PREMIUM GOLDEN WEEK IN UMBRIA AND ROME:

For Women Only

SPRING 2025

led by Author Susan Van Allen

Susan Van Allen infuses her tours with enthusiasm, engagement and enchantment! She is exceptional in her knowledge of the area we visited and ensured we felt both part of a group yet individually independent. We had the trip of a lifetime…
-Christina, Massachusetts

Join Susan Van Allen, author of 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go, for an inspiring Premium Golden Week in two beautiful locations, Umbria and Rome. You’ll have an insider’s experience —meeting my friends—from chefs to truffle hunters to weavers and artisans who craft ceramics and stained glass, along with guides who are passionate about sharing their hometowns. We’ll have fun staying in historic luxurious hotels, enjoying enchanting hill towns, breathtaking sunsets, splendors of Baroque Rome, and experiencing a range of masterpieces—from Giotto’s
Renaissance frescoes in Assisi to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel in Rome. All along the way will
be delicious food, the very best wines, and joyful toasts.

This is a Gift of La Dolce Vita=the Sweet Life, custom-designed to fully immerse you in Italy’s
inspiring, delicious, and rejuvenating pleasures. AND it’s a PREMIUM Golden Week — featuring 8 nights, instead of our traditional 7.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Depart USA to Rome
Day 2: Welcome to Perugia and Your Golden Week
Day 3: Taste Umbria – Truffle Hunt and Cooking Class
Day 4: Treasures of Perugia, Chocolate Included / Amazing Assisi
Day 5: Discover Deruta, Town of Ceramics / Splendors of Spello, with Olive Oil Tasting
Day 6: Fairytale Town of Gubbio / Women’s Weaving Workshop in Perugia
Day 7: Dazzling Orvieto / Welcome to Rome
Day 8: Rome Historic Center Orientation / Saint Peter’s Basilica and Sistine Chapel
Day 9: La Dolce Vita in Rome / Roman Forum at Sunset / Farewell Dinner
Day 10: Arrivederci Roma

SPRING 2025

For more information, Contact Susan Van Allen @: 100placesinitaly@gmail.com

Full Itinerary:

Golden Day 1: Depart USA: ANDIAMO!

You’ll be packed (with my tips) and full of joyful anticipation…as you take the overnight flight to Rome.

OR you may wish to arrive earlier, so you’ll have an evening in Rome to relax before the private bus transfer from Rome to Perugia – a three-hour drive.
Italy Vacations will happily arrange your pre-tour hotel night in Rome.

Golden Day 2: Welcome to Your Golden Week and Perugia

Benvenuta!

Your driver will transport you from Rome’s airport through the countryside of dreamy rolling hills to Umbria — a region of breathtaking enchantment.

By afternoon, you’ll arrive in the medieval hill town of Perugia, and settle into the Hotel Brufani.

You’ll immediately be charmed by this 5-star property that’s been welcoming guests since 1884 with its warmth, elegance, and splendid location, perched above green valleys, for panoramic views.

There will be time to unpack, relax, perhaps enjoy the spa and indoor swimming pool, or explore the surrounding historic center.

In the evening we’ll gather to toast the week ahead. I’ll give you tips about keeping a travel journal, so you can create a treasured souvenir of your week through journaling.

We’ll dine in the hotel’s Collins’ restaurant, where chefs transform the best local ingredients into delicious traditional dishes – the first of many memorable meals.

MEALS: D

Golden Day 3: Taste Umbria

After enjoying your morning cappuccino and abundant hotel breakfast buffet, we’ll take a drive to a family-run farm to immerse ourselves in the flavors of Umbria.

Cooking Class will begin with a truffle hunt in the surrounding woods, where we’ll follow trained dogs as they sniff out these fragrant tubular treasures.

We’ll bring our finds back to the farm kitchen, where Nonna and her daughters will lead us in a hands-on pasta making class, and teach us other favorite family recipes.

Lunch, feasting on the fruits of our labors, will follow.

Back in Perugia, the afternoon and evening are yours to stroll and dine on your own, with my suggestions.

Choices range from rustic trattorias to sophisticated ristorantes.

MEALS: B, L

Golden Day 4: Treasures of Perugia, with Chocolate Tasting / Amazing Assisi

This morning we’ll discover treasures of Perugia—stunning stained glass, delicious chocolate, and rich history.

We’ll begin at a family-run workshop where stained glass has been crafted for over a century, producing masterpiece windows for churches and private villas all over the world. Our welcoming guide Giorgio will lead us through his family’s workshop history, as we admire rooms filled with colorful glass creations and watch an artisan at work.

