ALEX INTERNATIONAL TOURS PRESENTS…
ITALY 13 days
May 30 -June 11, 2023
Italy, Molise
“Molise is a mountainous region with a wealth of little gems scattered all over the territory, often in the most unexpected places or hidden in nearly inaccessible mountain villages, at the end of scenic, but challenging roads. All of this, of course, makes it a paradise for travelers wishing to explore Italy on an offbeat road trip.”
The Rural Village Stay “le Sette Querce”
11-day tour
October 4th – 14th, 2023 – $4800 all inclusive
Day one: Departure from the USA (Las Vegas or other major USA city)
Day two: Welcome aperitif, dinner
Arrival at Rome Fiumicino airport. Transfer to the structure Rural village “le Sette Querce”
Check in, welcome aperitif with wines and local products. Visit the village on the carriage pulled by donkeys.
Dinner with products of the territory and traditional recipes. Entertainment
Day three: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
San Vincenzo al Volturno is one of the most important abbeys in Europe from the time of Charlemagne. We will visit the remains of the churches, refectory, kitchens, guesthouse, and major basilica of the 9th century. On the site, in the crypt of Epiphanius (visible only to small groups) there is also one of the most important pictorial cycles of the whole early Middle Ages linked to the figure of Mary.
Dating back to the twelfth century is instead the so-called New Abbey where still today, in continuity with the medieval monastic tradition, a Benedictine community operates.
Scapoli is a village of bagpipe builders. A town of medieval origin that preserves in its ancient urban nucleus a museum dedicated to the bag aerophone with a collection of instruments from all over the world. During our visit we will have the opportunity to visit the artisan workshop of a master conductor.
Rocchetta a Volturno – Visit to the International Museum of the World Wars. One of the largest museums in Italy for the number of exhibits, dedicated to the First and Second World Wars, born of the passion of the two directors in the territory where the Italian Liberation Corps was born.
Return to the hotel, dinner, entertainment
Day four: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast departure to the Sacred Complex of the fourth century BC. built at 950 m above sea level, by the Samnite people. Pietrabbondante with temples, theater, craft shops, and domus publica was the place where the entire Samnite population gathered to plan military strategies against the Romans.
Continue to Agnone. The settlement of Lombard origin and great center of craft activities in the twelfth century with the presence of Venetian artists and artisans who came in the wake of the Borrello family.
Among these, the Marinelli family, founder, and owner of the thousand-year-old bell foundry that since 1924, with Pius XI, was portrayed by the Papal Coat of Arms. We will visit the museum and the pontifical foundry.
The day will continue with a walk in the historic center towards the Venetian district with a visit to the Emidiana Library at the church of Saint Emidio
The visit ends at the Di Nucci dairy, a national and international award-winning company to learn about the techniques for making the famous caciocavallo (CHEESE) from Alto Molise
Return to the hotel, dinner, entertainment
Day five: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Pompeii
Pompeii is one of the most visited archaeological sites in the world. We will visit the Roman city covered with the ashes of the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. to learn about the life of the Romans of that era, through streets, fountains, houses, baths, taverns. We will visit the Forum, the Temple of Apollo, the great Amphitheater, the oldest stone construction ever discovered, home to bloody battles between gladiators, the wonderful House of the Faun, an ancient villa of over 3000 square meters, one of the oldest and most majestic houses in the city.
Naples-The Neapolitan subsoil (weather permitting). A network of tunnels and underground tanks of over 2,000,000 square meters used during the Second World War as a refuge from the disastrous bombings. The first artifacts date back to about 5,000 years ago. Subsequently, in the third century B.C, the Greeks opened the first underground quarries to obtain the blocks of tuff necessary to construct the walls and temples of their Neapolis and dug a series of funerary hypogea. The impressive development of the underground network began in Roman times with a complex network of aqueducts.
A walk in the historic center and dinner with Neapolitan pizza.
One of the oldest cities in Europe, whose historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Through the squares and narrow streets of the historic center, in a picturesque and timeless atmosphere you will fall in love with this pearl of the Mediterranean.
