A “Borgo” (plural: “Borghi”) is a fascinating small Italian town, generally fortified and dating back to the period from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. It usually rises arA “Borgo” (plural: “Borghi”) is a fascinating small Italian town, generally fortified and dating back to the period from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. It usually rises around a Castle or a Noble palace and it is often surrounded by defensive walls and towers. Whether they are medieval or Renaissance, sea or mountain, rural or lake, all the Borghi represent the best of unknown Italy: a journey through art, history, artistic treasures, splendid landscapes, traditions and flavors, for a unique travel experience and memorable.

Day 1: ROMA

Rome Fiumicino Airport pick up and transfer to the hotel by coach. Checking in hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Free lunch and dinner. Overnight at the hotel in Rome.

Day 2: ROMA

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your tour guide and you will enjoy a “Discovering Rome”, walking tour, from Campo de’ Fiori to Piazza Farnese, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Fontana di Trevi, Piazza di Spagna and continue to Colosseum through the Fori Imperiali. Free lunch and dinner. Overnight at the hotel in Rome.

Day 3: CASTELLI ROMANI (Roman Castles)

Castel Gandolfo Grottaferrata After breakfast at the hotel, pickup and departure by coach to CASTEL GANDOLFO, known for the elegance of the historic center, which made it one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in Italy". The guide will make us discover the historic center and the Apostolic Palace, the summer residence of dozens of Popes up to Benedict XVI, where we will visit the papal apartment with the reception rooms, the throne room, the bedroom bed and personal study and then the wonderful Gardens. Light lunch and tasting wine and typical products in a prestigious farm that stands on the ruins of an ancient medieval castle. In the afternoon guided tour of GROTTAFERRATA small and elegant town in the Castelli Romani, with the Greek Abbey of San Nilo, the only Greek-Byzantine rite abbey in Italy. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Ciociaria.

Day 4: BOVILLE. MONTE SAN GIOVANNI CAMPANO

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your tour guide and in the morning visit of an oil producing company, whose olive grovehas bee farmed by Cieri’s family for 3 generations to produce excellent olive oil. We will learn how to pick olives in a short time and we’ll discover the secrets of what Omero described as “liquid gold”. We’ll finish with an olive oil tasting and traditional lunch. In the afternoon guided visit of BOVILLE, whose defensive walls, with eighteen towers, are still well preserved. In the beautiful Church of San Pietro Ispano, the only mosaic work by Giotto is preserved, the Angel, from the ancient Constantinian basilica of San Pietro in Vaticano. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: RIVIERA DI ULISSE:

Sperlonga. Gaeta After breakfast at the hotel, pickup and departure by coach to Riviera di Ulisse. Guided tour of SPERLONGA with its characteristic white historic center, the Cave and Villa of Tiberio, an ancient Roman residence and the National Archaeological Museum, that represents one of the most important testimonies Food and Wine Tourism “I Borghi più belli d’Italia” in 8 days by Coach for the knowledge of the myth of Ulysses. Visit of a wine producing company on the hills overlooking the sea of Sperlonga, the homeland of the ancient Cecubo wine, dating back to the era of republican Rome. Light lunch end tasting wine. In the afternoon, guided tour of GAETA, Maritime Republic and holiday destination already known in ancient Roman times. We will visit the Sanctuary of the Montagna Spaccata, famous for its miraculous rift; the Angevin-Aragonese castle (outside), the Cathedral with its fascinating bell tower. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: GRECCIO. RIETI

After breakfast at the hotel, pickup and departure by coach to the Holy Valley of Rieti. Guided tour of the Borgo of Greccio and of the “Santuario del Presepe”, famous for being the place where San Francesco of Assisi for the first time represented the Nativity, on Christmas night 1223. Rich lunch tasting of typical Rieti products in the restaurant. In the afternoon guided tour of RIETI with its most significant monuments: the Cathedral of Santa Maria with the Chapel of Santa Barbara designed by Gianlorenzo Bernini, the Portico of the Papal Palace, Piazza San Rufo considered the navel of Italy. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: ATINA. MONTECASSINO

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your tour guide and in the morning visit of a wine producing company, whose cellar is located inside an ancient iron smelting plant, built and inaugurated by Ferdinand II of Bourbon. Tour of the vineyard and you’ll finish with a tasting of high quality red wines with controlled designation of origin 'Atina Cabernet DOC'. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon guided tour to the MONTECASSINO ABBEY founded by Saint Benedict of Norcia, a very important center of culture, with the cloisters, the basilica and ancient area. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: ROME

After breakfast at the hotel, transfert to Rome and guided visit of San Peter’s Basilica. Transfert to Fiumicino Airport. Conclusion of tour.

What’s Included:

- 2 Nights accommodation at 4 Star**** Hotel centrally located in Rome

- 5 Nights accommodation at 4 Star**** Hotel in Ciociaria

- Daily buffet breakfast

- All meals in hotel and in selected restaurants (from lunch on the second day to breakfast on the eighth day)

- Oil tour & tasting

- N.2 Wine tour & testing

- Pick up and drop off at Rome Fiumicino Airport

All transport by deluxe motor coach with airconditioning for daily trips and excursions

English-speaking tour guide for daily trips and excursions.

What’s Not Included:

Air fare, cities tax, travel insurance, tips, and anything not specifically mentioned in “What’s Included”.

Group availability and prices:

8 - 10 -12 people

Cost varies in according to number of people in group.