Florence, San Gimignano, Chianti, Pienza, Montalcino, Montipulciano,
Arezzo, Cortona and Siena
10 days/9 nights
Pre- or post-tour options to Rome or Naples and the Amalfi Coast
Please inquire about our 2023 pricing
Arezzo, Cortona and Siena
10 days/9 nights
Pre- or post-tour options to Rome or Naples and the Amalfi Coast
Please inquire about our 2023 pricing
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Please join Tour Director Sandy Gregory for this wonderful adventure through Italy, or contact us to help you create your own independent travel experience in Italy with our Concierge Travel Services.
Suggested time to travel: May - October |
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Pre- or Post-Tour suggestion:
• Rome Tuscany and the Wine Country Tour: 3 nights Florence 6 nights in our Tuscan Villa Post-Tour option: • Rome • Naples and the Amalfi Coast |
PRE- or post-tour OPTION in rome
Day 1. “Tutte e strade portano a Roma” – “All Roads lead to Rome.” Rome is one of the most beautiful, exciting cities in the world. Today’s Rome is a combination of romance, relics and ruins amidst a modern, sprawling, living city. Medieval churches sit atop ancient basilicas above Roman palaces. Gleaming office buildings incorporate fragments of eroded Roman columns. Roads and piazzas follow the lines of ancient city walls. Rome’s history began over 2000 years ago, far before the time of Jesus Christ. It was the capital of the Roman Empire and is still the capital of Italy. We’ll arrive in Rome in the late afternoon and check in to our hotel, located right in the historic centre of Rome. It’s walking distance from all the major sites and serves breakfast right at the foot of the Pantheon.
Tonight we’ll take a walking orientation enroute to included dinner.
Day 2. This morning your guide will pick you up at your hotel to enjoy a private tour of Ancient Rome, including the Capitoline, Forum and Colosseum. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
In that area after the tour, you might want to think about:
• Visiting the Wedding Cake (Tomb of Victor Emmanuel) and go up the elevator for a great view of Ancient Rome, then go next door to the Capitoline Museum which is really good. Then go over and see Michelangelo’s Moses at St. Peter’s in Chains.
• San Clemente, a church where you can walk down various levels to view centuries of archaeological finds.
• Stroll up Via del Corso and do some shopping and finish at the Spanish Steps. The Spanish Steps are crowded, and are ... steps, but a good afternoon destination for gelato and people watching. This is also at the top of a major shopping district in Rome - Via Condotti.
• Walking along the Tiber and then visiting the synagogue at the ghetto, or Jewish Quarter. There is a whole lively street of great restaurant choices. Not to be missed: The Jewish Artichoke! This local treat dates back to Imperial times, when the Roman Jewish community numbered about 50,000. They look like golden sunflowers and their leaves have a delicious nutty crunchiness. You can also visit the synagogue after lunch. You don’t need advanced reservations, but can go get tickets before lunch for an afternoon tour.
Day 3. This morning we enjoy a private tour of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s square.
This afternoon you can:
• Stay in the Vatican area for lunch and then stroll down to the Castle of the Angels. It’s a lovely museum with great views of Rome.
• Take a taxi to the orange grove to peek through the keyhole to see a cool view of St. Peter’s dome. Ask your guide for details.
• Dig a Little Deeper with our optional Rome excursions listed above
Tonight: Included Farewell Dinner
Dig a Little Deeper private optional tour excursions:
Before and After-Hours VIP Tours to the Vatican and St. Peter's. Che Bella is now offering off-hour tours, away from the heat of the day and the crowds of the general public.
Opera at the Baths of Caracalla. Formerly public baths for Romans and later enhanced with libraries, the Baths of Caracalla date back around 212-217 AD. the Baths of Caracalla today serve as the perfect backdrop for enjoying an opera. Not only does this outdoor theater offer marvelous acoustics, but there are also stunning lightshows projected onto the Baths’ ruins that accompany and enhance all operatic performances. Every summer, the Baths of Caracalla host a selection of operas from the Teatro dell’Opera. Beginning promptly at 9:00pm, these evening performances are all set in the outdoor theater, Teatro alle Terme di Caracalla. With English and Italian subtitles provided, tickets range from €25 to €100. Please inquire about the performance schedule.
Underground Rome Tour. Every time I'm in Rome, I see new diggings. Be it for the new metro line, a shopping mall or sewage pipes, a new piece of underground Rome is excavated, examined and cataloged. There is a whole world to discover beneath Rome's surface. This tour Peel back Rome's layers of history with visits to three of Rome's eeriest sights: the Capuchin Crypt, the Prscilla Catacombs and the Basilica of San Clemente.
Trastavere Foodie Tour. We came! We saw! We ate! Trastevere is a neighbourhood like no other. Its ivy-coated, cobblestone streets come alive at night, earning it comparisons to Greenwich Village and Paris’s Left Bank. It’s where Romans choose to eat with their families on a Sunday and where young Romans go for buzzing nightlife at evenings and weekends. You can’t leave Rome without walking these streets and tasting the best food in Rome. During this local walking tour, you'll enjoy learning about the history of the area, visit the local food spots, taste along the way, enjoy a magnificent sit down dinner and end with some of the best gelato in Rome.
Enroute to or from Rome, we'll make a 3-hr. stop in wonderful Orvieto, Umbria. It’s a great pedestrian town with artisan shops and a city wall that offers gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside. You can tour Orvieto’s famous cathedral or see some of the best artifacts in Tuscany in an underground system of tunnels and caverns carved by the Etruscans.
Tonight we’ll take a walking orientation enroute to included dinner.
Day 2. This morning your guide will pick you up at your hotel to enjoy a private tour of Ancient Rome, including the Capitoline, Forum and Colosseum. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
In that area after the tour, you might want to think about:
• Visiting the Wedding Cake (Tomb of Victor Emmanuel) and go up the elevator for a great view of Ancient Rome, then go next door to the Capitoline Museum which is really good. Then go over and see Michelangelo’s Moses at St. Peter’s in Chains.
• San Clemente, a church where you can walk down various levels to view centuries of archaeological finds.
