Guided Tour to the Umbria Region of Italy

Transcription

1 Guided Tour to the Umbria Region of Italy with the owner of Coco s Italian Market Now Booking - Dates to Be Announced & Personal Tours for Private and Small Groups Hillside town of Asisi So, why Umbria? It has all the charm of Tuscany, but far fewer tourists. A lot of people travel to Tuscany thinking they ll be the only foreigners, only to find themselves elbow to elbow with dozens of shuffling tour groups in San Gimignano or Cortona. Tuscany is magical, but parts of it feel like Italian Disneyland these days. Travel to Umbria and you ll experience all of the beauty, all of the charm, and deliciousness of Tuscany -with fewer crowds and less price-gouging. All of the towns you will visit in Umbria: Gubbio, Perugia, Massa Martana, Assisi, Spello, and Norciare are lovely and photogenic with charming local shops. These towns are good for first-time Italy travelers, with tourist attractions and plenty of English speaking Italians, And LOTS of delicious food, of course! Imagine plate after plate of fresh foods, cured meats, giant mounds of fresh ricotta, as well as tons of vegetables picked that day. If you re planning a trip to Italy for the first time, consider taking the Umbrian with Coco s. Coco's Italian Market Specialty Tours to: Umbria Sicily Puglia Piedmont

2 Your Tour Guide, Chuck Cinelli, owner of Coco s Italian Market: Traveling with Coco s is like having a Back Stage Pass to Italy, let me explain. What started off as buyers tours for our Italian grocery store has led to a tour company for the friends and patrons. Being a retailer of artisan products means that we have access to the most unique places that the average traveler would never be able to see such as chocolate factories, honey producers, bakeries and pasta facilities. Also with our partner in Italy being a national distributor they personally know the best chefs and wineries for our enjoyment. Our tours are never generic nor are they cookie cutter. Every day will be totally different with enough time for sightseeing and shopping. I ve been to Italy many times but I have never had an experience like traveling with our host and co-owner of Attavola, Gioacchino Passalacqua. This is his 12th year as a travel guide and everything is very well planned. Trust me you will love every intimate moment of your trip to Italy. me personally for any specific tour questions at chuck@cafecoco.com Your Tour Guide Gioacchino, Gio for short (GEO) is the co owner of Attovola at the table a distributor of gourmet food products from his native Italy. Having access to both artisan producers and high-end users like fine restaurants and hotels, means that Gio has a very personal relationship with people and places where the average tour guide would not be able to take his guests. Hence a most unique and marvelous trip that you will never forget. From an early age Gio s life revolved around food. Though his home is now in Sicily he grew up in the Piedmont region where his father took care of vineyards. With his keen sense of quality foods and wines, Gio is sought out to consult on menus for fine restaurants, wine and food pairing events and promotional dinners. You could not ask for better epicurean to be your tour guide. He is liberal to share his knowledge with you and if you want you will learn more about foods and wines than you could have imagined. BTW Gio s English is excellent. Travel Agent Cynthia Schutt, an accredited travel agent with expertise in leisure travel, Cynthia takes care of your flights to and from Italy. With her help you can add on extra hotel nights and excursions you may want to do before and/or after this tour. Cynthia heads the leisure department for Travel Leader formally Wright Travel on 21st and Interstate 440. Wright travel has been serving Nashville for over 35 years and Cynthia has been in the travel business for over 20 years. Coco s is very excited to partner with them and lend you their expertise Cynthia has booked hundreds of tours to Italy so rest assured your trip will be a great experience. Direct Line Main Line Learn to Speak Italian with Patti Nelson and Viviana Luison: While it is not a prerequisite for your trips to Italy with Coco s you may find it fun to learn a little Italian. Patti and Viviana are Italian tutors through Italian For Fun and teach Italian at various locations through Nashville including Coco's Italian Market s Event Center. Again these are escorted tours but if you want to learn the basics and add a little more charm to your trip then you may want to give the folks at Italian For Fun a call. italianforfun@gmail.com NOW BOOKING CALL

3 One week before our trip we meet at Coco s Italian Market At 6:30 pm we meet for a complimentary meal at Coco s to get to know each other and chat about what to expect. We will answer most questions you may have but more importantly it ll be a great time to get together to share stories and travel tips that have worked for us in the past. NOTES

