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 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 ItalianMarket.biz/tour info@destinationitalybycocos.com

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: Saturday - April 21st Roma, Foligno, Spello We will touch down on Italian soil around 6:30 PM in Roma, gather our bags and take a private ride to our first stop Spello, just 15 minutes driving time. PM check-in at Hotel Relais Metelli Hotel. Just a 5- minute walk from the historic centre of Foligno and set in a historic villa. After some rest and free time, we will dine at the La Cantina at 8:00 pm "Only the knowledge of the territory makes a difference" is the motto of Luciano, Paolo, Efisio, members of the restaurant "La Cantina di Spello", so they serve local seasonal products. Among black truffle-colored Colfiorito red potato dumplings, Valianina pasture chianina fillet, grilled pigeon, black truffle potato sauce and salad salad can be purchased from candles of pure beeswax, marble sculptures, plates Of Umbrian artisan pottery, jam and grappa of the house. "Tasty Knowledge" Intelligence in Lifestyle (Sun 24 hours), December 2008 If you love truffles do not forget to take a break at Spello at the "Cantina di Spello" Restaurant, where you will have an unforgettable culinary experience, in front of a fragrant omelet of truffle eggs, on a plate of wild boar, possibly accompanied by A pure red potato purée of Colfiorito always with truffles. NOW BOOKING ItalianMarket.biz/tour info@destinationitalybycocos.com

5 Day 2: Sunday April 22nd - Foligno/ Perudia/Bevagna We will meet in the morning for breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast, we will board the bus for a scenic drive to Perugia for a 9:30 tour. Perugia is an Italian city and the capital of the Umbria region. It s known for its defensive walls around the historic center. The medieval Priori Palace exhibits regional art from the 13th century onward. Looking onto Piazza IV Novembre, the Gothic cathedral houses Renaissance paintings and frescoes, In the square's center, Fontana Maggiore is a marble fountain with carvings of biblical scenes and zodiac signs. Free time and lunch on your own while you explore Perugia. 2:30 PM board the bus to return to the hotel. 6:00 PM board the bus for a quick drive to Bevagna, where you will spend your free time exploring the city. The main axis of the town, known to the Romans as Mevania, is the ancient Roman road, the Flaminia, with gates at both the northern and southern end. The main piazza, the Piazza di Sylvestri, is surrounded by several churches, the Palazzi dei Consuli, a fine example of gothic architecture, and the Collona di St. Rocco. The churches include St. Sylvester and the Chiesa San Michele. Both churches were built in the 12th century, just a few years apart, by the same architects, Brunello and Ridolfo. Dinner at Delle Mura. excellent traditional Umbrian food and a great selection of wines. NOW BOOKING CALL ItalianMarket.biz/tour info@destinationitalybycocos.com

6 Day 3 Monday April 23rd Foligno, Gubbio, and Assisi You can ask us for lunch recommendations but there are dozens of great restaurants you can find on your own. At 3:30 we meet up and head back to our hotel in Gubbio for more exploring. You might want to rest up because at 8 pm we head to the Restaurant Taverna del Lupo. Here we have a delicious and distinctive Tuscan dinner with over 50 varieties of wine.. After breakfast at the hotel, we will load luggage and travel to Assisi for a guided tour. In 1800 the bodies of Saint Francis and Saint Clare were found, making Assisi an even more important pilgrimage destination than it had been in the Middle Ages. During WWII, the city provided asylum for thousands of refugees, mainly jewish, becoming one of the main centres of the Italian Resistance movement. Persecuted Jews were hidden in convents, dressed as friars and sisters and provided with false documents; such generosity of Assisi population earned the city a gold medal for civilian honour. A relaxing night s sleep at Park Hotel Ai Cappuccini. The prestigious Park Hotel Ai Cappuccini is set in a converted 17th-century monastery, near the historical centre of Gubbio. It features the largest wellness centre in town. NOW BOOKING CALL I ItalianMarket.biz/tour info@destinationitalybycocos.com

7 Day 4: Tuesday, April 24th Gubbio, Umbertide 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 lunch. At 3 pm we will get started with our cooking class. A local expert chef will guide us in making some traditional Umbria 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 ItalianMarket.biz/tour info@destinationitalybycocos.com

8 Day 5: Wednesday April 25th - Gubbio, Massa Martana, Roma The next day after another hardy breakfast, we ll say good bye to Gubbio and spend the day in the delightful town of Massa Martana. Once we arrive we have reservations to for lunch 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. From Massa Martana we ll head to Roma where you can check in at the Hotel Duca D Alba. Just a 5-minute walk from the Coliseum and 100 metres from Cavour Metro, FH Grand Hotel Palatino is in Rome's Monti District. You can spend time exploring the sights and choose one of the local restuarants for dinner. A few local restuarants are featured below. Fontana delle Pere Ristorante San Faustino NOW BOOKING CALL I ItalianMarket.biz/tour info@destinationitalybycocos.com

9 Day 6 Thursday April 26th - Roma Are you ready for Rome!? The right way to start a new day in the eternal city is with a buffet breakfast. At 9 am we ll have our own guided tour of Rome. Take notes because after the tour t 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 ItalianMarket.biz/tour info@destinationitalybycocos.com

10 Day 7 Friday April 27th - Roma and Roma Airport After a good night s sleep and breakfast, 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 ItalianMarket.biz/tour info@destinationitalybycocos.com

11 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: January 21st Deadline to submit payment in full: March 21st 2018 Refund Policy: From December 21st 2017 thru January 20th 2018 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 January 21st 2018 thru February 20th 2018 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 February 21st 2018 thru April 20th 2018 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 February 20th 2018, we cannot offer any refund. NOW BOOKING CALL ItalianMarket.biz/tour info@destinationitalybycocos.com

12 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 ItalianMarket.biz/tour

13 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