With most of COVID behind us, please consider joining one of aWeekinUmbria’s favorite theme tours.
Or let me organize a customized adventure just for you.
Write [email protected] for more information on private or small group tours.
OCTOBER 24-31, 2023:
Estonian and Shetland Lace Knitting tour with André de Castro
Knitwear Designer and Instructor André de Castro returns to Umbria for an exciting learning tour of three of Europe’s most iconic lace traditions. Through six 3-hour workshops students will explore (and make samples of) Estonian and Shetland laces. André has designed a special project incorporating both styles and each student will receive enough yarn for a shawl/wrap.
And if all that knitting weren’t enough, there is also Umbria to experience. You’ll enjoy tours of our fabled hill towns, visits to cashmere and alpaca farms, a weaving demonstration on jacquard looms, visits to knitting and weaving factories, not to mention extraordinary Umbrian cuisine, a wine tasting, and much more.
Tour package: $2500 per person
– including accommodations, lessons, all meals, transport to and from airport
Book Club tour: September 9-16, 2023
Looking for two more people to join us for this spectacular literary adventure!
If you’ve seen the new TV production of The Name of the Rose starring John Turturro and Rupert Everett then you’ll definitely want to come to Umbria where much of it was filmed including the abbey we will visit. Copies of each of the three books we will read will be sent to you. Wander the streets of Orvieto to find yourself in the setting of The Lady in the Palazzo and discover the heroism of the characters of The Assisi Underground.
Tour package: $2500 per person
– including accommodations, day tours, all meals, transport to and from airport
June 3-11, 2023:
Spring Culinary & Wine Tour (Date is flexible)
Join us for a spectacular week savoring the great tastes of Umbrian cuisine and wine. Featuring 3 lessons with Maria Luisa Scolastra of Villa Roncalli
Flavors of Umbria: This is your chance to fulfill that dream of learning from a master chef, indulging in exquisite Umbrian cuisine, and sampling our justifiably famous wines. Discover the flavors of Umbria at extraordinary restaurants, cantinas, local farms, and markets.
The heart of week-long adventure will be three six-hour (plus) lessons with the amazing Maria Luisa Scolastra in her kitchen at Villa Roncalli. Discover the art of Italian broths, soups, and sauces; master a variety of fresh pastas and gnocchi; learn how to build an Italian feast from antipasti to bread to primi to dolce, and so much more. Without a doubt the best food you’ll experience in Umbria. In addition delicious meals out will fill the week. Meet artisanal producers, visit an organic farm, go on a truffle hunt*, watch cheese being made*, see prosciutto and sausage preparation, tour spectacular hill towns, enjoy fantastic meals, wine tastings, and much more. More information>
Culinary tour package: $3000 per person
– including accommodations, lessons, all meals, transport to and from airport
November 3-12, 2023:
Olive Harvest & Culinary Tour
(Special 8-day tour)
Join us for a spectacular fall week savoring the great tastes of Umbrian. Featuring 3 lessons with Maria Luisa Scolastra of Villa Roncalli. And you’ll get to experience the Olive harvest from collecting the pressing. LOTS OF FUN!
The heart of our 8-day adventure will be three six-hour (plus) lessons with the amazing Maria Luisa Scolastra in her kitchen at Villa Roncalli. Meet artisanal producers, visit an organic farm, go on a truffle hunt*, watch cheese being made*, see prosciutto and sausage preparation, tour spectacular hill towns, enjoy fantastic meals, wine tastings, and much more. In addition, our tour will include a day in the orto collecting olives and enjoying an Umbrian cookout. Then we will go and see the entire process of pressing the oil, culminating in tasting the freshest oil you’ve ever imagined. More information >
Culinary tour package: $3000 per person
– including accommodations, lessons, all meals, transport to and from airport4
The spirit of Umbria comes alive
Tours are available to benefit your church. Ask me about planning a spiritual adventure for your group.
Discover the heart of Umbria and walk in the footsteps of Saint Francis. Enjoy a week-long adventure to the famous and intimate sites associated with Francis. Visit Assisi, where he was born; San Damiano, where he was instructed to “fix my church”; the Porzuncola, where he started his ministry and died; and La Verna where he received the stigmata. Attend a candlelight procession, mass at the Basilica of St Francis, and more.