7-Nights Umbria and Southern Tuscany: Italy's Rural Heartland - Tailormade Journeys — CALL

1 Arrive Orvieto, Italy

The twisting stone lanes and charming squares of Orvieto are some of the loveliest and most romantic in Umbria, held aloft by the cypress-studded hills like a sacred altarpiece.

Begin your exploration of Orvieto at the town’s crowning glory, its gothic cathedral. This lavishly carved, frescoed and mosaiced masterpiece easily ranks among Italy’s most spectacular churches. Then, immerse yourself in the region’s ancient winemaking traditions at a local winery complete with Etruscan-era caves.

Get an authentic taste of small-town Umbrian life in the Sibillini Mountain enclave of Norcia. Explore the town’s historic palazzo, fortress, church and Basilica of Saint Benedict, a Gothic marvel built on the saint's birthplace. Next, delve into the cellars of a local butcher shop, where you sample salami, prosciutto and other traditional Norcian delicacies paired with local beer brewed by Benedictine monks. En route to your hotel in Perugia, stop at a local mill for a taste of Umbria’s celebrated extra virgin olive oil.

A place so poetic it’s mentioned in Dante’s Divine Comedy, Perugia is a tiny town in Umbria’s center famous for its travertine marble, Etruscan arches and medieval city walls. Despite its ancient architecture, it’s a lively student town with a jam-packed calendar of music, wine and food festivals. Visit a historic studio, where generations of craftspeople have been making stained-glass windows since 1860, including a stunning reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper. Next, visit one of Italy’s last surviving hand-weaving workshops, home to original working looms from the 18th and 19th centuries. Finally, take some time at leisure to pause on the cathedral steps while you watch the world go by on the majestic Piazza IV Novembre.

Uncover centuries of history and culture in the sacred city of Assisi, where you explore the Gothic masterpiece and revered pilgrimage site of the Basilica of San Francesco. Navigate Assisi's winding streets, passing churches, majestic palaces, and charming squares. Next, visit the enchanting town of Spello’s Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, its walls adorned with exquisite Renaissance frescoes by Pinturicchi.

Continue your Umbrian adventure in the charming village of Bevagna, where you explore traditional crafting traditions at local candle and silk workshops. Then, stop for a wine tasting at vineyard in the ancient hilltop enclave of Montefalco.

Your final stop in Umbria is Deruta, a hill town and commune renowned the world over for its refined maiolica ceramics. Explore this legacy with insider access to an exclusive ceramics studio where local artisans share trade secrets passed down through the generations.

Southern Tuscany is beloved for its soft light and undulating landscapes that harbor a bounty of vineyards and olive groves, whose luxurious produce makes the most mouth-watering staples and souvenirs. Begin your Tuscan adventure with an exploration of the region’s centuries-old goldsmithing tradition a local jeweler’s studio. Continue to the enchanting city of Arezzo, where you take in intricate frescoes by Piero della Francesca at the Basilica of San Francesco and admire Cimabue’s iconic Crucifix in the Church of San Domenico. Pause in Arezzo’s Piazza Grande to take in the façades of medieval towers and Renaissance palaces. Continue to the picturesque hilltop town of Cortona, where the afternoon is free to wander cobblestone streets lined with artisan shops and quaint cafés.