For 2 nights in Rome our accommodation is a comfortable small hotel in one of the oldest parts of the city, still with ancient winding streets. The location is quiet and yet centrally located close to Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, and within walking distance of the Spanish steps, as well as some significant museums and galleries, and for the more energetic a short hike to the ancient Roman forum and the Colosseum. This is a favourite area of ours being so centrally located and full of characteristic cafès and restaurants.

For 5 nights our hotel in Sorano, a small and picturesque town, is in the Orsini castle above the town which in its turn is high above the river in the ravine below and the views from our rooms are spectacular. It is said that in the stormy Middle Ages this castle was never taken and that it provided refuge for the cruel and oppressive Orsini Duke who came here by a hidden tunnel when there was a popular revolt in Pitigliano. A bit later on it provided refuge for Jews expelled from an increasingly intolerant Papal State and one of the surprises of Pitigliano is in fact its considerable Jewish ghetto complete with synagogue which has recently been done up as a kind of museum and provides a fascinating insight into how life used to be lived. We stay here for a considerable part of the tour.

2 nights in Tuscania

Accommodation in Florence for 2 nights in a famous fourteenth century palazzo in the historical centre of the city, now a four star hotel close to several of the main museums, the Ponte Vecchio and the principal piazzas, as well as the fashion and shopping areas. As in Rome the hotel position is unbeatable and there is a delightful garden terrace overlooking the city we often use for cocktails and dinner.

For 3 nights in Umbria you will be staying at the Fabrizi family accommodation, a delightful ‘farmstay’ hotel located just outside the walls of the medieval hilltown of Montefalco. The family has owned the estate for four hundred years and in 1991 a cluster of four of the farm buildings was converted into high quality accommodation. There are fifteen rooms. All have their own bathroom and private entrance. 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.

Living Italy reserves the right to modify this program if necessary.
B L D means that breakfast, lunch and/or dinner will be included that day.

Sun 26 April 2009  Rome                                          D             Overnight in Rome
Individual airport transfers. We will meet in the foyer of our Rome hotel in the afternoon to begin our journey into ancient history with a trip to the Palatine Hill, and then explore the forum area before returning by way of the Tiber Island with its Roman bridges.  In the evening dinner in a local restaurant will welcome you into the romantic atmosphere of Roman evenings.   

Mon 27 April   Rome & Veii                                  B               Overnight in Rome
We start the day with an orientation walk of the area immediately around our hotel including the Pantheon - temple of all gods -,and Piazza Navona, once a chariot racing track built by the Emperor Domitian. In the afternoon we begin our series of visits to the remains of the Etruscan cities with a trip to the site of Veii (Veio, modern Isola Farnese) an hour's drive north of Rome, and which was Rome's competitor and closest Etruscan neighbour, destroyed by them in 396 B.C.Cerveteri (Caere to the Romans). The great cemetery of the Banditaccia with its streets of "beehive" tombs is an impressive testimony to the city's past importance and the site of some of the first major discoveries of Etruscan culture. The day will include a talk as a general introduction to the history of the Etruscans.

Tues 28 April  Villa Giulia, Transfer to Tuscania        B D      Overnight Tuscania
In the morning we visit the Villa Giulia museum which houses the world’s most extensive collection of Etruscan artefacts.  After lunch at Cerveteri we proceed to Tuscania, once an important Etruscan centre and now a delightful medieval walled town ideally placed to be our base for exploring nearby sites. Overnight in Tuscania.

Wed 29 April     Tarquinia                                  B L                Overnight Tuscania
This morning we first visit the basilica in Tuscania and then travel on to Tarquinia, a major Etruscan city whose underground chamber tombs, quite different from Cerveteri, contain astonishing examples of Etruscan paintings. We spend some time exploring the excellent museum here, after lunch moving on to the tombs themselves.  During the day a talk on the Etruscan language

Thurs 30 April   Transfer to Sorano                    B L               Overnight Sorano
Leaving Tuscania we now proceed to the site of Ancient Vulci, another of the important Etruscan cities and member of the dodecapolis or federation of Etruscan cities. Further north along the coastal Via Aurelia we come to Orbetello where a stretch of cyclopean polygonal masonry still forms part of the sea wall. We take advantage of the setting to enjoy a seafood lunch in a favourite spot. In the afternoon awe then travel on to Sorano, an exceptionally picturesque medieval town built on Etruscan foundations in the area known as the upper Maremma, which will now be our base for some days.      

