La
Bella Italia! It's on the cover of practically every travel
magazine - the Tuscan Sun, Roma, Amalfi, Venezia.
Many of us have been, and more than once. And most of us
would love to go back, but maybe not to the same places.
Hence, Unusual Italy . It's the Italy of the connoisseur
of the different, the special, the unexpected.
We
begin with five days in Puglia (Apulia) a semi-arid land of
vineyards and orchards by the sea, of olive groves that stretch
for miles, punctuated by white hill towns reminiscent of Greece,
yet with the sophistication that only Italy can offer. Puglia
is home to the Trulli, those ancient structures whose origin is
lost in time. Our base is a beautifully restored fortified
farm complex set amidst the olive and orange groves (Masseria
Torre Coccaro).
Puglia
is a fascinating place a melange of cultures from down through
the ages from the Greeks, to the Normans, from the Byzantine
to the Baroque. It is a study in contrasts and a blend
of the predictable and the obscure. The people are warm
and friendly. The food combines the simple and the sophisticated,
and is always delicious.
We
spend the next five days in Umbria the mystical green heart
of Italy. Its gentle rolling hills give birth to such variety
olive oil, wine, truffles, and so much more. The hill
towns are bursting with cultural riches, waiting to be unearthed
and enjoyed. From our country villa base
(Villa
Zuccari)
we
wander from Perugia, to Spello, Assisi to Gubbio, Spoleto, Montefalco,
and Bevagna, we will explore and discover the art and architecture,
the food and the wine, and the kind and lovely Umbrian people
who will greatly enrich our experience. Umbrian cuisine
partakes of the earth it is basic, pure, and good beyond measure.
Next
comes a three day stay in Pietrasanta, with a stop at a grand
and wonderful vineyard along the way. We will steep ourselves
in the bounty of the arts offered
up by the tiny Tuscan town of Pietrasanta nestled in the shadows
of the great quarries of Carrara, it has been the resource of
sculptors down through history from Michelangelo to Botero.
From our chic and art-filled base (Albergo
Pietrasanta),
we
will visit a quarry, a foundry, galleries, and spend a special
day enjoying the treasures of nearby Lucca. We eat in small
town trattorias and sophisticated enotecas.
Our
journey then takes us up the coast and then inland to Barolo for
a wonderful lunch amidst the vines before reaching our final destination
and spending our three final days in the rich and scenic Piemonte
region of Italy (Villa
Matilde). The Alps are always hovering
in the background as we explore the hidden gem of Northern Italy,
Torino, from our base in a country villa.
Torino
is truly one of the most sophisticated cities of Italy with
gorgeous shops, and people, intriguing museums, and the birthplace
of Italian cinema, royalty, and café society. It
is filled with hidden treasures. The countryside is dotted
with castles, covered with vineyards and fields, and rife with
gourmet opportunities. I hope that you will join me in their discovery.
This tour can also be customized for independent trips for 1-10 individuals, with special interests, time constraints and individual requirements.
For tour details, availability
and pricing, we invite you to contact
us: