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Nine Day Tour:
Itinerary & Price
“Cynthia was an amazing
guide! We spent several days touring the towns and countryside of
Emilia Romagna and she was helpful with our plans every step of the
way. Whether we visited the main tourist sites or spent time at quaint,
out-of-the-way cafes, Cynthia was a great source of ideas all week
long. She was incredibly fun and I‘d recommend her to anyone who plans
to visit Emilia Romagna.”
- Robert of
Seattle, WA
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Our tour starts at 4pm when we meet at our hotel, located in the
heart of Bologna, for a welcome wine and cheese party. Here we will
meet our fellow travellers while enjoying some local snacks and a
glass of wine. Afterwards, we will take an early evening stroll
through the historic streets, followed by dinner in quaint osteria
located in
the center of town.
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The day begins with a walking tour of Bologna’s
most important historical sites. A local guide will lead us through
the medieval streets while giving us a brief history of each place
we visit. You have the afternoon free to visit museums, shop under
the city’s porticoes, and have lunch where you please. I advise you
to eat light because tonight we will feast on an extravagant meal at
Bologna’s most famous restaurant, Il Papagallo. “The Parrot” has
been serving locals and tourists for decades; including Einstein,
Hitchcock and even Toscanini. Here we will enjoy some the best
dishes in all of Bologna.
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This morning a private coach will take us out of
the city and into the countryside where we will be guests at a
charming farmhouse nestled amongst the vineyards and olive groves. On our way we
will make a stop in Faenza, a city whose name is synonymous with
ceramics. After visiting
the International Ceramic Museum,
you will have time to shop in some of the city’s sixty-plus ceramic
shops, grab a light lunch, or take a walk
through Faenza’s historic center. In the afternoon we will say arrivederci to Faenza and make the
short journey to our new home Ca Balbì, a rustic farmhouse in the
hills of Romagna. The rest of the afternoon is yours. Perhaps you
will want to take a hike in the hills, go for a bicycle ride, or relax
near the pool while enjoying the peaceful surroundings of the Italian
countryside. This evening we will meet in the farmhouse
kitchen for a cooking class. There we will learn how to make
a simple yet hearty meal that is typical of Romagna. After our
class, we will sit down at the table and delight in what we made
together.
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After breakfast we will travel by private coach to
the hillside village of Brisighella where a local guide will take us
on a short tour through the town’s winding cobblestone streets. Brisighella
is famous for its delectable olive oil, which is considered
to be the finest in the region. We will make a stop at a local
negozio (shop) to sample the famous oil on thick slices of Tuscan
bread. When our tour concludes, we will sit down for a delicious
lunch before saying good bye to the sleepy village. Our next stop
will be in the tiny town of Dozza. Every two years an
art festival/competition is held here and the wining artists paint
their masterpieces on the facades of
homes in the historic
center. We will take
a stroll
through the village, pausing to admire the artwork
along the way. Our last stop will be at the Sforza Castle, home to
Emilia Romagna’s regional wine library. After a tour of the castle,
we will head down into the cellar where over seven-hundred different
types of regional wines are on display, of which
we will get to sample a few. Dinner tonight will be back at our
farmhouse where we will dine on another delicious, homemade meal.
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This morning we leave the hills and head north to
the city of Ravenna, famous around the world for its early Christian
monuments adorned with Byzentine mosaics. Along the way
we stop at
Sant’Apollinare
in Classe. This town once stood at the edge of the Adriactic
Sea and was an important Roman port. The sea has moved and the
Romans are gone, but the umbreela pines, planted by the Romans
and used to build their ships, remain; they stand tall and beautiful
against the horizontal landschape. At the Basilica of
Sant’Apollinare
in Classe, we will have our first look the famous Byzentine mosaics.
When our visit is complete, we wil drive to our villa located in the
center of Ravena. After we get checked in,
we’ll take a walk through the city, making a stop at the church of San Eufemia, where a Roman stone carpet
was uncovered in the basement. You will have the afternoon free to
explore this interesting town on your own.
Ravenna is often called the city of bikes because cyclists out number
motorists. Perhaps you will want to rent a free bike at the
tourist office and see the city as a local.
