Travel with Diane Phillips and experience the Culinary Treasures of Central Italy

October 9 – 16, 2016

On this fully escorted tour with Diane Phillips, you will experience the road less traveled in Umbria,

home to truffles, Perugina chocolate, ceramics, wines, and Pecorino cheese. With time to enjoy all that Umbria has to offer,

we will then head to Rome for more food and culture. Join us as we discover the true treasures of Italy: its people!

“Culinary Treasures of Central Italy”

Day 1, Sunday October 9th

ARRIVAL IN ITALY: ROME TO TODI • Arrive @FCO by 9 a.m. • Private driver will meet you at the airport, and will drive

you to our hotel in Todi (about 2 hours) • Check in at hotel • Typical Umbrian lunch • Rest of the day at your leisure in Todi, to rest and relax • Todi’s narrow streets, Roman and Etruscan ruins,

Medieval and Renaissance architecture will charm you. • Dinner at the hotel to welcome you to Umbria

Services Included: Private transfer from FCO to the hotel in Todi by

private bus Light lunch at the Hotel Bramante, beverages

included Typical Umbrian dinner at the Hotel Bramante

“Culinary Treasures of Central Italy”

Day 2, Monday October 10th

UMBRIAN COOKING LESSON & ASSISI

• After breakfast, enter the kitchen of chef Aldo Mosca, from

Puglia, who for twenty five years, has been the chef de cuisine at the Hotel Bramante. He mixes tradition and innovation to prepare the best dishes from locally sourced ingredients

• When your cooking classes has ended, you will feast on your creations, paired with local wines.

• After a brief rest, our driver will transport you to the jewel of Umbria – Assisi.

• Visit Assisi, the city of St. Francis, with the beautiful St. Francis Basilica, decorated with the worldwide famous Giotto's frescoes. You should not miss St. Clare Basilica; Piazza del Comune with the medieval buildings and the interesting Roman sacred construction named Minerva temple, recently beautifully restored and St. Francis Basilica: centre of the Franciscan spirituality and cradle of the medieval European art, the Basilica was built upon the Saint's tomb. It is an architectural masterpiece containing some of the finest paintings of medieval Italian art, from Cimabue to Giotto, Simone Martini, Pietro Lorenzetti. Admire the St. Rufino Cathedral with its a magnificent Romanesque-style facade, located in the upper part of Assisi, an area of great charm and history.

• For dinner we will book for you a table at Taverna de L'Arco. • After dinner our driver will take you back to Todi.

Services Included:

• Half day Cooking Class Program. Delicious lunch paired

with local wines included. • Private transfer from Assisi to Todi & return after dinner by

private bus. • Private guided walking tour of Assisi (about 3 hrs) with local

English speaking guide. • Accommodation in a centrally located property.

“Culinary Treasures of Central Italy”

Day 3, Tuesday October 11th

TUSCAN MEDIEVAL TOWNS OF VAL D'ORCIA • Today, we will organize a full day excursion to the

beautiful Tuscan Jewel of Pienza & Montepulciano. A private driver will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to Val D'Orcia (about 1 hr and half drive from Todi). In the morning we will organize a visit to a beautiful cheese farm in Pienza: Podere il Casale.

• The cheese farm offers you a chance to taste and make their cheeses. After the cheese making lesson you will enjoy a delicious typical lunch at the farm!

• After the tour, the driver will take you to Montepulciano where you will have a pleasant walk.

• The Montepulciano area is known to be wine producer as far as the Romans Empire. Nevertheless. The NOBILE di MONTEPUCIANO in the 20th century has been surpassed by popularity and prestige by the newly developed BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO. Standing high atop a hill in southern Tuscany not too far from Siena. Montepulciano is a medieval town of rare beauty highly recommended visiting in Tuscany. The city, full of elegant Renaissance palaces, ancient churches, charming squares and hidden corners, boasts vast panoramas all over the wonderful Val d'Orcia and Val di Chiana valleys that surround it.

• For dinner we will organize for you a very gourmet experience at the Michelin restaurant Casa Vissani.

• After dinner, our driver will take you back to Todi.

Services included:

• Full Day Excursion (8 to 10 hours) to Pienza; Montepulciano & Casa Vissani for dinner with private bus.

• Cheese making lesson & farm visit at Podere il Casale – typical lunch included.

• Michelin dinner at Casa Vissani - Vissani Four season's tasting menu paired with three selection of wines.

• Accommodation in a centrally located property.

“Culinary Treasures of Central Italy”

Day 4, Wednesday October 12th

TRUFFLE HUNTING EXPERIENCE

• Today, we will arrange a unique, fun experience: a half day

program to enjoy the beauty of Central Italy countryside and to discover the Truffle.

