Welcome to the heart of Italy and live the best of a part of Marche and Umbria Regions… …a slow journey, quiet and intimate that allows you to experience this land, get in touch again with genuine people, appreciate all the most true this part of Italy is able to offer you…and do not forget that we try and live it first …just for you!
1ST DAY: THE ART
Arrival at Urbino, the ideal Renaissance court…. meeting with our English speaking guide (at around 11.00/11.30 :“Arriving at Urbino and unaware of its history and its importance lies in front of an extraordinary surprise, indeed a miracle. In the game of the hills that bear the roads of access here comes an enchanted palace that the time has not scarred or dented. It ' s a step back in time, a dip in purity and freedom of the spirit” (Carlo Bo, writer and Director of University of Urbino). Home of one of the most complete and most sophisticated civilization of the Italian Renaissance period. Great artists such as Luciano Laurana, Francesco di Giorgio Martini, Paolo Uccello, Piero della Francesca worked here and lived in the Ducal palace of Federico, today the “Galleria Nazionale delle Marche”. Through stairways and alleys discover the “Oratororio di San Giovanni”, completely painted by the brothers Jacopo and Lorenzo Salimbeni, the Cathedral, Palazzo Ubaldini, the birthplace of Raffaello Sanzio. Tasting-lunch by Monia, just in down town with season and local products. Really interesting food experience! Transfer back to the sweet hills of Foglia River valley down to Pesaro and just up on a hill between the ancient middle age villages of Candelara and Novilara, Manu&Paolo are waiting for you at a charming B&B, for a pastamaking hands-on lesson with our Mamma Ivana (2 hours more or less) rich merenda all together (it is usually a dinner….). Transfer to Pantiere di Urbino Resort. Check-in and relax, independent dinner and overnight stay.
2ND day: THE SEA
Breakfast in the early morning, transfer to Fano meeting with our English Speaking Assistant and Guide and the chef of the “brodetto” (local fish soup) in Fano at the fish market. We choose together, guided by the fisherman, the fish for the brodetto soup. The chef will show us kind of fish we have to involve and he goes to the typical “marchigian-style” countryhouse, up on a hill just a few kms. from Fano (10/12 KM), with a wonderful panorama on the hills…waiting for our cooking lesson! Meanwhile you take a coffee break at an historical pastry in down town and slow guided walking of Fano, Roman town with Renaissance heart. Short transfer to the country house for the cooking class with focus on the “brodetto fanese”: guests will go in the kitchen to prepare the “brodetto soup” with the chef. You will enjoy a great lunch with the “brodetto” just cooked! Transfer to Pesaro, the birthplace of the composer Gioacchino Rossini, for a guided visit of his birth house, historical theatre dedicated to him, the Music School with the visit of “Tempietto Rossiniano” the Auditorium (if there are no concerts or exhibitions), “Sala dei Marmi” a special Jewel about Rossini. Dinner at an historical Inn in down-town just at 5 minutes’ walk from the Civic Museum and the main square of the city. Back to the resort. Overnight.
3RD day: THE TRUFFLE
Breakfast at the resort and and transfer to Acqualagna, the house of truffle, meeting with our English speaking guide where you will attend a light-trekking experience with truffle hunting, guided by Paolo who is waiting for you and one of his 7 truffle dogs (The duration of the way and difficulty will be decided together, according with your level and training and arrival time at Acqualagna). Paolo is also well equipped with coffee maker and Susi, her wife, will prepare a “merenda” for you. At the end, Susi will wait for you at her restaurant to attend a cooking session with focus: the king of the woods, Mr. Truffle (1,5/2h), tasting-lunch all together with what you have prepared with truffle (appetizer, main dish, dessert). On the way back, you will stop in Cartoceto, the olive-trees town, (45’ from Acqualagna) to know an extra-virgin olive oil and goat-cheese producer, a special family who loves the land and try to evaluate ita t best. Guided visit of the olive-oil historical mill with the discovery of “Fossa” caves from where the famous and local “Fossa” cheese is produced. Slow walking in down town through paths and stepladders till the main square and ahead till the “bottega” to taste family’s products and a glass of local wine. Back to Recanati, free dinner and overnight.
