SEPT. 2012: A TASTE OF TUSCANY Tuscany, Umbria & Cinque Terre

A TASTE OF TUSCANY

Villages of Tuscany, Umbria & Liguria!

September 20 – September 30, 2012

“Open my heart and you will see  engraved inside of it Italy”

- Robert Browning -

See Ways to Save $250 per person below!

DO YOU LOVE YOUR PASTA AL DENTE, fine aromatic wines, rare Renaissance art, colorful markets and undiscovered medieval villages? If so, you’ll love our leisurely stays in Italy’s charming hill towns.

Take historic walks in Assisi, Orvieto, Florence and Siena. Sample sumptuous wines in an ancient Etruscan cave and enjoy a cooking class which highlights mouth-watering regional specialties. Stay in a comfortable villa while sleeping on the grounds of a 12th century castle. On this journey you’ll relax in Tuscany’s celebrated hill towns, explore the less visited villages of Umbria and sleep under an amphitheater of stars in Italy’s stunning Cinque Terre.

YOUR JOURNEY

2 Nights Florence, Tuscany
2 Nights Cinque Terre, Liguria
3 Nights Tuscan/Umbrian countryside
2 Nights Orvieto, Umbria
1 Night Rome, Lazio

JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS

A private tour of the Uffizi gallery in Florence ♦ A separate visit to the Accademia museum ♦ Two leisurely nights in charming Cinque Terre ♦ Four unforgettable nights in Tuscany ♦ Sumptuous wine tastings in Montepulciano, Chianti and Orvieto ♦ Excursions to the hill towns of Siena, San Gimignano, Assisi, Cortona, Civita, and Orvieto ♦ A private tour of the Basilica of Saint Francis with a Franciscan Friar ♦ A hands-on cooking lesson with one of Italy’s premier pastry chefs ♦ A private dinner in a family-owned Etruscan cave ♦ A privately guided tour through the Vatican museum ♦ Mouth-watering fresh pasta, superb wines and dining with the locals in neighborhood trattorias ♦ Down time for exploration, hiking and shopping ♦ The camaraderie and friendships made while experiencing the best of central Italy with a fun, small group of like-minded travelers.

IT’S INCLUDED

• Fully guided by an expert Earthbound Expeditions guide
• Eleven nights of accommodation in charming hotels, country inns, villas and castles (all rooms with private shower and toilet)
• Transportation from Florence to Rome aboard an air-conditioned, spacious mini-bus
• All breakfasts eleven additional multi-course lunches or dinners in neighborhood trattorias and charming bistros
• All entrances as listed in your hill town itinerary
• A fun entertaining cooking demonstration
• Mouthwatering wine, olive oil and cheese tastings with the producers
• Gratuities for your driver, guide and local guides
• Italian lessons en route given by your guide
• Complimentary wine and cheese gatherings
• Maps, a pre-trip educational reading/video and packing list
• Alumni appreciation discounts applied toward future Expeditions
• A small, fun group of soon-to-be friends!

TRIP FACTS

11 Days/10 Nights
Price: $3,775 (limited to 15-20 participants)
Single Supplement: $725 (waived if you are willing to share)
Trip Begins in Florence:  September 20, 2012
Trip Ends in Rome:  September 30, 2012

WAYS TO SAVE!

Pay by check: Pay your final balance by check or money order and save $75 per person.

Alumni Discounts: All alumni of Earthbound Expeditions will receive $100 off the published journey price (private trips may be excluded). If Earthbound Expeditions has other discounts available, participants may choose the greatest available discount.

Refer a Friend: Refer a friend and save an additional $75 for each person new to Earthbound who travels with you on an Earthbound Expedition. “Refer a Friend” discounts may be combined with other discounts.

“Wine is sunlight, held together by water.”

- Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS…

DAY 0
Depart home country for bella Italia!

