Vantage World Travel

Highlights
The Lake Trasimeno Bean is tiny, about the size of a grain of rice. Soft, buttery and flavorful, the dried beans are eaten boiled and seasoned with a little extra-virgin olive oil. The fresh beans (cornetti) are sautéed with tomatoes and garlic. Cultivated on the terraces around Lake Trasimeno, they were popular until the 1950s, but have nearly disappeared since then.
The Mazzafegato sausage sausage is made from the leftovers of a pig after preparing other cured meat products. The meat is coarsely minced and cured with salt, pepper, small amounts of garlic, lemon and/or orange peel and fennel flowers. It was born out of the necessity to make full use of the entire slaughtered pig, but thanks to the ability of skilled butchers, who have made a virtue out of this necessity, the product was born that is appreciated by connoisseurs.

Typical Restaurants from the “Osterie D’Italia” Slow Food Guide - Tour participants will taste the delicious, authentic dishes of the regional cuisine eating at restaurants selected among those recommended by Slow Food in the “Osterie d’Italia” guide, small “trattorie” that still use fresh, local produce and traditional recipes for their dishes:
• Trattoria l’Acquario - • Trattoria Civico 25 - • Trattoria Nonna Gelsa

Wineries and more - Tour participants will also have the opportunity to sample wines and/or local typical products at wineries, bakeries, pastry shops, farms, fresh produce markets and more, such as:
• the wines and local fare of the Palazzo del Gusto, Enoteca Regionale dell’Umbria winery
• Baci and other chocolate pralines at the Perugina Chocolate Museum
• the salami and other cold cut specialties of Orvieto
• the typical traditional cakes and pastries of Perugia

Points of interest: Art, History, Culture & Nature - During the tour the participants will not only discover delightful food and wines but also the most interesting monuments, works of art, churches and natural landscapes of the region:
• Orvieto, situated on top of a rock offering the most splendid of views, with the wonderful Gothic Cathedral
• Todi, yet another splendid medieval little town, full of ancient buildings and tiny streets
• Assisi, a spiritual place home of the Basilica of St. Francis
• Perugia, perched on a hill, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful ancient towns in Italy
• Spoleto, a veritable jewel, full of ancient churches and buildings, where the famous Festival dei Due Mondi is held every year
• Gubbio, the medieval little town built on the side of Mount Ingino, with the monumental basilica that preserves the incorrupt body of St. Ubaldo, patron saint of the town
• Lake Trasimeno, one of Italy’s largest lakes and the characteristic towns and villages around it, such as Magione, Castiglione del lago and Passignano

Itinerary

• Day 1 Arrival - Arrive at Rome airport and afternoon’s collective transfer to hotel. Welcome dinner of traditional local fare and Slow Food Presidium products from Umbria where there will be an introduction to the tour. During the evening there will also be an introduction to the Slow Food philosophy, the activities of the association and the Terra Madre Foundation. Overnight.
• Day 2 Orvieto, Todi - Morning visit to Orvieto, situated on top of a rock offering the most splendid of views. Guided tour of the city, including a Gothic Cathedral and a visit to the Palazzo del Gusto, head office of the Enoteca Regionale of Umbria where there will be a guided tour and wine tasting of Umbrian wines accompanied by some local fare. Before heading off there will be a short visit to the Adriano pastry shop to try the best of Orvieto’s typical cakes and desserts, including chocolates made with chillies and saffron. An afternoon visit to Todi, a splendid medieval town, where it is pleasant to wander around and discover the old monuments and craftshops including the Macelleria Fraolini (butcher) that produces traditional salamis and roast pork with oven baked breads. A visit to the Caseificio Montecristo (cheese producer) in Pian di Porto to sample the baby Pecorino cheeses made with fresh milk. Return to the hotel and overnight.
• Day 3 Assisi, Bevagna, Montefalco - Morning guided tour of Assisi, including the Basilica of St Francis and a quick stop off at the Forno dei Fratelli Sensi bakery in the heart of the town which offers home produced Umbrian specialties. Continue on to Bevagna, an ancient medieval town that has held on to its traditional characteristics. Free time to discover the town. On to Montefalco, another splendid town situated on top of a hill, offering spectacular views over the Umbrian hills. Visit the city and taste the famous Sagrantino, a new DOGC wine. Visit the ancient olive groves - over 3,000 plants - belonging to the Romanelli family to discover the different plant varieties and the techniques used in the production of the extra virgin olive oil, along with a tasting. A break at the Azienda Rosati, to buy the locally produced cold cuts including Capocollo, dried sausages and salami, as well as traditional cakes (which change according to the season). Return to the hotel and overnight.
• Day 4 Perugia, Citta Di Castello - A morning visit to Perugia; perched on a hill, it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful towns in Italy. A visit to the Perugina chocolate museum, famous for its Baci Perugina chocolates. Stop off at the historical Pasticceria Sandri pastry shop and the Bottega delle Erbe Aromatiche with over 6,000 different herbs and other products. Afternoon departure for Citta di Castello, in the Tiber valley; a tour of the city and the Fratelli Giulietti Salumifico where you can sample the local salamis including the Mazzafegati (Slow Food Presidium). Visit to the II Girasole grocery store: a classic grocery shop specializing in salami, cheese and typical local cakes and desserts and a Slow Food Presidia business. Back to Perugia and dinner with the dishes of the traditional Um-bran cuisine at the Trattoria Civico 25. Return to the hotel and overnight.
• Day 5 Spoleto - Departure for Spoleto and a tour of the city. Stop just outside the city for a treat at two tiny villages in the Umbrian hills. The first stop is at the Leonardi bakery which specializes in natural yeast breads; visit and sample the fare. The second is the Castello di Poreta; visit and sample the extra virgin olive oil. In the afternoon, return to Foligno and walk through the old town centre stopping at the Central Bar for a top quality ice cream with some amazing and original flavors such as the Sagrantino wine one. Return to the hotel and overnight.
• Day 6 Umbertide, Gubbio - Departure for Umbertide, a wonderful old city where there will be a guided tour of the Slow Food Earth Market and a lesson on the season’s vegetables, fruit and local produce, followed by lunch at the Trattoria Nonna Gelsa, located in the countryside near Umbertide. Transfer to Gubbio, yet another important small city that defines the ancient Umbrian civilization. Gubbio is famous for the Corsa dei Ceri which takes place annually on the 15 May. Back to the hotel where there will be a tasting of a selection of local wines.
• Day 7 Solomeo, Lake Trasimeno, Castiglione Del Lago - Departure for Solomeo, situated on the slopes of a hill almost half way between Perugia and Lake Trasimeno. A visit to the old hamlet which has preserved its original Medieval layout to this day, thanks to a careful and intelligent restoration project. A visit to Bruno Cucinelli’s old craftshop selling handmade top quality cashmere products. Departure for Lake Trasimeno, one of the largest in Italy, to visit some of the characteristic towns around the lake such as Magione, Castiglione del Lago and Passignano. Dinner will be hosted in a traditional local restaurant, the Acquario in Castiglione del Lago where traditional dishes, including the Fagiolina del Lago (Slow Food Presidium) will be served. Return to the hotel and overnight.
• Day 8 Departure - Early morning collective transfer for the airport and the chance to order a basket of local Slow Food products.

