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The Tuscan Coast 2008 - Detailed Itinerary

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Day 1 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Depart US/Fly overnight to Florence

Depart from the U.S. for Italy. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary and airline tickets.

Day 2 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Arrive in Florence/Begin your Trip Extension in Florence

Upon arrival at the Florence airport, a VBT local representative meets you outside the customs area and and helps you transfer to your hotel. The representative will be holding a VBT sign. At this time, please verify with your representative the time of your end-of-trip transfer from your Rome hotel to the airport. From 2:00-4:00 p.m. your local host presents an in-hotel VBT Hospitality Desk and provides a city information package with a city map and recommendations for your stay in Florence. You have the rest of the day free to explore the city, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Please note: To visit the Uffizi Gallery, you must make reservations in advance. To reserve online, go to www.florence-museum.com. For information on all Italian museums, go to www.italy-museum.com.

Hotel: Hotel Adler Cavalieri

Day 3 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Independent exploration of Florence

After breakfast, you may wish to set out and explore the city's most famous museum, the Uffizi Gallery (advance reservation required; see above). The day is yours to stroll the shop-lined promenades of the Via Tornabuoni, or to cross the river Arno in search of antiques or handicrafts in the Piazza del Duomo.

Meals: B  Hotel: Hotel Adler Cavalieri

Day 4 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Independent exploration of Florence/Join VBT Air Package guests

You have the day free to explore the historic city of Florence and enjoy its Renaissance architecture and famous museums. In the evening, relax in one of the city's restaurants and sample the local cuisine. VBT Air Package guests arrive throughout the day.

Meals: B  Hotel: Hotel Adler Cavalieri

Day 1 of AIR PACKAGE Depart U.S./Fly overnight to Florence

Depart from the U.S. for Italy. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary and airline tickets.

Day 2 of AIR PACKAGE Arrive in Florence

VBT Air Package guests: Upon arrival at the Florence airport, claim your luggage and clear customs. VBT's local representative will meet you outside the customs area in your arrival terminal and will be holding a VBT sign. At this time, please verify with your airport representative the time of your transfer at the end of your trip from your Rome hotel to the airport. Your representative will help you transfer (approximately 30 minutes) to your hotel. Once there, you receive a city information package with a map and recommendations for exploring Florence. Please note: if you arrive early, your hotel room may not be available until 1 p.m. You may store your luggage with the Reception Desk. You have the rest of the day free to explore the historic city of Florence and enjoy its Renaissance architecture and famous museums. In the evening, relax in one of the city's restaurants and sample the local cuisine.

Hotel: Hotel Adler Cavalieri

Day 1 of BIKE TOUR Meet Trip Leaders in Florence/Transfer to Collemezzano

VBT No-Air Package guests: Your tour starts at 12:00 noon at the Florence hotel (Hotel Adler Cavalieri, via della Scala 40, Firenze, phone +39 055 277810). Please have lunch on your own before meeting your VBT Trip Leaders, who will be wearing VBT staff garments. If your arrival at our Florence hotel is scheduled later than noon, or if you are delayed, you must take a taxi (approximately 1 hour) at your own expense (approximately 100 euros/$145 USD) to the Agrihotel Elisabetta. Please contact the Agrihotel Elisabetta to advise of any travel delays or changes, and ask the Front Desk to pass the message on to your VBT Trip Leaders. Please note: If you are arriving/departing from the city center, you must transfer at your own expense to the meeting place. The meeting place is centrally located. VBT Air Package & Pre-Trip Extension guests: This morning, spend more free time exploring Florence's wonderful museums, shops and cafés. Discover the 14th-century Duomo, which serves as the focal point of Florence. Its structure and facade are symbolic of the Renaissance. Take a walk across the Arno River on the famous Ponte Vecchio and browse the shops of the goldsmiths and silversmiths that have replaced the butchers and grocers of centuries gone by. See works by Caravaggio, Botticelli, Raffaello and Rembrandt at the Uffizi Gallery. Or just relax and enjoy a cappuccino or espresso in the Piazza del Signoria and Piazza del Duomo, where Florence's art and history surround you. Eat lunch on your own, then meet your VBT Trip Leaders at the hotel in Florence at 12:00 noon. They will be wearing VBT staff garments. Once the entire group is assembled, transfer by motorcoach (approximately 1 hour) to the first hotel, Agrihotel Elisabetta. This inviting accommodation and its gracious owner, Luigi, will surely enchant you. After settling in, meet your Trip Leaders for a safety and bike-fitting session before a short a warm-up ride over gentle hills and past old farmhouses shaded by cypress trees. This evening, gather with your fellow travelers for a reception featuring regional wine and bruschette, and later, dinner at the hotel.

