Join me in Italy, October 8 to 16th, 2016

This year in response to the many students who have expressed an interest in a culinary tour of Italy, I am partnering with Pro-Travel International and their amazing agent Merlene Lynch for a culinary tour of Central Italy and Rome. 
This is a fully escorted tour, I will join you everyday for our activities, acting as guide, and as interpreter, and our travel agent will be along to help with logistics. 
October 8th travel from US to Rome, arriving on October 9th.   The tour is limited to 16 participants, making it a small, intimate group, giving us flexibility to go to small towns, and have unique experiences.
Upon arrival in Rome, our travel agent will meet you and a private bus will transfer us to Todi, a beautiful, small hill town in Umbria and stay for 5 nights at the Hotel Bramante. Lunch upon arrival and rest time.  Dinner together at the hotel.

Our first full day, we will have a cooking class at the hotel with their renown chef, and lunch.  After a brief rest, we will head to Assisi, the home of St. Francis, the patron saint of Italy for a private tour, and dinner on your own.

Day two we will head to Pienza to a working farm, and watch as pecorino cheese is being made, and then enjoy lunch at the farm.  Pienza is the home of the best Pecorino in Italy.

After lunch a short trip to Montepulciano, and a walk about before returning to Todi and dinner at the Michelin starred restaurant Casa Vissani.  

Day 3 takes us to Citta' di Castello in northern Umbria for a truffle hunt, visit to the truffle museum and then a truffle lunch.  October is truffle season, so we are in for a treat.  We will return to Todi, dinner will be on your own. 

Day 4 we will travel to the capital of Perugia, and participate in a hands on chocolate class at Perugina, directed by their master chocolatier. 

After the class we will head to Spello (my adopted hometown) and have a wine and olive oil tasting and lunch at Enoteca Properzio, one of the top 3 wine bars in Italy, owned by my family, the Angelini's. Wine and olive oils are available for shipment home.

On our return to Todi, we will stop in Deruta for a ceramics demonstration and time to shop for ceramics. Dinner on your own.

Day 5 we will check out of our hotel in Todi and head to Rome.  On our way into Rome we will stop at Eataly, a 4 story food emporium for lunch on your own (there are 18 restaurants in the store) and time to shop for goodies to take home.

We will arrive at our hotel, and in the afternoon be taken to a pizza class.  Dinner will be your very own creation.  

Day 6, after an early breakfast, we will be transferred to the Vatican for a private morning tour of the Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. The rest of the day will be at your leisure to explore the eternal city. 

 Day 7, Check out and transfer to the airport. 

Our travel agent will be happy to arrange before and after tour extensions for you. 
Since space is limited, a non-refundable deposit will be required by February 12, 2016.
COST IS FOR THE LAND PORTION ONLY:  Merlene will be happy to arrange airfare.

• The Per Person, Double Occupancy cost:  3395 Euro  (Equivalent to approximately $3678 in U.S. dollars as of exchange rate on 04JAN2016)
• Per Person, Single Occupancy cost:  3730 Euro (Equivalent to approximately $4041 in U.S. dollars as of the exchange rate on 04JAN2016)
• Please note:  The charge to your credit card will be in U.S. dollars to equal the active Euro exchange rate on the date that your payments process. 

• February12 , 2016:  Deposit deadline for NON-REFUNDABLE Deposit of 1290 Euro (Equivalent to approximately $1398 in U.S. dollars as of the exchange rate on 04JAN2016) 
  WE STRONGLY ADVISE TRIP INSURANCE
   
  Please e-mail me diane@dianephillips.com for more information, and for a booking form.