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Between The Marche and Romagna
5 Days Tour starting from Rimini
Day
1 Arrival, dinner and overnight in a nice 3 star hotel at the Adriatic
coast,
in the Rimini area.
Day 2 THE MONTEFELTRO REGION, URBINO AND GRADARA
Dominating a panorama of green hills and majestic mountains, Urbino is famous
throughout the world for the inestimable masterpieces (by Raphael, Titian, Piero
della Francesca…), housed in the National Gallery within the Ducal Palace.
Capital of the duchy of the great Montefeltro family, birthplace of
Raphael and historic university town, Urbino was at the peak of its glory in
15th century, when Duke Federico gathered the greatest artists and writers of
the time to his court. Visit of the magnificent castle of Gradara, where the
tragic love story of Paolo and Francesca is supposed to have taken place as
narrated by Dante Alighieri in his Divine Comedy.
Day
3 THE NATIONAL PARK OF THE PO DELTA AND RAVENNA
Departure to the Po river delta to visit to the Abbey of Pomposa, a masterpiece
of Romanesque architecture founded by the Benedictine Monks in the 6th century.
Boat trip in the Po delta, which is now a beautiful National Park with an
uncontaminated nature.
Typical lunch with a fish menu on board during the excursion. Visit to Ravenna, the last capital of the Western Roman Empire and then capital of Ostrogothic and Byzantine Italy. The city also possesses the world’s most glorious concentration of Early Christian and Byzantine mosaics, which have been declared world heritage by Unesco.
Day
4 FLAVOURS AND TRADITION IN ROMAGNA AND SAN MARINO
Visit to the medieval noble town of Santarcangelo. Its upper medieval quarter is
crowned by a solid fortress with a breathtaking panorama. The old town is built
on a mysterious net of caves of great architectural value. Visit to an artisan
shop which has been printing fabrics using the same fascinating traditional
methods since 1600. These methods are still a secret, and are the heritage of an
ancient Romagna popular decorative art. Visit to a wine estate located in an
ancient 11th-century castle, on low hills immersed in rows of green vines. A
tasting of the top quality wines produced by the winery will be organised in the
castle’s enchanting wine cellar. On the rough mountainous area is the fortress
of San Leo, situated on an insurmountable mass of rock overlooking the Marecchia
Valley. Over the centuries many illustrious characters, from Dante to Saint
Francis, passed through the gates of the impregnable fortress, which now
serves as a museum and art gallery.
Relax
and tax-free shopping in San Marino, the oldest republic of the world. Its
winding lanes and high towers, from which you can join a marvelous view over the
Montefeltro territory and the Adria coast, are enchanting. Typical dinner in a
characteristic spot where you can taste some of the finest local wines and
gastronomic specialities, as the famous Piadina bread and Sangiovese wine.
Day 5 Departure
Cost From € 350,00 per person in double room - Minimum 20 persons
From € 82,00 single room supplement
June & September supplement from € 19,00 p.p. in double room - July & August on request
4 star supplement from € 80,00 p.p. in double room (from € 27,00 in single room)
The price includes
4 nights on B&B basis in a 3 star hotel at the Adriatic coast, 4 dinners in
hotel, English speaking escort
during all excursions, boat trip in the Po delta with fish lunch on board,
shuttle bus to San Leo fortress, visit
to a fabric workshop in Santarcangelo, wine tasting in a castle, typical dinner
in the hills around San Marino
Price does not include
Coach transfers and entrance taxes to the cities, beverage during meals and
entrance to monuments unless
otherwise stated
Other option suggestions to extend your stay
Visit
of Pesaro, birthplace of Gioacchino Rossini. During the summer months the
city hosts the annual Rossini Opera festival in honour of its celebrated
townsman. Pesaro boasts a number of medieval and Renaissance monuments, and
comprises an historic centre complemented by a modern quarter which extends out
towards the sea.
Rimini
has more than just the sea to offer visitors; its history starts from its
foundation in Roman days and then moves into the memorable era of the powerful
Malatesta dynasty. The Arch of Augustus, the Tiberius’ Bridge, the Malatestiana
Temple with the wonderful frescoes by Piero della Francesca and the Sigismondo
Castle are all important monuments worth seeing in this surprising city.
Visit of Ferrara, where the whole historical centre has been declared Unesco World Heritage. Ferrara is also known as “the bicycle town” and is best visited with a bicycle tour through the small middle age alleys and beautiful Renaissance streets. The past and the present come together in this town, where the pace of life is pleasant, calm yet lively at the same time.
The
Conca valley is a land of beautiful rolling hills with the Apennine range as a
striking backdrop. Many fortresses and fortified towns lie behind these hills,
and the entire Valconca is a constant delight for the beauty of its countryside
and its vistas, which always include the sea. The walls and fortified gates, the
monumental fortress and the old town itself are witness of the fascinating
history of Mondaino, which has a unique circular central square known as the
“Piazza della Padella,” or frying-pan square. Tasting of local specialities in
an old mill which dates back to the 14th century, including the famous
“formaggio di fossa” cheese, matured in three large pits which are dug into the
local sandstone rock.