Meals: B,D  Hotel: Agrihotel Elisabetta

Day 2 of BIKE TOUR Explore Cecina and Costa degli Etruschi

Following breakfast, begin cycling in Cecina, a tiny village nestled between the sea and the mountains, in the region called Costa degli Etruschi — the Etruscan Coast. Ride through the rolling countryside, flanked by cypress trees and fertile vineyards, as you head to Casale Marittimo, one of several medieval hilltop towns. Once there, admire the town's medieval castle and the 12th-century Sant'Andrea Church before enjoying a delicious picnic prepared by your Trip Leaders. Afterward, continue cycling downhill through the charming village of Bibbona, entering the fragrant Cecina pine forest as you head back to the hotel. This afternoon, your gregarious host Luigi takes us on a guided tour of his wine cantina. Here, sample some of Luigi's varietals while sharing the day's stories with your small group. Dinner is at the hotel restaurant.

Meals: B, L, D  Hotel: Agrihotel Elisabetta

Day 3 of BIKE TOUR Cycle Cecina Mare and the Strada del Vino

Begin your day by pedaling the Cecina Mare promenade en route to the Strada del Vino, one of the most beautiful of Italy's wine road. Your route traces the Ornellaia vineyard to Bolgheri along gently rolling hills. Bolgheri is known for its Viale dei Cipressi, a cypress-lined avenue immortalized in the poem “San Guido” by Giosue' Carducci. You may want to stroll this boulevard after enjoying lunch on your own. This afternoon, shuttle to the Tombolo Talasso Resort, your deluxe hotel right on the Tyrrhenian Sea, or continue cycling on easy backroads. Whichever you choose, you return to the hotel a bit later for a brief Italian language workshop with your VBT Trip Leaders. In the evening, dinner is served at your beautiful hotel on the sea.

Meals: B, D  Hotel: Tombolo Talasso Resort

Day 4 of BIKE TOUR Visit an olive-oil mill

After breakfast, continue riding along the historic Strada del Vino to the family-owned and operated Fonte di Foiano olive-oil mill. During your visit, you meet the Di Gaetano family, who leads a private tour of the press and workshop. Taste the oil during a degustazione (sampling) on the terrace. During your tasting, Michael Di Gaetano explains the difference between regions and how varied the flavors can be. Afterward, eat an included lunch — prepared by Michael himself, using organic and fragrant vegetables — on the farm grounds. Cycle on to our hotel, stopping at Daniela's great bicycle shop. Once you've returned, take free time to stretch out in the sand at the hotel's private beach or take a respite in one of the five thermal swimming pools at the Wellness Center. Tonight, your Trip Leaders can suggest a restaurant to try in the lovely seaside village of Marina di Castagneto. Dinner is on your own.

Meals: B, L  Hotel: Tombolo Talasso Resort

Day 5 of BIKE TOUR Cycle Sassetta, Suvereto, and Maremma

Today's adventure from Sassetta takes you along one of the most picturesque routes in Europe. Cycling past cork and pine trees, medieval estates and fields of sunflowers, you arrive in Suvereto, an ancient village whose origins date to before the year 1000. Situated on the slopes of the hills overlooking the Costa degli Etruschi, it is a true jewel, rich in history and art, set in the green valley of the river Cornia. The town displays architectural harmony: Its ancient walls enclose paved streets lined with stone houses, historical buildings, impressive churches and shadowy cloisters. Continue on a thrilling downhill ride to Montioni. From here, relax and shuttle through the Maremma, a beautiful area of flat grazing lands, or continue riding. Then it's on to your welcoming country retreat at Agriturismo Montebelli. Situated on immaculately maintained grounds with olive trees, vineyards and wildflowers, the Agriturismo Montebelli has tennis courts and an outdoor pool. There is also a stable with horseback riding facilities. After (or instead of) biking, explore the grounds, go horseback riding, or take a dip in the hotel pool. Dinner tonight is at the hotel.

Meals: B, D  Hotel: Agriturismo Montebelli

Day 6 of BIKE TOUR DISCOVERY DAY! Explore Castiglione della Pescaia and Montebelli

After breakfast, cross the soft foothills of the high Maremma, a scenic, lush landscape traversed mostly by locals. As you ride, your Trip Leaders offer an optional, intriguing detour to visit the Etruscan site of Vetulonia. Known as one of the most important and well-preserved necropolises and museums of the Etruscans, this site distinguishes the country's devotion to the prevailing power in central Italy right before the Roman domination. Later in the morning, you arrive in the lovely seaside resort of Castiglione della Pescaia. This city's many layers of history extend from Roman occupation through rule by the Marquis of Tuscany, the Abbey of San Germano, Perugia, the Duke Della Corgna (into the 17th century), the return of the Grand Duke of Tuscany and, in the 18th century, the Papal State. Inside the urban center, fortified by 15th-century walls, the town and the palace of Della Corgna Dukes remain well preserved. The four towers rising out of the Castle of Buriano are certain to be a highlight of your day. Known as one of the most remarkable examples of military art in Tuscany, this 10th-century castle once belonged to the powerful Lambardi family. Here, do some last-minute gift shopping or sunbathing on the beach. If you prefer not to cycle, you can enjoy leisurely pursuits at Montebelli, such as taking a walk through the vineyards. Tonight we enjoy a memorable farewell dinner together.

