Italy Travel Tours

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Your Italy Travel Tours can follow the path of a best-selling novel by American writer Frances Mayes.  Mayes is best known for her book Under the Tuscan Sun, an adventure of renewal and rebirth experienced in Tuscany after the author’s divorce from her husband.  Many Americans seek to retrace the steps taken by Mayes on this important period of her life.

Ask your tour guide to pick you up at your hotel in Florence and to drive you to Cortona which is a little city in central Italy, high atop a hill overlooking Lake Trasimeno.  The walls of this ancient city are estimated to be 3,000 years old.

After a series of wars against Rome in 300 B.C., Cortona was destroyed and later rebuilt.  By the 14th century it became part of Tuscany and it gave birth to several Italian historical figures: Luca Signorelli the painter, Brother Elias- companion to St. Francis of Assisi, and Cardinal Egidio Boni.

Once you have absorbed the splendor and history of Cortona, it is time to explore Lake Trasimeno.  With a surface area of 79 miles, it is larger than Lake Como, though the latter is more famous.

Separated by hills from the Tiber River, the lake is ringed by bucolic little villages.  History buffs will delight in the ancient history of this body of water.  There was a Battle of Lake Trasimeno in 217 B.C.  that puzzles historians to this day.  They’re not certain exactly where it took place because the lake was larger at that time.

Legend has it that the golden chariot of Flaminio lies at the bottom of this very deep lake.  Don’t be disappointed if you can’t find the chariot on your trip.  The many olive groves and vineyards that dot the lake will enchant you and provide beautiful photo opportunities on your vacation with Italy Travel Tours.

There are many Short Escorted Tours of Tuscany available for your vacation.  Why not begin with a trip to the divine waters of the Val Di Chiana?

Mount Amiata produces a spectacle that prompted ancient Etruscans to think they had divine provenance.  The Mount is an ancient and extinct volcano.  It produces water that freezes from the lofty woods near its peak to hot lava that boils beneath the soil on other slopes.

Though modern science has an explanation for the thermal spas that bubble up from the land, the early peoples erected temples to these springs.  In later years, poets like Horace and intellectuals like Chagall, Fellini and Pirandello visited the spas for renewal.  This two thousand year old tradition continues and beckons the global traveler to step in and partake in this ancient practice.

Another short itinerary includes the “wine roads” which feature wineries and vineyards.   There are a total of 14 wine roads and all of them feature history, culture and environmental science that will keep you interested in this intriguing part of Italy.

Ask your guide to plan this itinerary for you because you can otherwise spend long distances traversing the countryside in search of the next “wine road”.  Your tour guide will also know which of the wineries have tours on horseback, a truly unique and Old World experience you will remember for a lifetime.

Yet another short trip to consider is a hike along the Etruscan Coast.  You begin your 45 minute walk in Populania at the Piazzale del Reciso.  A well-worn path takes you past olive trees and oaks, past ruins of the Hellenistic Age and ending at the cliffs overlooking the ocean where you can enjoy a bagged lunch before walking back up the hill.

These are just a few suggestions for Short Escorted Tours Tuscany that your guide can organize.  Ask Federica about a custom designed tour that is perfect for you.

To begin Easy Italy Tours it helps to know the basics about this exotic and popular destination.  Many people choose to focus their trip on Tuscany and with good reason.  Novels like “Under the Tuscan Sun” have sent visitors flocking to this region to explore its wonders.

Tuscany covers the heart of central Italy with a population of 3.5 million people.  Florence is the capital city of Tuscany.  Ringed by the Apennines mountains, Tuscany is predominantly hilly but with large plains.

The most famous aspect of Tuscany is its art history and geographical beauty.  The capitals of the ten provinces are Arezzo, Florence, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Pisa, Pistoia and Siena.

Tuscany is easy to access with airports in Florence and Pisa.  A highway called the A1 connects the north with the south.  A11 is the coastal road connecting Florence with the sea.