4TH DAY: THE OLIVE AND THE LAND
Transfer to Ascoli Piceno and guided visit of the town of travertine stone. Ascoli Piceno with its scenic squares, Roman churches, the 100 towers carved in travertine stone, city full of art and history, between the torrent “Castellano” and the “Tronto” river, of ancient origins (Piceni civilization) conquered by the Romans in 268 BC. Visit of “Piazza del Popolo”, the church of “San Francesco” (Roman-gothic church with cloister and “Loggia dei Mercanti”of 1513). Coffee-break at the historical “Caffè Meletti”, where you can taste the “anisette” drink, anise grown in the surrounding hills, in an intimate place in “liberty-style”. We can go on and visit “Piazza Arringo” with the town hall building, where you can see an important art gallery with works by Crivelli, Tiziano, Guido Reni, Alemanno. Ascoli is also known for the production of artistic ceramics. In this part of the Piceno area, you can also visit several other villages, known for handicrafts activities such as copper processing (Force and Comunanza), objects in travertine stone and many other “gourmet” products such as the famous "olive ascolane": The Romans travelling along the ancient consular road “Salaria” to get the tender olives of Ascoli, the drupe, large olive, with tiny core and sweet taste! The “pecorino” cheese, the grilled lamb and the D.O.C. wines: “Rosso Piceno”, white “Falerio dei colli ascolani” and much more. Transfer to an historical Villa situated just out from Ascoli, where Elena, the owner, is waiting for us with the olive ascolane and typical fried meat making hands-on lesson (2h). Lunch tasting. Visit of the Villa, ancient wine cellar. In the afternoon transfer to Offida, ancient village of Lombard origins, which houses one of the 74 historical theaters of the Marche Region, called "Teatro Serpente Aureo" restored in 1862 in baroque style with 50 boxes and stalls decorated in plaster, with gilt carving on a green background, a real jewel. To visit the church of “Santa Maria della Rocca” (XIV century) of the Roman and Gothic forms and, inside, with frescoes of the XIV-XV centuries. In the narrow streets and alleys of the village, you will see ladies of Offida of all ages, sitting on the doorstep, or in front of shop windows, working the art of the bobbin lace: a real show observing them twisting and crossing the bobbins of wood on the pillow or cushion supported by a wooden tripod to create light and transparent lacework with patterns such as spirals, leaves, fruits, flowers, stars…! This very ancient tradition (the second half of XIV sec.), is still handed down and preserved jealously. Just in the main square of the village, we will enter in an historical and private property to listen to Cristina telling the story of a family producing high quality wine. Wine tasting. Overnight stay at an historical hotel in down town of Ascoli Piceno or at the Villa, free dinner and overnight stay.
5th day: RELAX at the SEA and
Breakfast at hotel/Villa and transfer to the hills between the ancient village of Ripatransone and the sea of San Benedetto del Tronto. Guided visit of an historical wine producer, visit of the cellar, walking among the wineries and tasting of wine and local products. We will proceed to San Benedetto del Tronto to relax along the Promenade called as “Riviera delle Palme”, tasting a fish Imbiss on the beach…or in a charming “degusteria” situated in San Benedetto ALTA, if we have time we can visit the SEA MUSEUM or the Open Air MUSEUM OF ART near the port…Now you leave Marche Region to proceed to Umbria and get the excellences of this special land too. Arrival at hotel in Gubbio, check in and relax. Indipendent dinner and overnight stay.
6th Day: Perugia…street food experience & high quality pralines!