• Our driver will take you to the north of Umbria region, famous in Italy for its delicious black and white truffles. Special Itinerary on the Truffle Track, nearby Citta' di Castello. This northern area of Umbria, close to Tuscany is one of the few areas in Italy where it is possible to hunt the precious and gorgeous White Truffle.

• We will organize for you a half day on the fascinating and mysterious world of this delicacy, on a family run Truffle Farm: the experts owners will take you through the entire itinerary, from the digging up of the truffle, to its processing and its cooking.

• • They will show you all the secrets of the truffle, they will teach you how to distinguish its different varieties and how to use it in cooking. The program will include: visit of the beautiful countryside and truffle hunting demonstration with dogs, visit of Citerna, named one of the most beautiful villages of Italy, tour of the truffle farm and visit of a small but really rich Truffle Museum, practical advice on truffle preservation and truffle use in cooking (including a gift of truffle recipe book).

• Finally, you will assist to a cooking demonstration held by an expert local chef to learn how to make a typical Umbrian/Truffle meal.

• Great Convivial Truffle Lunch! • After lunch, the driver will take you back to Todi to enjoy

your afternoon. • For dinner we will book for you a table at Jacopone

Restaurant.

Services included:

• Half day excursion to the truffle farm by private bus. • Half day Truffle Hunting experience, lunch included. • Accommodation in Todi

“Culinary Treasures of Central Italy”

Day 5, Thursday October 13th

CHOCOLATE MAKING CLASS,SPELLO & DERUTA • Today, we will organize for you a full day excursion

in Umbria. • In the morning, you will enjoy the opportunity to

make a hands-on experience of the chocolate making tradition for which Perugia is famous all over the world.

• During a real chocolate making class at Perugina Factory you will learn the secrets of chocolate making under the supervision of a master chocolatier. You will taste some sweet delicacies created by the master and at the end of the class you will also taste the chocolate you made.

• For lunch our driver will take you to Spello where we will organize for you a delicious lunch at Enoteca Propezio.

• For the afternoon we suggest a visit to the beautiful medieval village of Spello and admire its white and pink stone houses and the breathtaking renaissance fresco by Pinturicchio in the Cappella Baglioni.

• After a walk in Spella you will also visit Deruta. Deruta is located on top of a hill and is one of the most famous centres for ceramics and chinaware production in Italy.

• In the late afternoon you will be back in Todi. • Evening and dinner at your leisure.

Services included: • Full Day Excursion (8 to 10 hours) to Perugina

Factory; Spella & Deruta with private bus. • Chocolate workshop with tastings and visit to

Perugina Chocolate Factory. • Umbrian lunch at Enoteca Propezio - water &

selected wines included.

• Accommodation in a centrally located property.

“Culinary Treasures of Central Italy”

Day 6, Friday October 14th

TODI TO ROME: EATALY & PIZZA MAKING CLASS • Check-out from your hotel in Todi and private transfer

to your hotel in Rome. • Before reaching the hotel, we highly recommend to

have a walk in the paradise of Italian Wine & Food: Eataly. The big complex contains 18 casual restaurants and cafes.

• After this stop for lunch, the driver will take you to the hotel.

• Check-in at the hotel and free time to relax & make your wish at the Trevi Fountain; Enjoy the Dolce Vita sitting in a lovely cafe in Piazza Navona or walking in the lively Campo dei Fiori.

• In the afternoon, we will organize for you a very fun activity: if your wish has always been to know how to prepare pizza, this is a course definitely right for you!

• The chef will guide you through the Italian tradition of preparing pizza dough from scratch, explaining techniques and tips on making the best dough, and how to properly dress the pizza.

• You will be given you own ingredients in order to top the pizza with whatever you like and experiment with various recipes.

• At the end you will finally eat what you've prepared and discover if your skill level is now that of a proper pizzaiolo.

Services included:

• Private transfer from Todi to Rome by bus with a stopover at Eataly for lunch. (lunch on your own)

• Pizza making class and great dinner with chef in his beautiful Roman restaurant (from 05:00 pm to 08:00 pm).

• Accommodation in Rome.

“Culinary Treasures of Central Italy”

Day 7, Saturday October 15th

THE MARVELS OF THE VATICAN CITY

• A private driver will take you to the Vatican where you will meet your private guide, for a great private Tour of the Vatican Museums, St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, with authorized Vatican Guide (English Speaking). The visit will include the Pio Clementine Museum, the Gallery of the Candelabras, the Gallery of the Geographical Maps, and the Gallery of the Tapestries (Renaissance art), the Raphael Rooms, the Sistine Chapel. You will then visit St. Peter's Basilica, the world's most famous church.