• Stroll up Via del Corso and do some shopping and finish at the Spanish Steps. The Spanish Steps are crowded, and are ... steps, but a good afternoon destination for gelato and people watching. This is also at the top of a major shopping district in Rome - Via Condotti.
• Walking along the Tiber and then visiting the synagogue at the ghetto, or Jewish Quarter. There is a whole lively street of great restaurant choices. Not to be missed: The Jewish Artichoke! This local treat dates back to Imperial times, when the Roman Jewish community numbered about 50,000. They look like golden sunflowers and their leaves have a delicious nutty crunchiness. You can also visit the synagogue after lunch. You don’t need advanced reservations, but can go get tickets before lunch for an afternoon tour.
Day 3. This morning we enjoy a private tour of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s square.
This afternoon you can:
• Stay in the Vatican area for lunch and then stroll down to the Castle of the Angels. It’s a lovely museum with great views of Rome.
• Take a taxi to the orange grove to peek through the keyhole to see a cool view of St. Peter’s dome. Ask your guide for details.
• Dig a Little Deeper with our optional Rome excursions listed above
Tonight: Included Farewell Dinner
Dig a Little Deeper private optional tour excursions:
Before and After-Hours VIP Tours to the Vatican and St. Peter's. Che Bella is now offering off-hour tours, away from the heat of the day and the crowds of the general public.
Opera at the Baths of Caracalla. Formerly public baths for Romans and later enhanced with libraries, the Baths of Caracalla date back around 212-217 AD. the Baths of Caracalla today serve as the perfect backdrop for enjoying an opera. Not only does this outdoor theater offer marvelous acoustics, but there are also stunning lightshows projected onto the Baths’ ruins that accompany and enhance all operatic performances. Every summer, the Baths of Caracalla host a selection of operas from the Teatro dell’Opera. Beginning promptly at 9:00pm, these evening performances are all set in the outdoor theater, Teatro alle Terme di Caracalla. With English and Italian subtitles provided, tickets range from €25 to €100. Please inquire about the performance schedule.
Underground Rome Tour. Every time I'm in Rome, I see new diggings. Be it for the new metro line, a shopping mall or sewage pipes, a new piece of underground Rome is excavated, examined and cataloged. There is a whole world to discover beneath Rome's surface. This tour Peel back Rome's layers of history with visits to three of Rome's eeriest sights: the Capuchin Crypt, the Prscilla Catacombs and the Basilica of San Clemente.
Trastavere Foodie Tour. We came! We saw! We ate! Trastevere is a neighbourhood like no other. Its ivy-coated, cobblestone streets come alive at night, earning it comparisons to Greenwich Village and Paris’s Left Bank. It’s where Romans choose to eat with their families on a Sunday and where young Romans go for buzzing nightlife at evenings and weekends. You can’t leave Rome without walking these streets and tasting the best food in Rome. During this local walking tour, you'll enjoy learning about the history of the area, visit the local food spots, taste along the way, enjoy a magnificent sit down dinner and end with some of the best gelato in Rome.
Enroute to or from Rome, we'll make a 3-hr. stop in wonderful Orvieto, Umbria. It’s a great pedestrian town with artisan shops and a city wall that offers gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside. You can tour Orvieto’s famous cathedral or see some of the best artifacts in Tuscany in an underground system of tunnels and caverns carved by the Etruscans.
DAY 1: ARRIVE FLORENCE |
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Bienvenuti a Firenze!
Rooms are usually available after 2 pm, so your Tour Director will get you oriented with the city and direct you to some great lunch choices.
The afternoon is yours to explore as everyone gets settled. We’ll then get together for passagiatta, or the evening walk, on our way to our private rooftop sunset toast looking over the city of Florence and enjoy our Included Welcome Dinner.
Included Welcome Dinner
Overnight in Florence, 3 nights with included breakfast
Rooms are usually available after 2 pm, so your Tour Director will get you oriented with the city and direct you to some great lunch choices.
The afternoon is yours to explore as everyone gets settled. We’ll then get together for passagiatta, or the evening walk, on our way to our private rooftop sunset toast looking over the city of Florence and enjoy our Included Welcome Dinner.
Included Welcome Dinner
Overnight in Florence, 3 nights with included breakfast
DAY 2: A DAY IN FLORENCE |
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Florence is one of the most preserved Renaissance cities in the world. Boasting over 40% of the world’s great masterpieces, the city is considered the art capital of Italy. The city is compact and walking is definitely the best way to see it. Our walking tour will take us to the small, but poignant Galleria dell’Accademia. There, we’ll learn about the Renaissance, highlighting Michelangelo’s life and masterpieces, including his David, “Unfinished” Slaves and Pieta. We’ll then move on to the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, Dante's House and Piazza della Signoria, finishing on the Ponte Vecchio.
The afternoon is yours to explore Florence. You can spend a leisurely afternoon browsing the city’s couture stores and famous San Lorenzo market, where you’ll be able to pick up a great leather jacket, stock up on colorful scarves and purses, or wander through the Mercado Centrale for typical Tuscan delicacies. And don’t forget those shoes! Go on a gelato crawl ... then burn off those calories by climbing the Duomo or Giotto’s Campanile.
Need more art? Let us book a reservation for you to view the vast art collections of the Uffizi Gallery, Vasari Corridor or the Pitti Palace with the Boboli Gardens.
Overnight in Florence
Inquire about one of our Dig a Little Deeper private optional tour excursions below. Pricing will be based on the number of participants. Click on the + below for details.
The afternoon is yours to explore Florence. You can spend a leisurely afternoon browsing the city’s couture stores and famous San Lorenzo market, where you’ll be able to pick up a great leather jacket, stock up on colorful scarves and purses, or wander through the Mercado Centrale for typical Tuscan delicacies. And don’t forget those shoes! Go on a gelato crawl ... then burn off those calories by climbing the Duomo or Giotto’s Campanile.
Need more art? Let us book a reservation for you to view the vast art collections of the Uffizi Gallery, Vasari Corridor or the Pitti Palace with the Boboli Gardens.
Overnight in Florence
Inquire about one of our Dig a Little Deeper private optional tour excursions below. Pricing will be based on the number of participants. Click on the + below for details.