We’ll continue our Perugia discovery day with our local guide Elisabetta, for a fascinating walk through the historic center, including a visit to the Duomo.

As Perugia is nicknamed City of Chocolate, we’ll also stop at a shop for a chocolate tasting, for an immersive experience of this delicious treat.

There will be free time for lunch on your own and shopping with our recommendations or relaxing back at our nearby hotel.

In the afternoon, we are off with Elisabetta to Assisi, City of Saint Francis.

Saint Francis – Sermon to the Birds – by Giotto

The highlight here is the Basilica di San Francisco, where we’ll be guided through masterpiece frescoes that tell the story of the saint, painted by Giotto, Father of the Renaissance. Assisi also has a great history of worshipping females, so strolling through the historic center we’ll admire remains of the Roman Temple of Minerva and the Gothic Basilica of Santa Chiara, a follower of Saint Francis.

There will be free time at the magic sunset hour for shopping and aperitivo on our own. Then we’ll regroup for a cozy dinner at one of Assisi’s most beloved restaurants.

MEALS: B, D

Golden Day 5: Discover Deruta, Town of Ceramics / Splendors of Spello

Today we are off with our guide Elisabetta to Italy’s most famous ceramic town: Deruta.

Artisans have been working here since the Renaissance, and we’ll visit a family-run store/workshop that began in the sixteenth century and continues to create beauties sold internationally.

We’ll watch painters at work and have free time in this unique hilltop spot for a caffe break and to browse other colorful shops and Gothic churches.

At lunchtime, we’ll move on to Spello, praised as “One of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy,” beloved for its charming alleyways, Roman gates, and rosy-stone buildings. Lunch, in a delightful women-owned enoteca, begins with an olive oil tasting, and an expert who will enlighten us about olive oil—one of Umbria’s most prized products.

After lunch we’ll have free time to stroll and enjoy lovely shops, and then visit Spello’s greatest treasure: Cappella Baglioni in the Santa Maria Maggiore church, adorned with masterpiece Renaissance frescoes by Pinturrichio.

Back in Perugia, the rest of the day is at your leisure—to enjoy the hotel spa, shopping and aperitivo in the historic center, and dinner on your own.

MEALS: B, L

Golden Day 6: Fairytale Gubbio / Perugia Weaver’s Workshop

This morning we’ll go to Gubbio, a town that’s a perfect set for a fairytale—topped by a Gothic palazzo, backed by a mountainous forest.

GUBBIO – Image by sebastiano iervolino from Pixabay

We’ll be guided through its medieval center, imagining knights on horseback at the majestic Piazza Grande, and discover bronze tablets from the first century BC, (aka Umbria’s “Rosetta Stone”) in the Palazzo dei Consoli.

We’ll have lunch together in an elegant, historic restaurant, followed by free time to stroll and enjoy Gubbio’s churches, architecture, and shops, where antiques, jewelry, and ceramics, painted with a distinctive gold and ruby red lustre are sold.

Back in Perugia we’ll be treated to a private tour of a weaving workshop, located in what was formerly The Women’s Church of Saint Francis.

Perugia’s weaving tradition began in the Middle Ages and was passed down from women to women through generations. When the industrial age threatened its demise, the tradition was saved by a schoolteacher-entrepreneur, who created this workshop in 1921 to employ local women.

The founder’s great-granddaughter Marta carries on the workshop today, and we will watch her weaving on antique looms, hear her fascinating stories, and admire magnificent creations that range from copies of Medieval patterns to contemporary designs.

After this inspiring day, the evening is at your leisure, to enjoy the sunset and have dinner on your own in Perugia.

MEALS: B, L

Golden Day 7: Extraordinary Orvieto / Welcome to Rome

This morning we’ll say arrivederci to Perugia and head off to Rome.

On the way, we’ll stop in a place that delivers the most dazzling Umbrian experience: the hilltop town of Orvieto. The highlight here is Orvieto’s Duomo, adorned with glittering mosaics, shimmering marble, and statuary.

With our local guide Lucianna, we’ll venture inside to be awestruck by Luca Signorelli’s frescoes, which inspired Michelangelo.

As you will be in Orvieto on Market Day, the historic center will be extra colorful with stalls selling produce, clothing, and crafts.

You’ll enjoy free time exploring Orvieto’s vias and alleyways, and have lunch on your own, with our recommendations.

In the afternoon, we’ll arrive in Rome. Whether it’s your first time, or you’re returning, the Eternal City will overwhelm you with its Great Beauty.