Tonight we will meet back at the villa
for an apertivo before heading out for a
scrumptious
dinner together.
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The treasures of Ravenna await us as we start the day with a guided
tour of the city. Be prepared to be wowed as we visit the church of
San Vitale, the mausoleum of Galla Placida, Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
and the Neonian
Baptistery, all of which are covered with sparkling mosaics and
listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
During our tour, we will pay a visit to
the
grave of Dante, Italy’s most beloved poet. Originally from
Florence, Dante was thrown into exile after being found guilty of
trumped up charges.
He spent
much of
the remainder of his life wandering the lands of northern Italy
before making Ravenna his home. It was in this city
that
he finished his most famous
work
“The Divine Comedy”.
After a morning of walking, lunch will be a welcomed rest. Today we
will enjoy an authentic romagnolo meal at
a charming ristorante in the center of town.
Here we will wash down
a mouthwatering
meal
with a glass (or two)
of vino sangiovese. After a lingering lunch, the rest of the
day is yours to do as you please. Take a walk down the famous Via
Cauour, lined with swanky shops, relax
in the courtyard of our villa or leisurely sip a coffee in Ravenna’s
largest square, the Piazza del Popolo. Need ideas for dinner?
Just ask me, I have plenty of recommendations.
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This morning we
leave
Ravenna and
head into the magical wetlands of the Po delta region, named a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO. Our first stop is in the fishing village
of Comacchio. This interesting town is known as “Piccola
Venezia”
(Little Venice) for its winding canals and charming footbridges. We
will spend the morning exploring the village on foot and when our
walk is complete, we will make our way to a small trattoria to rest
our feet and refuel our bodies. Here we will feast on a seafood
lunch that is as fresh as the morning’s catch. For those brave
enough, you will have the opportunity to try Comacchio’s most famous
dish, anguilla (eel). Not to worry, non-seafood dishes will
be available for those who prefer to eat food from the land. After
lunch our private coach will take us north to the rural and tranquil
setting of the Abbey of Pomposa.
The Abbey, settled in the 7Th century by Benedictine monks, enjoyed
centuries filled with culture and prosperity before it was taken
over by the marshlands and abandoned by the monks. A local guide
will walk us through the Romanesque Abbey while sharing the history
of the building and its grounds.
In the late
afternoon we
will make our way to the picturesque
city of Ferrara. Called "The City of Renaissance" for its
contribution to architecture and culture during the 15Th and 16Th
centuries, Ferrara has also been declared a World Heritage site, by
UNESCO, in 1996 Here we will be guests at a hotel situated in the
historic center
of the city. The rest of the evening is yours to enjoy at your
leisure. As always, I will have plenty of suggestions of what to do
and where to eat.
It
being Saturday evening, you will surely want to make a stop in the
city’s main piazza. Here you find locals of all ages out for the
evening passeggiata
(stroll).
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Today we
will spend the morning exploring the city and visiting Ferrara’s
best sights. Our first stop will be at the
Diamond
Palace which takes it name from the thousands of glittering, diamond
shaped blocks jetting out from its facade. The palace is considered
to be masterpiece designed by the great architect Biagio Rossetti.
The palace is beautiful to look at, but more impressive is its
architecture; knowing that the building would be viewed from the
street looking up, Rosetti had the diamonds at the top of the
building made larger, thus making them appear the same size as the
others when looking at from the ground. Though the palace is a
spectacular site on any given day, it is best viewed on a sunny
afternoon when the rays of light strike the white building, making
it glitter and shine.
We will also make a stop at the Cathedral, located in Ferrara's main
square. To say that the church is peculiar is to say the least.
With a large, marble Romanesque front, brick Romanesque sides, a
zebra striped Renaissance tower and a small row of
shops with poritoces attached on one side, the church feels like a
puzzle that has been put together with mismatched pieces. They say
that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Even if you don't think
it is beautiful, you certainty can't deny that it is interesting.
Not to be missed is the Castello Estense. In the past it has been
used for a variety of different things, from a castle to a fortress,
but now a days it is used as government offices. The castle is one
of the few in Italy that still contains water in its moat, making it
easy to imagine what it must have been like centuries ago.
