Introduction / Overview

A breakdown of the holiday in Italy.

First stop 2 nights in Rome, staying in the Residenza Cellini Hotel.

http://www.residenzacellini.it/

While in Rome we are in walking distance to the Forum the Colliseum and the Palatine. Going to book these on line before we leave for Italy. Book on line and miss the long lines waiting to get in, or so I'm told.

http://www.ticketclic.it/database/B2c__/order.cfm?siteDefID=170&LN=1

Followed by a tour of the underground catacombes with walking rome tours.

http://walkingrome.com/tour.asp?idTour=2&idCatTour=1


For the second day in Rome, it's the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel, again book on line first and miss the long lines for the entrance.

http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?action=booking&codiceLivelloVisita=9&step=1

Followed by a trip to the Borghese Gallery.

http://www.galleriaborghese.it/borghese/en/edefault.htm

Then back with walking rome tours and a tour of Rome by night.

http://walkingrome.com/tour.asp?idTour=6&idCatTour=1


Our third day we leave Rome and pick up a car at Rome Airport and make our way north for our next stay, a few miles out from Gubbio. We are going to spend four nights here. Old friends of mine from Antigua who ran a wonderful restaurant at the time called Harmony Hall. Their place near Gubbio is called Borgo di Carpiano.

http://www.borgodicarpiano.com/index.html

Trying to organize this wine tour while we are staying at the Borgo.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g608939-d1649098-r126640151-Gusto_Wine_Tours-Montefalco_Province_of_Perugia_Umbria.html#REVIEWS


http://www.gustowinetours.com/Gusto_Wine_Tours/Gusto_Wine_Tours.html


Following on from there we drive west from Umbria into Tuscany and spend three nights at a quaint B&B called Palazzina Cesira in Montalcino.

http://www.montalcinoitaly.com/eng/home_cesira.htm

While here, Montalcino is home to the famous Brunello wines, we hope to tour this winery.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g635634-d1598822-Reviews-Ciacci_Piccolomini_d_Aragona-Montalcino_Tuscany.html


http://www.ciaccipiccolomini.com/

Followed by lunch or dinner at Il Leccio, situated in San't angelo in colle.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g635634-d1783516-Reviews-Il_Leccio-Montalcino_Tuscany.html



Our last night will be close to Rome Airport, not booked it yet, but looking at The Seccy Hotel.

http://seccyhotel.hotelinroma.com/

As the holiday goes on I will be adding to the blog, with lots and lots of photos for you to enjoy. So it's Arrivederci for now.

Regards
Mark