NEW! Dig a Little Deeper Series
The Medici Tour. This afternoon tour examines the relationship between power and art, the political upheavals gave birth to the artistic revolutions of the Renaissance, and the humanistic impulse of one of the most interesting families in history, the Medici. We'll focus on the history and patronage of the family, visiting several key sites connected with them, including the Palazzo Vecchio, Medici Chapels and Medici Palace. We'll trace the family from the era of the Republic to the era of the duchy, and their rise from rich merchants to rulers of a kingdom. We will examine the work of Michelangelo, in the family chapel he created, which includes the tombs of Lorenzo il Magnifico and brother Giuliano.
Made in Florence Artisans Tour and Shopping. The Florentine tradition of producing artisanal goods has been in existence for centuries and remains one of the cornerstones of Florence's visual and social history. This unique tour supports local artisans and celebrates the tradition of craftsmanship. Florentine leatherworkers, silversmiths, shoemakers, and milliners continue to practice their crafts building upon methods passed down through generations. We will visit the private workshops of these distinguished individuals, providing a behind the scenes look at the current state of artisan production. Along the way, your guide will guide you to fashion items, jewelry, ceramics, culinary products and much more…
Galileo and Science in Renaissance Florence. The rule of the Medici family in Renaissance-era Florence led to an explosion of scientific progress, especially astronomy. Under their rule, Florence became a shining beacon for experimentation, which the Roman church was frantically trying to suppress with the Inquisition. At the same time, humanism, stemming from the study of ancient Greek and Latin texts, was a new way of thinking about a man’s place in the world, and became a recurring theme in Renaissance literature, art and society. This tour includes a visit to the Museo Galileo, where the most important Medicean collections of scientific instruments are preserved. After visiting the museum, we will head to the center of town in order to trace the role of humanism in Renaissance Florence; be it through a delve into the poetry of Dante and Petrarch, a discussion of the drastic changes in the art of the period or of the growing interest in the study of the traditional liberal arts.
Fresco Workshop. Learn the Fresco technique and create your own masterpiece with a local artist. Fresco means fresh in Italian, and is the revered art of painting on fast-drying damp plaster with water based pigments. During this 3-hour workshop, you'll learn basic fresco technique from a local Florentine artist, who will take you through the steps of preparing a surface, drawing and transferring a drawing (cartoon), and finally applying the paint. Be warned. It's difficult. It's also a lot of fun and you'll go home with our own hand-made fresco painting. Along the way, you'll gain a deeper, tactile understanding of the development, creation, and legacy of Renaissance art.
Optional Opera Experience:
1. The Three Tenors & Dinner: Featuring a trio of vocal talents as well as a superbly prepared Italian meal. Audience goers will be dazzled by a performance that evokes the famous concert of the 1990s which featured Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and José Carreras. Including many well-known songs, the concert comfortably blends Neapolitan songcraft with Italian arias drawn from some of the most popular operas in the country.
2. Opera Florence is a delightful evening’s entertainment featuring some exciting and talented vocalists, the program includes operatic works for a soprano, a mezzo-soprano, a tenor, a baritone or a bass. The concert constitutes a thrilling odyssey through some of the best-loved arias drawn from Italian opera, including works by Giacomo Puccini, Gioacchino Rossini, Giuseppe Verdi and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. With such superb musicians plus a fabulously ornate and historic setting, there can be no finer way for music lovers to enjoy a selection of the best in Italian opera when staying in the city.
Made in Florence Artisans Tour and Shopping. The Florentine tradition of producing artisanal goods has been in existence for centuries and remains one of the cornerstones of Florence's visual and social history. This unique tour supports local artisans and celebrates the tradition of craftsmanship. Florentine leatherworkers, silversmiths, shoemakers, and milliners continue to practice their crafts building upon methods passed down through generations. We will visit the private workshops of these distinguished individuals, providing a behind the scenes look at the current state of artisan production. Along the way, your guide will guide you to fashion items, jewelry, ceramics, culinary products and much more…
Galileo and Science in Renaissance Florence. The rule of the Medici family in Renaissance-era Florence led to an explosion of scientific progress, especially astronomy. Under their rule, Florence became a shining beacon for experimentation, which the Roman church was frantically trying to suppress with the Inquisition. At the same time, humanism, stemming from the study of ancient Greek and Latin texts, was a new way of thinking about a man’s place in the world, and became a recurring theme in Renaissance literature, art and society. This tour includes a visit to the Museo Galileo, where the most important Medicean collections of scientific instruments are preserved. After visiting the museum, we will head to the center of town in order to trace the role of humanism in Renaissance Florence; be it through a delve into the poetry of Dante and Petrarch, a discussion of the drastic changes in the art of the period or of the growing interest in the study of the traditional liberal arts.
Fresco Workshop. Learn the Fresco technique and create your own masterpiece with a local artist. Fresco means fresh in Italian, and is the revered art of painting on fast-drying damp plaster with water based pigments. During this 3-hour workshop, you'll learn basic fresco technique from a local Florentine artist, who will take you through the steps of preparing a surface, drawing and transferring a drawing (cartoon), and finally applying the paint. Be warned. It's difficult. It's also a lot of fun and you'll go home with our own hand-made fresco painting. Along the way, you'll gain a deeper, tactile understanding of the development, creation, and legacy of Renaissance art.
Optional Opera Experience:
1. The Three Tenors & Dinner: Featuring a trio of vocal talents as well as a superbly prepared Italian meal. Audience goers will be dazzled by a performance that evokes the famous concert of the 1990s which featured Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and José Carreras. Including many well-known songs, the concert comfortably blends Neapolitan songcraft with Italian arias drawn from some of the most popular operas in the country.
2. Opera Florence is a delightful evening’s entertainment featuring some exciting and talented vocalists, the program includes operatic works for a soprano, a mezzo-soprano, a tenor, a baritone or a bass. The concert constitutes a thrilling odyssey through some of the best-loved arias drawn from Italian opera, including works by Giacomo Puccini, Gioacchino Rossini, Giuseppe Verdi and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. With such superb musicians plus a fabulously ornate and historic setting, there can be no finer way for music lovers to enjoy a selection of the best in Italian opera when staying in the city.