More scenic are the feeder roads called the Via Aurellia, Via Cassia and the Via Clodia.  If you prefer to experience Europe’s sophisticated rail system, the Milan-Rome line will speed you on your way from north to south through the cities of Prato, Arezzo and Florence.

Tuscany also includes breathtakingly beautiful ports in Piombino and Livorno.  From here tour boats and pleasure yachts set sail for Elba, Corsica, Sardinia and the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago.

With all that Tuscany has to offer, it is difficult to know where to begin.  Many Americans begin in the city of Florence, however Siena and the thrilling Piazza del Campo, and Pisa and its famous Leaning Tower, and the old fortress in Livorno are equally impressive.

There is also an area called Minor Tuscany and this includes tiny medieval villages called Fiesole, San Gimignano , Montepulciano and Volterra.

Contact Federica Merli at Tuscany With Me, to custom design a trip that you will remember for the rest of your life.  No matter where you begin your Easy Italy Tours you’ll have a memorable time.

A most distinct area of Northern Italy tours that will entice you with its charm is the Veneto region.  It consists of seven provinces and the cities of Mestre, Verona, Venice, and Padua.  Veneto exists in the northeast, between the Dolomite mountain range and the Adriatic Sea.

Veneto is a prime wine making region of Italy with more than 20 well known wines made from German and French grapes and produced into Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Merlot.

Accommodations in this exciting region of the country are abundant and include private homes and cottages as a possibility for your lodging.  For example, for June 2010 you can book a 2 bedroom apartment in Venice within walking distance to the canals for $826.00 for a four night stay.  In San Peitro di Feletto a three bedroom villa can be rented for $1,404.00 for four nights.

Many websites can help you with your accommodations and many have a minimum number of nights for your stay.  Contact your tour representative for assistance with lodging.

The locals believe every trip to Italy must include a trip to Venice where cars are forbidden and all travel is by foot, boat or bicycle.  For this reason, time in Venice seems to stand still.  Modern life is forgotten in this ancient city with a lifestyle that is preserved.

Venice is one of the honeymoon capitals of Europe for its romantic nature.  But it is also famous for its food markets and abundance of seafood.   In fact, the city’s proximity to the ocean make the seafood dishes in Venice world class and famous.

The other mandatory stop on your Italian trip is Florence.  Florence is the cradle of the renaissance and the works of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael and Botticelli are in full splendor throughout the city’s many museums and churches.

Consider custom Northern Italy tours when you chose to travel to this marvelous country.  Our blog host, Federica will work with you to design the perfect tour plan that will be just perfect for you.  Contact her at Tuscany With Me.

Consider your Italy Travel Tours to begin in Florence, with a full day of exploration of this marvelous region.  The best way to see it is by car on the scenic road called Viale Dei Colli.

From here you can view the Miniato al Monte church with its spectacular green and white marble façade.  Your tour guide will point out this is a fine example of Florentine Romanesque architecture.

High on a hill above the ancient city is Forte Belvedere, built by the Grand Duke Ferdinand in 1590.  The purpose of the facility was to safeguard the Medici Villas.  The drive to the Fort is spectacular with historic walls lining the narrow road.

After Forte Belvedere your guide might recommend the Pitti Palace and its collection of museums and galleries such as the Costume Gallery, Palatine Gallery, the Coach Museum, Royal Apartments, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Silver and Porcelain Museum.  They are all surrounded by the Boboli Gardens, a beautiful park of trees, flowers and shrubs.

If you enjoy the history of the Great Philosophers, venture over to the Piazza della Repubblica where the greatest minds of old Florence met for espresso and cappuccino.  The cafes that housed these conversations still stand today.

You can walk from there to the Piazza del Duomo and to the Piazza Signoria where you can take in the best of the Renaissance and the art of the period.

After that you’ll want to hop in the car so your tour guide can drive you to the Basilica of the Holy Cross, or the Santa Croce.  The largest Franciscan chapel in the world, it includes 16 chapels bearing frescoes by Giotto.

The Chapel was begun in the year 1294 and it was the replacement of an earlier church on the same site.  Your Italy Travel Tours will open your eyes to the beautiful and ancient history of Tuscany.

