A fabulous upscale women's tour to Italy........

 Fall Escape to Italy

Women's Tour

Oct. 28 - Nov. 3, 2009

 Limited to 14 people

TOURING:  Florence, Pisa, Volterra, San Gimignano, Siena, Cortona, Pienza, Montepulciano

 Art, History, Culture, Fabulous Food and Wine, Quaint Villages, Beautiful cities, Ancient Architecture, Colorful markets

Museums, cooking class in a farm, wine tasting in Montepulciano, shopping, free time

Arrival Airport - Florence

Departure Airport - Florence

ITINERARY

(B = Breakfast,  L = Lunch,  D = Dinner)

Day 0 - Oct. 27  -  Departure Day for Italy

Fly to Italy

Day 1 - Oct. 28   -  Arrival in Florence, Transfer to Volterra, Welcome Cocktails and Dinner, Overnight in Volterra

NOTE:  Please plan to arrive in the morning.  Consult with us for your flight arrangement.

A private transfer will take our tour group to our hotel in Volterra, a charming walled living city surrounded by Etruscan antiquities.  As we make our way to Volterra from Florence, we will first stop in Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower.  From here, we will proceed to Volterra.  On the way, we'll see peaceful countryside and magnificent rolling hills.  Volterra is famous for alabaster and the city has an interesting alabaster museums and alabaster shops are in abundance.

Our hotel is right inside the wall of this ancient city and so we are right in the city center.  Check in at the hotel and relax a bit before meeting everyone tonight at 6:00pm for our cocktails followed by our Welcome Dinner.  We'll start with our evening  cocktails while we mingle and get to know our fellow travelers.  (D)

DAY 2 - Oct. 29   - Guided Tour of Volterra, Alabaster Museum, Overnight in Volterra

At 10:00 am, our guide will lead a 3-hour walking tour of Volterra, a delightful non-touristy town of Etruscan origins with enclosed by intact 12-century walls, with remnants of its defensive walls and a gate, Porta All'Arco, dating back to 7th Century B.C.  The tour will cover the major sites including a 1st century B.C. Roman theater and a visit to their wonderful alabaster museum.   

You will have free time to explore on your own after the tour.   This town is a jewel.  You will best enjoy this town by exploring its narrow cobbled streets and plazas.  You will have an opportunity to go into an alabaster shop where you will be able to see an artisan at work.   Lunch on your own.  We will have suggestions on where you may have lunch.  Let us know if you want company.  The group will have dinner together tonight.    (B, D)

Day 3 - Oct. 30 –   San Gimignano, Siena, Evening Cocktail, Overnight in Cortona  

This morning, we will make our way to a Tuscan walled city of San Gimignano, well known for its great white wine called “Vernaccia” and for “Zafferano” (saffron).  You’ll have the first sight the famous towers of San Gimignano from a distance.  Note that there were originally 72 towers in all but only 15 are left today. We’ll  stroll the city and stop in the main squares, Piazza della Cisterna and Piazza del Duomo.  You’ll have free time to visit the church called La Collegiata, the civic museum.  You may also climb the big tower, see the fortress and the small and interesting torture museum or enjoy the great shopping in the streets of San Giovanni and San Matteo.  

From here, we'll proceed to Siena.  You will have a short orientation tour to get you acquainted with the city and get you comfortable exploring on your own.  The historic city of Siena is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Siena is beautiful and car-free. Note that Siena is very famous for the twice yearly bareback horse race called Palio, that all the different neighborhoods vigorously and passionately participate.  You will see evidence of this special event when you roam the city.

You'll have a list of sites to visit, a map, and a restaurant list. 

Their enormous square, Il Campo, is lined with cafes, restaurants and shops.  

We will proceed to Cortona after our time in Siena.  We will be based in Cortona for the next 3 nights.

Cocktails at the hotel this evening.  Dinner on your own but as always your tour manager is available for company. (B)

DAY 4 – Oct. 31 - Walking tour of Cortona, Cooking Class, Evening Cocktail, Overnight in Cortona

You will have a guided tour of Cortona this morning at 9:00am.  This is a delightful town complete with an old fortress situated high above the town.

You're free after the tour until late this afternoon.  You are on your own for lunch  but you're tour manager is available if you want company.   

At 6:00pm, we will have a cooking demonstration at a farm followed by dinner.  We'll feast on what we'll prepare.  We'll meet in the lobby at 5:45pm departure for the farm.   Cocktails at the hotel is available for us at 5:00pm.

Meet everyone at the hotel for cocktails this evening.  (B, D)

DAY 5 – Nov. 1 - Montepulciano, Wine Tasting, Evening Cocktail, Overnight in Cortona

This morning, we'll head to Montepulciano.  The much appreciated wine, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Rosso di Montepulciano, are enough to draw us to this wonderful town  but it is also a very charming walled hill town with narrow, steep and cobbled streets that are fun to explore.  16th century palaces and churches line the streets, including a Renaissance gem, the Tempio di San Biagio, a creamy white travertine church which is one of the most beautiful and graceful churches in Tuscany.

We'll stop at a very interesting old wine shop with its ancient staircase that leads into the hillside and taste some wine.  Free time on your own after.  Return to Cortona late afternoon.

Cocktails at the hotel this evening.  Dinner is on your own tonight.  You are always welcome to join your tour manager.  Please just let us know if you want company.  (B)

Day 6 – Nov. 2  -  Tour of Florence, Overnight in Florence

We'll leave the hotel this morning at 8:30am.  We will arrive Florence at around 10:30am. We'll check into our hotel and immediately head out for our tour of Florence.  This tour will also take you into the Accademia to see the Statue of David.  Those of you who are returning to Florence may skip this tour. We'll have some suggestions for you on  alternative activities.  Free time after the tour.  Explore the open markets, see Boboli Gardens or visit the Bargello museum. Farewell Dinner is planned for tonight.   Details to follow.  (B, D)

Day 7 – Nov. 3  -  Depart for home.

Today is your last day in Florence.  Have breakfast at the hotel and prepare for your departure for home. 

NOTE:  We can arrange for a private transfer to take you to the airport, if you are interested. (B)

TOUR COST:

$ 3,395.00 per person double occupancy

$ 650.00 supplement for single occupancy, if not rooming with anyone

Reservation Form

Tour Includes:

Accommodations at centrally located 4 Star Hotels

Beautiful, elegant centrally located accommodations

Breakfast daily

4 Dinners with wine

Evening Cocktails

Private professionally guided tours of Volterra, Cortona, Florence

Guided Tour of Accademia Museum

Services of your Tour Managers

Transportation to all planned activities

Entrance and reservation fees to all museums and sites included in our formal tours

Cooking Class

Baggage handling

Gratuities to all services

Not Included:

Gratuities to Your Tour Manager/Escort

Airline Tickets

Airport transfer in Florence on last day. -- We will book arrange for this as needed. We'll the transfers coordinate with other travelers.

Highlights:

Ancient Architecture & Wall, Roman Antiquities of Ancient Volterra

Alabaster Museum in Voterra

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Medieval Walled City San Gimignano

Wine Tasting in Montepulciano

Temple of San Biagio in Montepulciano

Cooking Class in Cortona

Excursion to Montepulciano

Wine Tasting

Art and Architecture of Florence

Michelangelo's statues including the Statue of David.

 Copyright © 2006 Well Arranged Travel, Inc. ®
All Rights Reserved

512-892-2747 - Local        866-513-3968 - US Toll Free      512-535-2029 - Fax

info@wellarrangedtravel.com