Breakfast at hotel and guided visit of the historical centre of the city with gourmet stops in different places in down town to taste: “Torta al testo perugina” filled with ham, typical sanwhich with “porchetta”…combined with a glass of wine. At the end of the visit, transfer to the countryside to visit the “Confiserie du Chocolat Luisa Spagnoli” Mrs. Spagnoli will welcome you in her private villa, outside from Perugia, will tell you the history of the family factory..tasting tea toghether and her pralines of high quality…then down stairs to visit her laboratory (1 h) to see how she produces chocolate pralines. Transfer to the wine restaurant by Lungarotti Family to have your tasting lunch with local traditional menu. You will choose the wines on site “à la Carte” (drinks not included, to be paid on site). In the afternoon transfer to Bevagna and Montefalco, guided visit of the two ancient villages and visit of the Church Museum of San Francesco…a real jewel. The church preserves a wonderful fresco cycle that tells the life of San Francesco. You can not miss it! Back to the hotel , independent dinner and overnight stay.
7th Day: ART and WINE
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Orvieto, meeting with the guide and visit of the “Cappella di San Brizio” to admire the wonderful work of art by Signorelli: “Giudizio Universale “. At the end of the visit, transfer to the Wine producer “Cantine Falesco” of Montecchio to visit the winery and here you will enjoy your tasting lunch with wines of the famous enolog Cotarella. In the afternoon transfer to Ficulle to visit a “terracotta” laboratory. You will see Master Fabio at the lathe creating these masterpiece, unique pieces of art of glazed pottery that only here in Ficulle are made. We suggest to reach Città della Pieve for a free visit of the historical centre. Back to the hotel, independent dinner and overnight stay.
8th Day: Arrivederci….
Breakfast at hotel, free time and possibility to enjoy the Spa of the hotel or free visit of Gubbio. End of services.
According to the number of participants, RainbowItaly can propose this itinerary in self-drive, minibus, GT bus, luxury car with private driver and everything can be personalized, starting from a basic package that includes:
- 3 x BB in the North part of Marche Region (Pesaro-Urbino Province) B&B of charme or ancient farm village completely restored, hotel at the sea, historical palazzo in down town, historical villa in the countryhouse and much more
- 1 x BB at charming hotel in down town of Ascoli Piceno/South part of Marche Region
- 2 x BB at BB of charme, or ancient farm village completely restored, hotel at the sea, historical palazzo in down town, historical villa in the countryhouse and much more
- Other services can be included as from the program:
Marche: Lunch tasting in Urbino products of Montefeltro with wine matching by Monia
Cooking-session (pasta making hands on, 2h) with Mamma Ivana at B&B with Manu&Paolo
“Merenda” tasting (drinks not included)
Brodetto experience + brodetto lunch (drinks not included)
5 x FD (full day, max 12 hours) Guide/Tourleader English/German Speaking
Coffee-break at Meletti historical cafè
Cooking-session (Olive Ascolane and local fried meat and vegetables, 2h) at a private Villa of Ascoli Piceno
Rich tasting of what you have prepared (drinks non included)
Wine tasting in Offida
Truffle hunting with light trekking
Cooking-session with focus “Truffle” (2h)
Lunch tasting with what you have prepared (drinks not included)
Olive-oil mill visit and tasting at “bottega” in Cartoceto
Visit and tasting of wine producer between Ripatransone and San Benedetto del Tronto
Imbiss of Adriatic Fish on the beach of San Benedetto del Tronto (drinks not included)
Dinner at historical Inn in down-town of Pesaro (drinks not included);
Perugia: 2 h guided visit of Perugia;
2 tasting street food;
Tea and pralines with Luisa Spagnoli;
Lunch tasting with Lungarotti (drinks not included)
Guided visit of Bevagna and Montefalco
Entrance ticket to “Chiesa Museo of San Francesco”
Orvieto: 2 h guided visit of the town ;
Entrance ticket to the Chapel of San Brizio;
Visit and tasting Lunch with Falesco winery (4 wines included)
Terracotta laboratory;
24/7 assistance
The package price usually does not include:
flights, transfers (guests will travel by their own car( entrance tickets to museums, historical places, if not clearly mentioned in “included”, meals if not clearly mentioned in “included”. Guide’s meals in case of full day services, is at guests’ charge. All not clearly mentioned in “included”.