Umbria Bella Private Shopping Tour
A unique experience introducing you to Italy's other famous art form

Sunday 06 to Sunday 20 September 2009    

Staying in Montefalco, Chianti valley in Tuscany & Florenced

Visiting Spoleto, Spello, Assisi and Orvieto as well as wholesale & discount shopping outlets
Bookings through Eurovillas & Tours Ltd
     
 

 The itinerary is organised around guided day trips to impressive shops, outlets & locations in Umbria, Tuscany & Flroence where you will  explore bargain fashion  outlets, a cooking class, visits to pretty hilltowns with fascinating shopping streets

  
     
 
  Accommodation
 
For the first week you will be staying in one comfortable centrally located accommodation at the Fabrizi family estate located just outside the walls of the medieval hilltown of Montefalco. The accommodation is ideally situated for our visits to nearby towns and villages.  Meals are held in a pleasant dining room and there are lounge areas in two of the buildings. There is a garden and terrace with spectacular views across the Vale of Umbria to Assisi, Trevi and Spoleto.The rooms are not air-conditioned, but the thick walls and shady trees keep the temperature pleasant even on hotter days. The region also produces some of the finest natural produce in Italy. The estate is still a working farm producing its own wine and olive oil which are used to prepare the delicious simple meals which are such a feature of the tour. Dinner is usually at the accommodation unless otherwise described.

The outlet venues offer sometimes highly discounted bargains of last year's ranges.

  In the Umbrian countryside we include a cooking class and visits to the romantic hilltowns of Montefalco, Spoleto and Deruta  with fascinating shopping streets. The outlets in Umbria include cashmere and Luisa Spagnoli, a major Italian designer, as well as local artisan linens and ceramics shops.

Next stops are the much lauded designer outlets in Tuscany on the way to Florence. The Mall near Florence overflows with great works of Italian art - Valentino, Giorgio Armani and Gucci - all at bargain prices. We also visit the Dolce & Gabbana factory store and the Prada Space outlet.

 Staying in Florence with its enormous range of fascinating shops we visit some of the most beautiful retail outlets in the world including the Ponte Vecchio dripping gold jewellery and the extensive leather markets from which you may never emerge as well as the Roberto Cavalli outlet outside Florence.

 
 
  Detailed itinerary           UNDER CONSTRUCTION

This is a preliminary itinerary and will be altered to accommodate seasonal activities, the weather, local festivals or the availability of guides or restaurants. However the essential content of the itinerary will remain the same. B L D means that breakfast, lunch and/or dinner will be included that day.

 

Sunday 06 Sept 2009           Transfer to Montefalco    L D   O'night Montefalco
You will be met at Rome's Fiumicino airport at 11.00 am and transferred to your accommodation near Montefalco arriving at approximately 12.00 noon. After lunch on the estate we walk up to the medieval town of Montefalco where you will be introduced to the artisan shops in the town. Welcome drinks in the town's delightful piazza will be followed by dinner at the accommodation.

 
 Monday 07 Sept                       Spoleto                        B L D   O'night Montefalco
 Today we travel to Spoleto, a town rich in Roman and medieval history. We visit the Maestro Raphaelo outlet on the way into town with some exquisite embroidered linens. Then we explore the ancient Roman centre of the town and have lunch on a delightful garden restaurant. The afternoon is free for you to explore. Dinner will be at the accommodation.


Tuesday 08 Sept    Fashion & Perugia     B D   O'night Montefalco 
This morning we drive to the outskirts of Perugia to the main factory and outlet of Luisa Spagnoli, a much celebrated designer in Italy. The factory's back door outlet has selections from last season's range discounted by 50% and previous ranges by 70%. The designs tends towards formal with beautifully tailored suits available also as separate pieces. Free time in the town.
 

Wednesday 09 Sept           Ceramics, Cashmere &  Spello                              B D      O'night Montefalco

In the morning we drive to Deruta with its 370 ceramics shops and a stop at the gorgeous cashmere outlet of Maria di Ripabianca. Afternoon in  Spello, one of Umbria's most beautiful small towns, with an array of splendid shops along its winding corso. We return to the guesthouse for dinner.  

 
 Thursday  10 Sept       Cooking Class                        B D    O'night Montefalco
 Villa Pambuffetti  for a cooking class and a feast of traditional Umbrian fare.

