join us On our next Tour!

- Please scroll down to view the complete itinerary -

Please contact us if you would like to be put on our waiting list for future tours. Our last 3 tours have been SOLD OUT so make sure you are the first to know about our next trip to bell'Italia!

This unique tour will allow you to experience some of Umbria & Tuscany’s less traveled but monumentally gorgeous cities, towns and villages. Italian-Canadian artist Christopher Webb and Pavia Gallery owner Victoria Foulger lead the group to some of Italy’s most picturesque areas of Umbria & Tuscany and will conclude in the eternal city of Roma. Experience these magical lands from a passionate perspective. Amazing landscapes and locales. Unique dining.  Even with our busy schedule there will be lots of time to wander off and enjoy a bit of time on your own. This exclusive tour, as always, will be limited to a maximum of 16 participants. 

This itinerary includes:

• Accommodations throughout the excursion

• All ground transportation (including being picked up from the airport and taken to our hotel in Umbria)

• All breakfasts

• 7 evening meals which include:

  • One full four course dinner upon arrival in our Tuscan Villa created in their kitchen using organic vegetables grown on their property

  • One full four course meal upon arrival at our villa in Umbria

  • An Umbrian wine & cheese (charcuterie) tasting evening with an Italian Sommelier

  • Light meals in our Villa in Umbria

  • Olive oil tasting at organic olive oil farm

  • Winery tour which includes a light meal and wine pairing during our visit to an organic winery in Chianti

• Wine tour of the large, well-known Tuscan winery - Villa Antinori

• For all of the other lunches and dinners you will always be given ‘recommendations’ for restaurants, trattorias, pizzerias, etc. so you will never be left trying to find a good place to eat. Options will be given for all budgets and there is always a focus on “KM-Zero” restaurants for dinners (slow food/local fair)

• Admissions to all galleries and museums

• Guided Tours

Not included:

• Airfare to and from Italy

• Transport back to Leonardo DaVinci Airport (Fiumicino) at the conclusion of the tour

• Any meals not specified above

• Admission to Churches

• Travel Insurance

After reading below, if you would like more information please contact Pavia Gallery Owner / Tour Organizer Victoria Foulger at +1 902 407 4008 ext.2 or by email at: victoria@paviagallery.com

Notes

Total cost of tour is priced based on double occupancy (including all applicable taxes). Every effort will be made to visit the areas, towns, attractions stated in the itinerary, but we are subject to the life and schedule of italy. Because the excursion is limited to 16 participants, you are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Prices are subject to change based on exchange rates and fuel costs. A deposit is required to reserve space. 

* our single traveller supplemental fee is on top of the listed price. 

Day 1 - ROMA TO TUSCANY

Whether you are arriving from Europe or an overnight flight from North American (or any other part of the world) let us be the first to say Benvenuto! After touching down in Rome, we will pick you up from Fiumicino (Da Vinci Airport). On the way we pop into the historic town of Montepulciano for a quick bite and a few too many sips of our Queen's favourite wine, Vino Nobile! 

As the afternoon shadows appear we speed towards our home-away-from-home: our Villa located in the heart of Tuscany! And tonight their kitchen will prepare a beautiful meal with organic ingredients from their organic gardens! It will be a great chance to meet everyone and settle in. (4 course meal included)

Day 2 – LUCCA & Organic Wine Tasting 

A leisurely start to the the day and make our way to Lucca, a must-see town just West of Firenze.  This city is famous for its Renaissance-era city walls that have remained intact while so many other Tuscan towns saw theirs destroyed in past centuries. Extraordinarily, as the city grew and modernized, the walls that surrounded the old town were maintained and today are used as a pedestrian promenade – perfect for a stroll or cycling. There is lots to see within a relatively small area so it is easy to take in all of the sites. Puccini anyone?

As afternoon turns to evening we enjoy a visit to an organic winery located near our villa. During the tour they explain how they produce their wine and their organic olive oils. A superb location with food that comes from their organic gardens. (Light meal and wine tasting included!)

Day 3 – SIENA & SLOW Food

Today we head South towards one of the finest examples of a medieval town located in the heart of Tuscany. Siena, built on three hills and surrounded by well preserved walls is filled with great examples of Gothic architecture and has one of the world's most unique piazzas. Il Campo is a round square that is home to the world-famous horse race, the Palio. We start our tour by taking a visit to the Duomo. Lunch options are given and then it’s off to enjoy our special afternoon in this beautiful city. You’ll discover why the colour, ‘Burnt Siena’ got its name. After an afternoon of walking, we make our way back to the Piazza del Campo and find an outdoor café and celebrate our day. Perhaps some spuntini (Italian bruscetta style snacks) and an aperitivo or two? As the afternoon sun begins to cast shadows in Il Campo, we make our way back to our Villa where you can take the opportunity to to book a spa treatment or a massage. Or perhaps a walk in the Tuscan hills? Or a glass of wine on the grounds of the Villa?

We conclude our day with an optional visit to a wonderful slow food restaurant in the tiny town of Montefioralle.  If you can manage it after far too much food, you can take a quick stroll around the whole village…in about 10 minutes.

Day 4 – EXPLORING CHIANTI & Wine tasting

After a leisurely start to the morning we head out to explore the countryside. This is one of the most important wine regions in the world and we find out why.

Our first official stop is a short distance to the UNESCO world architectural town of San Gimignano: a town of beautiful towers and rich history, art and culture. We start our tour in a local gallery where we find out more about what it is like to be an artist living and working in Italy.

After touring around this remarkable place we find a spot for a quick bite, and not forgetting of course, the obligatory stop for Cappuccino and Dolce in one of the many outdoor cafes!

