Plan ahead for the fall of 2022 and spend 8 days in the beautiful country of Italy. This tour highlights the unforgettable museums of Rome, delicious local food, ancient olive farms, citrus gardens and vineyards all while learning from Ag specialists such as agronomists, farm managers and local producers.
Many countries in Europe and throughout the world have removed the Covid vaccination mandates required for entry. Therefore, we are following these new policy changes and have decided to lift the vaccination requirement for future tours until further notice. For those not fully vaccinated, (less than 3 shots total) you are still required to have a negative Covid test prior to international travel and must show a negative Covid test upon entry. Unvaccinated travelers are also subject to quarantine, depending on the restrictions of the region/state/country. The U.S. still requires a negative test upon re-entry. All travelers (vaccinated and non vaccinated) are subject to quarantine with a positive Covid test.
The large bus will have adequate space for social distancing, cleaned in between stops, and hand sanitizer will be available at all times. If you're interested, you can find more information and register here (the itinerary is available on this link as well).
< >No financial commitment until June 15th. Share this experience with your friends and family and register to reserve your spot today!
Italy Agriculture Market Study Tour October 1-9, 2022
Saturday, Day 1 (October 1) - Depart the U.S. for your overnight flight to Rome.
Sunday, Day 2 (October 2) - Arrival at Rome Fiumicino airport in the morning and meeting with your English speaking guide. Private bus transfer to Rome’s city center and visit to Trevi Fountain, Piazza di Spagna, etc. with a local Rome guide. Next, enjoy an afternoon snack from one of the local food markets in the heart of the city, such as salami, cheese or olives. Your guide will explain where the variety of food comes from, their market for domestic consumption and export opportunities. From here, travel to your hotel for check in.
(L,D)
https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/rome/romsp/hoteldetail
Monday, Day 3 (October 3) - Breakfast at the hotel in Rome. After breakfast, visit the Vatican Museum and take a guided tour of St. Peter’s Square and Church. Lunch will follow at a local restaurant in the Vatican area. The chef and a local food and diet specialist will describe how dishes are created with local ingredients from nearby farms. These dishes can range from risotto, a creamy rice dish or a traditional dish, such as lasagna which has its origins from the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. During your lunch, participate in a meeting with an Ag executive to discuss U.S. markets as it relates to Italy and the greater European Union. After the meeting, a small amount of time will be available to explore the city center monuments and the palaces of the Roman Forum, the Arch of Constantine, the Palatine Hill, Colosseum, etc.
(B,L)
https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/rome/romsp/hoteldetail
Tuesday, Day 4 (October 4) - After breakfast, transfer to Chianciano Terme with a stop in Orvieto for a guided tour and lunch. In the afternoon, visit an olive farm with typical bruschetta paired with a flavorful classic italian “aperitivo” with salted snacks and local wine. Guests will learn about how the average lifespan of an olive tree is 300-600 years old. The olive producer will describe how the acidity of both varieties of wine and olives compliment each other.
Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Chianciano Terme, Tuscany.
(B,L,D)
http://www.grandhoteladmiralpalace.com/
Wednesday, Day 5 (October 5) - Following breakfast, morning farm visit with wheat, lentils, oats and other cereal crops. Guests will learn about how the soil, rainfall amounts and temperature of this region affects cereal crop production. Next, travel to Fanti winery for a tour, lunch and tasting. The Fanti family farm has been producing wine and extra virgin olive oil in the Tuscany region for nearly 200 years. Afterwards, travel back to the hotel. For those interested, travel to the small quaint town of Montepulciano for a short guided tour. Travel back to your hotel in Chianciano Terme.
(B,L)
http://www.grandhoteladmiralpalace.com/
Thursday, Day 6 (October 6) - After breakfast at the hotel in Chianciano Terme, take an early morning farm tour of La Fratta. This example of a short supply chain farm produces organic fodder for their Chianina cattle, a local breed. Next, take part in a full day excursion through the rolling hills of Chianti starting from Siena; Piazza del Campo, which was decorated by the most famous painters of the Sienese school, and the Tower of Mangia, the Dom, the typical lively and narrow streets surrounded by romantic palaces of different “contrade”, etc. (outside visit only). Next, visit the botanical garden at the University of Siena to learn about horticulture in the Tuscany region. In the afternoon, travel to Montecatini Terme.
Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Montecatini Terme.
(B,L,D)
https://www.ghvittoria.com/
Friday, Day 7 (October 7) - Today, you will travel to Castellare di Pescia to visit an international Citrus Garden with over 200 varieties of citrus plants from all over the world. This breathtaking botanical garden is filled with not only citrus plants from the 15th century but also rare exotic varieties and recent ones originating from the southern hemisphere. Enjoy lunch and finish with a unique tasting of locally produced limoncello, citrus marmalades, and gazzosa lemonade. In the afternoon, visit the famous town of Pisa, and enjoy a farewell dinner at a lovely farm.
Everyone will meet back for a farewell dinner and overnight at a hotel in Montecatini Terme.
(B,L,D)
https://www.ghvittoria.com/
Saturday, Day 8 (October 8) - Morning check out of the hotel and transfer to Florence for a 2 hour walking city tour followed by some free time to explore the Academia (home of Michaelangelo’s David), etc. Around 5:00 pm, everyone will meet at the Florence train station and travel on a high speed train (2.5 hours) to Rome zipping through the Tuscan countryside with spectacular views. Dinner will be served on the train as well. Upon arrival, a private bus will transfer you to your hotel near the Rome airport.
(B,D)
https://www.ghvittoria.com
Sunday, Day 9 (October 9) - Transfer to the Rome airport for your return flight home.
(B)
“This itinerary is subject to change without prior approval. Please note that if a last minute cancellation occurs, a replacement technical visit of equal value will be arranged.”
Estimated pricing based on double occupancy, per person
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20 travelers
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$2,550
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30 travelers
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$2,350
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*Single Supplement - $575
Payment deadlines (per person):
June 15, 2022 - $250 non-refundable deposit August 15, 2021 - $ remaining balance due
Included:
- Accommodations (4 stars)
- Land transportation by private bus
- Full time - Bilingual Guide
- Train ticket Florence>Rome
- Tours/Technical Visits
- Tastings as noted on itinerary
- Entrance to the Vatican museum
- Meals as noted on itinerary (water only) B=Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner
Not Included:
- International Airfare (U.S. > Rome roundtrip) - Estimated $1,000-$1,500 per ticket
- Required! Cost of Covid negative test (PCR and/or Antigen) 48 hours prior to arrival in Italy AND Covid vaccine
- Fees associated with Covid testing to return to the U.S. *TBD*
- Meals not shown on itinerary
- Gratuities for guide and driver
- Water bottles on bus (can be purchased on bus for 1 euro per bottle)
- Soft drinks or alcoholic beverages during included meals
- Entrance to other museums not noted above and must be booked months prior (i.e. Uffizi Gallery of Florence, Gallery of the Academy of Florence (home of Michelangelo's sculpture of David), etc.
- Cost of valid U.S. passport
- Travel insurance coverage (highly recommended)
- Airline seat upgrades
- Excess baggage fees
- Anything not specified above or noted as optional or at leisure
- Souvenirs
- Leisure activities on free days/times
- Hotel charges for incidentals, including telephone calls, pay per view movies, mini bars, and snack trays, personal laundry, room service, and hotel penalties for smoking in hotel rooms.