Italy Travel Tours

Posts Tagged ‘Tuscany with Me’

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.

For Italy travel, June is the most popular month of the year. This is when everyone seems to go to Italy for a holiday. The weather is fantastic and the towns are filled with festivals. Because of the crowds, some of the prices are higher with the airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies but that is just the old economics of supply and demand.

Besides the great sunny and warm weather, there are over 5000 festivals, historical re-enactments, and sagre or feast festivals that take place every year. The month of June has the greatest number of these celebrations, which is what attracts the big crowds.

The month of festivals starts off with the Festa della Repubblica on June 2nd. The Corpus Domini is celebrated 60 days after Easter which falls in the month of June each year. On the 24th of June, the Feast Day of San Giovanni is celebrated. All three of these festivals are celebrated in numerous towns across Italy. In Rome, the Pope leads a procession from Rome’s Cathedral to Santa Maria Maggiore.

The Sunday after Corpus Domini, there is a flower petal festival called Infiorata where art displays are exhibited to the public in many towns across Italy.

On June 16th, the Luminara of Saint Ranieri is celebrated in the town of Pisa. After night fall, the buildings along the river and the bridges are illuminated with over 70,000 lighted candles in small glass holders. The following day is the feast of Saint Ranieri which is the patron saint of the town of Pisa. Also on the 17th is the Regatta of Saint Ranieri. In this race, all four districts of Pisa are represented and it is held on the Arno River.

The last week in June, there is the International Ceramics Festival in Montelupo, Tuscany, and the Medieval Festival in Umbrian of Bevagna.

This is just a partial list of what you can expect in your Italy travel. June is the month to become an Italian for a short time and enjoy the good life.  It is not too late to contact: Tuscany with Me and take in some of these excellent festivals.

The northern Italy travel destinations    do not include the famed Rome, but there is so much more than that old empire’s capital that Italy has to offer. One of the most luxurious places in all of Italy is Liguria or the Italian Riviera. This is the smallest of the 22 regions in Italy but for its size, there is more than enough to see. This is also where the city of Genoa is located.

The most prosperous industrial region is Lombardy, located in the northwestern part of the country. This is a rugged mountain area, along with wide stretching plains. This is the region where Milan is located. The Lake region is also here, along with the Italian Alps which reach for the sky.

In the northeastern part of the country is the famed Venice. Most visitors to this part of the country arrive in Milan and take the scenic 175-mile train ride to Venice. While on this route, travelers will pass through Brescia, Verona, Vicenza, and Padua.

In Brescia, there are Roman ruins and the Monastery of Santa Giulia with three churches in its walls.

Verona is the world famous setting of Romeo and Giulietta. This is also referred to as the Florence of the North, due to its valuable art.

Vicenza is the home town of the famous architect Palladio.

The oldest botanical garden in all of Europe is in Padua. This town is so close to Venice many visitors stay here and take the day train when they wish to visit the city.

If a straight shot from Milan to Venice is preferred, then the train ride will last less than 3 hours, but there is so much in between as northern Italy travel destinations along the way.

Our sponsor, Tuscany with me, will provide the most memorable vacation ever, give them a call.

For touring with your Guide Northern Italy in the spring and in the fall, Valtellina is an area you should consider.  It is a mountain valley northeast of Lake Como and it is perfect for people who like to hike and who enjoy wine.

Early in the morning you can begin with a walk into a little adjunct valley called the “Little Yosemite” of Italy, named after Yosemite Park in the United States.  After taking in the splendor of the area, try a wine tasting at locally famous vinifera Nebbiolo, which is the grape used in the production of Barolo wine, a very dry vino da meditazione.

Another northern area of great interest is Lake Como, characterized by steep slopes leading down to the water.  Local residents are working to protect these magnificent hills from too much development and once you visit this majestic waterway you will understand why the Italian people wish to protect it.

High above the Lake are two regions popular among tourists of all nations, including Italy!  They are the villages of Como and Bellagio.  Ask your guide to arrange a session at cooking school with one of the many fine chefs in these villages.  Also north of the lake are new wineries opening every year.  It is an exciting area where old meets new.

Bellagio is actually a cluster of small villages that lie along the lake and also up the hills of Monte San Primo which is 6,000 feet above sea level.  There is a cultural museum you will want to visit.  This area also has a beautiful botanical feature called the Villa Melzi Gardens.

There is a scenic overlook above the Lake and a breathtaking villa called Carlotta, famous for its collection of art treasures.  Consider a boat trip across the lake to the village of Varenna for dinner.

Whatever your itinerary, your Guide to Northern Italy will provide you with a memorable trip.  Check with Tuscany with Me for ideas and prices.

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.

An easy Italy vacation tour is the best way to go if you want maximum exposure to this lovely European country with little of the fuss.  Experienced tour guides leave all the planning and effort to them so you can put up your feet, slurp from a gelato or a glass of Chianti and take photographs to review for the rest of your life.

If you are traveling with a small group, you might want to consider a customized tour.  These are flexible and more spontaneous than the large, well established situations.  Your tour guide can combine stops at wineries with a bike trip if that is your interest.  Customized tours with manageable groups allow for unique opportunities and still provide the hassle-free accommodations of a guided tour whether you’re interested in food and wine or art and architecture.

Of course if you have a large group, or you and your partner may want to join a larger group to meet new friends, there are abundant vacation tour options.  Our sponsor of this website is TuscanyWithMe.it and you may contact them through this website or the main one to start planning your vacation now.

The internet has made everyone a travel agent right from their own home however this option has its risks.  If one element of the tour falls through, the entire trip can be flattened like a house of cards.  Unless you have experience booking foreign travel, you might want to stick with a company that deals with ordinary setbacks every day.  You don’t want your vacation ruined.

There are tours for every interest level and geographical region in Italy.  Do your research and talk to your friends, and then begin your search for a guide for your Italy vacation tour; you’ll find the trip begins as soon as you start planning it.

Click Here: to receive a quote from Tuscany With Me.

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!