In the Heart of the Italian Culture
A fantastic journey to discover the treasure of Rome and Etruria
Trip lenght: 8 Days / 7 Nights
Group size: 4-8
Our tours are designed for families or small groups of friends who will have exclusive use of the villa
$3,200/person (excluding airfare and transportation to Orte)
2026 Tour Dates:
May 3 -10;
May 17 - 24;
May 31 - Jun 7;
Jun 14 - 21;
Aug 30 - Sep 6;
Sep 13 - 20;
Sep 27 - Oct 4.
We recommend this tour if you desire an intense and authentic overview of the area spanning from Rome to Orvieto, in the fascinating territory of the ancient Etruscans. In addition to visiting the main sites and monuments of this area, you will enjoy full immersion in local traditions and get to know some of the native locals while experiencing the pleasures of tasting wine under the tutelage of a sommelier and attending a didactic cooking experience creating typical traditional local dishes.
Day 1 Benvenuti in Italia!
Arrival at the Villa dell'Acquedotto. Today, after a detailed review of the tour program and a question and answer session, we will sit down together for a welcome dinner of typical dishes from the local culinary tradition.
Day 2 Hilltowns
This morning, after breakfast, we’ll start by visiting the ancient town of Orte, the Etruscan Horta, located on a high plateau at a bend of the Tiber River. After lunch, we’ll visit Vasanello, another nearby town of Etruscan origin. We will than continue our explorations with walks and gelato break in the hilltowns of Vallerano and Soriano. We will conclude the day taking part in a cooking class and we will have dinner at home.
Day 3 Hilltowns and Local Traditions
Today, we will pass by the spectacular town of Vitorchiano and we will reach Civita di Bagnoregio, a hilltown that became separated from the main land due to centuries of erosion at its perimeter. Walking through Civita di Bagnoregio is like stepping back in time. We will continue our journey heading towards the magnificent Orvieto and here, after a break for lunch we will follow our guide in a visit to the wonderful cathedral. The rest of the afternoon will be free to explore the city. Upon returning home in Orte we will have dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 4 Rome, Archaeological Center
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We will begin the day with a transfer to Rome where during the morning we will visit, together with our guide, the extraordinary archaeological area of the Roman Forum. We will ascend to the fantastic piazza del Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo. We will lunch at a traditional Roman trattoria and the afternoon will be free to visit the Colosseum, the beautiful Roman squares or for shopping. After this intense day we will return back home to the villa where a nice dinner will be waiting for us.
Day 5 Archaeology and Nature
Right after breakfast we will leave for the famous Etruscan necropolises of Tarquinia, Unesco world heritage site, where the extraordinary tomb paintings bring to light the values of a great civilization. We will then reach the beautiful hilltown of Tuscania and we will have lunch at a local restaurant. Our explorations continue with a visit to some of the thermal springs in the area around Viterbo. With our guide we will walk through the medieval quarter San Pellegrino and we will end the evening with dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 6 Roma, Caput Mundi
Back to Rome, once more, we will admire the great marble colonnade by Bernini that embraces St. Peter’s square. Inside the basilica of St. Peter we will see, among other masterpieces, the poignant Pietà by Michelangelo and the great altar canopy by Borromini. After lunch in trattoria in the Vatican quarter, the afternoon will be free to visit the nearby Castel Sant’Angelo or the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel, or to simply take a walk in the historic center to do some shopping and take a break at one of the cafés in the fantastic squares of Piazza Navona or Piazza del Pantheon. We will be back in Orte in time for dinner at the villa.
Day 7 Nature and Artifice: A Triumph of Renaissance Gardens
The most famous Italian Renaissance Gardens are almost all located in this part of Italy, the Tuscia Viterbese. We’ll spend the day exploring Villa Lante in Bagnaia and Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola. Villa Lante, designed by the architect Vignola, represents the perfect example of the idea at the base of the Renaissance gardens. We will conclude our visit in Bagnaia at a gelateria on the main square. Next we will go to the hilltown of Caprarola where we will have lunch at a local restaurant. We will continue our afternoon exploration with the magnificent Palazzo Farnese and its garden. At the end of the day, we’ll have a grand celebration dinner at the Villa dell'Acquedotto.
Day 8 Arrivederci e Buon Viaggio!
After one last breakfast, the driver will accompany you to the train station of Orte. Thank you for having joined us!
Itinerary specifics subject to change
INFO & BOOKING
Please contact us at info@leterrae.com