4 Day 1: Thursday - Roma, Terni and Gubbio We will touch down on Italian soil around noon in Roma, gather our bags and take a private ride to our first stop Terni, just north of Rome. Here we will have a light refreshing lunch to recharge from the flight and meet our tour guides. From there we will continue our drive up to the village of Gubbio, a picturesque town built into the slopes of the Apennines Mountains. Our first night in Italy and we are treated to a very unique hotel In Gubbio, Hotel Ai Cappuccini, the structure is converted from a beautiful ancient monastery located in the historical district. They offer a spa, restaurants and bike rentals. Hotel Cappuccini After a some rest and free time, we will dine at the Taverna del Lupo Restaurant. This charming gourmet destination that was an inn for centuries known for their dishes containing rare black truffles. We have a great meal and perfectly pared wines planned for you. I always get the assperagus ravioli, Yum! NOW BOOKING

5 Day 2: Friday April 21 st - Gubbio We will meet in the morning for a traditional Italian breakfast in the hotel. Hotel Cappuccini breakfast After breakfast we travel to the Montemaggiore Farm and Natural Reserve where they produce grains in the ancient Monte Maggiore tradition. Certified organic spelt, buckwheat, chickpea, linseed, black millet and the ancient heirloom of wheat called Senatore Cappelli Durum. It is known for it natural lipid, amino acid, Truffle Hunting vitamin and mineral richness. Did I mention Truffles too! Here we will have a lunch and tasting of all of their splendid foods and a few shavings of the elusive yet elegant black truffles that this area is known for. Afterwards we will have a guided tour of this well preserved town. Gubbio s history pre-dates the Roman Empire so it has layers of historical attractions. The compact center of town has a wide selection of medieval, Gothic, and Roman Theature within walking distance Renaissance monuments. The Roman Theater dates from the 1st century A.D. From the amphitheater there are good views of Gubbio for photos. After the tour, we ll be free to explore more and dine on our own with many different local restaurants and cafes to choose from. If you need more ancient history the 14th -century Palazzo dei Consoli houses Umbria s largest collection of Roman artifacts. NOW BOOKING CALL

6 Day 3 Saturday - Gubbio, Città di Castello, and Umbertide Città di Castello After breakfast served by the hotel, we will travel to Città di Castello where we will have the whole morning for individual exploration and shopping. Gifts, clothing, cosmetics and perfume shops are all in close proximity of each other. Now is a good time to get a bottle of wine for your hotel room. You can ask us for lunch recommendations but there are dozens of great restaurants you can find on your own. At 3 o:clock we meet up and head back to our hotel in Gubbio for more exploration. You may want to rest up because at 6 pm we head to the town of Umbertide. Here we have a delicious and distinctive Tuscan dinner and wine tasting planned for you! Below are a couple photos of where we will visit and dine. Città di Castello Piazza The Cantine Blasi Vineyard produces a variety of delectable wines and olive oil. Touring the historic structure and cavernous wine cellars is reason enough to visit but of course we ll be working up an appetite tasting the variety of wines and dining on the local fare. You will love their estate olive oil too. NOW BOOKING CALL I

7 Day 4: Sunday Gubbio After a good night s sleep and breakfast, we ll walk to the open air market at the end of the piazza and go shopping for our cooking class later this evening. There we will take in the local atmosphere and shop for the ingredients that we ll need for tonight. Gubbio Open Air Market in the Piazza We ll head back to the hotel with our foods and have a lunch. At 2 pm we will get started with our cooking class. A local expert chef will guide us in making some world-class Tuscan dishes. The kitchen in Hotel Cappuccini Restaurant Nicolao At 8 pm we will enjoy the fruits of our labor for a nice sit down at the hotel s Restaurant Nicolao. Enjoy a bottle of wine or two and be thankful for our new culinary skills that we can show off to our friends back home. NOW BOOKING CALL

8 Day 5: Monday - Gubbio, Perugia and Massa Martana The next day after another hardy breakfast, we ll say good bye to Gubbio and spend the day in the delightful town of Perugia, the capital of Umbria. We ll get a guided tour Perugia Piazza near university founded in 1308 of the city as soon as we arrive and then have some free time for private exploration, shopping and lunch. History seeps through every street In Perugia as you wander through them and you will feel like time traveler. Perugia is very manageable to walk around in. Its historic center is lined by cobbled alleys, arched stairways and piazzas framed by magnificent mansions. From Perugia we ll head to Massa Martana and check in at the Hotel San Pietro Sopra Le Acque Resort. This adorable hotel is central to many shops and cafes and in walking distance of the beach. Massa Martana Massa Martana is an ancient walled town and commune located in the Monti Martani mountain range. That evening we have reservations to dine at the Il Gattopardo Restaurant. They have a great reputation with the locals. Some of their recommended dishes are: Tagliatelle pasta with truffle, lamb chops with porcini mushrooms, fantastic pizza and they are known to do great fish dishes too. NOW BOOKING CALL I Il Gattopardo Restaurant