DAY 3: FLORENTINE DELICACIES |
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Today we’ll enjoy a private tour with a different angle on Florence - wine and food. As we wind our way through this historic city, our guide will craft a tale about the role wine and food have played in the history of the Florentines. We’ll begin at one of the most beautiful cafès in the city to learn how local Florentines do breakfast, learn about coffee and try a traditional schiacciata pastry. We’re then off to the local market where we’ll try a selection of tasty Tuscan cheeses and salami, as well as prosciutto, the famous Tuscan ham, and a variety of olive oils while you sip a quality Tuscan wine. As we wind through medieval Florence, we’ll sample a taste of lampredotto, tripe sandwiches, and porchetta, the most famous Florentine street foods, paired a glass of good Chianti. We’re then on to Procacci to enjoy more wine varietals with the richest Italian treat - truffles. We’ll then finish with gelato master who will bring us back in to the laboratory to learn a bit about how they make gelato. With samples, of course!
Inquire about one of our Dig a Little Deeper private optional tour excursions below. Pricing will be based on the number of participants. Click on the + on day 2 for details.
Dinner tonight is on your own
Overnight in Florence
Inquire about one of our Dig a Little Deeper private optional tour excursions below. Pricing will be based on the number of participants. Click on the + on day 2 for details.
Dinner tonight is on your own
Overnight in Florence
NEW! Dig a Little Deeper Series
The Medici Tour. This afternoon tour examines the relationship between power and art, the political upheavals gave birth to the artistic revolutions of the Renaissance, and the humanistic impulse of one of the most interesting families in history, the Medici. We'll focus on the history and patronage of the family, visiting several key sites connected with them, including the Palazzo Vecchio, Medici Chapels and Medici Palace. We'll trace the family from the era of the Republic to the era of the duchy, and their rise from rich merchants to rulers of a kingdom. We will examine the work of Michelangelo, in the family chapel he created, which includes the tombs of Lorenzo il Magnifico and brother Giuliano.
Made in Florence Artisans Tour and Shopping. The Florentine tradition of producing artisanal goods has been in existence for centuries and remains one of the cornerstones of Florence's visual and social history. This unique tour supports local artisans and celebrates the tradition of craftsmanship. Florentine leatherworkers, silversmiths, shoemakers, and milliners continue to practice their crafts building upon methods passed down through generations. We will visit the private workshops of these distinguished individuals, providing a behind the scenes look at the current state of artisan production. Along the way, your guide will guide you to fashion items, jewelry, ceramics, culinary products and much more…
Galileo and Science in Renaissance Florence. The rule of the Medici family in Renaissance-era Florence led to an explosion of scientific progress, especially astronomy. Under their rule, Florence became a shining beacon for experimentation, which the Roman church was frantically trying to suppress with the Inquisition. At the same time, humanism, stemming from the study of ancient Greek and Latin texts, was a new way of thinking about a man’s place in the world, and became a recurring theme in Renaissance literature, art and society. This tour includes a visit to the Museo Galileo, where the most important Medicean collections of scientific instruments are preserved. After visiting the museum, we will head to the center of town in order to trace the role of humanism in Renaissance Florence; be it through a delve into the poetry of Dante and Petrarch, a discussion of the drastic changes in the art of the period or of the growing interest in the study of the traditional liberal arts.
Fresco Workshop. Learn the Fresco technique and create your own masterpiece with a local artist. Fresco means fresh in Italian, and is the revered art of painting on fast-drying damp plaster with water based pigments. During this 3-hour workshop, you'll learn basic fresco technique from a local Florentine artist, who will take you through the steps of preparing a surface, drawing and transferring a drawing (cartoon), and finally applying the paint. Be warned. It's difficult. It's also a lot of fun and you'll go home with our own hand-made fresco painting. Along the way, you'll gain a deeper, tactile understanding of the development, creation, and legacy of Renaissance art.
Optional Opera Experience:
1. The Three Tenors & Dinner: Featuring a trio of vocal talents as well as a superbly prepared Italian meal. Audience goers will be dazzled by a performance that evokes the famous concert of the 1990s which featured Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and José Carreras. Including many well-known songs, the concert comfortably blends Neapolitan songcraft with Italian arias drawn from some of the most popular operas in the country.
2. Opera Florence is a delightful evening’s entertainment featuring some exciting and talented vocalists, the program includes operatic works for a soprano, a mezzo-soprano, a tenor, a baritone or a bass. The concert constitutes a thrilling odyssey through some of the best-loved arias drawn from Italian opera, including works by Giacomo Puccini, Gioacchino Rossini, Giuseppe Verdi and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. With such superb musicians plus a fabulously ornate and historic setting, there can be no finer way for music lovers to enjoy a selection of the best in Italian opera when staying in the city.
Made in Florence Artisans Tour and Shopping. The Florentine tradition of producing artisanal goods has been in existence for centuries and remains one of the cornerstones of Florence's visual and social history. This unique tour supports local artisans and celebrates the tradition of craftsmanship. Florentine leatherworkers, silversmiths, shoemakers, and milliners continue to practice their crafts building upon methods passed down through generations. We will visit the private workshops of these distinguished individuals, providing a behind the scenes look at the current state of artisan production. Along the way, your guide will guide you to fashion items, jewelry, ceramics, culinary products and much more…
Galileo and Science in Renaissance Florence. The rule of the Medici family in Renaissance-era Florence led to an explosion of scientific progress, especially astronomy. Under their rule, Florence became a shining beacon for experimentation, which the Roman church was frantically trying to suppress with the Inquisition. At the same time, humanism, stemming from the study of ancient Greek and Latin texts, was a new way of thinking about a man’s place in the world, and became a recurring theme in Renaissance literature, art and society. This tour includes a visit to the Museo Galileo, where the most important Medicean collections of scientific instruments are preserved. After visiting the museum, we will head to the center of town in order to trace the role of humanism in Renaissance Florence; be it through a delve into the poetry of Dante and Petrarch, a discussion of the drastic changes in the art of the period or of the growing interest in the study of the traditional liberal arts.
