An amazing tour in Italy Countryside: Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio. Visit this famed part of Italy that won’t disappoint. Tuscany’s Maremma and Val d’Orcia, the less known Lazio’s Tuscia and the green heart of Umbria have so much to offer and so many reasons to visit. There’s the unparalleled legacy with history, art and stunning architecture, intriguing towns, hilltop villages and extraordinary countryside. Food and wine will warm your heart. And with the fabled rolling countryside, great roads and plenty to do and see, it’s a delight for all, especially when you settle into the wonderful hotel we have chosen for this tour.

Tuscany’s Maremma Vie Cave, Pitigliano Sorano e Sovana

This is a true Italian adventure, not just another tourist destination. The Vie Cave (meaning cave roads) are impressive roads excavated between two towering tufa walls, around Pitigliano, Sovana and Sorano. In Pitigliano, these long, shadowy corridors sometimes reach heights of 30 meters and wind through rocky outcroppings of light, crumbly volcanic stone. Some paths are green and lush, while others are rocky havens of moss and lichen; some are fairly wide and could have handled small carts while others are very narrow and could only be used for human and animal transport, like donkey.

Val d’Orcia, the Tuscany of Your Dreams

A tour in Val d’Orcia is a special journey between flavors and marvelous panoramas that you will never forget. It’s all about magnificent sights that will take your breath away: rolling hills, ancient oaks, picturesque olive groves, scenic country roads winding through perfect vineyards and isolated cypress trees atop hills, yellow fields of grain dotted with cylindrical bales. The heart of Tuscany, Val D’Orcia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is definitely one of the most beautiful and most photographed area in Tuscany, natural location of famous film production.

The astoundingly beautiful countryside of Umbria

The charm of Umbria derives from its fusion of art, nature, history and artistic legacy.  “The Green Heart of Italy” is the only Italian region that borders neither the sea nor another country. This isolation has kept outside influences away and ensured that many of Italy’s old-world traditions survive today.
The region is best known for its medieval hilltop towns, many beautifully preserved and dramatically set. Nature has played its part too, contrasting the wild beauty of the Monti Sibillini with the gentle fall and rise of green hills and wildflower-flecked meadows. Foodies are in their element here, with tartufi neri (black truffles), fine cured meats and full-bodied local wines finding their way onto regional menus.

Tuscia and Lake Bolsena

Immersed in the verdant countryside of Northern Lazio, the ancient Tuscia region was home to the Etruscans and remains almost unknown to international visitors. But its stunning patchwork of medieval towns are jewel-boxes of fabulous artworks, intriguing history and breathtaking scenery just waiting to be discovered.
Within the province of Viterbo, Tuscia formed a seat of power to rival Rome in the Middle Ages. Celebrities, royalty and a succession of popes have lived here.  Bolsena is a wonderful lake set in the bowl of an extinct volcano. Lake Bolsena is often called the belly button of Italy, due to its central position. 

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Let the journey begin!

Departure from Rome city centre in the early afternoon. Our representative will escort you and assist during your Italian Countryside tour in Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio. Check-in at Borgo La Chiaracia and dinner in the hotel.

Day 2: Vie Cave, Pitigliano Sorano e Sovana

After breakfast, this amazing day tour will start from Sorano and will finish in Pitigliano. Included in the tour a walk along the Vie Cave, starting from Sovana. Dinner in the hotel.
Pitigliano is carved entirely into the tufa rock cliff which it sits on and it’is known as “Little Jerusalem” after its resemblance to the original. Its historical heritage is intact and yours to discover. Pitigliano is so enchanting, it appears to have grown from the stone of this wildly beautiful promontory. And it’s surprising how little tourist attention it receives. It is without a doubt the Maremma’s greatest treasure and most breathtaking city.

Sorano is one of the Maremma’s most impressive cities, located in what can only be described as a picturesque and completely unspoilt landscape. With its tufa rock, sharp red rooftops and impressive history, Sorano is the Siena of the Maremma. Sorano is also known as Matera of Tuscany as it’s oldest buildings are carved into Sasso Leopoldino, an impressive tufa rock.

Sovana is so small, it’s made up of only two streets, but hidden in those two streets are some of the most incredible historical treasures. The second of the three Città del Tufo, Sovana can trace its origins back to between the 7th and 6th century BC. The Sovana we know today was built in the Middle Ages under the extremely powerful Aldobrandeschi family. Unaffected by the changes brought by population growth or modernity, Sovana remains as it was when the Aldobrandeschi Counts walked its streets. 

Day 3: Val d’Orcia, Pienza and Montepulciano

The tour will take you to visit two small treasures, Pienza and Montepulciano, the perfect introduction to this fascinating natural area, among the most beautiful in Italy. This region is rich in high quality food items such as “pecorino” cheese of Pienza (a cheese made from the milk of the many sheep that graze the grasses in the area around the town), genuine extra virgin olive oil, gorgeous wines of Montepulciano, saffron, mushrooms, chestnuts, truffles, game such as wild board and other specialties. Pecorino cheese and Wine tasting are included.

