“Tuscany and Umbria” A Gentle Journey Through the Italian Countryside FIVE (5) NIGHTS IN A PRIVATE TUSCAN VILLA, VISITING: PISA, LUCCA, VOLTERRA, SAN GIMIGNANO, FLORENCE AND SIENA. FIVE (5) NIGHTS IN AN UMBRIAN MEDIEVAL FARM-ESTATE, VISITING: ASSISI, SPELLO, PERUGIA, SPOLETTO, MONTEFALCO, GUBBIO, ORVIETO… AND ROME. A thirteen-Day Italian Journey September 7 – September 19, 2021 KEYROW TOURS 60 Georgia Road Trumansburg, New York 14886 Tel: 315.491.3711 Day#1: Departure for Tuscany Tuesday: September 7th, 2021 In conjunction with AAA Travel (Ithaca, NY), Keyrow Tours is pleased to make all flight arrangements, including primary flights originating from anywhere in the United States and international flights. We will depart from a major international airport located on the east coast of the United States [usually JFK (NY) or Philadelphia (PA)] and fly into Florence, Italy with one international layover. We will be returning to the United States from Rome. Transportation to and from your primary airport of departure is each person’s responsibility. “What is the fatal charm of Italy? What do we find there that can be found nowhere else? I believe it is a certain permission to be human, which other places, other countries, lost long ago.” ~ Erica Jong KEYROW TOURS 60 Georgia Road Trumansburg, New York 14886 Tel: 315.491.3711 Day #2:“Life in the Tuscan Hills” Wednesday: September 8th, 2021 Flight arrival into Florence’s Peretola Airport After passport control and collecting our luggage, private minivans will carry us to our private Tuscan villa… a 30 minute ride. Mid-afternoon at villa Welcome to the glorious hills and countryside of the Tuscany Region, where simple pleasures are elevated to an art form. Our home for the next five nights is a beautiful private Tuscan villa, situated in a charming and secluded setting. Our villa will be an oasis as we explore, celebrate and enjoy the heart and bounty of Tuscany. Orientation with time to relax and explore our new surroundings Light lunch provided Visit to the neighboring Fattoria Torre e Cona Winery for tour and tasting Cena! (Group Dinner!) “You may have the universe, if I may have Italy.” ~ Giuseppe Verdi KEYROW TOURS 60 Georgia Road Trumansburg, New York 14886 Tel: 315.491.3711 Day#3: “Under the Tuscan Sun” Thursday: September 9th, 2021 Italian Breakfast A.) Departure for World War II American Cemetery Just outside Florence, we will offer our respects to over 4,000 American service men and women who paid the ultimate price during the Second World War. B.) New! The Tuscan village of Volterra C.) Departure for Torciano wine tasting school and lunch (included) Tenuta Torciano is about 30 minutes away, and has been producing wine and olive oil since 1720. Featuring panoramic views with hillsides, vineyards, and olive groves, Tenuta Torciano has been in the Giachi family since its inception. Pierluigi, the vineyard owner, will offer us an in depth explanation of his wines, how they are made, and the science of wine tasting and wine pairing. His mother will prepare an incredible luncheon for us using local, organic foods. Bravissima!!! D.) Departure for San Gimignano San Gimignano is known as the “Manhattan of Tuscany” because of its many medieval towers that look like skyscrapers from a distance. 15 minutes from Tenuta Torciano, this is a charming town. Visit its central square, stroll into numerous shops, or dare to walk into the Medieval Torture Museum…we will have about two hours to enjoy this gem in the heart of Tuscany. Sample some wild boar meat while you’re here! Return to our villa Day’s Recap Cena! (Dinner) “For us to go to Italy and to penetrate into Italy is like a most fascinating act of self-discovery – back, back down the old ways of time. Strange and wonderful chords awake in us, and vibrate again after many hundreds of years of complete forgetfulness.” ~ D.H. Lawrence KEYROW TOURS 60 Georgia Road Trumansburg, NY 14886 Tel: 315.491.3711 www.keyrowtours.com Day#4: “Florence and Villa Life” Friday: September 10th, 2021 Italian Breakfast Mid morning departure for Florence A.) The Ponte Vecchio Ponte Vecchio, translated, means “The Old Bridge.” This historic bridge that crosses the Arno River is laden with gold and diamond shops. Conveniently located just around the corner from our hotel, shoppers…this one’s for you! B.) Piazza Signoria This is Florence’s central square. See the Palazzo Signoria (Florence’s City Hall since the reign of the Medicis), the outdoor Loggia contains ancient Roman, Greek and Renaissance statuary, including Celini’s famous bronze of Persius holding Medusa’s severed head. C.) Santa Croce Church This wonderful