Fresco Workshop. Learn the Fresco technique and create your own masterpiece with a local artist. Fresco means fresh in Italian, and is the revered art of painting on fast-drying damp plaster with water based pigments. During this 3-hour workshop, you'll learn basic fresco technique from a local Florentine artist, who will take you through the steps of preparing a surface, drawing and transferring a drawing (cartoon), and finally applying the paint. Be warned. It's difficult. It's also a lot of fun and you'll go home with our own hand-made fresco painting. Along the way, you'll gain a deeper, tactile understanding of the development, creation, and legacy of Renaissance art.
Optional Opera Experience:
1. The Three Tenors & Dinner: Featuring a trio of vocal talents as well as a superbly prepared Italian meal. Audience goers will be dazzled by a performance that evokes the famous concert of the 1990s which featured Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and José Carreras. Including many well-known songs, the concert comfortably blends Neapolitan songcraft with Italian arias drawn from some of the most popular operas in the country.
2. Opera Florence is a delightful evening’s entertainment featuring some exciting and talented vocalists, the program includes operatic works for a soprano, a mezzo-soprano, a tenor, a baritone or a bass. The concert constitutes a thrilling odyssey through some of the best-loved arias drawn from Italian opera, including works by Giacomo Puccini, Gioacchino Rossini, Giuseppe Verdi and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. With such superb musicians plus a fabulously ornate and historic setting, there can be no finer way for music lovers to enjoy a selection of the best in Italian opera when staying in the city.
DAY 4: ON TO THE TUSCAN COUNTRYSIDE |
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This morning we leave Florence and head to our Tuscan villa. Enroute, you’ll make a short stop at the American WWII Memorial Cemetery. This is a well maintained and respectful cemetery just outside of Florence, with manicured lawns, acres of white crosses and a few stars. The presentation is very respectful of our soldiers, serves as a remembrance of the price of freedom, and captures the spirit of the sacrifices made by the men and women who fought during WW2. The American Battle Monuments Commission does an excellent job of maintaining the grounds and the officer on duty is always ready to answer questions.
“Il dolce far nient" is a wonderful Italian expression which translates as “the sweetness of doing nothing.” The art of doing nothing — and doing it well — is what vacation is all about. Enjoy the day relaxing. Lounge by the pool. Hike the vineyard. Grab a bike. It’s the perfect day to enjoy your villa. Lunch is available for you at the villa or you can bike, walk or taxi to nearby San Gimignano. Our villa is in the hills of Tuscany near San Gimignano. It’s a beautiful location with swimming pool, sauna and steam, and air-conditioned rooms. Breakfast is included in your price. And since it is a vineyard ... wine is plentiful!
We’ll enjoy a winetasting of the villa’s wine and olive oil with our included dinner.
Included Dinner
Overnight at the villa, 6 nights with included breakfast
“Il dolce far nient" is a wonderful Italian expression which translates as “the sweetness of doing nothing.” The art of doing nothing — and doing it well — is what vacation is all about. Enjoy the day relaxing. Lounge by the pool. Hike the vineyard. Grab a bike. It’s the perfect day to enjoy your villa. Lunch is available for you at the villa or you can bike, walk or taxi to nearby San Gimignano. Our villa is in the hills of Tuscany near San Gimignano. It’s a beautiful location with swimming pool, sauna and steam, and air-conditioned rooms. Breakfast is included in your price. And since it is a vineyard ... wine is plentiful!
We’ll enjoy a winetasting of the villa’s wine and olive oil with our included dinner.
Included Dinner
Overnight at the villa, 6 nights with included breakfast
DAY 6: SAN GIMIGNANO, WINE TASTING TOUR AND LUNCH IN A CASTLE |
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Today we’ll begin our morning with a visit to the Tuscan town of San Gimignano, where time seems to have stood still. As you stroll through the winding streets, you’ll see what Tuscan hill towns looked like in the Middle Ages. It’s easy to explore this little town, shop for ceramics, linens and olive wood products, or maybe go in to one of the Torture Museums.
We're then on to an exclusive, family-run winery to experience an exquisite wine tasting and Tuscan lunch and a tour the amazing grounds and cellars of a 15th century castle. Italy produces more wine than anywhere else in the world. With over 2000 native grape varietals and hundreds of wine blends, the choices are just as diverse as the regions in Italy. What was once the battle grounds of the country's war-torn past are now beautiful vineyards as far as the eye can see. Great wine tastings in Italy do not merely involve a few minutes of standing and sipping in a large tasting room. Instead, they are more of an immersion into the local culture. As you relax in a beautiful villa dining room or a veranda offering views of the rolling hills, your hosts share the history and story of their family roots, winery lineage, grape varietals and local cuisine.
Tonight is dinner on your own. You can choose to have dinner at the villa or we can arrange a taxi in to San Gimignano.
Overnight at the villa
We're then on to an exclusive, family-run winery to experience an exquisite wine tasting and Tuscan lunch and a tour the amazing grounds and cellars of a 15th century castle. Italy produces more wine than anywhere else in the world. With over 2000 native grape varietals and hundreds of wine blends, the choices are just as diverse as the regions in Italy. What was once the battle grounds of the country's war-torn past are now beautiful vineyards as far as the eye can see. Great wine tastings in Italy do not merely involve a few minutes of standing and sipping in a large tasting room. Instead, they are more of an immersion into the local culture. As you relax in a beautiful villa dining room or a veranda offering views of the rolling hills, your hosts share the history and story of their family roots, winery lineage, grape varietals and local cuisine.
Tonight is dinner on your own. You can choose to have dinner at the villa or we can arrange a taxi in to San Gimignano.
Overnight at the villa
DAY 6: WINETASTING IN MONTALCINO AND MONTEPULCIANO |
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Montalcino is a small walled town that is perched on top of a hill in Val d’Orcia and the home of the famous wine called Brunello. At our winery, we’ll be pleasantly immersed in the harmonies of Mozart music, played across the rows of vines through a hundred speakers, in ecstasy with nature. This is not something born to amaze the visitor, but rather the result of serious agronomic and scientific research concerning the beneficial effects of musical frequencies on the vines.