Return to the hotel, dinner, entertainment
Day six: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Isernia – Explore the historic center of Isernia “the first capital of Italy” to admire the signs of its evolution in history. The remains of the sacred area, below the neoclassical cathedral dedicated to St. Peter the Apostle, tell the religion, society, and politics of almost two thousand and five hundred years ago.
Visit to the Paleolithic Museum of Isernia – the pine forest dating back to 600,000 years ago where there is the oldest human find in Europe.
Sepino – The city was born after the Romans conquered the ancient settlement of Terravecchia, in the third century B.C. and built a new center in a strategic place on the plain.
The ancient city enclosed by a wall and four doors, saw its apogee in the Augustan age when it was equipped with the Forum, the thermal baths, the basilica, and the wonderful theater.
Saepinum saw the abandonment of its most important buildings and the shrinkage of the inhabited area in the 6th century AD. up to the total abandonment in favor of a more protected and defensible position on high ground in the early Middle Ages.
Today Saepinum shows the whole urban structure of an intact Roman city, so complete that it deserves the nickname of “Little Pompeii”.
Return to the hotel, dinner, entertainment
Day seven: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Caserta, the Royal Palace the “little Versailles of the Kingdom of Naples” last great jewel of the Italian Baroque, built at the turn of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries at the behest of the royal family of the Bourbons of Naples and designed by the architect Luigi Vanvitelli.
Grand, imposing, extraordinary in its beauty and richness so much to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an unmissable destination for anyone visiting Campania.
The visit itinerary includes the monumental Royal Palace with the Hall of Halberdiers and the Hall of the Bodyguards, the Hall of Alexander and the Hall of Mars, the Hall of Astrea, the Throne Room and the Council Room. In addition, of course, to the apartments of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the Palatine Library, the beautiful Hall of the crib, the Royal Hall, the Vestibule, and the famous Palatine Chapel. The wonderful Garden Park of the Royal Palace, one of the most beautiful in Europe with panoramic views, water games, waterfalls and cascades, sculptures, caves and monumental fountains.
Return to the hotel, dinner
Day eight: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Larino – The ancient Larinum, a Roman municipality, extended over a large fertile area that overlooked the valley floor of the lower course of the Biferno river. It was also located at the center of important roads that allowed its rapid development thanks to the numerous and profitable commercial exchanges. Visit to the forum, the amphitheater, the baths, the domus.
In Larino, an oil production company of the famous and excellent variety of extra virgin olive oil “Gentile di Larino” will be visited. The entire production chain will be shown with a visit to the olive grove, a description of the harvesting techniques, a visit to the oil mill and the packaging laboratory. Followed by the tasting of oil with organic products grown in the garden of the owners of the company.
Cooking Class – Italy is famous in the world for its beautiful landscapes, historical, artistic, but also for the flavors of its table. Pasta, bread, pizza are the excellences that best represent it in the world. A chef will teach you how to make homemade bread following the ancient recipes of the local tradition.
Return to the hotel, dinner, entertainment
Day nine: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Montecassino
The monastery is the cradle of Western monasticism and a place of worship visited by thousands of visitors. Montecassino is also known for the tragic events of World War II. On February 15, 1944, 500 tons of bombs were dropped on the abbey and the building was razed to the ground
Roccapipirozzi
The village of Roccapipirozzi is of medieval origin and the signs of the architecture built for defensive purposes are still clearly visible. The fortress has an articulated and irregular plan, conditioned by the natural course of the spur of the fortress on which an ancient cylindrical tower is developed and preserved, which is part of a larger structure relating to the feudal lord’s dwelling. In the village a redevelopment project is underway with the construction of 80 rooms, museums, craft shops and various commercial activities. Everything is designed with respect for the traditions of the place and in the use of ancient materials
Return to the hotel, dinner, entertainment
Day ten: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Venafro
Ancient city of Roman origin that had numerous and valuable remains of this era in its historic center: the theater, the amphitheater, the numerous inscriptions and sculptures incinto the buildings.
We will visit the Pandone castle with the marvelous sixteenth-century frescoes created by Enrico Pandone, lord of the city, with horses in low-level life-size.