medieval church is the parish church of Michelangelo, Leonardo DaVinci, Machiavelli, Galileo, Rossini, Dante Alighieri and others. Many of these Florentine masters , including Michelangelo, have been interred here. D.) Florence’s Academia Museum Enjoy incredible Renaissance artwork including Michelangelo’s monolithic statue of David and his famous series of “Prisoners” designed for Pope Julius II’s tomb in Rome. Pranzo! (Lunch on your own) and Mid afternoon departure for Cooking Class dinner in a private Tuscan villa “In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to other eyes as mine see it.” ~ Michelangelo KEYROW TOURS 60 Georgia Road Trumansburg, NY 14886 Tel: 315.491.3711 www.keyrowtours.com Day #5: “Medieval Time Travel in Siena” Saturday: September 11th, 2021 Italian Breakfast Siena The historic center of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited attractions, and is famous for its cuisine, art, museums, medieval cityscape and the Palio, a horse race that is held twice a year. Siena, like other Tuscan hill towns, was first settled in the time of the Etruscans (c. 900–400 BC). According to local legend, Siena was founded by Senius and Aschius, two sons of Remus and thus the nephews of Romulus, after whom Rome was named. Legend has it that after their father was murdered by Romulus, they fled Rome, taking with them the statue of the she-wolf suckling the infants and appropriating that symbol for the town. The most famous daughter of this important medieval city is Saint Catherine of Siena: a medieval mystic, poet and feminist-figure of her time. We will learn about Saint Catherine over lunch… and why she referred to God as an “inebriated lover.” Cheers! Guided Tour Pranzo! (Lunch on your own) Personal time in Siena Return to our villa Day’s recap and Cena! (Dinner!) “Traveling forces you to lose sight of all the familiar comforts of home. Nothing is yours except the essential things – air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” ~ Cesare Pavese KEYROW TOURS 60 Georgia Road Trumansburg, NY 14886 Tel: 315.491.3711 www.keyrowtours.com Day#6: “Pisa and Lucca” Sunday: September 12th, 2021 Italian Breakfast New! Departure for Pisa Pisa is a legendary city and one of the most famous in this region of Italy. Located on the western coast of Italy, Pisa is only 20 minutes from the Ligurian Sea and has great transport links to Florence, Livorno and La Spezia. During the 11th century and onwards Pisa rose to prominence and became one of the major maritime republics of Italy. During the Middle Ages Pisa was involved in various battles and played an important role in the wars and feuds. Today the city still maintains its ports and this accounts for much of its economy. Enjoy historic buildings such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa as well as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta… Pranzo! (Lunch on your own) New! Departure for Lucca Lucca is one of the cities most loved all of Tuscany. Located on a plain at the foot of the Apuan Alps and is less than half an hour from the coast of Versilia. Since it isn't a hilltop village, it is ideal for anyone with mobility issues as well as for anyone wishing to take a break from climbing… Most of the attractions in Lucca today show its ancient history: from traces of the Roman amphiteater that can be seen in the shape of the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, to the various towers and villas from the 12th to 16th centuries. The walls that surrounded the old town were maintained eventually lost their military importance… but today serve as a scenic pedestrian promenade, today one of Lucca's main attractions. Return to the villa for Cena! (Dinner) and day’s recap “Everything about Tuscany seems to be coloured with a mild violet, like diluted wine.” ~ Henry James KEYROW TOURS 60 Georgia Road Trumansburg, NY 14886 Tel: 315.491.3711 www.keyrowtours.com Day#7: “Umbria Awaits” Monday: September 13th, 2021 Departure for Assisi by train The train ride to Assisi is a pleasant two-hour journey. We will enjoy the beautiful countryside of the Umbrian Region, famous for its olive orchards and rolling hills. As a medieval city, Assisi stands frozen in time and is set high on top of a hill. As the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi, the Franciscan history of the town permeates every narrow cobblestone road and piazza. Assisi arrival and check-in at our medieval farm-estate Pranzo! (Lunch included) A.) The House of St. Francis’ family, including the prison cell where Francis was locked-up by his irate father. (Ah, medieval parenting!) B.) The gothic Basilica of St.