To schedule your own custom tour of Tuscany, contact Federica Merli at Tuscany With Me.  She will assist you in designing your tour to your exact requirements.

Click here to read our previous post on: Italy Trips to Remember.

Italy Trips in Summertime

Many people believe Italy trips are the culmination of a lifetime of expectation.  And when travelers experience this dazzling country, they are not disappointed.

Federica Merli of Tuscany With Me

There is no time like the present to plan your next Italy trip so contact Federica Merli at Tuscany with Me to detail your most memorable vacation.  “Place your trust in me, as I will be your tour consultant and personal escort in my own region, Tuscany.”

The most popular time to travel to Europe is the summer when weather is comfortable.  The beaches on the Mediterranean are packed with Europeans and travelers soaking up the sun in the old world atmosphere.  Much of the Italian coast is rocky and steep, making for postcard perfect picture-taking.

If you go in summer, bring light clothing as it can be very warm in July and August.  Nightfall will call for a little jacket with temperatures cooling into the mid-50s.  Make sure you have plenty of sunscreen because few things wreck a vacation more quickly than a prickly and painful sunburn.

Like much of Europe, Italy is a progressive country where topless bathing is allowed.  Locals think nothing of this practice however some American’s might want to avoid these places if partial nudity is offensive to them.

The Mediterranean diet is considered the healthiest in the world so prepare yourself for a culinary experience such as you’ve never had.  Italians place great emphasis in the preparation and the presentation of food.  As such, meals are not rushed, but savored with conversation and conviviality a necessary ingredient in the meal.

Wine is considered a food group in Europe and your hosts, whether they operate an Inn, a guest house or a large hotel, will encourage you to sample the many viniferas available.  More than in America, the micro-climates and soil conditions throughout the small country of Italy produce vastly different flavors of wine.

Travel in the summer is generally more expensive than other times of the year but visiting in warm weather will insure you have a range of activities and options for your holiday.  This will truly be one of your best Italy trips to remember.

Please click here to read more about Italy Travel Tours.

Good Italy vacation tours will help you determine your priorities so you can make the most of your time there. Italy has 20 regions and unless you have six months of travel time you won’t see everything in your first trip, which isn’t a bad thing because we can all use an excuse to return to Italy.

Tuscany is the region everyone has heard about and everyone wants to visit. The Renaissance was born here, it is the home of Chianti wine and Michelangelo spent time here. Tuscany is not particularly large and it is not served well by public transportation. A car and tour guide are indispensable in any area of Italy outside of Rome.

You can drive from the north of Tuscany to the south in three hours on the highway but you would miss the beauty of the region. The back roads are the way to go to really enjoy the spirit of any region of Italy and Tuscany is no exception.

Many travelers begin their vacation in either Florence or Pisa after arriving by plane in Rome or Milan. Some American airlines now have direct flights from the east coast to Pisa or Florence, eliminating interim train travel from Rome and Milan.

If crowds and long lines and high prices are an issue for you, avoid the peak season of July and August if you can. Instead, consider spring or fall for your visit. The weather is still attractive, the prices are better and massive crowds have dispersed.

If you’re traveling with your entire family, watch for festival schedules. Italy offers unique opportunities for children they can’t find in the States. Bring your camera to take photos of the kids watching “knights” on horseback in Arezzo, or they might smash nuts in Cortona.

Big or small, spring or fall, Italy vacation tours can help you experience the best that country has to offer.

As we publish this article on Christmas Eve we wish all of our readers the very Merriest of Christmases and to all a prosperous and wonderful New Year.

This is the best time of the year to make your travel arrangements for your next vacation to Italy.

Contact: Tuscany with Me to plan now for the vacation of a lifetime!

While planning tours to Italy, it’s best to prioritize locations and experiences so you are not overwhelmed.   It’s true that Italy is much smaller than America, but it is still too big to see in one or two weeks on vacation.   Tour guides can help you create an itinerary to maximize the exposure during your stay.

