Rome & the Heart of Umbria

With centuries of history surrounding you and some of Italy's most colorful and romantic scenery ahead, your Italian vacation begins today in the ancient capital, Rome. As you arrive, make your own way to our four-star hotel, located a short distance from Rome Termini Station, and check in for the first two nights.

You can take some time to get to know this city once you have settled in, perhaps absorbing the city's timeless atmosphere while sitting in a local piazza. You could also dive right into the excitement and history on offer while sightseeing locally; after all, when in Rome, there is something to see at every turn.

Return to the hotel this evening to meet the Tour Manager and your travel group, and then together, sit down to dinner in the hotel's restaurant. Overnight Rome.

• Dinner

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before our driver picks us up for a morning visit to Vatican City. Our tour includes entrance to the Vatican Museums, where exquisite rooms of tapestries, sculptures, paintings and artifacts reveal both the artistic and religious sides of this city-state. Entry is also included to the Sistine Chapel, home to one of the most recognizable frescoes in the world, Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam."

Returning to Rome, you have some free time to find lunch before we continue our day with a guided city tour. Our guide takes us past the Colosseum, Italy's most renowned classical site, and the vast Roman Forum, once the bustling heart of ancient Rome. We also take in Piazza Venezia and the magnificent Pantheon, a masterpiece of ancient architecture. The tour concludes in Piazza Navona, where you can take in its grand Baroque fountain and lively atmosphere before continuing your day at leisure.

With a free evening, you could dine at one of Rome's many alfresco restaurants, the perfect setting to enjoy fresh Roman pasta and local wine. Overnight Rome. 

• Breakfast

Leaving the hustle and bustle of Rome after breakfast, we board our coach for a journey from Lazio into central Umbria. This region boasts all the lush agricultural landscapes and charm of Tuscany, with an ambiance that encourages a slower pace and deeper exploration of its historical destinations.

Our first stop here is the hill town of Orvieto. Upon arrival, a funicular guides us up to the historic center of the old town, and here, we embark on a guided tour. As we wander, one of the most eye-catching attractions is the 14th-century Roman Catholic cathedral, which we explore more closely before continuing by coach to our base for the next six nights in Collepepe.

Our resort hotel here dates to the 13th century and served as a monastery in the 1500s. The property retains its peaceful feel today, with sprawling views over the rolling vineyards and forested hills of Italy's "Green Heart," including from its swimming pool. Dinner is served at the hotel tonight and each night of your stay. Overnight Collepepe.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We set out into the beautiful Umbrian hills by coach this morning to discover more of this enchanting part of Italy. Our first stop is the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis. On arrival, a guided tour takes us to the Basilica of St. Clare and the Duomo of Assisi, consecrated in 1253. A highlight of our tour is a visit to the Basilica of St. Francis, renowned as a Christian pilgrimage site and for its immense artistry.

Afterward, we continue to the walled town of Spello, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. We enter this dreamy destination through a 1st-century gate, and then the afternoon is yours to discover Spello at your own pace. Wandering through the maze-like cobbled streets, you can uncover history dating to the Romans, and in the spring and summer, witness swathes of flowers lining balconies and alleyways, as this town is renowned for its floral displays.

We return to the hotel later in the day and enjoy dinner together. Overnight Collepepe.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Setting out after breakfast, another day of memorable explorations and postcard-perfect vistas lies ahead as our coach takes us to Gubbio. One of the largest and best-preserved medieval towns in Italy, Gubbio is filled with architecture dating to the 13th century and boasts fantastic views from its position at the foot of Mount Ingino. Since this community is off of the beaten tourist path, it retains much of its old-world charm, which we discover on a guided tour.

We wander amidst its piazzas, soaking up views of public palaces, cathedrals, gardens and the preserved city walls. You can continue exploring independently after the tour, perhaps visiting Mount Ingino's summit for impressive panoramas before we move on to Todi by coach.

Todi sits atop a hill in Umbria, setting the stage for fairytale scenery and sprawling views. On arrival, we set out with a guide, admiring its medieval and Baroque architecture and soaking up history along the ancient streets.

We return to our resort hotel with time to unwind before dinner. Overnight Collepepe.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Umbria's capital and a renowned chocolate city, Perugia hosts our adventures today. Our coach picks us up from the hotel after breakfast, and we drive to this 14th-century medieval city for a guided tour. Entering the historic center, we uncover some of Perugia's most notable sites, including the beating heart of the city, Piazza IV Novembre, and the 14th-century San Lorenzo Cathedral.

After the tour, you have some free time to find lunch locally or continue exploring at leisure before we uncover another thing that Perugia is known for: chocolate. We head to the Casa del Cioccolato, where we learn the artisanal secrets and fascinating story of these famous chocolates. We tour the on-site museum and see history in motion in the chocolate factory. Of course, there is plenty of time to try the flavorful treats and shop for souvenirs.

We return to the hotel at the end of the afternoon and have dinner together. Overnight Collepepe.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After yesterday's beautiful rural views, today brings another side of Umbria as we head to Lake Trasimeno. Our coach first takes us to Castiglione del Lago, where you have some free time to wander its 12th-century historic center. See the original city walls and the magnificent Palazzo Della Corgna, or admire lake views from the ramparts at the Rocca del Leone.

We then continue by local rail to Passignano del Lago on the northern shore of Lake Trasimeno. This small fishing village exudes charm, with a warren of narrow streets and a medieval Rocca. You can take some time to visit the local churches, including Pieve di San Cristoforo, which dates to the year 1,000, before rejoining our coach to Deruta.

This Umbrian hill town has been renowned for its hand-painted pottery for centuries, and we get to witness its making on arrival. See how these exquisite wares go from clay deposits on the Tiber River to artistic masterpieces, and enjoy time to shop ahead of our return journey to our hotel for our final dinner in Umbria. Overnight Collepepe.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today brings a look at Umbria's agricultural side as we set out by coach for the walled town of Torgiano, located in lush green terrain between Assisi and Perugia. Its long history has been characterized by the production of two products - olive oil and wine - which we explore at local museums on arrival.

Enjoy time to wander the exhibits of the Olive and Oil Museum, featuring displays from olive cultivation to oil lamps, and then see artifacts from the early days of wine production, as well as an 18th-century wine press, in the themed rooms of the Wine Museum.

We continue our day amongst Umbria's wine country, traveling to Lungarotti Winery, where we sit down to lunch and a tasting of its flavorful white and red wines. Upon returning to the hotel, we enjoy dinner together. Overnight Collepepe.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In a country where modern life sits on the shoulders of prehistory, we have experienced a true sense of wonder in two magnificent regions. We began amongst the ancient ruins and cultural highlights of Rome, experiencing the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel and the city's finest attractions, before driving into Umbria, one of Italy's best-kept secrets.

Here, visions of rolling vineyards and stunning medieval architecture set the backdrop as we explored well-preserved villages, towns known for their culinary contributions and stunning lakeside locations. Watch Umbria's picturesque scenery fade into the backdrop as an optional coach transfer takes you to Rome's airport this morning for your journey home.

• Breakfast