You’ll check into the Hotel Ponte Sisto, a property that dates back to the Renaissance, perfectly located next to Rome’s Tiber River, in the historic center.

A welcoming aperitivo on the rooftop, with views of church cupolas, will complete the Buona Sera experience.

We’ll dine nearby, enjoying our first tastes of Rome’s bold flavors and its vibrant nighttime atmosphere.

MEALS: B, D

Golden Day 8: Discover Wonders of Rome / Amazing Saint Peter’s and Sistine Chapel

After a delicious breakfast in the hotel’s courtyard, our Roman guide Federica will lead us on a walking tour of Rome’s historic center.

Among many highlights and gorgeous fountains, we’ll see the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva church, and have a break at Rome’s oldest and most elegant caffe—Antico Caffe Greco.

The walk will end at lunch time in Trastevere, a charming neighborhood long beloved by artists, where there are many great eateries you can enjoy on your own, with our suggestions.

Later in the the afternoon we’ll regroup with Federica for a visit to one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions: Vatican City.

Vatican City – Image by Paula Flan from Pixabay

We’ll begin at Saint Peter’s Basilica, with its awe-inspiring grand Renaissance baroque interior and Michelangelo’s masterpiece—the Pieta.

As we always take our time to savor these glorious experiences, we’ll take a dinner break together in Vatican City, before our special Skip the Line evening visit to the Vatican Museums—when the big daytime crowds are gone!

Federica will guide us through the museum’s many wonders, including the Belvedere Apollo and Raphael’s “School of Athens,” until we finally arrive at the breathtaking Sistine Chapel.

MEALS: B, D

Golden Day 9: La Dolce Vita in Rome / Roman Forum at Sunset / Farewell Dinner

Today is your day to enjoy Rome according to your desires. We’ll help you plan an experience that’s best for you. We can arrange a guided visit to the Colosseum, the art collection at the Villa Borghese, a curated shopping experience, tours of Rome’s palazzos or masterpiece filled churches — there are many possibilities!

We’ll meet as a group in the late afternoon with Federica to see the Roman Forum at sunset, when it is at its glowing best.

Among this site’s great stories, Federica will be sure to include those that involve women – such as the Basilica Julia and the Temple of the Vestal Virgins.

After sunset, we’ll have our final celebration of our week – an elegant farewell dinner overlooking the Eternal City.

MEALS: B, D

Golden Day 10: Arrivederci!

Our driver will transport you to the Rome airport or train station, where you’ll depart with Golden Memories of our week together…

Meals Included: B

*Itinerary subject to change. If changes need to be made because of weather or unforeseen circumstances, replacement events will be equally as awesome as above.

*Activity Level: Bring comfortable walking shoes! The hill towns of Umbria and historic center of Rome are mostly pedestrian only, and our time there will include walking together to discover their treasures and time for you to go at your own pace–which may range from settling into a caffe to people watch or exploring further if you wish. There are also bus rides, some on curvy country roads, which require those with motion sickness to take precautions.

What’s Included:

Entertaining hosting by author Susan Van Allen, focusing on Italy’s celebration of all things female
8 nights at First-Class Hotels, 5 nights Brufani Palace Hotel in Perugia and 3 nights Hotel Ponte Sisto in Rome
Transportation by private minibus, including arrival transfers from Rome airport to Perugia and departure transfers to Rome airport or train station.
Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel
5 multi-course dinners, with wine
1 cooking class in Umbria, including truffle hunt, followed by lunch
1 olive oil tasting in Spello, followed by lunch
Chocolate tasting in Perugia
1 lunch in Gubbio
Guided visits to artisan workshops: stained glass, ceramics, and weaving
Guided tours by charming local experts, with whisper headsets in Perugia Historic Center, Assisi, Deruta, Spello, Gubbio, Orvieto, Rome’s historic Center, Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel), and Roman Forum at sunset
Entrance fees to museum and monuments, including Skip-the-Line entrances to Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi and Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel)
Gratuities for group activities: guides, drivers, and servers at group meals
Pre-Trip Booklet with Packing List
Travel journal
$25 Donation to UNICEF

This week is expertly designed with a balance of planned group and free-time independent experiences.

What’s Not Included:

Airfare
Meals not specified in itinerary
Optional Travel Insurance
Everything not mentioned under “What’s Included”

La Dolce Vita!

Perfection! You gave us just want you promised and then some.
–Diana, Oregon

The week is expertly designed and hosted by Susan Van Allen, with a balance of planned group and free-time independent experiences.

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