MALATESTA & MONTEFELTRO
A journey through the history of Romagna, Marche and the Republic of San Marino


PHILOSOPHY AND HIGHLIGHTS

You can divide this journey in three different parts:
beginning: VENICE for 2 days, for a great and romantic welcome to Italy
end: FLORENCE for 2 days for an immersion in Italian Renaissance

middle:
- from the third day to the sixth included, will be the time of “floating emotions”, a full immersion in old but yet intact, perfectly preserved, medieval villages, unhurried lifestyle, where the time flows so slowly, - forget the clock at home, just breath, your soul is gonna be king; moreover, you will discover a free foreign Republic in the heart of this region, suspended in the clouds
- from day seven to day ten you will be immersed in La Dolce Vita of Federico Fellini atmosphere, with dinners in the garden of the Grand Hotel or in the court of a privately owned medieval castle. You will be able to enjoy activities including food and wine tasting.

PROGRAM

1st day. Arrival at Marco Polo Venice Airport. Transfer by shuttle to the Hotel. After checking in, there’s time at leisure to relax, have a nap or explore Venice by catching the Vaporetto. Dinner on your own.

2nd day: You will begin your day with breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast you will catch the vaporetto to reach one of the three Islands of the Lagoon, Murano, worldwide famous for its blown glass. You can learn about the history of glass at the glass museum, or just browse in the many shops. After that a
walk through the streets of Venice (or a short ride on the vaporetto) will bring you to the famous Rialto Bridge and the old Rialto Market, filled with animated local color and a wide variety of species of fish and produce you have probably never seen before. There is also a dizzying array of ties, scarves, masks,
and glass pieces – so hard to choose! You will meander through the streets of Venice to Piazza San Marco. In the Basilica, you will marvel at the glittering gold mosaics depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments, and be dazzled by the Pala d’ Oro, a silver screen encrusted with 1,927 precious jewels. Our last site of the day is the magnificent 12th century pink and white marble Doge’s palace, where you will gain an understanding of the power, wealth and culture of the Venice of the Middle Ages.
Late afternoon and evening there is free time to take a Gondola ride, wander the streets and get lost, or just sit in a sidewalk café and drink in the beauty that surrounds you. Dinner in a restaurant in Venice.

3rd day: transfer by bus to Ravenna. Ravenna is a treasure trove of art, history and culture of the highest order, a city with ancient origins and a glorious past. It was the capital of the Western Roman Empire, of King Theodoric of the Goths and of the Byzantine Empire in Europe. The basilicas and
baptisteries of the city contain Christendom’s richest heritage of mosaics dating from the 5th and 6th centuries; eight historic buildings are included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO. The mosaics reveal a lot about the theology of the early church, their view of Christ as “The Good Shepherd”, the importance of the martyrs, and the centrality of the Word of God. Dante’s tomb is here, too – much to the chagrin of the Florentines. You will be guided through to the main artistic monuments of the city: Basilica di S.Vitale, Mausoleo di Galla Placidia and the archeological site “Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra”, S. Apollinare in Classe. Lunch in Ravenna.
Late in the afternoon transfer to Santarcangelo di Romagna. Check in and dinner in a very ambient atmosphere restaurant located in the heart of the village that you can reach having a walk through the historical center.

4th day: After breakfast in the hotel, transfer to San Leo and visit to the village with its roman gothic style churches, monuments and the splendid
medieval fortress. Exclusive lunch in the fortress. Transfer to Petrella Guidi, one of the best preserved medieval villages in the Montefeltro area, dated back to the 14th century. In mid afternoon transfer to Sant’Agata Feltria characterized by the impressive octagonal tower of the Fregoso Fortress. From there, you reach Talamello, very famous for the apse and bell tower of its parish church of S. Lorenzo.
Dinner in an outstanding restaurant, partially built in the rock of the mountain, where the famous cheese “Formaggio di Fossa” is being aged. Back to the Hotel.