Venafro is also the city of oil, the most famous and expensive in the whole Roman Empire. To praise the quality of the precious Venafrano oil were Cato, Orazio, Plinio, Giovenale. The tour includes a short visit to the historic olive tree regional park and a course of extra virgin olive oil tasters.
Monteroduni
Molise is also a land of grapes, almonds, hazelnuts. We will visit, with tasting, the Valerio Winery to learn about the DOC wines of the Region combined with the flavors of the territory and the Papa Chocolate factory, famous in Italy and in the world.
Return to the hotel, dinner and entertainment.
Day eleven: Return to USA
Breakfast\Transfer to Rome Fiumicino airport
Price $4, 800 Includes:
English speaking tour guides
Flight from Las Vegas or other Major USA airport to Rome/return to USA
Transfers (airport to hotel/hotel to airport)
9 nights stay at The Rural Village “le Sette Querce”
Welcome reception/donkey cart ride
Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners (wine, mineral water)
Entertainment
All entrances to sites
English speaking our guides
Tour bus
Cooking class
Oil tasting
Wine tasting
Cheese tasting
ALEX INTERNATIONAL TOURS PRESENTS…
ITALY 13 days
May 30 -June 11, 2023
Rome: Vatican City – San Giovanni Rotondo: San Pio
Cascia: Santa Rita di Cascia – Santa Maria degli Angeli
Assisi: San Francesco d’Assisi and Santa Chiara
October 13th to 23rd, 2023
( 10 nights) $5,800
This tour is part of a Pilgrimage with the Our Lady of the Lake Church and that Fr. Tony will be accompanying the group.
THE TUSCANY WAY
alexinternationaltours.com
Florence – Chianti Trambusti – Villa Le Piazzole = Siena Brolio Castle, — Poderi Di Capo D’Uomo
Alex International presents The Tuscany Way!! This amazing adventure explores an area of Italy that is not the typical Tourist bound Italy. This is a part of our series on Italy. This region offers a unique landscape, with green, flowing hills covered with fields of vineyards and olive groves. You will explore the towns, the castles & the vineyards. These beauties of Italy will be visited at a time of year where the weather is splendid, and crowds seem to lessen. Check out our itinerary and sign up asap. Spaces are limited.
Day 1 | Flight Las Vegas – Florence | |
Day 2 | Peretola Airport Florence
Arrival & Transfer to Chianti Trambusti (2 nights) |
Welcome to Florence! Upon arrival, your private driver transfers you to Chianti Trambusti where you check-in at your hotel.
The rest of the day is at your own leisure to relax after the trip. |
Day 3 | Visiting Wineries with Wine &
Cheese Tasting |
Enjoy breakfast at your accommodation.
Today with your driver you set-off for an exciting day trip to explore local vineyards of the region. With this wine tasting experience, you will have the opportunity to visit the vineyards and the cellar to discover the vinification process. After the visit, you will enjoy a tasting in the showroom with the guide of an expert sommelier who will teach you how to examine the main sensorial characteristics. You will taste different wines paired with local Italian cheese tasting.
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Day 4 | Transfer to Villa Le Piazzole & Wine Touring with Tasting (2 nights) | Today after breakfast you check-out and have a private transfer to your next destination – Villa Le Piazzole. Along the way today you discover the charming wineries with visit – 2 wineries and their cellars, as well as organic farm. We will taste Wine, olive oil and enjoy local Italian snacks. Upon arrival you are taken to your accommodation for the check-in |
Day 5 | Day at Own Leisure | Today you have a free day at own leisure.