Time seems to slow down in picturesque town of Pienza, a real jewel known as the “Ideal City”. In Pienza you will see how beauty, armony and architecture live together perfectly. You will enjoy the pretty alleys of this jewel-like town before continuing the journey. Time for lunch (not included) in a local farm.  

Lastly, Montepulciano a medieval town of rare beauty, highly recommended visiting in Tuscany. The city, full of elegant Renaissance palaces, ancient churches, charming squares and hidden corners, boasts vast panoramas all over the wonderful Val d’Orcia and Val di Chiana valleys that surround it. The city is well-known for the ancient tradition of its wine, the Nobile di Montepulciano, one of the most famous in Tuscany. Dinner in the hotel.

 Day 4: Umbria, Perugia and Deruta

After breakfast, today you will go to Perugia, for a 3 hours city tour. Lunch in Perugia city centre (not included). In the afternoon, visit of Deruta city centre and pottery workshop to learn about this ancient art.

With a pristine medieval centre and an international student population, Perugia is Umbria’s largest and most cosmopolitan city. Where most of the region’s hilltop towns are rather small and intimate, Perugia is instead quite big, with picturesque alleys of the city and massive ancient walls. The historical centre is one of the largest and interesting in Italy. This beautiful town will surprise and charm every visitor with unexpected sites and views.

The present town of Deruta has managed to maintain its distinctive features including medieval buildings and characteristic layout. Flanking its winding, cobblestone streets, numerous ceramics studios showcase their own particular quality and artistic styles. Universally famous for one of a kind ceramic styles as well as traditional Umbrian designs, all hand made here, Deruta is a major ceramic centre in all of Italy.

The art of making decorative pottery began in the early Middle Ages. During the Renaissance, local potters mastered the technique of creating the fine earthenware called maiolica, which has colorful decorations adorning an opaque white, tin-glazed surface. Today the town still counts more than 100 workshops.
Back to the hotel for dinner.

Day 5: Umbria, Todi and lunch in a local restaurant

After breakfast,  today’s tour will take you to Todi for a city tour. Lunch in a local farmer (included) where truffle dishes will be prepared for you. Back to the hotel for dinner.

Todi is still surrounded by medieval, Roman and Etruscan walls and is a quite small town. Largely untouched by tourism, Todi offers a real slice of peaceful Umbrian life. Narrow, cobbled streets meander its hilly terrain and lead to beautifully preserved medieval monuments like Palazzo del Popolo; built in 1213, this is one of Italy’s oldest public buildings, positioned alongside cute cafes and boutiques.
Lunch in a typical family-run farmhouse where you will find the soul of Italian hospitality and will taste some dishes with truffles, homemade traditional food, accompanied by local wine. An experience not to be missed to get in touch with the special secrets, tastes and aromas of this interesting region.

Day  6: Bolsena and Civita di Bagnoregio

Today’s tour will take you from Bolsena lakeshore to Tuscia’s most famous hilltop town.

Bolsena is a wonderful lake set in the bowl of an extinct volcano. Lake Bolsena is often called the belly button of Italy, due to its central position, and it’s the largest lake of volcanic origin in all of Europe. Surrounded by dark-sand volcanic beaches and lush countryside, Bolsena town is an international touristic destination. with a lovely historic centre, featuring the basilica of Santa Cristina and the medieval Monaldeschi Fortress. 

Civita di Bagnoregio is one of the most breathtaking views of Italy. The small town, lonely situated on a hilltop, has a fascinating history. About 2500 years ago the Etruscans built the village high atop the volcanic tough cliff. At the time it was connected to land. But over the centuries, erosion has turned this town into something of an island. Today, Civita di Bagnoregio sits atop a crest rising high above a vast canyon ruled by wind and erosion. The main entrance is a huge stone gate, passing through it you enter another world, stuck in the Middle Ages. This is a true modern ghost town.

Day 7: Sacro Bosco di Bomarzo, Viterbo  and Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola – Rome

After breakfast and hotel check-out, today you will visit two interesting sites, both from Reinassance era and yet so different. Time for lunch (not included) in Viterbo, where you will have a panoramic city tour.

Below the hilltop village of Bomarzo in Lazio is a woodland garden filled with unusual and sometimes grotesque statues carved out of volcanic rock. It is popularly known as the Parco dei Mostri or the Monster’s Grove. A deceitful place where everything seems anything else and the illusion makes visitors confused and hallucinated. The sculptures are scattered randomly all over the place defying any sense of harmony prevalent in typical Italian gardens of those times. What one will find here is beyond precious. The Surrealists loved it: Salvador Dalí visited the park and loved it. He was so inspired, he shot a short film there,

The continues in Viterbo, for a lunch break (not included) and a panoramic tour. With its 11th-century walls, Romanesque cathedral, and even a papal palace, Viterbo is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in all of Italy.

