Wed 3 Sept                       Rome to Montefalco
You will be met at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport at Fiumicino at 12 noon. Coach transfer to Montefalco in Umbria. Late lunch and afternoon at leisure. The evening meal is at the accommodation every night unless described otherwise. (L D)

Thu 4 Sept             Montefalco artisans and Museum
Neil Moore will introduce you to Montefalco while describing the local history and art. In Montefalco’s main piazza the Welcome lunch includes a feast of regional specialties and the award winning local wine. We visit traditional weaving outlets and Montefalco's beautifully presented Museum with fresco cycle by Benozzo Gozzoli and work by Perugino.        (B L D)

Fri 5 Sept              Perugia
We drive to Perugia, an important city since Etruscan times. Our itinerary includes the medieval ghost town under the Renaissance Rocca Paolina, the Etruscan Gate and the National Gallery with works by Perugino and other great artists of the Renaissance. Free time for shopping. (B D)

Sat 6 Sept              Spoleto
A town rich in Roman and medieval history. The guided town visit begins by crossing the magnificent medieval aqueduct and includes the church of San Pietro Fuori Le Mura with its outstanding Romanesque façade, as well as an exploration of the ancient Roman centre with the Duomo and Filippo Lippi's final fresco cycle. Lunch is in our favourite garden restaurant. On our way home we visit the paleo-Christian basilica of San Salvatore.  (B L D)

Sun 7 Sept             An artist’s home and evening Concert
Morning at leisure and lunch at the accommodation. Visit Neil Moore’s studio home in a 13th century tower in a small village where he will provide an etching demonstration. In the evening we travel to a concert in one of Umbria’s evocative hilltown venues. After dinner a talk with slides on the fresco cycles by Giotto and Simone Martini in the Basilica at Assisi. (B L D)

Mon 8 Sept                        Assisi
The home of St Francis, Italy's favourite saint. We visit the medieval castle overlooking the town, the Roman remains under the still-standing temple of Minerva and the Basilica of San Francesco decorated with frescoes by Cimabue, Giotto, Pietro Lorenzetti and Simone Martini. (B D)

Tue 9 Sept                      Truffle hunt
We are accompanied into the forest by a professional truffle hunter and his trained dogs and afterwards join the family for a simple meal of wine, bruschetta, pasta and truffles at the truffle hunter's home. Late afternoon at leisure. After dinner there will be a talk on the frescoes of Pintoricchio. (B L D)

Wed 10 Sept         Siena
The city contains many art treasures including Pintoricchio’s fresco cycle on the life of Aeneas Piccolomini. This particular work is a masterpiece of the elegant manner of his style with its landscapes of descriptive clarity, his lyric narrative fitting well with the medieval setting of the cathedral. Free time to explore the shops and streets of the town. (B D)

Thu 11 Sept                      Cooking class and Wine tasting
This morning we walk around the ancient walls of Montefalco to a cooking class where we explore the regional Umbrian cuisine. Lunch is included. In the afternoon we visit a selection of wine cellars in the countryside around Montefalco where you will taste the award winning Sagrantino wine.     (B L D)

Fri 12 Sept          Bevagna and Spello 
A treasure house of Roman and medieval antiquity with a very fine small piazza. Visit two beautiful Romanesque churches, Roman baths with mosaic floors and the vaults of a Roman theatre below medieval houses. We explore the hilltown of Spello and visit the Baglioni Chapel with frescoes by Pintoricchio. After dinner there is a talk with slides on the apocalyptic fresco cycle by Luca Signorelli.  (B D)

Sat 13 Sept         Orvieto
Perched on a cliff looking over a plain covered in vineyards. The Duomo is among the greatest of all Italy’s cathedrals and contains the dramatic work of Luca Signorelli.  (B D)

Sun 14 Sept        Day at leisure
Wander through the town of Montefalco or simply enjoy the countryside. An optional excursion will be offered. (B L D)

Mon 15 Sept      Arezzo
A well-preserved ancient town in southern Tuscany of Etruscan origin which houses frescoes of the great Renaissance master Piero della Francesco. After lunch we travel to San Sepolcro, birthplace of the artist and home to two of his great masterpieces. (B D)       

Tue 16 Sept       Deruta Ceramics & Torgiano
Deruta with more than three hundred ceramics outlets has been a major ceramics centre since Roman times. We visit a workshop and a selection of shops in the old centre. Return to the accommodation, then travel to Torgiano and visit the Lungarotti private wine museum. This evening we say farewell with cocktails in the garden and a ‘last supper’. (B L D)

Wed 17 Sept           Departure     
Morning coach transfer to Rome airport where you arrive at approximately 12 noon. (B)

• Airport transfers from and to Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport at Fiumicino

• Full board on 7 days and half board on 7 days

• Meals prepared with fresh local produce

• An exploration of the artistic heritage of Central Italy, with relevant art lectures

• A booklet detailing the included art and artists

• A cooking class with lunch, and a wine tasting

• Guided visits to the culturally rich and scenically beautiful hilltowns of Umbria

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

• A concert in one of Umbria's ancient venues

• Free time to simply relax and take in the pleasures of your surroundings

• The services of a tour leader throughout

A series of lively and informative background lectures on the music we will be hearing and on the history and culture of the region will be given during the tour. Topics to be covered include:

• Perugino and Pintoricchio
• The Giotto fresco cycle in Assisi describing the life of Saint Francis
• The frescoes by Luca Signorelli in the San Brizio Chapel in Orvieto Cathedral