Travel on to a nearby farmhouse
where you will explore the ancient estate, its traditions and its
biological grain farm, cooking lunch by the enormous fireplace in
the original family kitchen using produce from the fields outside.
(B, L, D)
Day 5: Truffle hunt, Cooking
This morning travel to a mountain forest where you will
accompany a professional truffle hunter. Enjoy a simple meal of
Explore the old fortress, climb one of the towers or view
the famous frescoes in the Collegiata. Later visit the 13th century
fortress ‘borgo’ of Monteriggioni and taste a glass of Vernaccia, the
delicious San Gimignano white wine. In the afternoon tour Siena
on foot, stopping at a traditional bakery to try the Sienese cakes
and biscuits such as panforte, cavalucci, ricciarelli. Enjoy an aperitif
before dinner that evening in Siena. (B, D)
Day 3: Monte Oliveto Maggiore -
transfer to Pienza
Today take the back roads to the monastery of Monte Oliveto
Maggiore and view the famous fresco cycle begun by Luca
Signorelli and finished by Sodoma (Giovanni Bazzi) before doing a
circuit walk among the ‘crete’, the dramatic clay hills of this area.
Visit Buonconvento, a delightful walled town. Your home for the
next four days will be in an old olive-pressing house in the centre
of Pienza. This tiny early Renaissance town was created for Pope
Pius II, with an exquisite cathedral and fine ‘palazzi’. The town is
famous for its pecorino cheeses. This evening’s special dinner will
feature dishes based on pecorino and other local specialties. (B, D)
Day 4: Bagno Vignoni Thermal Pool
Pack your swimsuit today for a visit to tiny Bagno Vignoni, and
the ancient spa pool used by the Etruscans, the Romans, Santa
Caterina and Lorenzo il Magnifico. A four hour circuit walk is
planned, so perhaps take a picnic lunch. After the walk relax in spa
waters before returning home to Pienza. (B, D)
Day 5: Montepulciano Market - Montefollonico
Today join the locals at the colourful market in Montepulciano
as they buy pecorino cheese, porcini mushrooms, clothing
and tractors before commencing the picturesque walk to
Montefollonico, a hilltop village of Etruscan origin. After the walk
return to Montepulciano to the Gattavecchi (Old Cat) Winery for
a light lunch and tasting of the famous Vino Nobile and Rosso di
Montepulicano. Then explore this famous hilltop town that offers
a wide range of handcrafted goods and then relax over afternoon
tea at the Art Deco cafe Poliziano with lovely views over the lakes
of Montepulciano, Chiusi and Trasimeno. This cafe specialises in
fine pastries. (B, L)
wine, bruschetta, pasta and truffles in the hunter’s home in the
mountain village. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Norcia Cooking
Your next cooking class is at a local farmhouse based on
characteristic regional food. The class is followed by lunch.
In the afternoon, drive through the Valley of the river Nera to
Norcia, the sausage and salami capital of Italy. The walled roman
town has been historically famous for its delicious cheeses and
salamis and almost every Italian town has a Norcineria selling
its produce. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Perugia - Deruta Ceramics & Weaving
Visit Deruta, a ceramics centre since medieval times, you will
be shown through a selection of some of the 300 outlets selling
brightly enameled plates, and bowls. Then travel on to Perugia
to a workshop of traditional fabric weavers still using ancient
hand built wooden looms in a beautifully restored gothic church.
Spend the afternoon in town at your leisure. (B, L ,D)
Day 8: Montefalco - Foligno
You will be transferred to Foligno Station at 9.15am. (B)
Price Includes
• Transfers
• All land travel by air-conditioned coach
• Accommodation for 7 nights
• Meals as specified (B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner)
• 4 cooking classes of characteristic regional recipes
• Olive oil, cheese and prosciutto tastings
• Tour leader
$2269 *
PRICE
FROM
Day 6: Farmhouse Cooking Lesson -
Terracotta Museum
Travelling from Pienza to a local farmhouse, visit the ancient
church of La Pieve di Corsignano and then Sant-Anna di
Camprena where the English Patient was filmed. Today you
will put on your apron and learn to make the local pasta ‘pici’
and enjoy the results of your work at a traditional farm lunch.
After lunch visit the tiny nearby town of Petroio which proudly
calls itself ‘the capital of terracotta’. At the museum see how
local potters create the giant garden vases which are exported
all over the world. (B, L)
Day 7: Abbey of Sant’-Antimo, Montalcino & Chiusi
From Montalcino, walk through the surrounding countryside
to the ancient monastery of Sant’-Antimo. En route stop at an
ancient Etruscan fort that has recently been excavated. From
Sant’-Antimo return by local bus to Montalcino where you
will explore the town with its impressive fortress ‘La Rocca’.
Montalcino is home of the famous Brunello which you will
taste over a light lunch. Transfer to Chiusi-Chianciano. End the
evening with a farewell dinner. (B, L, D)
Day 8: Chuisi
Your tour ends here. (B)
NOTE: Expect to walk up to 3-5 hours per day on forest tracks and dirt roads.
Hiking boots are recommended.
Price Includes
• Tour guide
• Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle
• Accommodation for 7 nights
• Meals as specified (B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner),
all meals include wine
$2508 *
PRICE
FROM
per person based on 2 adults travelling based
on departure dates specified in itinerary
per person based on 2 adults travelling based
on departure dates specified in itinerary
Use your Qantas Frequent Flyer points towards any Qantas Holidays product. # (See page 6 for details)