Preliminary Itinerary
Thursday 04 October 2012
Fly from USA
Friday 05 October
Arrival Rome and transfer to the Hotel Mediterraneo for check-in. (If there are at least two of you, a taxi is somewhat reasonable for the transfer. If you are by yourself, the train is far more cost effective. The hotel is two blocks from Termini station.) Use the rest of the day for recovery. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Saturday 06 October
Breakfast at the hotel (every morning.) Coach transfer to Ascoli Piceno. We will not take a direct route--I will have the bus take a short detour for a for a lunch (optional?) stop in Norcia. After checking into the Hotel 100 Torri, we will take a short orientation walk around our neighborhood. Dinner and overnight in Ascoli Piceno.
Sunday 07 October
City tour of Ascoli Piceno. Our guide and I will choose among the many attractions including Piazza Arringo with the Cattedrale and Battistero, Palazzetto Roverella, Vescovado, Palazzo Arengo, Chiesa romanica di S. Gregorio, Piazza del Popolo (sosta al Caffè Meletti, veduta della Piazza), chiesa di San Francesco (la Loggia dei Mercanti, i portali, l'interno della chiesa), Il quartiere medievale (la chiesa dei SS. Vincenzo e Anastasio, il Palazzetto Longobardo con la torre degli Ercolani). There are also some interesting Roman ruins and a fine archaeological museum. Dinner and overnight in Ascoli Piceno.
Monday 08 October
After breakfast and a little free time to see some of the sites we missed yesterday, we will visit the wine cellar “Caniettu” which has made organic wines for three generations. We will then have a master cooking course at the winery followed by lunch in the winery. After lunch we will visit the local wine village of Repatransone. Return to Ascoli Piceno for free time, dinner on your own and overnight at the Hotel 100 Torri. Dinner and overnight in Ascoli Piceno.
Tuesday 09 October
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and depart at 10:00 for the Medieval Village of MonteFortino below the Sibillini Mountains where we meet our truffle hunter Alberto with his dog. We will then learn about the cultivation of truffles and then search for wild truffles in the area. Hopefully we will find some since this will constitute a major part of our lunch! We will then proceed to nearby Amandola for an apertivo and lunch in a local Osteria hopefully using the truffles that we found in the morning. After lunch we will take the short drive to Sarnano and the Hotel Terme. Upon arrival and check-in, I will lead us on an informal walkabout in my new home town. There is one Medieval painting in the local museum which is definitely worth a look/see. After the museum, I will either walk us all the way to the Piazza Alta at the top of the town or, if we want to skip the cardiovascular workout, we will drop back down to World Headquarters of BET--my apartment. Since lunch was included, dinner is on your own. Overnight in Sarnano.
Wednesday 10 October
I have asked Monica Bruni, a knowledgeable, English speaking realtor here in Le Marche, to arrange for real estate showings in the area. People ask me all the time what it is like to live over here. What better way to answer the question than by looking at houses? I've asked Monica to show us farmhouses, both restored and needing work, villas, as well as town apartments. I think you will find it interesting even if you would never consider becoming an ex pat. We will stop for lunch along the way and return to Sarnano in the late afternoon. Since lunch was included, dinner is on your own. Overnight in Sarnano.
Thursday 11 October
Thursday is Market Day in Sarnano and our hotel is in the thick of things. Sit out on the terrace with a cappuccino and watch the vendors set up. Later, mingle with the locals and see what they buy. At 10:00, check out of hotel. On our way to Portonovo, we will stop first at the ancient site of Urbs Salvia, modern Urbisaglia. Alaric and his men sacked the city in 408 on their way to sack Rome in 410. Of special interest is the cistern on the hill above the site. We will continue on to Loreto, a famous pilgrimage site. We will take several hours to explore the town and have lunch (independent) before continuing to the incredible Hotel Fortina Napoleonico. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Friday 12 October
Free day to take advantage of this beautiful area. Walk on the beach, hike up a hill, sleep in, catch up on your email, get a massage--enjoy! Dinner and overnight in Fortina Napoleonico.
Saturday 13 October
Morning departure for Urbino, a university town inland, but high enough that you can see the Adriatic. After checking into the Hotel San Domenico, we will walk across the piazza for a guided visit of Duke Federico's famed palace. Afternoon free to explore the town and/or visit some museums. Dinner and overnight in Urbino.
Sunday 14 October
Today we return to Rome. Instead of taking the Autostrada, I will suggest to our driver take a more direct route across the Appenines. It should be beautiful and we will make several stops along the way, including a lunch stop (optional) in Assisi. Arrival and check in to the Hotel Mediterraneo. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Monday 15 October
Check-out and transfer to FCO for return flight or stay on in Rome. For those of you staying on in Rome, we will continue staying at the Hotel Mediterraneo with breakfasts and dinners provided. Activities to be decided later.
Tuesday 16 October
Rome Option continues
Wednesday 17 October
Rome Option continues
Thursday 18 October
Check-out and transfer to airport for flight home. (Or stay on at the hotel at the group rate.)