Emilia-Romagna, Le Marche & The Appeninnes TBD*Sept 2024

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* small  private  tour, 8-10 people of your  own group.

Land package only. **Deposit of $500pp non-refundable, must be received to hold your spot.  Balance due 60 days before tour start date.

Daily transportation and transfers included from Bologna after Appennines hiking  tour, transfer back to BLQ or train station on final day of tour. 

Emilia-Romagna and Appenines Wine  

  Four nights Hotel accomodations at  La  Rinaldina, 3 nights in Urbino and 3 nights in Gubbio with day tours included. Daily breakfast included and some *lunchs and dinners where noted. Castle tours, wine tastings and cooking demo included. 

Please note: Hiking/walking with elevation requires moderate to medium fitness ability, 

Terms and Conditions

**some subsitutions may be scheduled according to availablity of locations, events and seasonal adjustments, however every attempt will be made for substitutions of equal to or greater value. Everyone who attends a Wine Flights Travel Tour is required to sign a liability release form. 

** final balance paid within 60 days of start of tour is NON REFUNDABLE;  (pre payments are required months in advance to secure hotel rooms and tours.)

Travel with medical insurance is required to join this tour. Medical expenses and/or repatriation expenses are essential and at the guest's responsibility. 

 *see Travel Tips under Wine Touring 101 for more info and several  insurance companies that offer good plans.

Click  on  this  link  for  the  latest  update from  the US  State  department  regarding  travel  to  Italy;

https://it.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

Emilia-Romagna, Le Marches & The Appeninnes Tour;  begins and ends in Bologna.

Day One: Bologna

Arrive at BLQ, Bologna international airport where you will be met and transferred to our exclusive boutique Agriturismo La Rinaldina "Località Castel Raniero". https://agriturismolarinaldina.it/  
Close to some famous tourist spots in the area, the agriturismo is situated on an organic farm and boasts a splendid panorama; the perfect setting for a relaxing holiday in the midst of olive trees, currant bushes and medicinal herbs. The Farm includes five beautiful suites, (two of which can accommodate 3 people), a striking infinity pool overlooking views of Faenza, a lovely gourmet bistro on the premises using many of the organic and biological ingredients harvested on the farm. You will have time to relax before wine tasting at Fattoria Camerone, followed by dinner at the B&B.
Welcome beverages and appetizers, Dinner included this evening. 
Day Two: Bologna
Today we visit Bologna with a two hour private guided gastronomic and cultural walking tour. Afterwards you’ll have free time to investigate the dozens of little streets, alleyways and do some shopping . Lunch or dinner here in town on your own or return to La Rinaldina for some relaxing at the infinity pool.
Breakfast included, Lunch and Dinner on your own.
Day Three: Bologna
*A very special day awaits you at two star Michelin rated Ristorante San Domenico in Imola. Chef Massimiliano Mascia presents a 3 course cooking class in the kitchen, followed by lunch in the restaurant! https://www.sandomenico.it
After lunch we‘ll visit La Rocca, the 14th century restored stone castle complete with a moat! 
Free time to shop and stroll the central piazza around Imola. Dinner  

  at a local Faenza ristorante outside  in their piazza courtyard. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.     
Day Four: Bologna
Today we visit Brisighella, hiking up to the hilltop castle for a tour. In the village we'll sample the olive oil and stroll the renaissance streets and buildings.    
Next, another castle & wine tasting! We will  visit Dozza castle, http://www.fondazionedozza.it/entra-in-rocca/la-rocca-di-dozza.html , a museum tour then in the grotto, we will have a Sommelier lead wine tasting of some of the most important regional wine makers to learn what makes Emilia-Romagna different from other regions. 

Later in the evening we'll enjoy a family style dinner at a beautiful countryside winery and restaurant. 

https://poderelaberta.com Breakfast and dinner included, lunch on your own.
**Day  Five: Urbino

We leave our beautiful countryside estate and contine to Urbino for our  Wine and Hiking adventures. For  those not going with us, you will be  transferred to BLQ airport or the Bologna train station for your flights/train.
From here we begin the second part  of our tour traveling to the Marche region and the Appenines.  Checking  into our Agritourism B& B/hotel, we'll have the afternoon visiting the  museum Palazzo Ducale, the home of 15th century Duke Federico da  Montefeltro. We'll have lunch at a  local restaurant enjoying  the regional wine and cuisine.  After lunch  we‘ll  continue touring more of the renaissance architectural buildings, churches and spectacular frescos!  A free evening tonight. Breakfast and  lunch included. Dinner on your own.

