Based on our own experience and the many tips we have received from enthusiastic holidaymakers, it is our pleasure to present to you a trip featuring the highlights of Umbria and Tuscany!
Welcome to Italy! Our friendly, expert, English-speaking tour guide will greet us at the airport and take us to our modern touring coach. We will be travelling to our 4-star hotel in the Fiano Romano region, where we will be greeted with a refreshing welcome drink and enjoy a taste of the Mediterranean zest for life.
After breakfast we drive to Assisi (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The city is known as the birthplace of St. Francis. We will walk in his footsteps through the city to the Piazza del Comune. Here we will visit the Church of Santa Maria and finally the Papal Basilica of St. Francis (admission included). It is a central attraction for religious people from all over the world. In the afternoon we continue on to visit the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels. Directly beneath the central dome of the basilica is the 13th century Porziuncola, considered the cradle of the Franciscan movement. We will spend the next five nights at our 4-star hotel in the Castiglion Fiorentino area.
Today one of the most beautiful little towns in the heart of the Val d‘Orcia awaits you. As part of a special optional full-day excursion, after breakfast you will first drive to Pienza (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Our tour of the old town begins with the Basilica of San Francesco and continues to a magnificent square overlooked by the Palazzo Piccolomini, the Duomo and the Palazzo Borgia. The visit ends with a panoramic hike and breathtaking views of the Val d‘Orcia. Along Via dell‘Amore we stroll through the alleys where the scent of the famous Pecorino cheese wafts. Afterwards we go on to the Abbey of Sant‘Antimo, a place of spirituality. Then we head for Montalcino, known for its excellent “Brunello“ red wine. Here we visit the monastery and monumental complex of Sant‘Agostino. Afterwards we take a walk from the main square to the Rocca, a fortress built in 1361. From here we get to enjoy a fantastic panorama.
Today, you will discover enchanting Florence, the capital of Tuscany. After breakfast, we would love to take you on an eventful, optional full-day excursion. Florence is famous as Italy‘s city of art and its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We start at Piazza del Duomo and walk on to the Piazza della Signoria, passing the famous Uffizi Gallery and the Loggia del Mercato featuring the famous “Porcellino“. The path leads us on to the Piazza della Repubblica and over the Ponte Vecchio with a panoramic view of the Arno River. We then take a walk along the Lungarno della Zecca Vecchia to the Basilica di Santa Croce, where some famous figures of Italian history such as Michelangelo and Galileo are buried.
We take the train to Arezzo, one of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany. Its origins date back to the Etruscans and Romans. This charming city is home to numerous sights, such as its Roman amphitheatre. Large sections of the last enclosing 13th century walls still stand, including part of the imposing Medici Fortress, also known as the Fortezza Medicea. The impressive Piazza Grande is one of the most beautiful squares in the centre of the historic old town. Museums and churches offer countless masterpieces such as frescoes, paintings, sculptures and lead glass. The Basilica of San Francesco houses the famous fresco cycle by Piero della Francesca, which recounts the Legend of the True Cross. In the church of San Domenico there is a famous crucifix by the artist Cimabue. If you so wish, you can visit the imposing and famous “Duomo di Arezzo“ cathedral, one of the most beautiful examples of Gothic architecture in Italy.
Our exploratory tour today takes us to Siena. This magnificent city
of wonderful flair has always invited visitors to stroll through its characteristic medieval streets. The old town with its many historic buildings has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. Along the shops and the noble palaces, you can walk from the Porta Romana gate to the famous Piazza del Campo. We visit the cathedral in Siena (admission included), one of the most important Romanesque-Gothic churches in Italy. The facade is characterised by its dark green and white marble slabs. In the afternoon we drive on to San Gimignano (UNESCO World Heritage Site), a beautiful village in a fantastic hilltop location amidst a picturesque landscape of vineyards and olive trees. Surrounded by a 13th century city wall, the Piazza della Cisterna is at the heart of the historic centre. San Gimignano is also called the “city of towers“ because it once had 72 towers, of which only 13 remain today. The highest, the Torre Grossa, is in the Piazza del Duomo.
