Amber Road Tours

Tuscany/Umbria

13 days/12 nights

• Day 1

  Arrival at Florence airport, where you will be met by your tour escort and transferred to Hotel Il Convento (3 nights), an early 19th century Franciscan monastery located in the hills just above Pistoia (see map).  
  Pistoia is a little touristed jewel of a town located in northern Tuscany between Florence and Lucca. We'll be making a late afternoon excursion to the historic center with a welcome dinner of local Tuscan specialties and wine tasting at its finest restaurant.

• Day 2

  Our excursion today is to Lucca, an elegant city of art ringed by a 4 kilometer massive wall that took 150 years to build. In the morning you'll have time on your own to wander or shop before our afternoon walking tour of the city with local guide. After returning to our hotel, we'll be going up into the Apennine mountains to the small village of San Mommè for dinner at one of the best pizzerias in northern Tuscany.

• Day 3

  This morning will find us in the historic district of fabulous Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance. Our first visit is to the Accademia Museum to see Michelangelo's incomparable David. Then our local guide will take us on an historical and architectural  walking tour that covers the Piazza del Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Piazza Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio and more. After some free time for your own explorations, we have an afternoon appointment at the Uffizi, the most famous art museum in Italy, where you'll find masterpieces by Botticelli, Raphael, Leonardo and Caravaggio. Evening aperitifs and dinner at hotel.

• Day 4

  Today we move from the mountains of northern Tuscany to the chalk hills of the central. Our first stop is for a cappuccino inside the 13th century walled fortress of Monteriggioni. After, we'll visit the abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, a Benedictine monastery set amongst forests of cypress, pine and oak. Then we move on to the renaissance town of Pienza, the "ideal city" constructed by Pope Pius II. Our lodging is the Relais Il Chiostro (3 nights), a former 15th century convent located in the town center, overlooking the rolling cypress-lined hills of the stunning Orcia Valley.

• Day 5

  An early morning tour of the winery of Il Casato with a tasting of their olive oil and Brunello wines. Then we'll take in the hill-town and castle of Montalcino, with some of the most scenic settings on our tour, followed by a visit to the 9th century abbey Sant'Antimo where we'll hear the Gregorian chants.

• Day 6

  Today's first destination is the unique medieval village of Civita di Bagnoregio in the region of Lazio, isolated by earthquakes and erosion creating an inland island of thirty inhabitants, accessible now only on foot across a 300 meter bridge!
  Spectacular Orvieto sits atop a 325 meter outcrop of volcanic tufa rock, with thousands of caves underneath the city, dug out during Etruscan, Medieval and Renaissance times. We’ll explore them on a fascinating tour of Orvieto Underground. After lunch our local guide will take us through one of Italy's most famous Gothic cathedrals, 300 years in construction, and the San Brizio chapel with the wonderful frescoes of Signorelli.

• Day 7

  Cortona, the oldest continuously inhabited hill town in Italy, is our first destination. After a visit to the 16th century Medici fortress you'll have the morning on your own for a delightful exploration of winding alleys, pleasant squares, small cafés and restaurants.
  In the afternoon we'll move north to Gubbio, perhaps the best preserved of medieval Umbrian towns, laying against the slopes of Monte Ingino. We'll be staying for 2 nights at the 14th century Hotel Relais Ducale. Here you will have the opportunity to visit the Palazzo dei Consoli Museum, the Roman amphitheater and the option to ride the funivia (bird-cage lift) to the top of the mountain to enjoy the views and see the Basilica of Saint Ubaldo, whose 900 year old remains are still on display.

• Day 8

  This morning we'll take a trip into the region of The Marches to visit Urbino. Urbino's main attraction, besides being one of the most beautiful medieval towns in central Italy, is the enormous Palazzo Ducale of Duke Federico which now houses the National Gallery of Le Marche. Here we will spend one of the most rewarding mornings of our tour. Urbino has many other attractions, including a very beautiful cathedral and the house of the Renaissance painter Raphael. Late afternoon and evening free in Gubbio.

• Day 9

  Today we visit three very interesting small Umbrian villages. We begin with a guided tour of the Olive Oil and Wine Museums at Torgiano, followed by a visit to Deruta, famous for its ceramics. After time for shopping and lunch we'll visit the smallest theater in the world, the Teatro della Concordia, at Montecastello di Vibio. Then we head for romantic Spoleto, whose 3000 year past includes Umbrians, Romans, Goths, Lombards, Franks, emperors and popes. We'll be staying for 2 nights at the Hotel dei Duchi located in the upper town near the ancient Roman Theater.

• Day 10

  There is a wealth of history to explore within Spoleto - its massive 14th century fortress, cathedral, Roman walls and medieval piazzas, the amazing aqueduct- bridge, fine museums and churches, not to mention the maze of medieval town planning. We begin the morning with a local guide tour, followed by a tasting of Umbrian delicacies and wines at a local enoteca. Afternoon and evening on your own.

• Day 11

  Our pilgrimage today is to Assisi and the incomparable Basilica di San Francesco and its brilliant cycle of frescoes on the Life of Saint Francis by Giotto. Assisi has even more to offer with its 2,000 year old Piazza del Comune, the first century B.C. Temple of Minerva, numerous churches, Duomo and 14th century fortress, the Rocca Maggiore. Before lunch, we're off to San Gimignano, a tour favorite with its many towers, lovely scenery and enjoyable evenings. We'll be staying at the 13th century Hotel La Cisterna (2 nights), set in the main square of town.

• Day 12

  Our last excursion is to the enchanting Gothic city of Siena, home to one of Italy's most beautiful squares, the Piazza del Campo and what-was-to-have-been the largest cathedral in the world (interrupted by the Black Death). Before our tour with a local guide we'll leave you on your own for shopping, lunch and, perhaps, to climb the 503-step Torre del Mangia. Late afternoon in San Gimignano free before our farewell dinner and last grappa or gelato.

• Day 13

  End of tour - transfer to Florence.