Montepulciano is a lovely Etruscan Tuscan town. As early as in Roman times, the Gauls were known to have travelled all the way down in the Italian peninsula to Montepulciano to enjoy their excellent red wines. Montepulciano reached its peak of fame and splendour in the 16th Century, with estates designed by the most famous Florentine architects. Their wines were served at the table of popes, cardinals and the Medici family and gained the fame of a very elegant “noble” red wine called Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which literally means Noble Wine from Montepulciano. Your walking tour will include the most beautiful architectural gems such as the Duomo, the Palazzo Pubblico, Palazzo Contucci and Tarugi overlooking Piazza Grande before we enjoy an including wine tasting and lunch.
After lunch we're on to Pienza. It's one of the prettiest little towns in Italy and the perfect ending for those of us who love history, architecture and food. The city wall offers a wonderful walk around the perimeter of the town - perfect for our afternoon passaggiata. You'll then have time to explore the layrinth of streets and find a little cafe or restaurant for dinner (not included) before we are transferred back to the villa.
Overnight at the villa
Montepulciano is a lovely Etruscan Tuscan town. As early as in Roman times, the Gauls were known to have travelled all the way down in the Italian peninsula to Montepulciano to enjoy their excellent red wines. Montepulciano reached its peak of fame and splendour in the 16th Century, with estates designed by the most famous Florentine architects. Their wines were served at the table of popes, cardinals and the Medici family and gained the fame of a very elegant “noble” red wine called Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which literally means Noble Wine from Montepulciano. Your walking tour will include the most beautiful architectural gems such as the Duomo, the Palazzo Pubblico, Palazzo Contucci and Tarugi overlooking Piazza Grande before we enjoy an including wine tasting and lunch.
After lunch we're on to Pienza. It's one of the prettiest little towns in Italy and the perfect ending for those of us who love history, architecture and food. The city wall offers a wonderful walk around the perimeter of the town - perfect for our afternoon passaggiata. You'll then have time to explore the layrinth of streets and find a little cafe or restaurant for dinner (not included) before we are transferred back to the villa.
Overnight at the villa
DAY 7: A DAY AT THE VILLA |
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Enjoy a day at the villa and think about joining one of our optional activities:
- a day in San Gimingnano
- Cinquecento! A guided driving tour of the Tuscan Countryside in a vintage Fiat 500
- hike the vineyards
- enjoy a spa treatment
- enjoy a cooking lesson
Dinner tonight is on your own at the villa
Overnight at the villa
Inquire about one of our Dig a Little Deeper private optional tour excursions below. Pricing will be based on the number of participants. Click on the + below for details.
- a day in San Gimingnano
- Cinquecento! A guided driving tour of the Tuscan Countryside in a vintage Fiat 500
- hike the vineyards
- enjoy a spa treatment
- enjoy a cooking lesson
Dinner tonight is on your own at the villa
Overnight at the villa
Inquire about one of our Dig a Little Deeper private optional tour excursions below. Pricing will be based on the number of participants. Click on the + below for details.
NEW! Dig a Little Deeper Series
Cinquecento drive through the Tuscan Countryside Tour. The Fiat 500 truly represents Italian culture and is synonymous with la dolce vita, and the vintage Fiat 500 has become a status symbol, representing chic, working class motoring. The car was used in many Italian films during the 50s and 60s, playing starring roles next to Marcello Mastroianni, Vittorio Gassam and Federico Fellini. On this excursions, we liberate our passion for life and take to the road! Your day will include Tuscany's many panoramic vistas and stops along the way.
DAY 8: AREZZO AND CORTONA |
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Today we visit Arezzo and Cortona. We’ll start with a walking tour of Arezzo. Arezzo is a medieval city with a beautiful historic centre immortalized by Roberto Benigni in the movie Life is Beautiful.. It’s also known for the production of gold jewelry and of the famous artist, architect and art historian Giorgio Vasari. We'll enjoy a wonderful included lunch in the square.
We’re then our way to Cortona, one of the oldest hill towns in Tuscany. It's famous for its international athmosphere and Etruscan Museum. We'll enjoy a walking tour through the town before enjoying a jewelry-making demonstration where the master will demonstrate the ancient art of lost wax casting. You’ll have some time to explore the town and experience passeggiata - the evening walk - before we head to our included dinner in Cortona. Transfer back to the villa after dinner.
Overnight at the villa
We’re then our way to Cortona, one of the oldest hill towns in Tuscany. It's famous for its international athmosphere and Etruscan Museum. We'll enjoy a walking tour through the town before enjoying a jewelry-making demonstration where the master will demonstrate the ancient art of lost wax casting. You’ll have some time to explore the town and experience passeggiata - the evening walk - before we head to our included dinner in Cortona. Transfer back to the villa after dinner.
Overnight at the villa
DAY 9: SIENA |
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Transfer from the villa to Siena.
Our private walking tour we’ll be taking us through the winding streets of the contrade (neighborhoods) to learn about the passion of Siena’s famous Palio horse race and the striped grandeur of St. Catherine’s Cathedral. You’ll have the afternoon for lunch on your own and to stroll through the winding streets and absorb the city’s rich medieval history. It’s a fun, vibrant town with some very good shopping. Beautiful ties, paper, fabrics, terracotta, gold jewelry, tapestries and wine are all produced locally in Siena. Via di Città is the main street of the city and has plenty of good shops selling bags, purses and leather items.
Special for Che Bella Guests - a rooftop celebration. As the sun sets over Tuscany, we’ll head to the rooftop towering over the Campo to enjoy a buffet dinner of local Tuscan delicacies and of course, lots of wine - all while being seranaded by a guitarist and surrounded by breathtaking views. Please note that we can make arrangements to have a variety of Tuscan wines from various wineries available to you at this event to sample.
After a buffet dinner and some dancing on the rooftop, we’ll be transfered back to our villa.
Overnight at the villa
Our private walking tour we’ll be taking us through the winding streets of the contrade (neighborhoods) to learn about the passion of Siena’s famous Palio horse race and the striped grandeur of St. Catherine’s Cathedral. You’ll have the afternoon for lunch on your own and to stroll through the winding streets and absorb the city’s rich medieval history. It’s a fun, vibrant town with some very good shopping. Beautiful ties, paper, fabrics, terracotta, gold jewelry, tapestries and wine are all produced locally in Siena. Via di Città is the main street of the city and has plenty of good shops selling bags, purses and leather items.
