Our next trip - October 21 through October 27, 2007 - will take us to Italy for the first in a series of regional trips to explore this fascinating country. We will spend a night in the Eternal City of Rome before departing for enchanting Tuscany. While in Tuscany, we will learn about the vanished civilization of the mysterious Etruscans, wander through ancient medieval hill towns famous for their wines, sample the unique flavors of olive oils and cheeses, listen to Gregorian chants sung by modern day monks in a 12th century monastery and revel in the spectacular scenery of this dramatic region of Bella Italia. We will also venture into neighboring Umbria for a day to visit a hill town founded by the Etruscans long before the rise of Rome.

Our home during our Tuscan adventure will be a beautifully restored 16th century convent which is now one of Italy's finest agriturismos. We will have the opportunity to participate in cooking classes to learn how to prepare some very special Tuscan treats. Each spacious guest room has a private bathroom and is beautifully furnished with family heirlooms. From high on the hill, expansive views extend across the olive groves to the valley below and the distant mountains.

We will dine each morning and evening in the charming dining room decorated in true Tuscan style and perhaps, weather permitting, enjoy an evening in the delightful outdoor dining pavilion enveloped in the fragrance of huge rosemary bushes.

This exciting Tuscan odyssey will include visits to Montepulciano - a melange of architectural styles with spectacular views where we will have an opportunity to sample the delicious Vino Nobile; a Pre-Romanesque abbey - once visited by Charlemagne - which lay in ruins for more than 500 years before being restored in the 1990s; a large vineyard and winery - where we will taste three of its fine wines including the famous Brunello; the Renaissance gem Pienza - known for its pecorino cheese and charming narrow streets; Siena - home of the breakneck Palio horse race, exquisite mosaic floors in its Duomo, and perhaps the most beautiful square in Italy, Il Campo; San Gimignano - whose spectacular towers suggest a medieval Manhattan skyline and where the white wines are a refreshing delight; Chiusi - famous for its extensive Etruscan artifacts and tombs; and the Umbrian hill town of Orvieto - where we will tour one of Italy's finest Gothic buildings, explore historic Etruscan caves, and visit a small enoteca to sip three very special wines.

Included in this once in a lifetime Tuscan experience are:

• One night accommodation in Rome, evening tour and dinner
• Transportation from Rome to Chiusi and return to Rome by train
• Five nights accommodation in Tuscan agriturismo, breakfast and dinner daily (including 1/4 liter wine and mineral water each evening)
• Transportation to each destination from our agriturismo and return
• Wine tastings at Montalcino winery and Orvieto enoteca
• Museum entries in Orvieto and Chiusi (guide to Etruscan caves included)
• Two lessons in the art of Tuscan cooking at our agriturismo
• Professional services of Pauses, Inc. directors and staff who accompany the group

Click here for the complete itinerary.

This tour is land only and does not include airfare, personal expenses such as, but not limited to, insurance, beverages except as noted, telephone calls, internet charges, tips and gratuities, personal expenses and purchases, additional fees, charges and admissions.

The price for this delightful visit to Tuscany is $1,850 per person, based on double occupancy. Single occupancy may be available with an additional supplement; please enquire at the time of your booking. We are also happy to try to match single travelers of the same gender with one another to avoid the single supplement but cannot guarantee that such a match can be made.

Space may be reserved by registering with Pauses, Inc and making a deposit of 50% at time of booking. Final payment is due 45 days prior to commencement of tour. Please be sure to read the Pauses, Inc. cancellation policies.

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