 
 Friday 11 Sept             Assisi                                      B D    O'night Montefalco
 We spend the day in Assisi, the home of St Francis, Italy's favourite saint. There is a guided visit of the town, the Roman remains under the still-standing temple of Minerva, and the Basilica of San Francesco decorated with frescoes by Giotto. Dinner at the accommodation i

 
 Saturday 12 Sept        Orvieto                                        B D    O'night Montefalco
In the morning travel to Orvieto for a guided tour of the town including the Duomo, among the greatest of all Italy’s cathedrals, containing the work of Luca Signorelli. There will be free time to visit the weekly markets and to explore the town centre with its fascinating array of shops, cafes and an award-winning gelateria.

 
 Sunday 13 Sept       Day at Leisure                                B D    O'night Montefalco

 Monday 14 Sept                                                              B D    O'night Montefalco
Market day in Montefalco

Tuesday  15 Sept      Shopping  Outlets                         B D    O'night Tuscany
The uffizzi can wait. Today we focus on another form of important iatlian art - Prada shoes. We transfer to Tuscany, shopping on the way. First at the new outlet village at Val di Chiana with over 40 shops. Some of the brands are Calvin Klein, Armani, Versace, Guzzini, Alessi, Mariella Burani,  Adidas, and many more brands advertised at half price!. Then on to the Prada Space outlet for shoes by Prada and MiuMiu, Jill Sander & Helmut Lang.  If there is a queue we can come back to this tomorrow morning. Our accommodation nearby is in an enormous villa in Figline Valdarno. Well placed for the outlet experience. At dinner we are surrounded by Renaissance statues in a vine covered stone courtyard.

 Wednesday  16 Sept  The Mall, Dolce e Gabbana             B       O'night Tuscany
We have the whole day to explore various outlet possibilities within a short drive from our accommodation including Prada Space, The Mall, and several individual designer warehouses dotting the countryside such as the Dolce & Gabbana outlet. The Mall will be our main focus with its 23 designer shops and one of the most popular outlet destinations and includes Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Marni, Stella McCartney, Gucci, Hogan, La Perla, Loro Piana, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sergio Rossi, Tod's, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, Agnona, Bottega Veneta, Emanuel Ungaro and Ermenegildo Zegna.
Thursday 17 Sept     Florence leather markets          B       O'night Florence
Moving into Florence today the focus is on leather. Our accommodation is in the centre close to the straw markets, which we explore before a short walk to the San Lorenzo leather markets where we will probably lose you. Meet up for dinner to recap the best deals

Friday 18 Sept           Outlet Shopping     B        night Florence
 An excursion out today to another large outlet complex specializing in Max Mara, and to the Roberto Cavalli outlet.  A final splash up dinner in Florence so that we all have a chance to wear at least one of our new outfits.

Saturday 19 Sept            FLORENCE                                       B D      night Florence
Full day in Florence. Guided excursions to some of the best shops in Florence. Cocktails and farewell dinner.

 Sunday 20 Sept              DEPARTURE                                     B 
Transfers provided to FLORENCE AIRPORT                                 
 
     
 
  What is included?
 

  • Transfer from Rome's Fiumicino Airport or Airport hotel on arrival

  • Transfer to Florence airport or station at the end

  • All land travel by air-conditioned coach

  • Accommodation for fourteen nights (4 days full board & 6 days half board, 4 days B&B)

  • Dinner every night in Umbria including fresh local produce and local wines

  • Guided visits in Montefalco, Spoleto, Spello, Assisi and Orvieto

  • Visit the famous ceramics centre of Deruta

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

  • The services of a tour leader throughout the tour
  What is not Included?

• Airfares

• Some meals while visiting local towns are not included in the tour price. We have however carefully chosen a selection of local restaurants and negotiated very reasonable prices for generous set menus of regional specialities usually including excellent local wines. You will have the choice of making your own arrangements.

• Travel insurance (this is essential)

• Entry fees other than those specifically mentioned on the itinerary

• Taxi, or personal transport costs, phone calls or tips

• Wine outside of normal meals

• Laundry: This can be organised with the staff at the accommodation

 
   
  Bookings through Eurovillas & Tours Ltd