Secret Italy

Day 1 Depart from London Stansted to Perugia. Transfer to your chosen hotel in Assisi for seven nights. Evening visit to the Assisi home of your tour host who will accompany your daily trips. While enjoying an aperitif, he will describe his collection of Roman, Byzantine and Medieval art. Day 2 Morning visit to Assisi, including the 13th-century Basilica of St. Francis, decorated with frescoes by Cimambue, Giotto, Lorenzetti and Martini, and other Franciscan churches. Special Umbrian dinner of traditional dishes with local wines. (B, D) Day 3 Travel to Arezzo to visit San Francesco church for Piero della Francesca's fresco cycle 'Legend of the True Cross', the Romanesque church Pieve di Santa Maria, the Cathedral, San Domenico and Piazza Grande. At Monterchi, see Piero's 'Pregnant Madonna' and at Sansepolcro his 'Resurrection'. (B) Day 4 Picturesque drive through Valnerina to San Pietro in Valle, an 8th-century Romanesque Abbey with remarkable Lombard sculpture and 12th-century frescoes. Continue to Marmore Falls, the highest waterfall in Europe, and the beautiful Lake Piediluco for a boat ride and fish lunch overlooking the lake. (B, L) Day 5 A scenic journey to Urbino for a guided tour of the Oratory of St. John the Baptist with its cycle of 15th-century frescoes by Salembeni, then the Palazzo Ducale, the most beautiful Renaissance palace in Italy and its art treasures. Return via Gubbio to view its Palazzo dei Consoli. (B) Day 6 Stopping for coffee at Lake Trasimeno, a scenic drive through Tuscan countryside to the charming village of Pienza with its Renaissance centre and museum containing the world-famous 14th-century cope of English embroidery. Continue to the lovely Romanesque Abbey of Sant'Antimo and afterwards enjoy a celebratory Tuscan lunch. (B, L) Day 7 Free day. A local expert presents a selection of Umbrian wines at your host's home with buffet supper. (B, D) Day 8 Return flight to London Stansted. (B)