A Taste of Italy

Great Hotels. Centrally-located, Deluxe & Superior First Class hotels, exclusively.

Smaller Groups. 20 to 40 guests per tour.

More Legroom. Deluxe, state-of-the-art motorcoaches with EXTRA legroom.

Airport Transfers. Arrival and departure transfers in Italy.

Buffet Breakfast Daily. A very hearty start to each day!

7 Dinners & 1 Lunch. Including pasta or soup, choice of entrees, vegetable, salad, dessert, coffee, wine, mineral water, beer or soft drink.

2 Wine Tastings in Torgiano & Montalcino.

Balsamic Vinegar Tasting in Modena

Ferrari Museum Visit in Maranello

Cooking Class at the professional Academia Barilla

Wireless Headsets to hear your guide clearly and distinctly in public places.

1 Tote Bag Per Person, baggage tags and travel documents included.

Baggage Handling. Never touch your bag!(except at airports)

Hotel Taxes, Hotel Service Charges and All Tips for hotel and restaurant personnel

Professional Tour Directors and licensed local guides

DAY 1 (Wednesday) - Depart USA
Boarding our overnight flight, we’re off on the adventure of a lifetime.

DAY 2 (Thursday) - Arrive in Rome, Afternoon at Leisure, Dinner in Hotel
Benvenuti a Roma! We are pleased to offer complimentary transfers from the Rome airport to your hotel at scheduled times. Your Perillo representative will be at the airport to greet you.
There will be time to relax this afternoon before our dinner with fine local wines at our hotel.
Meals: BB, D

DAY 3 (Friday) - Rome, Imperial Rome Sightseeing, Vatican Museum, St Peter’s Basilica
Hail Caesar! All aboard our chariot for a panoramic tour of Imperial Rome including the Roman Forum, Largo Argentina (where Caesar was stabbed by Brutus), the Jewish Ghetto and the Circus Maximus.
Then we’ll enter the Colosseum, reliving the brutal entertainment of the gladiators and the lions, refereed by the Emperor himself.
This afternoon we’ll visit Vatican City, starting with the Vatican Museum - a treasure trove of ancient Greek sculptures, medieval tapestries and Renaissance paintings.
Our visit culminates in the Sistine Chapel, the room where the Pope is elected. Next we visit St. Peter’s Basilica, by far the largest church in Christendom. We’ll see Michelangelo’s Pieta, sculpted when he was just 24, as well as Bernini’s seven-story bronze canopy located above the main altar.
Tonight we thought you’d enjoy a chance to venture-out for dinner on your own. Your tour guide will have some mouthwatering suggestions.
Meals: BB

DAY 4 (Saturday) - Rome, Wine Museum of Torgiano, Dinner in Our Hotel
This morning we head north for Torgiano in Umbria, the “Green Heart of Italy.” Torgiano is a quaint village surrounded by vineyards, where time seems to stand still. Our home will be the charming 5-Star Deluxe, Le Tre Vaselle, with the feel of a fine country manor.
For the visitor interested in food and wine, Torgiano is a veritable treasure trove! We’ll start by visiting the Wine Museum of Torgiano.
The museum’s displays include items which illustrate the Middle Eastern origins of wine and its spread throughout the Mediterranean world. All manner of pitchers, jugs, baskets, tools, wine presses, maps, drawings and paintings tell the history of wine.
Tonight we’ll enjoy a country-style dinner at our hotel.
Meals: BB, D

DAY 5 (Sunday) - Torgiano, Assisi, Dinner Out Tonight
This morning we’ll visit the home of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of Italy. Here we visit the massive Basilica of San Francesco, rising majestically on graceful arched supports. While the Basilica was partially damaged by the earthquake of 1997, its restoration is complete, and the result – stunning!
Tonight we’ll enjoy a great local dining experience at La Posta dei Donini in Torgiano. Buon appetito!
Meals: BB, D

DAY 6 (Monday) - Torgiano, Cortona, Siena, Dinner in Our Hotel
Cortona was made famous by Frances Mayes book ‘Under the Tuscan Sun,’ but it was put on the map by the Etruscans, who left tombs everywhere around town! You too will fall in love with this charming medieval town.
Next we enjoy a quiet, easy drive to our new home in Tuscany – Siena. The rolling countryside between Umbria and Tuscany is the most beautiful in Italy.
We’ll check-into the best place in town – Siena’s 5-Star Deluxe, Grand Hotel Continental. Tonight we’ll enjoy a relaxing dinner at the hotel.
Meals: BB, D