5th day: Transfer to Pennabilli, a town located in the heart of the Montefeltro, where Malatestas originated. Pennabilli is the adopted city of the Poet Tonino Guerra; here visitors can enjoy a rather special experience: the Places of the Spirit, the Orchard of Forgotten Fruits (Orto dei Frutti Dimenticati), the Sundial Street (Strada delle Meridiane), the Sanctuary of Thoughts (Il santuario dei Pensieri).
After lunch, Transfer to Santarcangelo di Romagna and visit to the two thousands years old tufa caves. Dinner in one of the most impressive and famous
restaurant of the city. Back to the hotel.

6th day: Breakfast in the hotel. Visit to the free Republic of San Marino, the oldest Republic in the world, it’s survived as an independent Country up to day,
entirely surrounded by Italian land. Visit to the fortress, the towers (First Tower, Second Tower and Third Tower), the Palazzo del Podestà, the gate in the Church of S. Francis, the ancient monastery of Santa Chiara and much more. Lunch in a restaurant with a great view on the valley.
First part of the afternoon dedicated to the shopping (San Marino is a tax free zone). Later on visit to the Ferrari Museum.
Back to the hotel. Dinner in an exclusive privately owned medieval castle which will open its doors for you only.

7th day: check out and transfer to Rimini. After checking in, this day is totally dedicated to free activities, including a short trip in the countryside at your choice, or wasting time on the sand of the worldwide well-known beach of Rimini. Fish and seafood dinner.

8th day: after breakfast transfer by bus to the Italia in Miniatura theme park. We can walk along the country, watching the landscape and the main Italian monuments, reproduced in a very faithful small seize copy, go to Venice by sea rail-gondola and enjoy a panoramic view of Italy and Europe by (super) elevated train. Lunch in the park .
In the afternoon, transfer to Gradara, one of the most visited castle in Italy. Located in the Province of Pesaro, it was part of the Malatesta possession. Guided visit to the fortress, where you can walk on an itinerary built on top of the city walls.
Transfer to Gabicce Monte and dinner in a restaurant located on the top of the cliff over viewing the Adriatic sea.

9th day: After breakfast you can choose among a variety of activities:
For the lovers of the green you can enjoy yourself by golfing in history, an amazing 18-holes Golf Club in the valley of the castles.
For the lovers of Italian food, cooking class with famous Italian chefs. It is possible also to schedule a visit to a beautiful winery which dates back to 16th century. In the night farewell dinner at the Grand Hotel di Rimini in the memory of Federico Fellini and his “La Dolce Vita” .

10th day: Check out. We will drive to Florence, the jewel of the Renaissance. Transfer in a four stars hotel in the hearth of city. Lunch. Rest of the day is free.

11th day: breakfast in the hotel. Then, guided tour of the city and its beauties: you will start with the Academy to view Michelangelo’s David. Next, You will visit the Duomo, the heart of the city with its cupola by Brunelleschi, completed in 1240, its campanile by Giotto and Baptistry (exterior) with incomparable bronze doors by Ghiberti. Next, we set out to Piazza della Signoria, the political and historical center of Florence, with its imposing rectangular fortress-palace, Palazzo Vecchio. Across from the Palace we see the Loggia dei Lanzi, with the statues of Perseus by Cellini and the Rape of the Sabines by Giambologna. This afternoon is yours for shopping or personal adventure. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

12th day: check out and back home taking off from Florence Airport.


What's included:
- 11 nights accommodation
- 7 lunches, 11 dinners (including a gala dinner and a dinner in a castle)
- all transfers
- entrance tickets to the Ferrari museum in the Republic of San Marino,) the Italia in miniature
- 24 hr assistance

Not included:
- golf
- cooking class
- use of private beach at Grand Hotel in Rimini
- swimming with sharks

COST: for groups of 20 people Euro 2950 per person
For smaller groups please request a quote


RESERVE by phone or online