Special for Che Bella Guests - a rooftop celebration. As the sun sets over Tuscany, we’ll head to the rooftop towering over the Campo to enjoy a buffet dinner of local Tuscan delicacies and of course, lots of wine - all while being seranaded by a guitarist and surrounded by breathtaking views. Please note that we can make arrangements to have a variety of Tuscan wines from various wineries available to you at this event to sample.
After a buffet dinner and some dancing on the rooftop, we’ll be transfered back to our villa.
Overnight at the villa
DAY 10: DEPART FLORENCE OR CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY WITH ONE OF OUR POST-TOUR OPTIONS |
Included transfers to the Florence Airport for flights out or on to your Post-Tour Excursions. Suggested: Naples and the Amalfi Coast or Rome.
EXCURSION SUGGESTION TO rome
Day 1. “Tutte e strade portano a Roma” – “All Roads lead to Rome.” Rome is one of the most beautiful, exciting cities in the world. Today’s Rome is a combination of romance, relics and ruins amidst a modern, sprawling, living city. Medieval churches sit atop ancient basilicas above Roman palaces. Gleaming office buildings incorporate fragments of eroded Roman columns. Roads and piazzas follow the lines of ancient city walls. Rome’s history began over 2000 years ago, far before the time of Jesus Christ. It was the capital of the Roman Empire and is still the capital of Italy. We’ll arrive in Rome in the late afternoon and check in to our hotel, located right in the historic centre of Rome. It’s walking distance from all the major sites and serves breakfast right at the foot of the Pantheon.
Tonight we’ll take a walking orientation enroute to included dinner.
Day 2. This morning your guide will pick you up at your hotel to enjoy a private tour of Ancient Rome, including the Capitoline, Forum and Colosseum. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
In that area after the tour, you might want to think about:
• Visiting the Wedding Cake (Tomb of Victor Emmanuel) and go up the elevator for a great view of Ancient Rome, then go next door to the Capitoline Museum which is really good. Then go over and see Michelangelo’s Moses at St. Peter’s in Chains.
• San Clemente, a church where you can walk down various levels to view centuries of archaeological finds.
• Stroll up Via del Corso and do some shopping and finish at the Spanish Steps. The Spanish Steps are crowded, and are ... steps, but a good afternoon destination for gelato and people watching. This is also at the top of a major shopping district in Rome - Via Condotti.
• Walking along the Tiber and then visiting the synagogue at the ghetto, or Jewish Quarter. There is a whole lively street of great restaurant choices. Not to be missed: The Jewish Artichoke! This local treat dates back to Imperial times, when the Roman Jewish community numbered about 50,000. They look like golden sunflowers and their leaves have a delicious nutty crunchiness. You can also visit the synagogue after lunch. You don’t need advanced reservations, but can go get tickets before lunch for an afternoon tour.
Day 3. This morning we enjoy a private tour of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s square.
This afternoon you can:
• Stay in the Vatican area for lunch and then stroll down to the Castle of the Angels. It’s a lovely museum with great views of Rome.
• Take a taxi to the orange grove to peek through the keyhole to see a cool view of St. Peter’s dome. Ask your guide for details.
• Dig a Little Deeper with our optional Rome excursions listed above
Tonight: Included Farewell Dinner
Dig a Little Deeper private optional tour excursions:
Before and After-Hours VIP Tours to the Vatican and St. Peter's. Che Bella is now offering off-hour tours, away from the heat of the day and the crowds of the general public.
Opera at the Baths of Caracalla. Formerly public baths for Romans and later enhanced with libraries, the Baths of Caracalla date back around 212-217 AD. the Baths of Caracalla today serve as the perfect backdrop for enjoying an opera. Not only does this outdoor theater offer marvelous acoustics, but there are also stunning lightshows projected onto the Baths’ ruins that accompany and enhance all operatic performances. Every summer, the Baths of Caracalla host a selection of operas from the Teatro dell’Opera. Beginning promptly at 9:00pm, these evening performances are all set in the outdoor theater, Teatro alle Terme di Caracalla. With English and Italian subtitles provided, tickets range from €25 to €100. Please inquire about the performance schedule.
Underground Rome Tour. Every time I'm in Rome, I see new diggings. Be it for the new metro line, a shopping mall or sewage pipes, a new piece of underground Rome is excavated, examined and cataloged. There is a whole world to discover beneath Rome's surface. This tour Peel back Rome's layers of history with visits to three of Rome's eeriest sights: the Capuchin Crypt, the Prscilla Catacombs and the Basilica of San Clemente.
Trastavere Foodie Tour. We came! We saw! We ate! Trastevere is a neighbourhood like no other. Its ivy-coated, cobblestone streets come alive at night, earning it comparisons to Greenwich Village and Paris’s Left Bank. It’s where Romans choose to eat with their families on a Sunday and where young Romans go for buzzing nightlife at evenings and weekends. You can’t leave Rome without walking these streets and tasting the best food in Rome. During this local walking tour, you'll enjoy learning about the history of the area, visit the local food spots, taste along the way, enjoy a magnificent sit down dinner and end with some of the best gelato in Rome.
Enroute to or from Rome, we'll make a 3-hr. stop in wonderful Orvieto, Umbria. It’s a great pedestrian town with artisan shops and a city wall that offers gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside. You can tour Orvieto’s famous cathedral or see some of the best artifacts in Tuscany in an underground system of tunnels and caverns carved by the Etruscans.
Tonight we’ll take a walking orientation enroute to included dinner.
Day 2. This morning your guide will pick you up at your hotel to enjoy a private tour of Ancient Rome, including the Capitoline, Forum and Colosseum. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
In that area after the tour, you might want to think about:
• Visiting the Wedding Cake (Tomb of Victor Emmanuel) and go up the elevator for a great view of Ancient Rome, then go next door to the Capitoline Museum which is really good. Then go over and see Michelangelo’s Moses at St. Peter’s in Chains.