After breakfast we drive to Perugia. The capital of Umbria has a 3,000-year-old history and was once one of the most important cities in the Etruscan period. We start our tour in the basement of the Rocca Paolina, climb up to the viewing point of the Carducci Gardens and continue on to the Piazza Italia. Then we walk along the main street to Piazza IV Novembre with its impressive medieval fountain, the Fontana Maggiore. In the immediate vicinity is the Cathedral of San Lorenzo and the Palazzo dei Priori. The magnificent Palazzo dei Priori houses the painting collection of the National Gallery of Umbria. To round off the day, we go to the highest viewing point in the city, the Porta Sole gate, and visit the monumental Etruscan arch. The arch is a ten-metre-high city gate and part of the Etruscan city wall of Perugia. We spend the last night again in our comfortable 4-star hotel in the Fiano Romano area.
Today we say arrivederci! An eventful week entirely dedicated to culture and history comes to an end, full of new impressions. New holiday friendships have been struck. We will be taken to the airport to fly back to the UK.
The package includes the two full-day excursions to “Val d‘Orcia with Pienza (World Heritage) & Montalcino“ and “Florence (World Heritage)“ as well as the visit to the “Duomo d‘Arezzo“ cathedral: only £199 per person.
only £349 per person (subject to availability)
Example hotels
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rom | 11 | 12 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 20 | 16 | 12 |
| London | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 7 |
Below is an information overview. The conditions of entry, as well as the political and health situation, can change anywhere in the world at any time. We therefore recommend checking before your trip. Please check the website of the Foreign Office (www.gov.uk/) before your departure.
Republic, parliamentary democracy with bicameral system. President Sergio Mattarella has been the head of state since February 2015. Minister President Giorgia Meloni has been the head of government since October 2022.
301,277 square kilometres.
Rome has been the capital of Italy since 1871 and has 2.9 million inhabitants.
Primarily Roman Catholic
The national language is Italian. Friulian, Ladin, German, Slovenian, Occitan, French, Franco-Provencal, Albanian, Greek, Sardinian, Catalan and Croatian are also officially recognised minority languages.
In Italy, the climate varies significantly between the north and south. The north is governed by a harsh climate with very cold winters and very hot summers with high levels of humidity. In the centre, the climate is moderate while winters are always mild and summers very warm and sultry in the south and on the islands.
Between Italy (UTC+2 hour) and UK (UTC+1 hour) there is the whole year a time difference of 1 hour.
To call an Italian phone number from abroad: international dialling code for Italy 0039 (+39), followed by the respective phone number. To make phone calls to the UK: pre-dial 0044 (+44).
For entry, UK citizens should have a passport less than 10 years old and valid for at least 3 months after the day of departure. A stay of up to 90 days is permitted without a visa. Nationals of other countries are advised to inquire at the Italian Embassy about the entry requirements applicable to them. Customers are reminded that it is their sole responsibility to make sure that passport and visa entry requirements for the country or countries that they are visiting are satisfied. Regulations in respect of passport and visa requirements for Italy are the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation whose Web site is www.esteri.it/mae/en/. If you hold a different type of British nationality (BN(O), British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person or British Subject), check visa requirements with the Italian Embassy before you travel. However, passport and visa requirements change from time to time and are also dependent on the purpose of your visit and your nationality. Whilst we endeavour to provide guidance where necessary, we can not be responsible for any problems encountered (whether at any point of entry or elsewhere) in the event that passport and visa requirements are not satisfied. For up-to-date information on entry requirements, please visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/.
The EU has a new visa waiver system (coming in 2025), called ETIAS, which will be valid for three years. British passport holders travelling to the EU will need to apply and pay for an ETIAS, via an online system (https://etias.com/).
Your tour guides will be able to provide you with detailed information on the country, people, history, culture etc., and offer advice and assistance in organising your trip. They can also help with room allocation and look forward to welcoming you with initial information. Here you will find out all you need to know and useful information about the trip. We have put together a varied programme including numerous highlights, enabling you to experience the culture and diversity of landscape that Italy has to offer, and learn all about the country and its people.