9 Day 6: Tuesday - Massa Martana, Assisi and Spello This morning, after a lovely breakfast provided by Hotel San Pietro Sopra, we ll take a scenic bus trip to the legendary town of Assisi. Once there we ll get a guided tour of the town which of course is the birthplace of St. Francis, who founded the Franciscan religious order in the town in 1208 and is often associated with his Assisi rising above the countryside love of animals. Other sights to see are Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva which during Roman times was the pagan Temple of Minerva, and the castle 14th century Rocca Maggiore. Next we ll trek to Spello, which is an ancient walled city located on the lower southern flank of Mt. Subasio. Structures of interest are Santa Maria Maggiore, known for its beautiful frescos built over an ancient temple dedicated to Juno & Vesta. Collepino s Castle In the midst of masterpieces Later we will get a tour of the Hispellum Olive Oil Co. by a family member. The informative talk and beautiful walk through the olive groves will lead us to the old Collepino s Castle. La Locanda del Postiglione Restaurant NOW BOOKING ICALL This evening we will dine at the acclaimed La Locanda del Postiglione Restaurant which is renowned for it s cured meats, truffle pastas, roasted pork, chocolate soufflé and other delicacies.

10 Day 7: Wednesday - Massa Martana, Norcia and Roma After breakfast we will collect our luggage to start our new adventure and head to the photogenic town of Norcia. Unlike many ancient towns, Norcia is located in a wide valley joining the mountains. Nocia We will have a walking tour and visit a St. Benedict Church, facing Piazza San Benedetto local Salami producer. Norcia is known for their wild boar salami and have several versions named after the town. Now we have free time to go back and visit what peaked our interest on the tour. St. Benedict, the founder of the Benedictine Monks, and his twin sister St. Scholastica, were born here in 480. Fortress Castellina was built in 1555 as a papal residence by famed architecht Giacomo Barozzi who is atributed with spreading the Italian Renaissance style throughout Western Europe. Today it houses a small museum with Roman and medieval artifacts and documents of the Middle Ages and later periods. After lunch, we ll head back to Rome and check into Hotel Eliseo which is conveniently located near many tourist hot spots. Then we will head to Antico Arco Restaurant. I love this restaurant. It s rustic flavors remind me of my grandmothers kitchen and I know you will thoroughly enjoy the meal we have planned for you! That s me with the Chef of Antico Arco NOW BOOKING CALL

11 Day 8: Thursday - Roma A panoramic view of Rome at breakfast from Hotel Eliseo Are you ready for Rome!? The right way to start a new day in the eternal city is with a buffet breakfast at the top floor of the hotel where you will be delighted by a superb view of the city, and its unbelievable view on one of the most beautiful villas of the city (Villa Borghese) At 9 am we ll have our own guided tour of Rome. Take notes because after lunch with our friends at Antica Fontana Restaurant you will be on your own to take in more of what you are interested in; Art, Architecture, History, Fashion, Wine, Foods. Now is your time to take in the culture. Pantheon Piazza Novana Colesium Spanish Steps NOW BOOKING CALL

12 Day 9: Friday - Roma and Ariccia Campo de Fiori After breakfast we ll do some shopping at Campo de' Fiori, which has been a daily market in Rome since The stalls sell fresh produce, spices, honeys, jams, cheese, fish and meats, Enjoy a healthy snack as you gaze at the ominous glare of the statue of Giordano Bruno. There are very nice small shops and restaurants around the market place selling jewelry, scarves, and a vast array of cooking implements. Perfect gifts that can fit in your suitcase. Next we ll take a short, picturesque Ariccia bus trip to Ariccia where we will have free time for sight seeing and lunch. Historicly Ariccia was one of the most important Roman communities because of its geographical position between two volcanic lakes hence their peoples being devout worshippers of both goddess Diana and the god Virbius. We ll stroll the streets and see why from Roman times till now amazing artists, architects, writers and poets have always been inspired to live and work in Ariccia. For lunch I suggest you take the windy ally to the right of the piazza where there are a number of local deli style lunch places. Try one of their local sandwiches on crusty bread. We ll return to Rome and that evening have our last dinner together at Spirito Divino Restaurant which is famous for its pork shoulder cooked in red wine with apples, leeks, honey and spices, pork meatballs and for dessert crème brulee and panna cotta. NOW BOOKING CALL Spirito Divino Restaurant

13 Day 10: Saturday - Roma and Roma Airport After a good night s sleep, we ll say our farewells and head to the airport and back to the USA. Ask Cynthia about additional days and accommodations in Rome or have her suggest another destination like the Amalfi Coast, Capri or Pompeii. Amalfi Capri O' Parruchiano Restaurant,Sorrento Pompeii NOW BOOKING CALL

