Rajah Travel Corporation

Dining Summary

• 1 Dinner (D)
• 6 Breakfast (B)
• 1 Lunch (L)

Included Experience

• Rome: Get a taste of Rome with a food walking tour of Trastevere district
• Gaiole in Chianti: We’ll hop on our bikes and travel from Gaiole to explore a local winery.
• Florence: See the Duomo, Basilica Santa Croce, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery & Piazza della Signoria on a locally guided walking tour of Florence.
• Pisa: Get a Pisa the action! Your expert guide will enlighten you, and you’ll finally get the ‘propping up the tower’ pic you’ve longed for. 
• Lucca: Visit the Fattoria Al Dotto winery outside Lucca and taste local wines accompanied with a delicious platter of snacks

Make Travel Matter®

Baschi: We'll head to the rocky (but so picturesque) village of Baschi to visit Casale Polegri. Stroll around the vineyards and olive orchards on a short tour of the azienda agricola. We'll learn about the farming techniques used by the Polegri Family to harvest their fresh plants and fruit. We'll end the afternoon with a crunchy bruschetta topped with homemade extra virgin olive oil, focaccia bread with homegrown rosemary and vegetables. And of course, some risotto or pasta. All of this with a glass of their homemade wine and dessert. Happy tummy, happy life!

• Hotel Genova (or similar)
• La Certosa di Pontignano (or similar)

Hey there, Contiki Alumni and friends**! ‘Ciao’ your new Contiki pals and we’ll hop on our coach. Next, we’ll cross the River Tiber to taste our way through Trastevere on a guided foodie walking tour, sampling pizza, gelato, wine and more in this bohemian district known for trattorias, pubs and artisan shops. Full of our first introductions to Italian life, we’ll join the locals for a passeggiata (promenade) to stroll off a few of the carbs before a satisfied slumber tonight. **Please note this trip is available exclusively to Contiki Past Passengers, or those travelling with a Contiki Past Passenger, aged 35-45.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Hotel Genova (or similar)

Sorry Rome, we’d love to linger but there are so many more experiences to soak up!But first, hop on a funicular ride to the top of the hill in the city centre, you can take in the stunning views of Orvieto & the surrounding countryside. We have an epic, included MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience to enjoy. Casale Polegri is set in the countryside near the gorgeous town of Baschi, where we'll meet the Polegri family. They have run their vineyard and olive orchard for generations, and after giving us the grand tour, will serve us lunch under the Veranda. Enjoying some of the most authentic Italian food we've ever tasted (topped off with the Polegri's very own wine, naturally), we might reflect that we've never had it so good. It's the kind of local travel experience you don't encounter every day (you're welcome). The day is still unfolding and we’ve already done so much! After arriving in Siena there’ll be time to explore what is possibly Italy’s most beautiful medieval city. The historic centre has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site and its heart is the Piazza del Campo, the sweeping central square that hosts the world-famous Palio horse race. This evening we have the chance to savour a dinner of pizza, in a typical Sienese restaurant before departing Siena for our hotel.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: La Certosa di Pontignano (or similar)

Bathed in the golden glow of the Tuscan sun, there’s no better way to uncover this historical region than by tasting it. Today we’ll hop on our bikes to ride from Gaiole to a local vineyard where we'll discover for ourselves this rich ruby red tipple the locals have been perfecting here for centuries followed by a visit to a local butchers to sample meat and cheeses. Another place famous for its wine, next we head to the enchanting hilltop town of San Gimignano. Known as the Town of Fine Towers, it’s yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its medieval architecture & sweeping views of the entire Chianti valley. Once you’ve stopped staring there’ll be free time to explore, have dinner and, hey why not, maybe another glass of wine?

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: La Certosa di Pontignano (or similar)

Our destination today is home to red roofs, Renaissance architecture and rustic cuisine. This morning we’ll have the chance to get involved with local handicrafts at a leather craft demonstration, part of Florence's artisan history, learning about this ancient tradition from a master craftsman and using the opportunity to customise your own leather accessory. Florence is often referred to as a 'walking museum', and today we'll find out why. With a locally guided walking tour, we'll explore the city on foot, swooning at Giotto's Bell Tower and the remarkable architectural feat that is the Duomo, pausing at the stalls and jewellery shops on the Ponte Vecchio and posing for a selfie with the replica statue of David. Later there’ll be free time for more sightseeing, shopping or food, and meat-eaters won’t want to miss the chance to sample a Bistecca Fiorentina, a Tuscan speciality. Before we leave the city today don’t forget to touch the nose of ‘Il Porcellino’, the bronze boar in Piazza del Mercato, the traditional way to make sure you return to Florence!

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: La Certosa di Pontignano (or similar)

We can't be in this part of the world without a sneaky visit to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Depriving you of the chance to perfect the ‘holding-up-the-tower’ shot would be criminal. Our visit includes a locally guided tour. We’ll make a quick stop in Lucca, with its charming piazzas, Renaissance architecture and historic cafes. Explore the well-preserved 16th century walls surrounding the historic centre and cobbled streets with a gelato in hand. We'll hop back onto the coach and head out on a drive to a local winery to sample wines.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: La Certosa di Pontignano (or similar)

Somehow Umbria feels even more authentically Italy than anywhere else we’ve been so far. A little less explored than Tuscany and still dotted with fairytale towns, we can see why Umbria is known as Italy’s ‘green heart’. We’ll visit its capital Perugia, where fine old buildings perch on the beautiful hilltop. Plus, a top tip - instead of wine, Perugia has become famous for chocolate. We'll stop for lunch at a traditional Olive Oil mill (where the traditional hospitality is sure to knock your socks off!) Further south you can choose to find some dinner in Montalcino, another beautiful historic town known for – you guessed it – the production of delicious red wine. Don’t go knocking this one back too easily though, thanks to its individual grape variety, Brunello di Montalcino is one of Italy’s priciest wines...

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: La Certosa di Pontignano (or similar)

It’s said that all roads lead to Rome and that’s where we’re headed back to today. Has it really only been a week since we last set foot in the Eternal city? Back in modern day Rome this afternoon, it’s time to say our sad goodbyes – or ‘Arrivederci’ - until we meet again on our next adventure. How does a reunion in Greece sound?

Duration: 1 Day