Accommodation: Historical Residence Alla Posta dei Donini 4* - San Martino in Campo (Perugia) - In San Martino in Campo, near Perugia, the luxury hotel Alla Posta dei Donini provides exclusive comfort and excellent services. The magnificence of this Villa welcomes you to frescoed rooms, surrounded by over 20,000 square meters of the most extraordinary botanical park in Central Italy. In the heart of Umbria, a luxurious vacation awaits you in a lavish seventeenth century villa with its own pool, meeting rooms, restaurant and elegant rooms.

Departure Dates & Rates:

• June 19th, 2011: US$ 3499.00 - Single Room Supplement US$ 435.00
• September 4th, 2011: US$ 3499.00 - Single Room Supplement US$ 435.00
• October 2nd, 2011: US$ 3499.00 - Single Room Supplement US$ 435.00
• October 23rd, 2011: US$ 3499.00 - Single Room Supplement US$ 435.00

Note: Rates are Per Person in a doubleroom and are based on the exchange rate of 1 Euro = $ 1.32 and are subject to variation at time of final payment when the actual rate of that day will be applied

The rate will include:

• • 7 nights in 4* hotel, buffet breakfast included
• • 1 Slow Food welcome evening featuring Presidia products from the Umbria region
• • 1 lunch at an “Osterie d’Italia” typical Slow Food restaurant
• • 2 dinners at an “Osterie d’Italia” typical Slow Food restaurant
• • 5 tastings of local Slow Food Presidia products, visits to the producers and presentations on the production techniques used
• • 1 tasting of Umbrian products and wines, , presentation and visit of the Enoteca Regionale of Umbria
• • 1 light lunch with Umbrian products and wines, presentation and visit of the Enoteca Regionale of Umbria
• • 1 visit to the Slow Food Earth Market including a lesson about the season’s local produce
• • 1 special wine tasting
• • Entrance fees to the Chocolate Museum, Perugia and Funicolare (cable car) in Orvieto
• • 1 Slow Food Gift
• • 1 Slow Food presentation kit - Terra Madre
• • Guided eno-gastronomic tour with expert and interpreter
• • Official Guides for the itinerary
• • Travel in luxury coach
• • Taxes

Options:

• • dinners at the hotel
• • chance to buy the “basket of Slow Food produce from Tuscany” and have it delivered to your home.
• • private transfers from/to the airports

Note:

• • Tour departures will be confirmed between 45 and 30 days prior to the departure date
• • If a change in hotels, restaurants, wineries or other businesses becomes necessary for any reason, the hotels or other businesses substituted will be equivalent of those shown.