Although your trip already includes a comprehensive package, you also have the option of choosing added extras. We recommend booking the following packages:
Half board: The package includes 7 × evening meals (3-course menu with dishes typical of the region): only £189* per person.
Explorer package: The package includes the two full-day excursions to “Val d‘Orcia with Pienza (World Heritage) & Montalcino“ and “Florence (World Heritage)“ as well as the visit to the “Duomo d‘Arezzo“ cathedral: only £199* per person.
* Package prices may vary when booking on site.
A State city tax of 1 € (approx. £ 0.84) per person/night (last revised: January 2024), to be paid on site.
The currency is the Euro. Exchange rate (as at July 2024): 1 GBP = 1.18 EUR; 1 EUR = 0.84 GBP.
Purchases can be paid for in cash and using the most popular credit cards. This payment system is typical in Italian shops; the symbols of credit cards accepted are usually displayed at the entrance to shops. Passports are required when paying by credit card. Travellers’ cheques (in dollars or euros) can also be cashed in banks. It is also possible to withdraw cash from ATMs using EC/Maestro cards but high fees may be charged by the respective bank. Cash payments exceeding 1,000 EUR (approx. 856 GBP) are not possible in Italy. Sums exceeding 1,000 EUR can only be paid for by credit card, EC card or by bank transfer.
There are a number of products which have entry or exit limitations in Italy from outside the European Union. These include cultural goods, wild fauna and flora and products derived from these, vegetables and plant products, weapons and ammunition, medicines, tobacco and alcoholic beverages (please note the alcohol and cigarette allowances). You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. In terms of medications, only those necessary for personal use are allowed, and they must be accompanied by a copy of the prescription or medical report. Customs duty exemption is granted for products and consumer goods carried by travellers in their personal luggage when coming from a nonEU country, provided that such imports are incidental and that the goods are intended for the personal and family use of the traveller and provided that their value does not exceed altogether 430 EUR per traveller in case the traveller arrives by air or by sea. Declare cash or travellers cheques if the value is 10,000 EUR or more. You will get a certified declaration to show you brought it in with you. If you do not, your money could be seized when you leave.
Important: If you are travelling to Great Britain from outside the UK, your personal allowances mean you can bring in a certain amount of goods without paying tax or duty. If you go over your allowances you must declare all your goods and pay tax and duty on all the goods in that category. Please inform yourself about the current customs regulations: https://www.gov.uk/bringing-goods-into-uk-personal-use/arriving-in-Great-Britain.
Italy lies in a seismically very active zone, which is why earthquakes are common.
Crime: Vigilance should be exercised regarding pickpockets and petty crime in tourist centres in particular, especially cases of fraud where tourists are distracted (e.g. by jostling etc.) and then stolen from by accomplices. As for any holiday trip, the rule is to only ever carry what is absolutely necessary. Large amounts of cash and original identification documents should always be deposited in the hotel safe. If necessary, only carry secure credit cards (protected by PIN) on your person. Take photocopies of your documents with you when you travel. Alternatively, you can save the files on a private e-mail account, enabling them to be accessed wherever you are in the world. When walking outside, do not wear bags or cameras on the side facing the street, making it more difficult for them to be stolen by thieves on motorbikes.
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest countryspecific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC – https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad.
Anyone entitled to free healthcare in the UK is also entitled to treatment in Italy – if it is urgently required – from doctors, dentists, hospitals, and so on that are approved by the foreign statutory health insurance company. You should get a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. If you already have an EHIC it will still be valid as long as it remains in date. You can also contact your health insurance company for information on current regulations. Nonetheless, you are urgently recommended to take out travel health insurance for the duration of your holiday which covers risks not assumed by the statutory health insurance companies (e.g. repatriation to the UK in the event of illness, treatment by private doctors or in private hospitals). Such policies usually also offer benefits not covered by state health insurance companies, e.g. the costs of repatriation.
Customers must ensure that they are in good physical and mental health in line with the trip in question. Customers must enquire about the physical mobility and psychological autonomy required for this trip.
All information is subject to change / Last updated: July 2024
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