Italy Travel Tours

Posts Tagged ‘Federica Merli’

Welcome, northern Italy tours have never been more affordable and exclusive now that you’ve found out about Tuscany with Me.

Our friend Federica Merli was born and raised in Tuscany, is fluent in English and German and, with extensive work experience in public relations for an Italian winery, is now completing her certification as a Sommelier.  If you’ve experienced the Wine regions of the U.S., you’re ready to travel the ancient Wine Road of Italy.

But you won’t want to limit your trip to Tuscany to just the wineries.  Federica is an authority on all the best Northern Italy has to offer.  Tell her of your interests and she will research them in advance to provide your small group with the most personalized and exclusive customer service available in all of Europe.

Whether it’s a guided half day tour, full day excursion, or an entire week or two of touring, Federica can create a suitable itinerary with each person in mind.  If you’re planning a honeymoon, the celebration of retirement, a family reunion or if you simply want to gather a small group of friends or colleagues, there’s something for everyone in Italy and Federica will help you to find it.

Have you ever considered a trip to an olive grove where you can see the presses at work creating the finest olive oil in the world?  Or how about a tour devoted just to gourmet food?  You might want to devote a day to shopping where Federica will cut through the tourist traps and take you to the places the locals call authentic and a good deal.

Italy invented spas and the Italians are still pampering guests with the finest techniques and treatments in the world.   And for an adventure you may never have thought of, Federica highly recommends a tour of a white marble quarry, the same quarry used by Michelangelo beginning in the year 1500. You’ll never look at marble in the same way again.

The euro is decreasing in value against the dollar, making a European vacation the most affordable in 20 years.  So gather your group, update your passports and start planning your custom Northern Italy tours today.

Many Americans take Italy travel tours to Tuscany, but where do you begin to absorb all that this region has to offer?  Tuscany means different things to different people.

Some people associate Tuscany with olives and the many products made with this ancient fruit.  Chief among them is olive oil and there are hundreds of farms, both large and small, that press the nectar from the olive to produce a staple of cuisine; olive oil.

Recognizing the allure of watching ages-old artisan techniques, some groves now open their operations to visitors.

Tuscany also means wine and the famous “wine road” of Chianti is another popular activity for travelers.  Your tour guide will take your intimate group to the many vineyards around Greve, including Casaloste and Villa S. Andrea.  You’ll learn how 21st century technology meets practices hundreds of years old to produce world-class wine.

Fine art is how some people define Tuscany.  There is no greater collection of Renaissance art in the world than what can be found in Florence.  Michelangelo’s “David”, considered by many to be the greatest statue in the world is a must-see, however there are lesser known works hidden throughout this city and your knowledgeable guide will help you discover it.

Perhaps the simple geographical and historical beauty of Tuscany is what you desire most.  In that case, your guide will have many options for you.  Would you like to explore one of the most scenic places in the world?  Then Cinque Terre is for you.  Consisting of five towns, Cinque Terre is navigable by boat, train, car and foot, depending upon your activity goal.

Whatever you seek in Tuscany, your guide will be ready with information, organization and a wealth of English-speaking help to make your Italy travel tours a memorable experience.  Check with Federica Merli at TuscanyWithMe.it to help you design the perfect tour of Northern Italy.

There are Northern Italy tours that are economical with transportation by train and bus. For those that want something a little more intimate, there are also guided tours in the back of a limousine with your own private chauffeur. The choice is yours considering the amount of money you are willing to spend.

Regardless of the mode of transportation you have decided to use, the places will be the same. The northern part of Italy has many villages and historical sites that are enjoyed by travelers from around the world. One site most travelers stop and see is Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper. This famous painting is located on the back wall in the dining hall at Santa Maria delle Grazie which is located in Milan.

Also located in the north is the town of Saint Francis where masterpieces created by Giotto and Cimabue can be found. This town has other mystical qualities with the ancient walls still standing to help transport tourists to a long ago time.

For those wishing to ski or go mountain climbing, the Italian Alps are located at the northern extreme of the country, or the beautiful water roads of Venice can be enjoyed.

The temperature in this upper region is also ideal for the growing of grapes which is why so many of the best wineries are located here.

Lake Orta is the place for romance. The tiny village of Orta San Giulio on the lake’s edge is the destination for many Italian couples as the perfect place for their wedding. On the lake is the island of San Giulio that is the home of many monks from the Benedictine Monastery of Mater Ecclesiae.

These are just a few examples of what is in store for tourists on the many Northern Italy tours that are available.

Contact Federica Merli of TuscanyWithMe.it to design the perfect customized tour of Italy for  your favorite vacation of a lifetime.

With vacations to Italy reasonably priced due to the fall of the euro, now might just be the right time to go. Unlike neighboring Greece, Italy is still open for visitors with just as much history and better wine.

The current exchange rate of 1 Euro to 1.2824 US dollar is most favorable. This dropping of the exchange rate started 5 months ago and should continue throughout the summer.

With this favorable exchange rate, places like the ancient Roman coliseum are less expensive to experience. The waterways of Venice can now be further explored with a private gondola, and the country side where twilight evenings in Tuscany are more enjoyable.

When in the Tuscany region, remember not only was the area controlled by the Romans 2000 years ago, but before them were the Etruscans. You can step back 3000 years when you visit the ancient town of Volterra, which was an Etruscan stronghold.

In the town of Volterra are the small cobblestone alleyways that the ancient people walked while living their lives. You can see and purchase their ancient funeral urns along with works of art from the master carvers of Alabaster.

If a medieval castle is more to your liking, then a visit to Chianti should be on your list of places to visit. This is in the Florence region of Tuscany. While there, you can visit the two wineries that made this area famous.

One of the best things about Italy is all the history a tourist can see while staying in 3 or 4 star hotels that have all the comforts of home each night. Vacations to Italy are like stepping back in time but with an internet connection, so you will never be out of touch with reality.

Give Federica Merli, at TuscanyWithMe.it, a call or send her an email for a preferred custom Italian vacation plan.

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.

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.

Prices for Italian vacations were down in 2009 compared to 2008, and 2010 promises to be about the same.  Airfare, meals and museums have all reduced their prices to combat the global recession.  Keep in mind the euro is holding a firm command over the U.S. dollar so expect to pay about 55 cents more for every single euro.

There are many sample itineraries to try when visiting Italy.  Many people go directly to Rome before exploring other cities and the rolling countryside.  Will you join an organized tour or go it alone?  All options are available right from the internet.  If you do hire a tour guide make sure he or she speaks English.  There is nothing worse than needing information from someone you cannot understand.

Whether or not you are Roman Catholic, a tour of the Vatican is a great stop.  The Vatican Museums house some of the world’s finest art, including Michelangelo’s frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.  You can then walk to St. Peter’s Basilica which is Christianity’s largest sanctuary before walking outdoors to the mammoth St. Peter’s Square which has regular audiences with the Pope.

No trip to Italy should be complete without a tour of Tuscany and there are villages, bridges and wineries between Rome and Florence to entice you to make Italian vacations a tradition you will want to repeat.

The host of this Blog is Federica Merli of TuscanyWithMe.it, a native Tusanite, where you will be greeted in flawless English and she will assist you in planning the ultimate holiday in Tuscany.  Each and every client receives close personal attention and if you know where you want to go and what you want to see it will be arranged immediately

If you are unsure of just what your best choices should be Federica will make marvelous suggestions.  All of her tour clients receive a custom tour to exactly what you want.  Italian vacations do not get any better than this.

To receive a price quote click here: Italian Vacations

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.