Meals: B, D  Hotel: Agriturismo Montebelli

Day 7 of MAIN TOUR Transfer to Rome/Free Time/VBT No-Air Package ends

VBT No-Air Package guests: Your trip ends at the Rome hotel at approximately 11:30 a.m.-12:00 noon. You are responsible for your own transfer to the airport for your flight home. VBT Air Package guests: After breakfast, transfer to your central Rome hotel for your final overnight stay. If you have booked the optional Post-Trip Extension, expect a city information package at the hotel, which can help you discover Rome on your own. Your hotel room may not be available until 1:00 p.m. You may store your luggage with the Reception Desk. An optional walking tour of Baroque Rome will be available. Highlights include Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the most famous Baroque Churches, Campo dei Fiori, Palazzo Farnese e Spada, and the Jewish Ghetto. This three-hour program may be booked with your VBT hotel representative upon arrival in Rome (it may not be booked in advance of travel). The approximate price is 30.00 Euro per person and includes the services of our local English-speaking guide.

Meals: B  Hotel: Visconti Palace Hotel Alternate Hotel: Hotel dei Mellini .   Located on a quiet backstreet near the Tiber River, between the Spanish Steps and Vatican City, this hotel’s design is refined and elegant. The hotel is built out of two ancient palaces of Rome and features a rooftop terrace furnished with plants and chairs, and with an open view of Rome’s skyline.

Day 8 of AIR PACKAGE Depart for U.S.

After breakfast* this morning, transfer to the Rome airport (approximately 40-60 minutes, depending upon traffic) for your departing flight. Please ensure you are ready in the hotel reception area at the designated transfer time**. *Please note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the Front Desk to verify the times that breakfast is served. **VBT recommends that you check your transfer time in your “Transfer Reminder.” VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense.

Meals: B

Day 1 of POST-TRIP EXTENSION Remain in Rome for your optional extension

If you have chosen the optional Post-Trip Extension, remain in Rome for an additional two nights and spend today exploring the city on your own.

Meals: B  Hotel: Visconti Palace Hotel - Post Trip Hotel Alternate Hotel: Hotel dei Mellini .   Located on a quiet backstreet near the Tiber River, between the Spanish Steps and Vatican City, this hotel’s design is refined and elegant. The hotel is built out of two ancient palaces of Rome and features a rooftop terrace furnished with plants and chairs, and with an open view of Rome’s skyline.

Day 2 of POST-TRIP EXTENSION Independent Exploration of Rome

Today's opportunities are endless. You might visit the Forum, the political and commercial center of ancient Rome when the empire was at its greatest power. Various emperors constructed the temples, monuments and other buildings here over a period of nine centuries. Today you can still see the Curia where the Roman Senate met. Take a walk up the Palatine Hill, where tradition says the first settlers of Rome built their huts under the direction of Romulus, and which was later the home of Caligula, Nero, Tiberius and Domitian. Or you can step out of Italy while you're still in Rome with a visit to the Vatican, an independent state. The Vatican museums are filled with magnificent art that goes far beyond such well-known pieces as the Pieta and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling. Tour Rome's famous Catacombs, located in tunnels carved out of rock along the Via Appia (“Appian Way”). Or spend an idyllic afternoon in the gardens of the Villa Borghese, one of Europe's most elegant parks. And by all means, do as the Romans do — sip espresso, savor Italian wine and, even in the middle of the rush of modern European life, take the time to enjoy la dolce vita. After a full day of independent exploration, retire to your hotel or perhaps enjoy one of Rome's fine restaurants. Another optional walking tour of Ancient Rome is available also today. Highlights include the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Capitolio, Marcello Theatre, and the Jewish Ghetto. This two-hour program may be booked with your VBT hotel representative upon arrival in Rome (it may not be booked in advance of travel). The approximate price is 20.00 Euro per person and includes the services of our local English-speaking guide.

Meals: B  Hotel: Visconti Palace Hotel - Post Trip Hotel Alternate Hotel: Hotel dei Mellini .   Located on a quiet backstreet near the Tiber River, between the Spanish Steps and Vatican City, this hotel’s design is refined and elegant. The hotel is built out of two ancient palaces of Rome and features a rooftop terrace furnished with plants and chairs, and with an open view of Rome’s skyline.

Day 3 of POST-TRIP EXTENSION Rome Extension concludes/Depart for U.S.

After breakfast*, transfer to the Rome airport (approximately 40-60 minutes depending upon traffic) for your departing flight**. Please ensure you are waiting in the hotel reception area at the designated time. * Note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the Front Desk to verify the times that breakfast is served. **VBT recommends that you check your transfer time in your “Transfer Reminder.” VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense.

Meals: B