Vita Italian Tours specializing in small groups personally guided tours through Central Italy Tour 2 Le Bellezze delle Marche detailed description and itinerary

Tour inclusions
.All land travel in air conditioned mini buses

.Accommodation for 8 nights in 3/4 star hotels in Rome and Pesaro

.8 breakfasts

.8 dinners

.7 lunches (the meals include special lunches and dinners in traditional local restaurants as detailed in the itinerary)

.Admission to all galleries, museums and historical sites included in the itinerary

.Personally guided tours to all the towns mentioned in the tour

.The services of the tour leader throughout the tour

Tour does not include
.Airfares

.Travel insurance (we strongly recommend you take travel insurance during your travels)

.Admission fees to places other than those specifically itemised in the itinerary

.Meals on tour except when specifically mentioned in the itinerary

.Drinks outside normal meal times or additional wine in restaurants

.Personal transport costs, phone calls and other personal needs

Cost (back to top)
The cost of the of the tour is AUD $3,680 per person in twin share accommodation.
A deposit of AUD $400 is required to reserve a place on the tour which is not refundable unless the tour is cancelled.
Single supplements are available at an additional cost of AUD $465.
The full balance is due 60 days before departure.
The tour is costed on a minimum of 6 people travelling on the tour with the maximum number of 16 people.

We recommend that you read carefully the conditions applying to Vita Italian Tours

Additional Information (back to top)
The weather: for June departures the weather is warm and humid. Whereas, in autumn the weather can still be warm during the day, but the nights are cool. We recommend light, comfortable clothing with your favourite walking shoes. The countryside is undulating and hilly. Many of the hill towns have their historical centres closed to traffic and therefore lots of walking is required. You should expect to stroll leisurely for up to an hour with many breaks for sightseeing, coffee and a taste of the local produce. The program appears to be full, however it is mixed with long restful lunches and leisure time for your enjoyment and comfort.
If you need to, you can always take time off from the organised program.

