After your arrival in Rome, you will make your way to your centrally located hotel - or will be picked up at the airport and will be driven by our driver. This first night and the next morning are set up so that you will have time to get over the jet-leg and enjoy on own some of the highlights of this beautiful city. At 6 pm you will meet your guide for the duration of the trip. You will enjoy a welcome talk and drinks. You will be on your own for dinner tonight. Sleep in Rome at your centrally located charming hotel

You can either join your tour guide for an early morning walking stroll through the squares of Rome, or will enjoy a relaxed morning – and will meet with your guide in the lobby for your departure to Tuscany at 2 pm. You will board your private deluxe bus and head towards Tuscany and the countryside estate which will be your home for the next week. Tonight you will enjoy a great dinner of local specialties. Sleep at a family owned country castle

Today you will visit the gorgeous Tuscan hill town of Cortona with an amazing local guide. You will enjoy a visit of MAEC museum, combination of the very historical collection of the Etruscan Academy and the lately found artifacts and modern display of the city of Cortona, but you will also have time to stroll and discover this beautiful city centre at your own pace under the Tuscan sun (here is where the movie and the book were set). You will then drive along the shores of Lake Trasimeno to an olive oil mill that we believe produces the best olive oil in Italy. You will sample several grades of olive oil and learn how recognize the best quality. Sleep at a family owned country castle

Today you will head off to one of Tuscany's grand jewels: the city of Siena. You will learn from a local about the famous Palio, the horse race all Sienese are crazy about, and you will visit several of Siena's amazing architectural masterpieces such as the grand Cathedral and the Campo square. You will have time on your own to soak in the atmosphere of this unforgettable town, people watching, eating ice-cream and sipping wine at one of the many local great bars before heading back to the castle to enjoy a lovely afternoon and dinner! Sleep at a family owned country castle

This morning you will drive to a small farmhouse where you will enjoy a hands-on cooking class in a super-friendly environment. You will sample some of the fresh products from the farm, including honey and olive oil, and enjoy a great lunch. You will have the rest of our day to relax and sip a great glass of wine overlooking the vineyards and your resort's great pool. Tonight you will enjoy a great barbecue at the castle. Sleep at a family owned country castle

WYou will head to Northern Tuscany today to take in the great wonders of Florence. You will arrive in the mid morning in time for your local guide will meet you and walk with you to the Duomo, through some of the most important streets of Florence, and give you an unforgettable introduction to this essential city. In the afternoon you will visit the Uffizi Museum with your optional excursion. If you have not requested it, you will just get the entry ticket you have asked us to book for you - or stroll on your own. Sleep at a family owned country castle

This morning you will first stop in beautiful Montepulciano. You will visit the village and then sample the famous wine “Vino Nobile” at a small, family-owned winery. You will then head to Pienza, where you will enjoy an incredible landscape that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage monument. You will then sample Pienza’s amazing pecorino cheese while your guide shares the legends and traditions of the local area with you. Sleep at a family owned country castle

This morning you will hit the road again to reach one of the prettiest towns in all of Central Italy - the hilltown of Orvieto. Built on a high plateau of tufa rock, this historic town will surely be a cultural highlight of your trip. Here you will behold the very frescoes that inspired Michelangelo to paint his “Last Judgement” in the Sistine Chapel, and then visit a pastry shop that rests above a secret, mile-long Etruscan tunnel. Alessandra's friend, Maurizio, the shop's owner and an early proponent of the Slow Food Movement, will teach you a few Umbrian cooking secrets after showing you the private tunnels his father has been renovating for over 20 years ago. You will enjoy an amazing lunch here today! Sleep at a family owned country castle

Once called “Caput Mundi” (capital of the world), Rome has been inhabited for at least 10,000 years and became the center of the civilized world after the fall of ancient Greece. Rome has never changed – it has only grown over itself a thousand times. Nowadays, the best way to become acquainted with this diverse city is to tour it with a fun and informative guide who will show you the city’s greatest attractions! You will reach Rome in the late morning and tour the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. In the afternoon you will either be on your own or will join an optional tour which will include Rome's most famous attractions – including the Colisseum, the Pantheon and St. Peter’s square. You will then check in at your hotel. Tonight you will enjoy a great farewell dinner. Sleep in Rome city centre

Your tour ends this morning after breakfast. Let us know if you would like us to arrange for your transportation to the airport.