DAY 1
September 20
Arrive in Michelangelo’s Florence
Your journey begins appropriately enough in the city of the Renaissance, where a rebirth of classical ideas, music, art and architecture converged to form stunning results. Take some time to explore the city’s rich history before joining your fellow travelers for a welcome reception, orientation and dinner hosted by your guide. Sleep in Florence

DAY 2
A Day of Renaissance Treasure
Our day begins with an informative tour of the Uffizi museum. This world-renowned museum is a Mecca for lovers of Italian painting. Together, we meander through endless galleries containing spectacular works by Michelangelo, Leonardo and Botticelli. In the afternoon you’ll be treated to Michelangelo’s awe-inspiring “David,” which is housed in the Accademia Museum. Sleep in Florence

ABOUT MICHELANGELO Michelangelo was only 26 when he began work on his version of “David,” which in its day, was the patriotic symbol of Florence. For three years he worked on the nearly 17-foot statue inside a shed, which aroused much curiosity. Also not known, Michelangelo was a celebrated poet during his lifetime: about 300 of his poems survive.

DAY 3
West to the Stunning Italian Riviera
After a leisurely morning in Dante’s Florence we set out to experience the jewels of the Italian Riviera. Nestled at the base of jagged cliffs, these five ancient fishing villages hug the dramatic Mediterranean coastline, oblivious to the outside world and its rigors. For the next two days you’ll enjoy the world’s best pesto, dazzling coastal walks and some of Italy’s most charming seaside villages. Sleep in Cinque Terre

DAY 4
Seaside Cafes, Village Hopping and Vineyard Walks
The day is yours to hike from village to village, or far’ niente – do nothing at all! Your guide is available to suggest a daily itinerary. Your options include boat excursions, train hopping, or a front row seat at a seaside café with a hot plate of fresh calamari. Sleep in Cinque Terre

DAY 5
Towering Hill Towns and Lush Vineyards
Today we visit Tuscany’s most famous hill town, San Gimignano! Because of its numerous 12th century towers, San Gimignano is affectionately called by the locals, “Little Manhattan.” Take some time to explore her glorious fresco covered pre-Renaissance cathedral and the town’s cobblestone alleyways. Our day culminates in the small kingdom of Castello di Modanella, where we’ll stay for the next three nights. This perfectly restored 12th century castle is set in the middle of rolling, lush San Giovese vineyards. Tonight enjoy a wine tasting and a catered dinner in your castle home. Sleep in a Tuscan Hill Town

DAY 6
Medieval Siena and Fine Chianti Wines
Siena, once home to Saint Catherine, remembers its medieval roots by celebrating the Palio, Italy’s most prestigious horse race. Our day begins with a walk through the Campo and will continue through the winding cobblestone alleyways to Siena’s massive Gothic cathedral. Before returning home, we’ll mix sightseeing with wine tasting as we thread our way through vineyards and villages of Chianti Classico. Sleep in a Tuscan Hill Town/Region of Siena

DAY 7
Assisi via Cortona and an Olive Oil Tasting
Today’s route will be highlighted by gorgeous cypress-lined back roads. Drive along the shores of Lake Trasimeno, where legend tells us the Romans suffered a bloody defeat at the hands of the notorious Hannibal and his elephant-mounted army. Continuing, we stop for lunch in the spiraling hill town of Cortona, made famous by Frances Mayes’ novel Under the Tuscan Sun.

After lunch, our journey continues with an afternoon pilgrimage to the village of Saint Francis. Upon arrival in Assisi, a friar will escort us through centuries of Franciscan art and history. The nearly restored church of Saint Francis is the religious and artistic center of the Franciscan order. After a splendid country picnic lunch, the afternoon is yours to sift through Umbria’s history and art at your own leisurely pace. Sleep in a Tuscan Hill Town/Region of Siena

DAY 8
Etruscan Treasures &and Charming Montepulciano
 Around 8th century BCE, the Etruscans settled these two hill towns and on these parched rocky fortresses founded Italy’s first cities. The Romans called them the “Etruschi,” or appropriately, “Those who live on hills.”

