Italy has long been lauded as a place of cultural significance. The great empire of Rome made its mark on the Western world for over a millennium, influencing art and music from the days of ancient emperors through to the Renaissance. Experience Italy’s legacy with a journey to the region of Umbria, a scenic region of Tuscany dotted with ancient ruins, medieval villages, and natural wonders, where the patrons of the art of jazz meet once a year to celebrate their craft. You will spend your days exploring the cultural treasures of Umbria and your nights surrounded by live musical performances by remarkable jazz artists. Let Italy fill your eyes with wonder and your soul with music.
Degree of Difficulty –
Your journey begins as you board your overnight flight to Rome.
Meals Aloft
Arrive in Rome, where you will be met and escorted to your accommodations to rest and refresh from your flight. This afternoon, enjoy a tour of the city with stops at some of the most spectacular sights in Rome, including the Fontana di Trevi and the Piazza Colonna. In the evening, sit down to an intimate welcome dinner with your fellow travelers. GRAND HOTEL PALATINO.
(D)
Travel to the scenic hill town of Orvieto, which sits midway between Rome and Florence on a bed of turfo volcanic stone. Here, you’ll tour their beautiful cathedral, replete with artistic sculpture and frescos and tour an olive oil mill. After lunch at a local bistro, continue on to Perugia, the location of the legendary Umbria Jazz festival. PERUGIA PLAZA HOTEL
(B, L, D)
Explore the medieval hill town of Assisi, home of St. Francis of Assisi, a short drive outside of Umbria. Visit the magnificent basilica accompanied by a historian guide to share the history of the artwork and history around you. As the tour continues you’ll descend into the underground crypt at Saint Chiara and explore the seventh largest Christian church in the world, the Basilica of Santa Maria d’egli Angeli, which is considered a significant place of pilgrimage for Franciscan monks. In the afternoon, spend time touring the ancient city of Gubbio and take the opportunity to meet a local Etruscan artisan at work on the famed majolica production. In the evening, settle in for the first jazz performance of the trip. PERUGIA PLAZA HOTEL
(B, L, D, Jazz Performance)
Today, you’ll visit a scientific and artistic marvel, the Paridiso of Frassina. This “musical vineyard” is an ongoing scientific research project called Musica & Vigne (Music and Vines) to see how waves of sound affect the vines and fruit growing here. You will tour the Mozart Vineyard and the cellars while learning about the project and the process of wine making. Of course, after your tour you will be treated to a tasting of the musical wine to a classical musical accompaniment. Your day ends back in Perugia with another jazz concert. PERUGIA PLAZA HOTEL
(B, L, D, Jazz Concert)
Discover one of the best kept secrets in Italy: the Dunarobba fossil forest. This area is dotted with trees belonging to a fossilized species of giant sequoia, which haven’t grown in Italy for over a million years. Continue on to the gorgeous Marmore Falls in Valneria, a spectacular visual treat and home to many outdoor activities and verdant nature trails. PERUGIA PLAZA HOTEL
(B, PACKED L)
Drive to the ancient Roman city of Spoleto, a charming rustic township and home to a ruined theatre and an archeological museum which houses two well preserved Roman arches. Later, visit Montefalco, known as the “balcony of Umbria” for its panoramic vantage point of the region. After lunch, you will have the opportunity to stop in Spello and explore the hundreds of medieval streets, stairways, arches, and angles tucked between the vineyards and olive groves. Enjoy another jazz performance this evening in Perugia. PERUGIA PLAZA HOTEL
(B, L, Jazz Performance)
Bid farewell to Perugia this morning as you depart for Tivoli, the riverside town known for its two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Hadrian’s Villa and the Villa d’Este. Hadrian’s villa is a spectacular example of the aesthetic of ancient Rome, home to hundreds of fountains, several intact buildings, and a sprawling array of overflowing gardens. The Villa d’Este is one of the best examples in the world of Renaissance architecture and horticultural design, once belonging to the esteemed Cardinal Ippolito d’Este of the Roman Catholic Church. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner and reminisce about your exciting trip to Umbria. PALATINO HOTEL.
(B, L, Farewell D)
Board your flight home, carrying with you the incredible impression of Umbria and all of the treasures of Italy that you’ve discovered on this journey.
(B)
Prices vary by season and package. Please inquire by phone at (800) 627-1244 or email info@classicescapes.com for more information and a pricing estimate.
Note: The Jazz Festival is only in July, however this program can be offered year-round for groups or individuals
who are interested in this itinerary, but not necessarily on the Jazz element. Contact us for pricing during other
times of the year.
YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES:
- All ground transfers and excursions in private deluxe air-conditioned motor coach.
- Continental breakfast daily, a welcome dinner and a farewell dinner and other meals as per itinerary. (B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner)
- Superior accommodations throughout as indicated or similar.
- All museum and attraction entry fees indicated on itinerary.
- Three tickets to jazz concerts.
- Porterage for baggage handling.
- Complimentary passport wallets and baggage tags.
- Complimentary emergency evacuation insurance.
With so many Italian offerings, you must wonder when is a good time to travel. Here’s a synopsis.
- On our National Parks program, the parks are only accessible because of weather conditions during the summer months with best time being mid-July through September, which is also quite sunny, hot and gorgeous for water activities. Our program does include opportunities to experience the great outdoors and beautiful grottoes, from the mountains of central Italy to Rome and
Naples. - The Umbria Jazz Festival takes place every year in July and also in December. The program can be offered year-round as it covers a picturesque part of Italy, but if music is your passion, then it needs to be in July or December.
- The Verdi festival is in October and Puccini in September. Here, too, you can offer the programs year-round, but Italy, in general, is best visited in April-June and September/October, in order to avoid heat and also crowds.
- Similarly, the Venice & Verona program features Opera; the Verona Music Festival takes place from end of June through the end of August and some performances will also take place at the renowned Fenice Theatre in Venice. The program can be offered year-round if music is not the main feature.
- The South of Italy and the archaeological sites can be visited at any time, although best months would be April-June and September-October to avoid the heat of the summer. The temperatures during this time would be in the 70’s ideal weather for viewing the temples, or visiting the beach, or hiking. The summer months could see temperatures in triple digit, and the winter months would be in the 50’s.
- The rest of our programs are best in April-June and September/October for the reasons stated above, particularly avoiding the heat, especially if the program includes hiking.
