"ITALY BEYOND THE BEATEN PATH" May 16 to May 28 with Audrey as their driver-guide

Tim and Janet in front of the Pantheon, for their 3 days in Rome Tim and Janet wished for me to create an itinerary unlike anyone else, which is my specialty, and so I did. It was wonderful to share and show them the Italy that few see and experience as well as a few must see sites they had wished to visit. Regions visited on this itinerary: LAZIO, UMBRIA, TUSCANY, LIGURIA, PIEMONTE -3 nights in Rome, Hotel Abruzzi, near Pantheon with private guided tours of the Roman Forum, Colosseum and the Vatican. -1 night near Orvieto, Locanda Palazzone -2 nights near Assisi, Relais La Favorita -1 night in the Maremma near Bolgheri, Agriturismo Tra Gli Ulivi/Chiappini -2 nights in Sestri Levante on the Italian Riviera, Hotel Dei Castelli -3 nights near Alba in Piemonte, Cascina Giardini

CERVETERI Etruscan Banditaccia Necropolis in Cerveteri

UNESCO world heritage site The Necropolis of the Banditaccia evolved in a similar way to many cities, even though its residents were dead. As Etruscan culture changed and advanced over a period of 600 years, their burial structures in this massive city of the dead followed suit. The Etruscan Necropolis of Banditaccia is located in top of a hill north to Cerveteri and it is beyond doubt one of the most interesting archeological sites to visit so much as to be declared, together with the Etruscan Necropolis of Tarquinia in 2004 UNESCO World Heritage The Necropolis expands for about 10 hectares and is formed by almost 400 tombs, the oldest dating back to the Villanovan culture (ninth century BC) and the most recent to the Etruscan period (third century BC. The feeling in the air walking within the Necropolis of Banditaccia is simply unique! It is a great and well preserved site, inside which you will really feel like you can go back in time and live again the life of this mysterious as well as fascinating civilization. The Necropolis of Banditaccia is absolutely the most extended ancient necropolis of the whole Mediterranean area. FROM PAST TO FUTURE Proceeding with the project started with the Archeological Museum of Cerveteri, also the necropolis was provided with innovative multimedia itinerary. Inside the eight graves, multimedia setup has been installed. Thanks to audiovisual animations, they reproduce how the environment must have been in the past. The Necropoli counts in addition with a Bookshop, toilet and refreshment areas, with indoors and outdoors tables, where you can stop by for break during your visit. Visiting the interior of the illuminated tombs is a suggestive experience, thanks to which you will get in contact with ancient Etruscans and the mysterious cult of dead.

Cerveteri Etruscan museum

Pitigliano "little Jerusalem" in the heart of Maremma Pitigliano rises dramatically from a tufa ridge as if carved from it, surrounded on all sides by a deep ravine sliced by Etruscan "ways" they call Via Cave. Pitligliano is located in the Upper Maremma of Tuscany. The town is known as "Piccola Gerusalemme", or "Little Jerusalem" after the large Jewish population settling here in the middle of the 16th century from the south to avoid the Vatican's Counterreformation persecution. You can take an interesting trip underground and see the remains of the older Jewish quarter. Prior to this particular part of history, Pitigliano has an ancient past, with centuries of changes in civilizations and cultures. Pitigliano is located in Tuscany halfway from Florence and Rome, perched atop a volcanic tufa ridge. Its unmistakable skyline makes it stand out from kilometers away and gives Pitigliano a surreal charm. Kodak picture moment comes from outside the city, when you see that volcanic plateau rising from the plains, covered with little stone houses built right to the edge

Locanda Palazzone

Our boutique hotel, historic property which produces its own wines, near Orvieto

This evening 5 course meal accompanied with a wine pairing and tasting....I was not driving :) Menu di Degustazione

Civita di Bagnoregio-Less well-known than Siena or Assisi, this stunning little gem has escaped the modern age mostly because of topography.

Assisi-One of the most famous towns in Italy is Assisi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and, above all, homeland of St. Francis, the man who renounced all his possessions in order to devote his life to helping the needy. Dedicated to him is the splendid Basilica, one of the emblems of Christianity, located on Mount Subasio, from which it overlooks the entire valley, is dedicated to him. Apart from being a strong appeal for millions of religious believers, the Basilica is a monument of great artistic value. St. Francis's Basilica consists of two churches laid upon each other and a crypt containing the tomb of the Saint. The Lower Basilica, with a double front portal, presents a simple facade embellished with a rose window and a mosaic. The interior is decorated with frescoes by some of the most important painters from 1200 to 1300, from Cimabue to Giotto and from the Lorenzettis to Simone Martini. The light that filters through the beautiful stained glass windows by Giovanni di Bonino and Puccio Capanna creates a very suggestive ambience. In the Upper Basilica, it is possible to see the life cycle of St. Francis in frescoes painted by maestro Giotto, and the stories of the Old and New Testament covering the entire nave, and other wonderful frescoes by Cimabue and Torriti. Another figure who has deeply influenced these places is Saint Clare, to whom the homonymous Basilica - presenting a facade made of white and pink stone and divided into three sections by horizontal cornices - is dedicated. The engaging interior frescoes and the remains of the Saint are visible through a window in the crypt.

Santa Maria degli Angeli-Santa Maria degli Angeli (Church of St. Mary of the Angels) in Assisi is much venerated as the place of St. Francis' death. Inside the grand Baroque basilica are two small, humble structures: the Capella del Transito and the Porziuncola. History of Santa Maria degli Angeli The Porziuncola is a chapel obtained from the Benedictines and restored by St. Francis himself. In it he founded the order of Friars Minor that would later be known as the Franciscans. It was also here that St. Clare embarked on her monastic life on March 28, 1211. And, in 1216, Francis had a vision in the little chapel in which he was granted the "Pardon of Assisi." As he prayed, a light filled the chapel and he saw above the altar Christ, the Virgin Mary and a company of angels. They asked him what he wanted for the salvation of souls, and Francis replied: The request was granted based on Francis' worthiness, and the indulgence was officially approved by Pope Honorius III. Nearby, in the humble cell now known as the Cappella del Transito, St. Francis died October 3, 1226. The number of pilgrims to the Porziuncola and Transito were so numerous - estimated at 100,000 in 1582 - that it became necessary to have new structures to welcome them. Therefore, a great Baroque church was built around the humble chapels by Pope Pio V beginning in 1569, after the designs of the architect Galeazzo Alessi. It was completed in 1679.

Exclusive Truffle hunting experience in Umbria...The day is off to a good start, meeting the local sheep farmer!

The Cane da Pastore Maremmano-Abruzzese, otherwise known as Maremmano or "Maremma sheepdog" is a breed of sheep defence dog from central Italy, and from the Abruzzo and Maremma areas in particular