Today we explore towering Montepulciano, Italy’s highest hill town. Our spectacular country drive through Tuscany takes us past abundant vineyards, soft rolling hills and numerous quaint villages. Enjoy one of Italy’s top wine producing regions as we stop to taste the fruit of Montepulciano at a superb local winery, and then take time enjoy the rich ambiance of Tuscany’s most dramatic hill town before driving south to our hill top home, Orvieto. Lose yourself in Orvieto’s maze of cobblestone alleys, or people watch at the Piazza della Republica. Italian life is on full display after 7:00 pm, when locals fill the streets for the traditional and timeless passeggiata (evening stroll).  Sleep in Orvieto

ABOUT ORVIETO CLASSICO WINE Orvieto is one of the world´s most famous Italian white wines, and it alone accounts for one-third of the DOC wine produced in the region of Umbria. The winemaking tradition in Orvieto has ancient origins. The Etruscans dug out cellars in this region and in the cool air of these grottos the fermentation process would last several months. Famous since the Middle Ages as a wine of the papal court, its praises were sung by poets, artists and noblemen. Pinturicchio to D´Annunzio called it “The sun of Italy in a bottle.” Today, the dry version predominates, yet the tradition of making sweet Orvieto wines continues.

DAY 9
Stunning Medieval Frescoes and a Country Wine Tasting
This morning we explore Orvieto and her stunning Gothic cathedral, which bursts with early renaissance frescos. Then, in the afternoon we are off for a breath-taking walk to tiny Civita. Once there, you may sample home made wine, olive oil and fresh bruschetta in a tiny family-owned cave. Our evening concludes with a tour of an Etruscan cave, an optional hands on cooking lesson and dinner in a family-owned wine cellar. In the late afternoon, we’ll sample Orvieto Classico, Umbria’s best-known aromatic white wine. Sleep in Orvieto

DAY 10
South to Rome
Our journey through Italy ends where Western Civilization began: in the eternal city of Rome. Bursting with ancient ruins, Baroque masterpieces, Renaissance treasures and vespas, Rome is chaos perfected. After a relaxing morning in Orvieto we drive south three hours where a final farewell feast awaits us in a charming neighborhood trattoria. Sleep in Rome

DAY 11
September 30
Return home with a lifetime of memories
Stay another day and explore ancient Rome, set out for the Amalfi coast and Pompeii, or head north to Venice, Milan or Italy’s breathtaking Lake District. Your guide will be able to advise you of all of your options. Buon Viaggio!

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW…

Deposit and payment schedule: A $500 deposit per person is required to reserve your journey. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for our refund policy. A separate deposit may be requested for the air portion of your journey.

Not Included: Airline ticket, baggage fees, alcoholic beverages with meals, meals not mentioned, room/mini-bar service, gratuities for hotel staff, travel insurance, items of a personal nature and activities not listed.

Pricing: In the event that there are fewer than the minimum number of participants listed on the itinerary, a small group comfort charge will be offered to ensure the journey departs as scheduled. Former guests have greatly appreciated the benefits of traveling with a smaller group. Earthbound staff or hosts are not included in the number of tour participants. Please refer to the detailed itinerary for pricing information specific to each journey.

Currency Fluctuations: The exchange rate on which the trip is based is listed on the itinerary under “Trip Facts” and was obtained through www.xe.com. Although no changes in the price of your trip are expected, Earthbound reserves the right to add a currency supplement or offer a refund due to unexpected currency fluctuations of plus or minus 5%. Seventy-five days prior to departure, rates will be reviewed and if necessary updated. Fluctuations greater then 5% will be noted in the final balance letter and invoice. Example: If the dollar falls against the Euro at a rate of 7%, a 2% surcharge will be added. In this case, Earthbound will absorb the initial 5% loss in the dollar. If the dollar gains against the Euro by 7%, a 2% reduction in price will be offered. NOTE: This policy pertains to euro zone countries (Russia, Western and Eastern Europe) only.

Dress: In general, our guests feel most comfortable when dressed in a “casually smart” (not formal) way. We are often asked about jeans and Europeans of all ages do indeed wear them. None of the places we visit or dine require that women wear dresses or that men wear suit jackets or ties or any other special clothing. You’ll dine in casually elegant bistros that are not at all stuffy.

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