DAY 7 (Tuesday) - Siena, Sightseeing, Afternoon and Evening of Leisure
This morning we’ll get to know Siena. We’ll see the Town Hall and the enchanting Duomo featuring the most ornate mosaic floor in all Italy. It took 200 years and 40 artisans to complete!
We’ll also visit the Piazza del Campo, site of the famous, and somewhat quirky horse race known as, the Palio!
The rest of the day is yours to relax, shop, wander or ask your tour leader about a multitude of other interesting activities. Dinner is on your own.
Meals: BB

DAY 8 (Wednesday) - Siena, Montalcino Wine Tasting, Lunch at Castello Banfi, Pienza, Parma
For most of us, this morning’s visit to Montalcino will be a treat. For wine enthusiasts, it will be closer to a religious experience! The Brunello di Montalcino is considered Italy’s highest achievement in wine making.
We’ll tour a vineyard and enjoy a taste of the famous grape. We’ll enjoy a scrumptious luncheon at Castello Banfi. Pasta! Vino! Amici! Now we’re living!
We’ll then visit the charming town of Pienza. It’s considered a “utopian city” because it was built by Pope Pius II incorporating the latest Renaissance ideals of man, nature and architecture.
This afternoon we’ll arrive in Parma, our home for the next 2 nights. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Meals: BB, L

DAY 9 (Thursday) - Parma, Parma City Sightseeing, Barilla Academy Cooking Class, Dinner at the Academy Tonight!
Parma is world famous for its incredibly edible contributions to world cuisine such as Parmigiano cheese and Parma ham.We’ll take a look around this charming city divided in the center by a tiny little stream.
Barilla pasta products have become ubiquitous in American grocery stores. The company also runs a renowned cooking school in downtown Parma called, Academia Barilla.
This afternoon, Barilla’s prestigious chefs will teach you how to prepare an authentic Italian meal including time-tested techniques and special secrets your Italian grandmother might not even know!
After class, you’ll enjoy the fruits of your labor, washed down with the great local wines of the region.
Meals: BB, D

DAY 10 (Friday) - Parma, Modena, Balsamic Vinegar Factory, Maranello, Ferrari Museum, Dinner in our Hotel
The traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is unique in the world. It’s made by essentially cooking grape juice which is then matured through natural fermentation. You’ll learn the process first-hand at the old, family run, Acetaia di Giorgio in Modena. For many of you, this is sure to be your first “vinegar tasting!” Next, it’s a short drive to Maranello, home of Ferrari! The museum receives 200,000 fans each year and houses classic Formula One models, road cars, trophies and pictures. You can even buy one!
Tonight, we’ll have a relaxing dinner at our hotel.
Meals: BB, D

DAY 11 (Saturday) -Parma, Como Sightseeing, Dinner Out Tonight
Today we head north for the easy drive to Como. Situated in Italy’s beautiful lake region, Como is surrounded by the breathtaking snow-covered Alps.
We’ll enjoy all the beauty this region has to offer. We may even catch a glimpse of George Clooney’s villa!
Tonight we’ll enjoy our last night together for a great dinner-out, featuring the special cuisine of northern Italy. Let’s have a toast to our driver, our guide and our new found friends - Salute!
Meals: BB, D

DAY 12 (Sunday) - Flight Home from Milan
This morning we have a short drive to Milan to board our flight home, arriving in the USA the same day.
Meals: BB

Note: Please be advised that circumstances may change the day and/or sequence of scheduled activities, as well as the substitution of hotels, events, shows, sightseeing, itinerary, restaurants, hosts, etc.

B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
5/30/2012 - 6/10/2012	$3,990
6/13/2012 - 6/24/2012	$3,990
7/11/2012 - 7/22/2012	$3,990
7/25/2012 - 8/5/2012	$3,990
8/15/2012 - 8/26/2012	$3,690
9/5/2012 - 9/16/2012	$4,090
9/19/2012 - 9/30/2012	$4,090
10/3/2012 - 10/14/2012	$3,990
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Professional Tour Directors and licensed local guides

Wireless Headsets to hear your guide clearly and distinctly in public places.

More Legroom. Deluxe, state-of-the-art motorcoaches with EXTRA legroom.

2 Wine Tastings in Torgiano & Montalcino.

Balsamic Vinegar Tasting in Modena

Ferrari Museum Visit in Maranello

Cooking Class at the professional Academia Barilla

The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability.

Triple Occupancy Price per Person: $3990-$4290

Single Occupancy Price per Person: $4690-$4990

Children(under 12 years old, with 2 adults): $3290-$3590

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