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Day 6 | Transfer to Poderi di Capo D’Uomo with Siena Brolio Castle & Farmhouse Picnic (3 nights) | Today after breakfast you check-out and have a private transfer to your next destination – Poderi di Capo D’Uomo. Along the way we plan to stop for a visit to Siena Brolio Castle. The castle of Brolio has a Longobard origin, although today of the ancient original small fortress remain only the location. Its role in the history began to be remarkable at the beginning of the 12th century when the powerful feudal family of the Ricasoli from Cacchiano took office on it. Still today the castle belongs to their descendants. The castle rises at the center of boundless vineyards, from which since 1141 the Ricasoli distilled their famous wines, place to grow old in the cellars inside the mighty walls of the fortress. Then enjoy a local farmhouse picnic. Today we prepare everything for you – a delicious Italian meal, local specialties, and everything is covered for your joyful time. A basket full of zero-kilometer products, food and drinks from local producers, first fruits and fresh products. Classic red checkered tablecloth, glass cups, reusable containers, recycled paper plates and napkins. Your destination for the day – Poderi di Capo D’Uomo. Upon arrival you are taken for the check-in and have the rest of the afternoon free. |
Day 7 | Free Day with Afternoon Wine & Cheese Tasting | Today after breakfast you have free day to relax. In the evening meet your fellow travelers for a wine tasting organized for your small group. Enjoy a tasting of 3 different wines selected by the sommelier and paired with local Italian cheese tasting and snacks |
Day 8 | Hidden Gems In Grosseto with Wine Tasting | Today after breakfast enjoy a guided tour to Grosseto. The town dates to the Early Middle Ages, and it later grew in importance before becoming one of the most prominent cities in Tuscany. Between the 12th and 15th centuries, Siena, Florence, and the Spanish ruled Grosseto, but it was under the Medici family that the city was transformed into a fortress. In 1574, defensive walls began to be built, which are still well maintained today, and the area was drained, and road networks installed. Following the Lorraine takeover, Grosseto continued to flourish. Today, Grosseto is a beautiful city surrounded by a green plain, and by walking along its streets and observing its monuments, you can witness 12 centuries of history. After, enjoy a brief guided tour of the town you proceed for a visit to local authentic wineries in the beautiful Grosseto Hills. Meet local winemakers, walk through stunning vineyards, and sample local wines and products. |
Day 9 | Transfer to Florence (1 night) | After breakfast you check-out and have a morning transfer to Florence. Upon arrival to Florence, you are taken to your hotel for the check-in. The Afternoon is free at your own leisure. |
Day 10 | Return to the U.S.A | Following breakfast in your hotel, you check out and meet your driver for a transfer to the airport for your flight back home |
included activities
1. Visiting Wineries with Wine & Cheese Tasting in
Chianti Trambusti
2. Transfer to Villa Le Piazzole & Wine Touring with
Tasting
3. Siena Brolio Castle
4. Afternoon Wine & Cheese Tasting in Poderi di Capo D’Uomo
5. Hidden Gems In Grosseto with Wine Tasting
6. Countryside Farmhouse Picnic
Arrival Transfer
Departure Transfer
What’s included
Round-trip flights on major carriers
Accommodation at remarkable hotels.
Breakfasts at the hotels.
Airport transfers and all transportation according to the itinerary; Breathtaking sightseeing tours according to the itinerary with professional English-speaking guides.
Support line during the trip.
Not included:
multiple arrival/departure transfers,
other meals not mentioned in the program,
optional tours and services,
all personal expenses.
Note: Stress-free Booking Book your journey without stress and at convenient pace. You can pay a deposit of 25% to book any tour in any major currency; the final balance will be due 90 days before start date. In event if you decide to change or postpone your trip, you can transfer your deposit to any other packages we offer. No refunds will be issued after the 90 days deadline. Cruise bookings and special offers may be subject to different booking terms. (See our Policy on our website. Copy available upon request.) Trip Assurance If you need our assistance during your trip, you can call our support line available from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and weekends. (One of our tour directors will also accompany you on all our tours.)
Single occupancy supplement: $549 USD extra
From May 31st to June 13th, 2019 (14 days) (land and sea)
The price includes:
For the Italy land tour
For the MSC Mediterranean cruise
The price does not include:
For the Italy land tour
For the MSC Mediterranean cruise
Price
Double inside “fantastic” cabin and double room (hotel) $ 4149
Double ocean view “fantastic” cabin and double room (hotel) $ 4945
Double balcony “fantastic” cabin and double Room (hotel) $ 5250
Father Chauncey Winkler of Our Lady of the Lake, and Father Steve Kunkel of St. Thomas The Apostle Parish in Phoenix will accompany you on this 14 days Mystery of Faith pilgrimage
September 8th to the 21st, 2021