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Tuscany by the Sea 2008

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Hop on your bicycle and explore quiet country lanes, passing olive trees, vineyards, sunflower fields, white beaches, and medieval villages along the way. Hike and explore the lovely Giglio Island. Enjoy wine tasting and a cooking class.   Detailed Itinerary

DISCOVER the bustling harbor and quaint village of Porto Santo Stefano VISIT Capalbio, a medieval hilltop village with cobblestone roads and enclosed high walls LEARN how to prepare a delicious Tuscan meal during a cooking class FERRY to Giglio Island and enjoy a private tour with a local guide (March and October departures will visit the Etruscan city and tombs of Tarquinia instead) EXPLORE the beautiful cliff town of Pitigliano with a local guide TASTE fresh olive oil during a visit and meal at a local oil mill

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Air-Inclusive Tour Roundtrip international airfare 8 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels and a country resort 14 meals - 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 5 dinners Transfers AND the option to add our Low-Cost Trip Extensions: Pre-trip: Orvieto • 2 nights $295 Post-trip: Rome • 2 nights $345 FREE use of our custom VBT bicycle and helmet Service of two bilingual VBT Trip Leaders FULL VAN SUPPORT Daily route directions and maps Welcome reception with local wine and hors d'oeuvres Sightseeing and cultural activities 5% Frequent Traveler Credit to use on your next VBT vacation Special Good Buy Discount Land-Only Tour 6 nights in a 4-star hotel and a 4 star country resort 12 meals - 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 5 dinners FREE use of our custom VBT bicycle and helmet Service of two bilingual VBT Trip Leaders FULL VAN SUPPORT Daily route directions and maps Welcome reception with local wine and hors d'oeuvres Sightseeing and cultural activities 5% Frequent Traveler Credit to use on your next VBT vacation Special Good Buy Discount

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Rating Level: Easy This tour offers easy terrain throughout the trip. Ideal for beginning cyclists. Full Van Support: Enjoy more flexibility and choice with full van support throughout your vacation. Group Size: 14-20 Daily Mileage: 15-35 miles Daily Cycling Times: 2-4 hours Avg. Daily High Temperature: : Mar 59°, Apr 64°, May 71°, Jun 78°, Jul 83°, Aug 83°, Sep 78 °, Oct 71°

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Fattoria di Magliano This ancient villa, set in a secluded location in the Maremma, boasts many amenities for its visitors — even its own cantina! Converted into a comfortable hotel, the property has a warm, welcoming feel, with terra-cotta tile work and designer furniture. The Fattoria offers extensive park grounds for exploration, well-manicured gardens, and an outdoor swimming pool to refresh you after the day’s ride. website: www.fattoriadimagliano.it 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. website: www.hotelmellini.com Hotel Duomo This historic property, centrally located and set off of a quiet side street, is just steps from the city sights and local restaurants. With only 17 rooms, the hotel is tastefully decorated. Some rooms look out toward Orvieto’s famous Duomo. website: www.orvietohotelduomo.com La Parrina Built at the beginning of the 20th century as a large working farm, La Parrina provided houses for workers, a church and a school. The main villa also now accommodates tourists on its 1,200 acres. Wine, olive oil, vegetables, fruits, flowers, and tasty cheeses are produced for local use, as well as exported. Located in a large park a few kilometers from a white-sand beach, the estate has mapped walking trails. website: www.parrina.it

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Orvieto 2008 2 nights for only $ 295 2 nights at the Hotel Duomo or Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini • Daily breakfast • City Information packet and guided tour of Cathedral and city centre • Airport transfers Orvieto is situated in Umbria on top of a large platform of volcanic tuff. Rising above high tufa cliffs and surrounded by defensive walls, it is among the most dramatic cities in Europe! This small city that can easily be visited on foot, has really a lot to offer and deserves a stop of a few days. Hikes, shopping of fine pottery and crafts, simple trattorias with delicious food like truffles and mushrooms can complete days of great sights and visits. The Etruscans founded Orvieto and left some remnants (now in the Archeological Museum) and a necropolis that you can reach on a popular hike of 2 miles from the city centre. An underground city, a labyrinth of tunnels and caves long kept secret, lies underneath Orvieto and is now open for visit with guided tours easy to book on site. The Romans followed and later the city became very close to papacy. The St. Patrick’s well was built for the Popes in the mid 16th C for fear of a siege and is unique with its double helical ramps for one-way traffic (..traffic of mules carrying water!). A notable monument is the Gothic cathedral (the duomo), the most popular sight of Orvieto with its striped façade in white and greenish-back stones and remarkable sculpures. On our included walking tour you will visit the Cathedral and inside the San Brizio Chapel, frescoed by Luca Signorelli’s masterpiece Last Judgement. Not many know that it inspired the Last Judgement of Michelangelo. The city is also full of Medieval palaces. Like the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo and Fortezza dell’Albornoz, very pleasant to discover in the narrow cobblestone streets. Note: Single supplement for this extension is $ 195. top Rome 2008 (Tuscany by the Sea) 2 nights for only $ 345 Two nights at the Hotel Dei Mellini • Daily continental breakfast • Full information packet • Airport transfers Discover the Eternal City at your leisure as you spend two nights in Italy’s timeless capital. History, art and architecture abound, from Greek sculpture to Roman ruins. Marvel at the grandeur of the Vatican, where St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel await. Stroll through the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum and the Coliseum. Take time to walk up the Spanish Steps, toss a coin in the Trevi fountain to ensure your return to Rome, or just spend a relaxing afternoon at a quiet outdoor café. Many attractions are within walking distance of your centrally located hotel. Only available with the Air Inclusive Package. Note: Single supplement for this extension is $ 175.

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Group Discount Program: You can earn a FREE VBT tour with our generous group discount program. Click here for details. Refer a Friend and Earn $100 Travel Credit: If you refer a Friend to VBT and they choose to travel with us, you earn $100 travel credit toward your next trip and your friend gets $50 off their first VBT trip. Click here for details. Good Buy Plan: The earlier you pay, the more you save. If you book early and pay in full by check, you can lock in your trip cost plus earn up to a 10% discount. 5% Frequent Traveler Credit: You will automatically receive a 5% travel credit good for your next VBT trip. This credit is good for one full year. Savings for Single Travelers: If you are on a bicycle tour where sharing is possible and you would like to share a room, we will do our best to match you with a roommate. We will charge you only 50% of the single supplement; if a match is available, we will refund you the single supplement after you return. If requested and available, single supplement is $395. Best Value Guaranteed: Click here for details. We reserve the right to correct errors. top