• San Clemente, a church where you can walk down various levels to view centuries of archaeological finds.
• Stroll up Via del Corso and do some shopping and finish at the Spanish Steps. The Spanish Steps are crowded, and are ... steps, but a good afternoon destination for gelato and people watching. This is also at the top of a major shopping district in Rome - Via Condotti.
• Walking along the Tiber and then visiting the synagogue at the ghetto, or Jewish Quarter. There is a whole lively street of great restaurant choices. Not to be missed: The Jewish Artichoke! This local treat dates back to Imperial times, when the Roman Jewish community numbered about 50,000. They look like golden sunflowers and their leaves have a delicious nutty crunchiness. You can also visit the synagogue after lunch. You don’t need advanced reservations, but can go get tickets before lunch for an afternoon tour.
Day 3. This morning we enjoy a private tour of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s square.
This afternoon you can:
• Stay in the Vatican area for lunch and then stroll down to the Castle of the Angels. It’s a lovely museum with great views of Rome.
• Take a taxi to the orange grove to peek through the keyhole to see a cool view of St. Peter’s dome. Ask your guide for details.
• Dig a Little Deeper with our optional Rome excursions listed above
Tonight: Included Farewell Dinner
Dig a Little Deeper private optional tour excursions:
Before and After-Hours VIP Tours to the Vatican and St. Peter's. Che Bella is now offering off-hour tours, away from the heat of the day and the crowds of the general public.
Opera at the Baths of Caracalla. Formerly public baths for Romans and later enhanced with libraries, the Baths of Caracalla date back around 212-217 AD. the Baths of Caracalla today serve as the perfect backdrop for enjoying an opera. Not only does this outdoor theater offer marvelous acoustics, but there are also stunning lightshows projected onto the Baths’ ruins that accompany and enhance all operatic performances. Every summer, the Baths of Caracalla host a selection of operas from the Teatro dell’Opera. Beginning promptly at 9:00pm, these evening performances are all set in the outdoor theater, Teatro alle Terme di Caracalla. With English and Italian subtitles provided, tickets range from €25 to €100. Please inquire about the performance schedule.
Underground Rome Tour. Every time I'm in Rome, I see new diggings. Be it for the new metro line, a shopping mall or sewage pipes, a new piece of underground Rome is excavated, examined and cataloged. There is a whole world to discover beneath Rome's surface. This tour Peel back Rome's layers of history with visits to three of Rome's eeriest sights: the Capuchin Crypt, the Prscilla Catacombs and the Basilica of San Clemente.
Trastavere Foodie Tour. We came! We saw! We ate! Trastevere is a neighbourhood like no other. Its ivy-coated, cobblestone streets come alive at night, earning it comparisons to Greenwich Village and Paris’s Left Bank. It’s where Romans choose to eat with their families on a Sunday and where young Romans go for buzzing nightlife at evenings and weekends. You can’t leave Rome without walking these streets and tasting the best food in Rome. During this local walking tour, you'll enjoy learning about the history of the area, visit the local food spots, taste along the way, enjoy a magnificent sit down dinner and end with some of the best gelato in Rome.
Enroute to or from Rome, we'll make a 3-hr. stop in wonderful Orvieto, Umbria. It’s a great pedestrian town with artisan shops and a city wall that offers gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside. You can tour Orvieto’s famous cathedral or see some of the best artifacts in Tuscany in an underground system of tunnels and caverns carved by the Etruscans.
EXCURSION SUGGESTION TO NAPLES AND THE AMALFI COAST
Post-Tour Day 1. Train to Naples for day tour and on to Sorrento
We’ll begin with a stop at the Naples Archaeological Museum, where you’ll have a private tour and time to see the best of the artifacts from both Pompeii and Herculaneum … and the secret erotica room! After your museum tour, we’re on to Pizza to fortify you for the afternoon. We’re then on our way to our private tour of Herculaneum, with its expansive houses, impressive mosaics and lavish marble in the remains.
We’re then on to the Amalfi Coast, one of the most breathtaking drives in the world.
Our Sorrento hotel located above the town. All rooms will have balconies that look over the Bay of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius, with included breakfast and a pool.
Tonight we’ll enjoy our passagiatta strolling through the winding streets of Sorrento enroute to Included Dinner.
Post-Tour Day 2. A Day in Positano
Today is a day of leisure in the beautiful town of Positano. We’ll be back in the late afternoon so you can walk down in to Sorrento as well. Transfers from and back to Sorrento included.
Dinner tonight is on your own in Sorrento.
Post-Tour Day 3. A Day in Capri
This morning we’ll board the fast ferry for a day on the island of Capri.
You’ll have the afternoon to explore more of Sorrento and tonight we’ll have an included Farewell dinner to say arrivederci to Italy.
Post-Tour Day 4. Arrivederci Italia!
Transfers to the Naples Airport.
We’ll begin with a stop at the Naples Archaeological Museum, where you’ll have a private tour and time to see the best of the artifacts from both Pompeii and Herculaneum … and the secret erotica room! After your museum tour, we’re on to Pizza to fortify you for the afternoon. We’re then on our way to our private tour of Herculaneum, with its expansive houses, impressive mosaics and lavish marble in the remains.
We’re then on to the Amalfi Coast, one of the most breathtaking drives in the world.
Our Sorrento hotel located above the town. All rooms will have balconies that look over the Bay of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius, with included breakfast and a pool.
Tonight we’ll enjoy our passagiatta strolling through the winding streets of Sorrento enroute to Included Dinner.
Post-Tour Day 2. A Day in Positano
Today is a day of leisure in the beautiful town of Positano. We’ll be back in the late afternoon so you can walk down in to Sorrento as well. Transfers from and back to Sorrento included.
Dinner tonight is on your own in Sorrento.
Post-Tour Day 3. A Day in Capri
This morning we’ll board the fast ferry for a day on the island of Capri.
You’ll have the afternoon to explore more of Sorrento and tonight we’ll have an included Farewell dinner to say arrivederci to Italy.
Post-Tour Day 4. Arrivederci Italia!
Transfers to the Naples Airport.