Day 6: Urbino

Today we'll be hiking along the beautiful coastal trails and sea cliffs of San Bartolo National Park. We stop for lunch in a pretty hilltop village and in the afternoon have a beach walk along the Adriatic, taking a dip in the sea, weather permitting!  We then proceed to an organic farm and winery located in a charming valley, on rolling hills one step away from the sea, managed by the Marcantoni family since 2003. Here we'll have an amazing Wine & Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Food experience (visit & tasting) to satisfy all your Wine & EVOO curiosities. 

* Aprox. 3-4 hrs walking, elevation gain/loss approx. 700 ft.

Breakfast, lunch and tastings included. Dinner on  your own.

Day 7: Urbino

One more day of hiking!!  This will be around a four/five hour hike out and back in the forest coming across the ruins of a former citadel and monastery where we will rest & enjoy a picnic lunch before visiting a local vineyard to sample their wines and olive oil, then returning to the hotel. In the evening we'll enjoy dinner together in the old town center. Approx. 4-5 hrs hike, elevation gain 900 ft.

Breakfast, picnic Lunch and Dinner included.

Day 8: Gubbio

After breakfast we leave Urbino and head to our next medieval town of Gubbio. Check into our hotel and then tour several of the cities renaissance buildings and famous sites. There's a cable car ride or a more challenging 45 minute walk up to the monastery of Saint Ubaldo, having lunch before following the trail and aqueduct back down to town for a free evening. 

Breakfast and Lunch included, Dinner on your own.

Day 9: Gubbio

This morning we will head out through the countryside villages and stop at the 13th century Brancaleoni Castle for a visit. A light lunch follows and then an opportunity for hiking around some of the most impressive views of  Mt. Nerone,  elevation 1500 meters. 

Heading back, we enjoy Dinner in the old town center of Gubbio. 

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.

Day 10: Gubbio

Today we will experience the beauty of Italy's "Grand Canyon", visitng the Furlo Gorge Nature Reserve. We'll venture along the gorge's paths and see amazing landscapes for about a 2 hour trail walk before visiting the small town of Acqualagna. Known for it's famous tuber, the truffle, we'll enjoy tasting them with lunch, just  like a local! Later going to another local agritourism farm, we will have our farewell dinner together.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.

Day 11: Gubbio to Bologna

Our last day we'll check out of our hotel and make our way back to Bologna traveling along the Tiber Valley and by way of Sansepolcro for a visit and final lunch before completing the trip and drop off at Bologna Int'l airport. *Late departures are recommended or we can arrange one addtional night in Bologna for an additional cost. Breakfast, Lunch included.

**Emilia/Romagna Tour can be booked as a separate tour on other dates according to availability. All venues and events are subject to scheduling availability and may require substitutions, every attempt will be made to be of equal or greater value.

Emilia-Romagna is a region in northern Italy, extending from the Apennine Mountains to the Po River in the north. It's known for its medieval cities, castles and seaside resorts. This is the land of Verdi's novels, Giovanni Pascoli's poetry, as well as Fellini’s unmistakable cinema - a director who became a legend through his many masterpieces that come to life in this, his native region. In Emilia Romagna, one can enjoy amazing views anywhere, and the list of places to choose from is endless. 

The capital, Bologna, is a vibrant city with an 11th-century university and arched porticos lining the streets and squares of its medieval core. Ravenna, near the Adriatic coast, is famed for its brightly colored Byzantine mosaics.
Capital: Bologna, the largest city of the Emilia-Romagna Region in Northern Italy. Capital: Bologna              

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bologna              DP/Nominal: €149.5 billion (2016)
Population: 4.449 million (2017)

Le Marche:

 Le Marche, a region in  Italy, is known for its stunning landscapes, history, artistic heritage, and coastal beauty. It's also famous for its authenticity, as this Italian region is relatively unknown as a tourist destination. The walled city of Urbino, is a UNESCO world heritage site, known for it's architecture, frescos and the Palazzo Ducale. This is the birthplace of the renaissance painter Raphael. 

Join our liked minded food, wine and culture aficionados/seekers and let's eat, drink and be very Italian!!!! Bellissimo!!

One of our highlights on the tour, we will meet Niccio, the family Patriarch and Wine Maker, 90+ years and still going strong at his family run winery,  Fattoria Camerone, and taste the local varietals grown on the family estate.