• After the interesting visit at Vatican Museums, you will enter the St. Peter's Basilica (skip the line access). The church was designed by Michelangelo, although he died before its final completion. Bernini designed the huge square in the 17th century. Upon entering the Basilica, you will admire the Bernini's Baldacchino. Made in the 17thcentury, this huge bronze sculpture stands above the high altar and St. Peter's tomb. Last (but not least) stop at Michelangelo's Pieta. His only signed work, Michelangelo sculpted this beautiful marble statue when he was only 25 years old.

• The visit will take about 3 hours. Entrance tickets and preferential (no entry lines) access are included.

• Rest of the day at your leisure to explore Rome on your own or do some shopping.

Services included:

• Private transfer from your hotel to the Vatican and

return by bus. • Private Guided Tour of Vatican Museums and St

Peter's Basilica (about 3 hours), with local English speaking guide; entrance tickets for the Vatican included (preferential access).

• Accommodation in Rome.

“Culinary Treasures of Central Italy”

Day 8, Sunday October 16th

END OF THE TOUR

• After breakfast check-out from your hotel in Rome. • Private transfer from your Hotel to the airport by bus. • Departure of your flight.

Services included: • Private transfer from the hotel to the Airport in Rome by

bus.

“Culinary Treasures of Central Italy”

"Culinary Treasures of Central Italy "

Our selection of hotels

TODI - 5 nights

HOTEL BRAMANTE 7 Deluxe Rooms with valley view & 2 Deluxe Rooms

for single use with valley view www.hotelbramante.it

The hotel is in Todi, a beautiful medieval town in the center of Umbria, also known as the Ideal City, where the tranquility and serenity of daily living is its most famous feature. Umbria is the "green heart of Italy ", a fantastic region, where nature is the star, with its hills, countryside, nature reserves and famous cities. The hotel is located in the Todi's upper part, in front of a beautiful valley and surrounded by breathtaking scenery! It was founded in 1300 as a monastery "Santa Margherita " : the stone walls, the original terracotta floors, the rooms, in the upper floor derived from the cells of the nuns, are witnesses! ! The decor respects the style of the time and has meticulous attention to detail, in order to relive the past's atmosphere while relaxing in front of a good traditional Umbrian plate sipping one of our famous Rossi or immersed in the relaxing atmosphere of their SPA.

ROME - 2 nights

HOTEL 47 7 Deluxe Rooms & 2 Deluxe Rooms for single use

www.fortysevenhotel.com

A few steps away, the most suggestive corners of the City are waiting to be unveiled during the most thrilling walk of all times. Fortyseven Hotel, 4 stars hotel in Rome city center, is the ideal location for your vacation or business trip. Just across from the Temple of Vesta, inside the Roman Forum and a short stroll to Circus Maximus, the Arch of Janus, San Giorgio al Velabro, the Mouth of Truth and the Marcellus Theater. Walking distance from Jewish area and several archaeological sites (i.e. Marcellus Theatre, Colosseum, Roman Forums, Domus Aurea, etc.), museums, shopping and entertainment areas (Piazza Venezia, Via del Corso, Campo de' Fiori, Trastevere)

“Culinary Treasures of Central Italy”

Tour Pricing

Euros 3380 - Per Person, Double Occupancy (Approximately $3692 at exchange rate on January 8, 2016)

Single Supplement (two spots available) – add 335 Euros

This special tour is limited to 16 participants.

Secure your place on this tour with a Non-Refundable*, Per Person Deposit of

Euros 1235 for Double occupancy and Euros 1290 for Single occupancy.

Charges to your credit card will be in U.S. dollars to equal the active Euro exchange rate on the date that your payments process. No foreign exchange fee charges incurred for

the conversion from Euros to U.S. dollars

* Travel insurance is available for purchase and is strongly recommended.

Should you have to cancel for a ‘covered’ reason, non-refundable trip costs may be refunded if you have purchased travel insurance. Further details of this coverage protection are available.

Payment Deadlines

Deposit: February 5, 2016

Final Payment: August 5, 2016

Please be aware that we will be in hill towns, where the cobblestones and pavement are uneven,

and there will be a lot of walking up and down hills and stairs.

Be prepared - start training now!

-For Further Information-

Merlene Lynch Protravel International

16766 Bernardo Center Drive San Diego, CA 92128

Merlene.Lynch@Protravelinc.com Direct: 760-489-2230

California Sellers of Travel CST# 2063352-40