Central Italy Tour
Guided By David
3000 years of life in Umbria, Lazio, & Tuscany
12-Day Tour
Orvieto, Sovana, Cortona
$6495 double occupancy
+$1000 single room supplement
October 4 — 15, 2024
(Fri — Wed)
“To fully understand Ancient Rome and Western Civilization you must travel through the land of the Etruscans, which has 3,000 years of history in three regions: Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio.”
—David
Orvieto
Four nights on a volcanic rock
Orvieto Cathedral and San Brizio Chapel visit, Day 1
“It’s my honor to walk with you through the territory where I was born. Orvieto has its own personality, it’s one part Rome, one part ancient Tuscany, and one part wild Umbria.”
—David
Sovana
Three nights in Southern Tuscany
Sovana village piazza, Days 5—7
“The land of Tuscia, between Lazio and Tuscany, is where tufa volcanic rock gives the richness to the soil famously worked by the Etruscans. Here we’ll walk ancient paths and visit local artisan producers.”
—David
Cortona
Four nights among olive trees
Cortona walking tour, Day 9
“Cortona is famous for its medieval charm and lively streets but it’s also an original Etruscan city. We’ll stay in the heart of town, surrounded by a valley of olive trees ready for harvest, and close to everything.”
—David
Itinerary
Pitigliano, Day 5
Tour begins at 3pm in Cortona, staying at Hotel San Michele.
Day 1. Let’s all meet at our Cortona hotel for a welcome drink and tour introduction meeting, followed by a short orientation walk in the town of “Under the Tuscan Sun”. Afterwards, we will enjoy our welcome dinner all together at a local favorite restaurant.
Day 2. Morning walking tour of Cortona with our local guide, followed by a group lunch at a local ristorante. Free afternoon and evening in town to explore more of Cortona on your own. Dinner on your own.
Day 3. Day trip to Arezzo by bus to visit the town and to enjoy its charming architecture. Visit to a local historical winery followed by a wine tasting lunch. Evening return to Cortona, dinner on your own.
Day 4. Day trip into central Umbria to explore the beautiful town of Spello. Afterwards, we continue to the nearby area of Trevi, where we will enjoy a truffle hunt, and learn all about this ancient food, including a truffle group lunch. In the afternoon, return to Cortona. Dinner is on your own.
Bus transfer towards Sovana & Pitigliano, staying at Sovana Hotel & Resort.
Day 5. Scenic drive through Tuscany’s UNESCO area of Val d'Orcia with visits to Montichiello and Pienza (here lunch on our own). After lunch, we will continue towards Sovana, where, after our hotel check-in, we will enjoy a group dinner at a local restaurant in the Medieval village.
Day 6. Today we will explore Sovana, and the surrounding areas, with a walking tour of its Archaeological Park, an ancient “Via Cava” (sacred carved road) and a tour of Pitigliano (also nicknamed “Little Jerusalem). Lunch on your own in Pitigliano. After returning to our charming village Sovana and some down time, we will enjoy a group dinner.
Day 7. Day trip to the Mediterranean Sea! Visit to the seaside town of Orbetello, where we will experience a group seafood lunch together. On the way back to our hotel, we will take a stop at the ancient hot spring waterfalls of Saturnia (water shoes are strongly recommended here). Free evening for dinner in Sovana.
Bus transfer to Orvieto, staying at Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini.
Day 8. Depart Sovana and drive to Tarquinia, one of the major Etruscan cities of Southern Etruria. Today we will explore its fantastic frescoed tombs and the local archaeological museum. Lunch is on your own in Tarquina. Later, we will arrive in Orvieto, our next home for four nights, followed by check-in and a group dinner at a local favorite.
Day 9. Day trip to Bomarzo, a 16th century park built in a sacred Etruscan area. We will continue to a working olive oil mill to taste some fantastic extra-virgin olive oil and have a light group lunch, with a digestive stroll and free time in Lake Bolsena afterwards. After some down time back in Orvieto, we will enjoy a group dinner at a local favorite restaurant.
Day 10. This morning we will have a walking tour of ancient Orvieto, and a visit to the Duomo, including Master Luca Signorelli’s frescoes. At lunch, we will experience an authentic “Etruscan Banquet” lunch, where we will learn all about the ancient way of eating of the Romans and the Etruscans. Rest of the evening and dinner on your own.
Day 11. Today we will enjoy our cooking class in Orvieto, followed by a group lunch, where we will taste our dishes! The rest of the afternoon is all yours to relax and explore more of Orvieto. Later in the evening, we will regroup and enjoy our farewell group dinner.
Day 12. Tour is over after breakfast. Assistance for post-tour arrangements is available.
*Itinerary details subject to change
What’s Included
Saturnia Thermal Baths, Day 6
Included:
A small group experience of 10-15 people
Eleven nights accommodation, breakfasts included
Eight group meals, drinks included
Cooking class
Wine tasting experience
All sightseeing activity entrances and local guides
Local group travel and bus transfers between tour hotels
All tips
One hour pre-tour travel consultation with David
Flexible reservations and cancellation policy
Not Included:
Airfare
Airport transportation to and from tour hotels (we can help arrange if you like)
Extra hotel charges
Travel insurance
Conditions:
Tour hotels and itinerary details subject to change.
This tour needs a minimum of 10 travelers to be viable.
FAQ
Arezzo walking tour, Day 10
Where will this tour stay?
This tour stays in 4-star accommodations with historic charm, within the center of town, or within walking distance. I feel it’s important that the hotels reflect the culture of the places we visit, for this reason, they are often historical palaces and residences.
How much walking will there be on this tour?
There is some kind of walking tour each day. Nothing strenuous but sometimes we venture over uneven ground, trails or paths in the countryside, or around archaeological sites. Plan on bringing walking shoes (also water shoes!) and on walking about 3 miles each day. It’s good for the appetite and for your next gelato to taste!
What’s the balance between group time and free time?
This tour is designed to strike a balance between group time and your own free time to explore or just chill out and relax. David will be on hand to help plan your activities during free time.
Will there be live music on this tour???
Hahaha! Well, I do love surprises…
When should I plan to arrive in Cortona for this tour?
The tour starts at 3pm. Some travelers like to arrive the day before and book a hotel on their own, just to get settled. Cortona is on the train line between Rome and Florence and easily reachable from either place. If you’re flying into Florence the day the tour starts, plan to arrive in the early morning to comfortably make your way to Cortona, about 1.5 hours drive from the Florence Airport, before our start time. And while it’s not necessary to arrive a few days early to adjust to the time change, many travelers do to start the tour feeling fresh. It’s up to you!
What will we eat?
I think it’s safe to say, the food on this tour is so good, it actually inspired the Guided By logo! There will be many delicacies, including some spectacular charcuterie, local wines and pasta, as well as wild boar, a specialty of Central Italy.
Ask David
Will there be music on this tour?