Tour 2 - Le Marche Discovery Tour
30 May - 7 June 2010 13 June - 21 June 2010 27 June - 5 July 2010 3 October - 11 October 2010 17 October - 25 October 2010 (9 days/8 nights) AUD $3,680 The tour provides an excellent opportunity to experience the life in Italy's best kept secret tourist destination: Le Marche Region. Le Marche is a beautiful Region nestled between the Apennines and the Adriatic Sea. It is the third region which makes up Central Italy and it borders with Tuscany and Umbria. The tour leads you to fascinating hill towns vibrant with daily life surrounded by beautiful countryside. You will leisurely wander through cobbled streets and magnificent town piazze. The relaxed itinerary will allow time to enjoy the life on the Adriatic. The tour starts in Rome. A comprehensive guided visit in the capital will give you insights to the grandeur and history of this remarkable city. Then it is 7 nights in the City of Pesaro in Le Marche Region. From this base, guided day trips are organised to historical towns such as Urbino, Gradara and San Leo. One of the highlights will be a day of cooking lessons in Urbania. You will have the possibility to experience the excellent hospitality of this beautiful Region which rivals its neighbours with its abundance of traditional local food and wine. You will enjoy leisurely lunches and special dinners in traditional restaurants. There are also opportunities to shop at local markets and at the duty free Republic of San Marino. The June departures take the opportunity of the summer season when the entire Region is alive with music, markets and life. They also coincide with the International Film Festival of Pesaro. The autumn departures are characterised with truffles and wine festivals. book this tour
Detailed Itinerary (back to top) Day 1 Rome (D) Your tour leader will meet you at the Hotel in the centre of Rome at 3.00pm. Introductions and a short talk on the tour will precede an afternoon stroll through some of the famous piazze of Rome. The guided walking tour will include Piazza della Repubblica, Via Veneto. Piazza Barberini, Piazza di Spagna, Via Condotti, Fountain of Trevi, Piazza della Rotonda, Piazza Navona and finally Campo de' Fiori.The walk will end with an early dinner in a family restaurant in Trastevere. Day 2 Rome/Ascoli Piceno/Pesaro (BLD) After breakfast we leave Rome for Pesaro. We will travel in air conditioned comfort through some of the most beautiful countryside of the Central Apennines. We stop at Ascoli Piceno for a quick lunch and refreshments before a tour of the Piazza del Popolo and the other main square Piazza Arringo. We then proceed to Pesaro in Le Marche Region for check-in at our hotel. Pesaro will be our home for the next 7 nights. Dinner will be at the hotel followed by an optional passeggiata around the historical part of the city. Day 3 Pesaro (BLD) The City of Pesaro is situated on the Adriatic Coast. A charming town nestled against a backdrop of hills dotted with ancient hilltowns and castles. This day will be devoted to explore Pesaro and its treasures. We will explore the ancient centre with its Ducal Palace, Piazza del Popolo, the house of Gioachino Rossini, Villino Ruggeri, Civic Museums and several important churches with their art treasures. Also, Tuesday is Market Day in Pesaro. You will have the opportunity to wander through stalls selling leather, clothing and ceramics. A special lunch is organised at one of the oldest trattorie in the City just off the Piazza del Popolo serving traditional marchigiana cuisine. The afternoon is at leisure. Dinner at the hotel. Day 4 Urbino (BLD) Today we start exploring the land once ruled by the medieval lords of Montefeltro. We visit Urbino one of Italy's fascinating towns of the Renaissance. It is also the birth place of Raphael. A conducted tour of the magnificent Ducal Palace which houses the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche with its precious paintings by Piero della Francesca, Tiziano, Paolo Uccello and Raphael. Lunch is organised in a traditional osteria serving local products and wine. On our return to Pesaro, a local guide will escort the group for a special visit to the Villa Imperiale. Dinner at the hotel. Day 5 Pesaro/Fiorenzuola/Novilara (BLD) Today we explore the surrounding hills of Pesaro which are dotted with medieval hamlets and Renaissance towns. We drive through the San Bartolo National Park perched high above the Adriatic stopping at Fiorenzuola for coffee. We then go to Novilara another medieval hilltown with its magnificent views of the countryside. Lunch is organised in a traditional trattoria which is famous for its local produce and its pasta e fagioli on the menu. After a pleasant afternoon stroll of the township, we travel back to Pesaro. Free afternoon. Cocktails followed by dinner in a local pizzeria overlooking the sea.. Day 6 San Marino/San Leo (BLD) Today after breakfast at the hotel, we travel just over the Le Marche border for a day visit to the tiny Republic of San Marino. It is a day for shopping as San Marino is jammed with duty free shops. Apart from souvenirs, you will be able to pick up perfume, watches and leather bags at very reasonable prices. San Marino is also worth a visit for its history and pageantry and its magnificent hilltop setting which offers excellent views of the countryside. In the afternoon we will visit San Leo with its ancient castle perched above sheer cliffs. We will have a rest in the beautiful town square where we will have lunch and taste the delicious formaggio di fossa: a cheese walled up in rock caves to mature for months. Dinner at the hotel. Day 7 Pesaro/Urbania (BLD) After breakfast we travel to the historical city of Urbania where the group will be guests of Donatella and Giorgio from the award winning osteria: Il Cucco. The morning will be taken up with a series of cooking lessons on local cuisine and you will prepare lunch using locally made products. You will then enjoy your fabulous lunch with local wines. Urbania is also famous for its Majolica ceramics and after lunch we will visit several artisans working at their craft. Dinner at the hotel. Day 8 Pesaro/Gradara (BLD) After breakfast at the hotel, we visit Gradara: a medieval town dominated by its magnificent castle which overlooks the Adriatic Sea. We will tour the castle and the impressive walled town. Gradara was made famous by the legendary love affair between Paolo Malatesta and Francesca da Rimini as immortalised in the 5th canto of Dante's Inferno. Lunch at Gradara with piadina and local Verdicchio wine. In the afternoon you will have time to relax before a special farewell dinner at a famous restaurant of historical significance in Pesaro. Day 9 Pesaro (B) The tour officially ends after breakfast at the hotel.

( B ) breakfast ( L ) lunch ( D ) dinner
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