Unfortunately the dollar isn’t going very far in Europe these days.  It takes about $1.50 to buy what a single euro will get you.  If you enjoy going to the museums, you might want to scrimp on elegant dining every night or vise versa.

Italy joins Germany and France in having the best highway systems in Europe.  Roads are in good shape and access is complete.  If you don’t rent a car and you stay in the larger cities, you can rent a scooter.   This new venture by Auto Europe in Italy and France offers Vespa scooters for rent so you can do as the Romans do; explore cities the fun and easy way.  Gas consumption is light, you can park on the sidewalk and you’ll dart in and out of auto traffic.  A ride on a Vespa alone is worth the trip.

If you decide to rent a car the rules are similar to the U.S.   You drive on the right and you pass on the left.  Seatbelt use is mandatory and there is zero tolerance for aggressive driving.   Be prepared to pay.  Sky-high insurance rates make renting a car in Italy almost prohibitive.

The best way to get around the country is by train or bus.  In Tuscany for example, the train will get you to top destinations like Arezzo, Lucca, Pisa, Pistoia and Prato.   Smaller towns are best accessed by bus.  No matter what mode of transportation you chose, your tours to Italy will enchant and mesmerize you.

When planning a trip to Italy the first thing you’ll want to decide is the time of year for your travel.    Summer is the most popular time.  Temperatures are attractive and the country with its flowers and gardens is its most beautiful.

The downside is prices for everything are generally higher in the peak season and many of the locals leave to take vacations for themselves.  This is particularly true in the large cities like Rome, Naples, Florence, Milan and Venice.  Europeans typically enjoy six weeks of vacation time and they think nothing of leaving home for an entire month.

However even when residents are vacationing elsewhere, there are millions of Italians ready to welcome you to their proud and beautiful country.

Do you want to plan your trip so you have total freedom to venture where you want at will?  Many Americans do this and come home with memorable stories and photographs.  Still others enlist the services of a guide service which can organize large group travel or small.

Large companies rent tour buses for their group which hails from throughout the U.S.  They have a regular schedule of trips and they enjoy a relationship with various hotels and restaurants that ensure large blocks of space for a busload of tourists.

Or, you may chose to find a smaller, more personal tour guide such as the sponsor of this Blog at Tuscany With Me.  This company excels at a small group of friends who enjoy traveling together.  It may be a family reunion as the reason for the holiday travel and the tour guide can learn in advance the nature of the trip before selecting sites and locales.

Whether you are celebrating a wedding, or an anniversary or a graduation, planning a trip to italy is a wonderful way to mark a rite of passage.

Traveler’s vacations to Italy needn’t be complicated or overwhelming.  With a little time and research, anyone can plan an excellent trip that will provide a lifetime of memories.

First of all, begin by asking friends and colleagues about their experiences in Europe.  Do they have a travel agent they recommend or did they rely on a website for their planning?  More and more vacationers are turning to the web for all their research, whether it’s the history of the country, flight schedules or prices and hotels and itineraries.

Americans often book trips to Rome, Florence and Venice, and with good reason.  These ancient cities are the cultural capitals of Italy housing centuries old works of art in classic structures built for the ages.  Likewise, the cuisine in these cities is remarkable.  You won’t go home hungry.

However you would do yourself an injustice to overlook the lesser known villages in this beautiful country.  Rustic and charming, life in the places off the beaten path is often the most memorable.   Locals welcome tourists to their little corner of the world and it is not uncommon to be invited into the home or vineyard of an Italian-born citizen.  The Italians take great pride in their offerings and are eager to share.

If you are not invited into a private home or winery, why not give your tired feet a break with an afternoon spent at an outdoor café.  Europeans have talked politics and gossip from the little metal chairs and tables that are set out in all weather except rain.

If you plan to travel extensively in the country you will want to enlist the services of a local guide, many of whom are on the internet.  They make vacations to italy pleasurable and stress-free and would be happy to serve you.  We recommend that you contact “Tuscany with Me” for a fabulous and unforgettable vacation.