CIT - Europe with the best of Italy & France

Meet at Foligno railway station at 11.00 am
Transfer to your accommodation near Montefalco.
After lunch travel up to the medieval town of Montefalco where you will be introduced to the food, wine and artisan traditions of the town including a wine tasting.  Montefalco reds have won prestigious awards for the best red wine in Italy.  Welcome drinks and dinner at the family run enoteca in the town's delightful piazza. (L, D)

Day 2

Markets & Villa Cooking Class 1, Foligno
Today is market day in Montefalco so there is a walk around the town to experience the atmosphere.  The cooking class is at a local villa.  In the afternoon visit Foligno.  After dinner at the accommodation you will have an introductory talk on the food and wine of Umbria. (B,L,D)

Day 3

Ancient Traditions and Cellar Visits
A short drive to a nearby farmhouse to visit a 'carbonaio' or charcoal kiln that once provided the local area with wood coal.  They will show you the ancient techniques and have lunch on the property.  The afternoon is taken up with visits to various local wine cellars where you can try Montefalco's award winning Sagrantino Wine. (B,L,D)

Olive oil tasting and 2nd cooking class
Visit a local oil mill and walk through the field of olives.  The whole of Umbria beneath 600 metres of altitude has a climate and geography particularly suited to the cultivation of olives.  Travel on to a nearby farmhouse where you explore the ancient estate, its traditions and its biological grain farm, cooking lunch by the enormous fireplace in the original family kitchen using produce from the fields outside. (B,L,D)

Day 5

Truffle hunt and 3rd cooking class
This morning travel to a mountain forest where you will accompany a professional truffle hunter.  Enjoy a simple meal of wine, bruschetta, pasta and truffles in the hunter's home in the mountain village. (B,L,D)

Day 6

4th Cooking class, Norcia
Cooking class at a local farmhouse based on characteristic regional food.  The class is followed by lunch.  In the afternoon drive through the Valley of the River Nera to the walled roman town of Norcia, the sausage and salami capitol of Italy.  Stock up on produce to include at dinner this evening back at the accommodation. (B,L,D)

Day 7

Deruta Ceramics, Weaving Perugia
Deruta has been a major ceramics centre since medieval times.  No culinary exploration would be complete without a venture into eating's decorative accessories.  Here you will be shown through a selection of some of the 300 outlets selling plates, bowls and anything else that might be made of terracotta.  Then travel to Perugia to a workshop of traditional fabric weavers still using ancient hand built wooden looms in a beautifully restored gothic church.  The afternoon in the town is free for shopping or individual sightseeing. (B,D)

Day 8

Departure
On the last day of the tour you will be transferred to Foligno Station leaving the accommodation at 9 am.

• transfers from Foligno station or hotel
• All land travel by airconditioned coach
• 7 nights accommodation - 5 days full board, 2 days half board
• 4 cooking classes of characteristic regional recipes, including lunch
• A truffle hunt and truffle lunch in a mountain village
• A visit and lunch at a traditional charcoal maker
• Visits to cellars with tasting of Montefalco's award winning Sagrantino wines
• An olive oil tasting and a visit to a biological farm
• Cheese and prosciutto tastings in Norcia, Italy's salami capitol
• A visit to the famous ceramics centre of Deruta
• The services of a tour leader throughout the tour

• Portage