We head back out into the heart of Chianti for a guided tour of the Antinori winery where we will really get to know why this area produces some of the world's most important wines. The wines are wonderful. The $160 Million winery is even better! .

At the end of the night there is an optional meal at a restaurant near our Villa (not included).

Day 5 – Perugia, Umbria

There is probably no city in the world that better rewards the casual explorer in the sheer variety of its streetscapes than Perugia. You can stroll along a Roman aqueduct that connects two of the city’s hills, passing doors on the third stories of homes to peer over the edge at the doors at street level below. You can walk along the Via delle Volta della Pace, which follows the Etruscan city wall, but is now wholly arched over by a Gothic portico. You can stumble along cobbled streets that have the unique combination of slopes interrupted by small steps that only Italians seem to master. The wide, traffic-free Corso Vannucci, named after the painter known as Il Perugino, is what really makes Perugia. That and the under-ground surprise of Rocca Paolina. And the food. And the chocolate.

Later in the afternoon we make our way to our next villa located within the beautiful Spoletto Valley. Our hosts have painstakingly restored this farmhouse and transformed it into one of the region's most celebrated accommodations. By the time we settle in and arrive it will be time to ring the "Apperitvi Bell" that lets us know it is time to dine. (4 course meal and appositives included)

Day 6 – Todi

Today we stay close to home.  We make the short ride to Todi and enjoy this picturesque little village. Lunch and some lingering time will be spent in the town. Almost all of Todi's main medieval monuments — the co-cathedral church (Duomo), the Palazzo del Capitano, the Palazzo del Priore and the Palazzo del Popolo — are located in the main square on the lower section of the surrounding hills. The whole landscape is sited over huge ancient Roman cisterns.

Anyone can visit Teatro alla Scala but it is the rare few who venture to Montecastello di Vibbio to take in the majesty that is the world's smallest theatre. 

Later in the day we return to our Villa where our host, who is also an Italian Sommelier, introduces us to some of Umbria's most unique and rewarding wines, cheeses, and charcuterie. (Tasting included)

Day 7 – Assisi

It has been a destination for pilgrims around the world. Assisi is best known as the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi — patron saint of Italy and founder of the Franciscan order. Assisi's main attraction is the 13th-century Basilica di San Francesco, which contains the sacred relics of Francis and beautiful frescoes of his life which are attributed to the Renaissance master Giotto. We then take a small detour to one of the less visited sites of Assisi: The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which includes the Porziuncola, the most sacred place of the Franciscan Order. St. Francis of Assisi himself died here and the small, original church looks tiny in the middle of this gigantic place of worship!

As we approach our villa, our hosts will be putting on the final touches of a light 3 course meal for us to enjoy. (Included)

Day 8 – Orvieto

Today we head West towards the home of one of Italy’s most famous Duomos...and famous white wines. You may never have heard of Orvieto, but after one up-close glimpse of the Cathedral of Orvieto, you will never forget it! We take the fanicula up to to the bottom of the town and then stroll up the main street to the Duomo. After a quick visit to the church we make recommendations for lunch and you have a little time to explore the side streets and all they have to offer. And may we recommend that you stop into to one of our favourite 'Km-0' spots that specializes in organic olive oil, organic wines, jams, compotes, gelato and more. 

During our return journey we pop into an organic olive oil farm and visit their 'Museo Dell'Olio' where we will do a lovely olive oil tasting. 

Tonight we have our hosts at the villa prepare us a wonderful light meal. (included) 

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Day 9 – Spoleto

Spoleto is a walled medieval city. We start our visit meandering our way towards the top of the city passing fantastic little shops and cafes. After lunch, we begin our guided tour of the cultural attractions of this place which has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The first Roman settlement, Spoletium, began in 241 BC and there are Roman remnants throughout the historic center. The town is built on a hillside with most of the sites in the compact upper town. Above the town is a medieval Rocca and spanning the deep gorge to one side of the Rocca is the most famous sight, Ponte delle Torri or Bridge of Towers. After our full day we retreat to our Villa for a meal prepared by our hosts. (included meal)

Day 10 – BAGNOREGIO TO ROMA

It is time to leave our wonderful Villa and head back to Rome. But before we do we make a detour to an Italian gem!

Bagnoreggio is not one of the most visited cities on the grand tour, but it is certainly one of the most fascinating. The town teeters atop a pinnacle rising high above a vast canyon ruled by wind and erosion.  It is thought that in another few hundred years, the town won’t even exist, but we are fortunate to enjoy it. 

It is late afternoon when we arrive in Rome. There is lots to do and to see. We meet up at our stunning hotel and get together for one last meal. After dinner, you are welcome to join us for a stroll around the ancient part of Roma.

Day 11 – ROMA

Terms & Conditions

Itinerary details are subject to change. Price is per person based on double occupancy. There is a single supplement fee for single occupancy travellers.

Cancellation Policy: Once full payment has been received, the tour is considered non-refundable. Deposit is required at time of booking. In the event that you must cancel after we have received your deposit, but before you have paid in full - if  we are unable to fill your held place in the tour - your Deposit is non-refundable. All participants are required to carry their own travel insurance and trip cancellation insurance. 

Tour Departure Time (your arrival into Rome): The tour departs from Rome-Fiumicino Airport (a.k.a Leonardo DaVinci). Our coach driver picks us up at this time and is not in a position to wait in the event that we are late. Regardless of the cause of the delay, it is the travellers responsibility to be at the meeting place at the airport for 11am (allow for at least one hour for clearing customs and baggage collection.)  In the event that you are not there for 11am you will be responsible for your transportation at your cost to the Villa in Tuscany. * We advise that if you are unable to get an early morning arriving flight to Rome from your city of departure that you should book a flight for the previous day and stay overnight in or near Rome and take a shuttle/taxi to the airport the next morning.