Fri 01 May        Sorano  & Pittigliano                   B                   Overnight Sorano
Today we have a rest day, exploring Sorano in the morning and in the afternoon going to nearby Pitigliano, like Sorano a medieval town built directly on top of an ancient Etruscan one. Here we visit the fascinating Jewish ghetto and stay on for dinner.  

Sat 02 May     Sovana                                        B                    Overnight Sorano
Forming a group with Sorano and Pitigliano is nearby Sovana, one of the prettiest places in the whole area with a superb romanesque church and interesting medieval architecture. In the country nearby are numerous Etruscan cemeteries carved out of the volcanic rock, as well as a number of very impressive Etruscan roads, called Cave, also carved out of the rock up to thirty metres below surface level. In the afternoon an optional visit to the closeby troglodite village of Vitozza.  

Sun 3 May      Orvieto                                          B                  Overnight Sorano
Travelling west we come to Lake Bolsena, nestling in the crater of the extinct volcano which in prehistoric times created the characteristic landscape of Central Etruria. From there we proceed to Orvieto ( whose name is a corruption of Urbs vetus= old town) religious centre of the Etruscan dodecapolis and a fascinating town where we take an underground tour of the tunnels and caves which are testimony of Orvieto's Etruscan past.   

Mon 4 May      Saturnia, Roselle & Talamone   B                    Overnight Sorano
Proceeding northward we visit first the hot springs of Saturnia. We have lunch in Talamone, another coastal site, and visit Roselle, once one of the Etruscan's great maritime centres whose impressive ruins with amazing cyclopean walls are now some way inland.

Tues 5 May      Chiusi                                         B                     Overnight Florence
Leaving Sorano we now go north to the important Etruscan museum in the town of Chiusi, Following lunch we go on to Florence.   

Wed 6 May       Florence                                    B  D                Overnight Florence
Though not a major town in Etruscan times, Florence now houses an important Etruscan museum where amongst other things we will admire what is certainly the most impressive piece of Etruscan sculpture to survive, the 4th century B.C. bronze "chimera", a fabulous monster from Greek mythology. The afternoon is free with dinner provided in a local restaurant.  

Thurs 7 May     Fiesole, Cortona                      B D              Overnight Montefalco
At the beginning of our journey south we pay a visit to Fiesole, the hilltop Etruscan city that dominated the area before Florence existed. We then make our way through the centre of inland Etruria visiting Cortona high above lake Trasimeno before arriving at Montefalco itself and Living Italy's habitual home on the estate of the Fabrizi family, where dinner will be served.  

Fri 8 May      Perugia                                 B D                  Overnight Montefalco
Today we travel to Perugia, last of the major Etruscan towns on our itinerary and the major city of modern day Umbria. We visit the great Etruscan gate and other relics of its distant past, but in the National Gallery there are jewels from the Middle Ages and Renaissance that are too good to miss. Dinner and overnight at Montefalco.  

Sat 9 May      Montefalco                           B D                 Overnight Montefalco
An introduction to Montefalco and a wine tasting, then the rest of the day at leisure in the delightful medieval walled hilltown of Montefalco otherwise known as the ‘Balcony of Umbria.’ Visit Neil Moore’s tower home for a farewell cocktails.  Dinner at the accommodation

Sun 10 May 2009   Departure                              B
You depart at 8am by coach for Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport at Fiumicino where you arrive at approximately 11am. The tour officially ends here. 

• Transfers from and to Rome's Fiumicino Airport
• All land travel within Italy by air-conditioned coach
• Accommodation and breakfasts in Rome for two nights
• Accommodation and breakfasts in Tuscania for two nights
• Accommodation and breakfasts in Sorano for five nights
• Accommodation and breakfast in Florence for two nights
• Accommodation and breakfasts in Montefalco for three nights
• Eight meals at specially selected local restaurants
• Guided visits to all towns included in the itinerary
• Admission to all galleries, museums and historical sites included in the itinerary
• Background lectures on Etruscan history
• The services of the tour leader throughout the tour

• Airfares
• Travel insurance (this is a prerequisite of participation)
• Entry fees to places other than those specifically mentioned in the itinerary
• Meals on excursions except where specifically mentioned in the itinerary
• An optional excursion may be offered which is not included in the tour price
• Personal transport costs, phone calls, laundry or tips
• Drinks outside normal meal times, or additional wine in restaurants