DURATION: 9
days/8 nights
DEPARTURES:
Starts in Rome
and finishes in Pesaro
The tour provides an excellent opportunity to
experience the life in Italys
best kept secret tourist destination: Le Marche Region. Le Marche
is a beautiful Region nestled between the Apennines and the Adriatic
Sea. It is the third region which makes up Central Italy and it
borders with Tuscany and Umbria. The tour leads you to fascinating
hill towns vibrant with daily life surrounded by beautiful countryside. You
will leisurely wander through cobbled streets and magnificent town piazze. The relaxed itinerary will allow
time to enjoy the life on the Adriatic.
The tour starts in Rome. A comprehensive
guided visit in the capital will give you insights to the grandeur and history
of this remarkable city. Then it is 7 nights in the City of Pesaro in Le Marche Region. From this base,
guided day trips are organised to historical towns such as Urbino, Gradara and
San Leo. One of the highlights will be a day of cooking lessons in Urbania.
Day 1 Sunday:
Rome (D) Your tour leaders will meet you at
the Hotel in the centre of Rome at 3.00 pm. Introductions and a small talk on
the tour will precede an afternoon stroll through some of the famous piazze of Rome. The guided walking tour
will include Piazza della Repubblica, Via Veneto. Piazza Barbarini, Piazza di
Spagna, Via Condotti, Fountain of Trevi, Piazza della Rotonda, Piazza Navona
and finally Campo de` Fiori. The walk will end with an early dinner in a family
restaurant in Trastevere.
Day 2 Monday: Rome - Ascoli Piceno - Pesaro (BLD) After breakfast
we leave Rome for Pesaro. We will travel in air conditioned
comfort through some of the most beautiful countryside of the Central
Apennines. We stop at Ascoli
Piceno for a quick lunch and refreshments before a
tour of the Piazza del Popolo and the other main square Piazza Arringo. We then
proceed to Pesaro
in Le Marche Region for check in at our hotel. Pesaro will be our home for the next 7
nights. Dinner will be at the hotel followed by an optional 'passeggiata'
around the historical part of the city.
Day 3 Tuesday:
Pesaro (BLD) The
City of Pesaro is situated on the Adriatic Coast. A charming town nestled against a
backdrop of hills dotted with ancient hilltowns and castles. This day will be devoted to explore Pesaro and its treasures.
We will explore the ancient centre with its Ducal
Palace, Piazza del Popolo, the house
of Gioachino Rossini, Villino Ruggeri, Civic Museums
and several important churches with their art treasures. Also, Tuesday is
Market Day in Pesaro.
You will have the opportunity to wander through stalls selling leather,
clothing and ceramics. A special lunch is organised at one of the oldest trattorie in the City just off the
Piazza del Popolo serving traditional marchigiana
cuisine. The afternoon is at leisure. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 4 Wednesday:
Urbino (BLD) Today we start exploring the
land once ruled by the medieval lords of Montefeltro. We visit Urbino one of Italys
fascinating towns of the Renaissance. It is also the birth place of Raphael. A
conducted tour of the magnificent Ducal
Palace which houses the Galleria
Nazionale delle Marche
with its precious paintings by Piero della Francesca, Tiziano, Paolo Uccello
and Raphael. Lunch is organised in a traditional osteria
serving local products and wine. On our return to Pesaro, a local guide will escort the group
for a special visit to the Villa Imperiale. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 5 Thursday: Pesaro
Fiorenzuola - Novilara (BLD) Today we explore the
surrounding hills of Pesaro
which are dotted with medieval hamlets and Renaissance towns. We drive through
the San Bartolo National Park perched high above the Adriatic stopping at
Fiorenzuola for coffee. We then go to Novilara another medieval hilltown with
its magnificent views of the countryside. Lunch is organised in a traditional
trattoria which is famous for its local produce and its pasta e fagioli on the menu. After a pleasant afternoon stroll of
the township we travel back to Pesaro.
Free afternoon. Cocktails followed by dinner in a local pizzeria overlooking
the sea.
Day 6 Friday: San Marino - San Leo (BLD).Today after breakfast at the hotel, we travel just over the Le
Marche border for a day visit to the tiny Republic of San Marino.
It is a day for shopping as San
Marino is jammed with duty free shops. Apart
from souvenirs, you will be able to pick up perfume, watches and leather bags
at very reasonable prices. San
Marino is also worth a visit for its history
and pageantry and its magnificent hilltop setting which offers excellent views
of the countryside. In the afternoon we will visit San Leo with its ancient
castle perched above sheer cliffs. We will have a rest in the beautiful town
square where we will have lunch and taste the delicious formaggio di fossa: a cheese walled up in rock caves to mature for
months. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 7 Saturday:
Pesaro - Urbania (BLD) After breakfast we travel to the historical city of Urbania where the group will
be guests of Donatella and Giorgio from the award winning osteria: Il Cucco. The morning will be taken up
with a series of cooking lessons on local cuisine and you will prepare lunch
using locally made products. You will then enjoy your fabulous lunch with local
wines. Urbania is also famous for its
Majolica ceramics and after lunch we will visit several artisans working at
their craft. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 8 Sunday: Pesaro - Gradara (BLD) After
breakfast at the hotel, we visit Gradara: a medieval town dominated by its
magnificent castle which overlooks the Adriatic Sea.
We will tour the castle and the impressive walled town. Gradara was made famous
by the legendary love affair between Paolo Malatesta and Francesca da Rimini as
immortalised in the 5th canto of Dantes Inferno. Lunch at Gradara
with piadina and local Verdicchio wine. In the afternoon you
will have time to relax before a special farewell dinner at a famous restaurant
of historical significance in Pesaro.
Day 9 Monday: Pesaro (B) The tour officially ends after breakfast at the hotel.
Inclusions
All land travel in air conditioned mini buses
Accommodation for 8 nights in
3/4 star hotels in Rome and Pesaro
8 breakfasts; 8 dinners;
7 lunches
Admission to all galleries,
museums and historical sites included in the itinerary
Personally guided tours to all
the towns mentioned in the tour
The services of the tour leader
throughout the tour
Note included:
Admission fees to places other
than those specifically itemised in the itinerary
Meals on tour except when
specifically mentioned in the itinerary
Drinks outside normal meal
times or additional wine in restaurants
Departures: May 30; June 13, 27; October 3, 17.
N.B. The
tour is costed on a minimum of 6 people travelling on the tour with the maximum
number of 14 people.
Additional Information
The June
departures: the weather is warm and humid. Whereas, in autumn the weather can
still be warm during the day, but nights are cool. We recommend light,
comfortable clothing with walking shoes. The countryside is undulating and
hilly. Many of the hill towns have their historical centres closed to traffic
and therefore lots of walking is required.