14 Price per person: Price: $TBD per person to keep our tour both intimate and affordable we limit the number of guests to a minimum of 12 to a maximum of 18 The price includes: Transfers to and from the airport, transfer by private bus for the whole tour. All the hotels are Four **** star rated and located in the most beautiful locations. Inclusive in the trip are four lunches and five dinners. In particular you will visit traditional restaurants where you will sample typical dishes of the region and meet local foods and wine producers. English speaking guides are at your disposal for walking tours in all of the places we visit. During all tours English/Italian speaking staff are available for any requests. All of our guests will receive a folder with the detailed itinerary, in it there is information about the food and wine producers and the cities that you will visit during the tour. Our intention is to make your trip an unforgettable experience of sightseeing and lunches/ dinners and visits to producers. In short, we are offering you an exclusive culinary view of Italy, which you wouldn't get on most tours! The price does not include: Your flight, personal expenses, entrance to museums, and everything not expressly mentioned under "The price includes." Booking your Flight: Cynthia Schutt is a licensed travel agent at Wright Travel on 21 st. Ave. and will help you book your flights and make any other travel arrangements before or after your tour. She will work with your existing air miles or travel points. Now is a perfect time to ask her about an extra day or two or other excursions in Italy or Europe. Cynthia Schutt Direct Main Fax cschutt@safeharbors.com Meals: We make a measurable effort to create the most unique and unforgettable dining experience which highlights the regional specialties, therefore, we will work with the restaurants to plan a menu for each meal. If anyone has any particular food allergies, or foods that they cannot eat, please inform us at the time the deposit is due. Changes of Hotels or Venues: We reserve the right to change a hotel or other venues on the trip. If for some reason a change needs to be made the level of service and quality will be equal or exceed what has been agreed upon in the itinerary. It is our goal not to change a hotel or venue unless, for some unforeseen event, it becomes necessary. We will advise the group of the change as soon as a problem should arise. Details of Itinerary: After we have received your deposit and we know the details of the rooms needed, we will finalize arrangements for the group. We will send an updated itinerary with the specific names of all the hotels, restaurants, guided tours and destinations before the due date for the final payment arrives. Payment and Confirmation Policy: Four months before the tour start date the tour must be confirmed with a deposit of 50% of the tour cost as a down payment. We must receive full payment for the complete tour no later than one month before the start date of your tour. Payment and Confirmation Policy: Four months before the tour start date the tour must be confirmed. To confirm your tour we ask that you please provide us with the most up to date list of all those planning to attend, their room requirements and 50% of the tour cost as a down payment. We must receive full payment for the complete tour no later than one month before the start date of your tour. Deadline to confirm your reservation and make your 50% down payment: TBD. Deadline to submit payment in full: TBD. Refund Policy: From TBA thru TBA a refund of 70% (of the down payment) will be given to anyone who decides to cancel their reservation. (After receiving the confirmation deposits, we will book the tour and will need to make not refundable deposits for hotels, buses, restaurants, etc. Therefore, we cannot give a full refund once we receive a deposit). From TBA thru February TBA a refund of 20% (of the down payment) will be given to anyone who decides to cancel their reservation. We are assuming that by this point, after everyone has made full payment for the trip, that should someone need to cancel it would be for a fairly serious reason. From TBA thru TBA there are no refunds available. We will have committed to all the business involved in this tour to pay for a certain amount of rooms, foods, tours, and seats in a vehicle. Therefore, after TBA, we cannot offer any refund. NOW BOOKING CALL

15 More Tour Photos Mario Ciampetti Umbria Owner and our guide at Hispellum Olive Oil Co Gubbio Hotel Elieeo In Rome Gubbio La Locanda del Postiglione Restaurant NOW BOOKING CALL

16 Coco's Provides Private & Small-Group Gourmet Tours to Italy If you re planning a trip to Italy and you want minimal hassle and maximum efficiency, no surprises or long tourist lines. If you want to experience Italy like an insider? Then you need a travel with Coco's for unparalleled on-the-ground connections and expertise with our a friends who live there and who hold the keys to the kingdom (hardly just guides ). Take advantage of my contacts in Italy and let us help you make your Italian vacation dreams come true. Coco's Travel can add to your existing vacation or help you plan the whole excursion. Because Italy is equally astonishing as it is challenging to travel in let us help you with transportation to and from airports and hotels, daily excursions with English speaking tour guides, hotel, restaurant and wine recommendations, cooking classes, etc. We can be as flexible as you want, this is going to be your magical trip so take advantage of the connections I ve made with Coco s Italian Market and have a truly remarkable experience of Italy. Buon Viaggio, Chuck Cinelli Owner of Coco's Italian Market Ph info@destinationitalybycocos.com