8 DAYS

7 NIGHTS

Outlet Shopping
Clothes, shoes, bags, linen and cashmere - Fashion is the other Italian art form, and in Umbria we know where to find it at the best prices.

Staying in Montefalco, Umbria with a day trip into the Marche

EUR 2180 per person in twin share             AUD 3452 Subject to change

Starting in Spoleto on Sundays

Places still available on 2008 DEPARTURES

beginning on SUNDAY on the following dates:

 21 SEPTEMBER, 12 OCTOBER, 9 NOVEMBER

2009 DEPARTURES

11 JANUARY *winter sales* - click here for more 2009 dates

FROM:    SPOLETO STATION OR HOTEL

BOOK A MOSAIC OF ITINERARIES IN UMBRIA


Call 1 300 65 66 79 (Australia) to reserve a place

This itinerary takes advantage of years of local research from those of us who live here, and have explored the shops, factories and outlets in Umbria. Included are visits to the romantic hilltowns of Montefalco, Perugia and Deruta  with fascinating shopping streets. The outlets in Umbria include cashmere manufacturers and Luisa Spagnoli, a major Italian designer, as well as local artisan linens and ceramics shops. The outlet venues offer sometimes highly discounted bargains of last year's ranges.

We include a day trip into the Marche to visti a number of famous Italian shoe brand factories and outlets including Prada, Tods & Hogans, Fabi and Pacciotti. The day includes a seafood lunch at our favourite restaurant on one of Marche's beach resorts.
Highlights
  • The Luisa Spagnoli factory outlet
  • Maria Ripabianca & other cashmere outlets
  • The huge Valdichiana Outlet
  • A quite day in a local shopping town
  • Deruta for ceramics and Perugia with it fascinating shopping streets
  • Mastro Raffael linens and drapery
  • Traditional fabric makers in Montefalco
  • Italian shoe factories in the Marche including the Prada factory outlet
Accommodation
7 nights in Montefalco in Umbria. You will be staying at a family guesthouse with a swimming pool. Equivalent to a 3 star hotel in the countryside just outside the walls of the town, close to Spoleto. Half board accommodation here so that we can enjoy some characteristic local food.
Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1 Sunday              Transfer from Spoleto                                             B L D   

Meet at Spoleto station at 11am or hotel at 10.30. We transfer to Montefalco in Umbria in time for lunch.  

DAY 2 Monday           Fashion & Perugia                                                       B D   

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.   

DAY 3 Tuesday           Valdichiana Outlet                                                        B D

Today we travel to 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 many more brands advertised at half price and less !.

DAY 4 Wednesday       Ceramics & Cashmere                                                 B D

We drive to Deruta and walk you through our selection of favourites from within the 370 ceramics shops in this medieval town. In the afternoon we wade through a number of cashmere outlets including Italy's best Maria di Ripabianca.

DAY 5 Thursday           Linens, Spoleto                                                            B  D    

We first visit the town simply to wander the streets & get a grip on the overall situation of shoes & shops in general. Then travel to the outskirts of the town to the factory of Mastro Raffael - one of Italy's most prized producers of drapery.

DAY 6 Friday                 Foligno & Montefalco                                                B D      

A relaxing morning in our favourite local shopping town.  Foligno is totally off the main tourist stream and the piazza has a couple of delightful cafes for sitting, people watching and researching what Italian's wear and how they wear it ! The afternoon in Montefalco exploring the local linen and wine industry. We visit a factory outlet of one of the town's historical producers & finish with a glass of prize winning red and truffle bruschetta at sunset in the piazza.

DAY 7 Saturday              Shoes &  Marche                                                      B L D      

A big day today -as it is a bit of a drive to get into the Marche and then to move from outlet to outlet stocking up on Italian designer shoes. Our visits take in Prada, the Tod's / Hogan outlet and a special favourite Fabi, amongst others. Lunch is included at our favourite seafood restaurant on the beach.

Day 8  Sunday                  Departure                                                                  B 
Transfers - with loaded bags - to Spoleto Railway station                                

What is the Cost of the Tour ?
The cost of the tour is EURO 2180 / AUD 3452 per person in twin share accommodation. A deposit of EURO 300 per person is required to reserve a place on the tour. This deposit is non-refundable unless the tour is cancelled. A limited number of single supplements is available at an additional cost of EURO 500 /AUD 850 in a double room, single use.  Final payment is due by 60 days before the tour. The tour is costed on a minimum of twelve (12) people travelling and is limited to the 12 rooms we have reserved for the tour. Subject to lower tour numbers the price may vary slightly. You will be notified immediately of any change.
What is included ?
  • 7 nights accommodation with breakfast and one other meal each day
  • 2 additional restaurant meals - lunch on arrival and a seafood restaurant in the Marche
  • Transport in comfortable air-conditioned coaches
  • The services of a tour guide throughout to assist in translating
What is not included ?
  • Airfares
  • Travel insurance (this is a pre-requisite of participation in the tour)
  • Entry fees to places other than those specifically mentioned on the itinerary
  • Meals not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
  • Optional excursions may be offered which are not included in the tour price
  • Drinks outside normal meal times, or additional wine in restaurants
  • Personal transport costs, phone calls or tips
Additional Information

Vat refunds ~ If you are doing some real shopping, you must spend over 170 Euro in one store to get the tax rebate. They give you a form, you hand it in at the Vat refund desk at the airport. This is located past the check-in and you must have the goods you purchased with you.

Many thanks to Michael Leunig for his shopping insights......
  • Whom the gods would destroy they first send shopping
  • When the cat's away the mice will shop
  • Shops will be shops
  • Shopping is the infinite capacity to take pains
  • There is always room at the shop
  • Shopping men tell no tales
  • Shopping is stranger than fiction
  • The husband is always last to shop
  • The customer is always shopping
  • A little shop is a dangerous thing
  • Empty shops make the most sound
  • You cannot run with the hares and shop with the hounds Shop and ye shall find
Contents of this page
Quick Links

Louisa Spagnoli

Maria Ripa di Bianca

 
Better to have shopped and lost than never to have shopped at all

Shop and let shop

When the going gets tough the tough go shopping
Shop and the world shops with you, weep and you weep alone
Hell hath no fury like a woman shopping
To shop is human
Fools rush in where angels fear to shop
The leopard does not change his shops
He who hesitates is shopping
Shopping is the best form of defence
Any shop in a storm