After lunch, tour will take you to Caprarola. At Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola, you will tour an impressive Renaissance palace and surrounding gardens.
The colossal Palazzo Farnese is a sight to behold. A great pentagonal villa, built atop the foundations of a fortress, was the brainchild of Alessandro Farnese, a Renaissance era Cardinal who would one day hold the papacy. The palace’s interior has been retrofitted into a museum, where the fresco paintings hold center stage. The scale of the artistry is magnificent, with an acute and intricate sense of detail that allows visitors to spend hours in single rooms, with each perhaps more magnificent than the last.

Farewell Dinner in Rome

Once in Rome, hotel check-in and dinner in the hotel. Time at leisure for catching the chance to see Rome by night. A Medieval-style dinner will be served at hotel’s restaurant. Relish the flavors and aromas of Baroque cuisine thanks to old recipes that have been handed down through the generations.  The menu is a perfect blend of ancient and roman cuisine, a gourmet experience (wine included).

Day 8: Arrivederci, Italia!

Breakfast and hotel check-out. End of our services.

The Accommodation

Umbria countryside, Luxury Resort and SPA – 6 nights

The Borgo lies nestled in Umbria’s countryside, a stone’s throw from Tuscany and Lazio. A classic farmhouse-style architecture, bucolic views for miles, an indulgent focus on food and wine, and an equally virtuous focus on wellness and relaxation. The Borgo has been designed as a modern escape, a little world apart where the essence of tradition is melted with an innovative approach. It’s a warm, luxurious and intimate environment, where guests can find a perfect shelter from everyday’s life, an haven of tranquillity. Borgo Resort & SPA represents a destination where history intertwines with modern technology, where gastronomy and well-being combine to create a unique guest experience. SPA Livinna is an enchanting oasis where Guests can enjoy a heated indoor swimming pool, outdoor swimming pool, hydromassage, turkish bath, sauna, multi-sensory showers. Each room at the 5-star hotel has garden views and free WiFi, all rooms at Borgo Resort & SPA have a flat-screen TV and air conditioning. The property has a 24-hour front desk, room service and currency exchange. The Umbrian landscape isn’t just for admiring — the hotel’s restaurant, Radici, aims to put guests in direct contact with the land, via the medium of impeccably locally sourced produce and ingredients and wine.

Rome Trastevere, 4 star – 1 night

More than a hotel, it’s a museum.

Located at the foot of the Gianicolo Hill, in Trastevere, it is a hotel in a converted 17th-century convent that will be your home during your holiday in Rome. The location is in a convent designed by the illustrious architect Francesco Borromini, which has now been impeccably restored. It’s not just a hotel, it is an architectural jewel in the heart of Rome, and stil lit preserves its atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Art comes together with the most authentic side of Rome, in the home of artists and poets. Those who stay at this hotel are immediately fascinated by its majestic cross vaults and the wealth of works of art and architectural details. Before venturing out into the city, take a stroll through the Italian-style gardens and bask in the breathtaking views of Rome’s rooftops from the terrace. Take a little time to relax, sip a cocktail or a tea as you admire the views of Rome. The restaurants offers a truly unique dining experience that revolves around a combination of age-old culinary traditions and the warm, intimate atmosphere for which the Italian culture and lifestyle are renowned. Rooms are a sophisticated blend of old and new, and have peaceful, romantic atmospheres, thanks to a sublime selection of colours ranging from ivory, white to green. The hotel is located in Trastevere, one of the prettiest neighbourhoods in Rome with its narrow cobblestone streets, colourful buildings dripping with ivy, and balconies enlivened with geraniums. Trastevere is reasonably quiet, relaxed, and has far less traffic than other parts of chaotic Rome. It feels more like a small town than a capital city. Yet, it has a convenient location with the historic centre, Vatican, and Colosseum all within a 10-30-minute walk.

Included:
Private bus transportation
English-speaking tour guide
English Speaking tour manager, escorting the group throughout
7 nights accomodation  – shared room
7 Buffet Breakfast
6 four-course dinners, drinks included
1 Medieval-style Farewell Dinner
1 lunch, drinks not included
Wine tasting
Pecorino Cheese Tasting
Pottery workshop
Access to Umbria hotel SPA
Private shuttle-bus in Civita di Bagnoregio
Entrance fees  as per programme (Necropolis of Sovana, Pitigliano Synagogue, Civita di Bagnoregio, Sacro Bosco di Bomarzo, Villa Farnese in Caprarola, Casa del Cioccolato Perugia)
Insurance
Radio system

Not included:
Hotel city tax (€ 6 per person per night in Rome)
Extras, drinks and personal expenses
Gratuities and porterage
Executive Room supplement 
Single room supplement

Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio Tour Calendar