You are free to spend the rest of the afternoon as you like.
Take time to window shop,
visit the city's museums or wander the medieval streets where
unexpected surprises, like garden courtyards and cobblestone
alleys, await around every corner.
Ferrara has one of the most complete ancient city walls with over 9
km of it remaining today. The walls of Ferrara are a popular
spot amongst the locals for jogging, biking or walking the family
dog.
Maybe
you would like take a late afternoon
walk along side
and, in some places,
on top of the old city wall. This evening we will
meet up for one last meal
together. At
our farewell dinner we will spend the evening reminiscing about our
travels together while enjoying the rich, delectable cuisine that
Ferrara is famous for.
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The tour concludes after breakfast at our hotel.
From Ferrara it is a short train
ride back to Bologna where you can catch a train to
anywhere in Italy. Of course Venice is only an hour and a half
by
train.
Perhaps you will want to continue on to the most
romantic city in the world. Whatever your choice, I will be
happy to assist with your plans.
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Tours start at 4pm, on Sunday, at our hotel
in Bologna and end the following Monday, after breakfast, at our
hotel in Ferrara.
Itinerary
specifics subject to change. In the unlikely event this should
happen outings, hotels or restaurants of equal or greater value will
be substituted.
Included in the tour
Ground
transportation during your stay in an air conditioned van with a
private driver
Eight nights accommodation with a private
bath (double occupancy)
Italian
style breakfast each morning
3
lunches and 6 dinners, all served with local wine and Italian
style coffee
A seafood feast in the fising village of
Comacchio
All entrance fees for museums, parks and
historical sites mentioned in the itinerary
Maps of each city we visit
Four tours lead by English speaking, licensed
guides in the cities of Bologna, Ravenna, Brisighella and at the
Abbey of Pomposa
A wine
and cheese welcome party
Olive oil tasting in the hilltown of
Brisighella
One cooking class at a farmhouse in the Italian
countryside
Wine tasting at the Emilia Romagna Regional
Wine Library with a certified
Sommelier
A special
farewell dinner on our last night in Ferrara
A small
parting gift made by a local artist
Not included in the tour
Air transportation
Transfers to the hotel on the first day
Museum tickets or meals NOT mentioned in the
itinerary
Gratuities for chamber maids, driver or local
guides
Extra
beverages consumed that are not mentioned in
the itinerary
Extra hotel services such as laundry, phone
calls, room service, etc
Travel cancellation or medical insurance
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Price
Visit our
Special Offers page to learn how you can go on our nine
day tour for FREE.
Tours are
limited to 8 people
The
cost of the tour is 2,200 EURO per person and is based on double occupancy.
There are a few single spots available with a 300 EURO single
supplement.
Guests are asked to pay a deposit of
400 EURO
to secure a spot on the tour.
Final payment is due no later than 90 days prior to travel.
It is
highly recommended to purchase travel
cancellation insurance.
While the price of our tours may be listed in
dollars, we welcome anyone who is interested in joining us for an
adventure in Emilia Romagna.
Click here to convert the price
of our tours into your prefered currency.
Cancellation
Esperia Travels specializes in small group
tours. Our tours are limited to a minimum of six people and a
maximum of eight. If the minimum is not reached, alternate
dates will be provided. Esperia Travels is NOT responsible for
costs incurred due to cancellation, be it our cancellation or that
of the traveler. Travel cancellation insurance is highly
recommended for each guest. To order travel cancellation
insurance, please visit travelinsured.com.
Cancellation Fees
91 days prior to travel guests will receive a full
refund.
90 days prior to travel guests will receive a 75%
refund.
80 days prior to travel guests will receive a 50%
refund.
60 days or less guests will not receive a refund of
any kind.
Reservations
For more information or to request a reservation
form, email us at:
info@esperiatravels.com
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specializing in intimate
tours through the heart of emilia-romagna |
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Esperia Travels, LLC
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(260) 418-5538 |
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©
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P.O. Box 174, Spencerville, IN
46788-0174 |
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© 2008 Esperia Travels, All rights
reserved. |
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