Italy Vacations, Travel Guide and Italy Vacation Packages

EUROPE – 200 ROUTES IN 30 COUNTRIES – BikeToursDirect– Guided and self-guided tours with European bike tour companies. Weekly and daily departures. Tours from $600. From familiar – Loire Valley, Provence, Danube, Tuscany, Bavaria, Ireland – to exotic – Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Slovenia, Adriatic island-hopping.

The XVII century estate is located at the crossroads of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio. One of the less inhabited areas of Italy, the unspoilt countryside is a fantastic mix of undulating woodland, lakes, renaissance palaces, medieval castles and etruscan settlements going back 3000 years. The castle is perfectly situated between Rome (135km) and Siena (110km) close to the famous historical towns of Orvieto and Viterbo (35km).The crystal clear waters of the largest volcanic lake in Europe, Lake Bolsena, are only 8 km away and offer plenty of watersport activities in the summer .

Welcome to the residence VILLA RAVINO, a family establishment with self catering apartments offering you a relaxing holiday on the charming island of Ischia. An enchanting place lying in the heart of the Mediterranean, an hour's sea journey from the city of Naples. Renowned for its volcanic origins and rich soil, Ischia offers a wonderful climate all year round with unforgettable landscapes immersed in blooming flora of vivacious colours, lemon, orange, olive trees and grape vines. Your days can be taken leisurely on one of ourbeaches or small romantic bays looking out at the deep blue Mediterranean sea. Alternatively you can explore Ischia's historic villages and museums or take in the beautiful scenery on a walk or via horseback trekking. An unforgettable visit is to the beautiful garden "La Mortella" created by Lady Susana, the widow of Sir William Walton. Here you can listen to classical concerts.With our Mediterranean time-clock, you would have enjoyed an afternoon's siesta and can now shop late into the evening. Otherwise evenings can be passed peacefully watching the sun setting over the sea whilst sampling fresh local dishes and wines in one of Ischia's rest.nts. Ischia has many religious festivals often resulting in evening fireworks and street entertainment. A cradle of art, Ischia has hosted personalities of great humanity and culture such as Bargheer, Auden, Stendhal, Ibsen, Bursche, Neil Little, Kallman, E.d'Assia, Luchino Visconti. There are many local painters and sculptors with various galleries on the island. In this stunning scenario, you will find an idyllic setting for cures and well-being. The thermal parks -with alternative and avant-garde therapies - are unique in the world and include the POSEIDON, NEGOMBO, and many more. Here you can bathe in mineral rich spa water refreshed daily from the hot volcanic springs, or sit in steam rooms cut into the rock - an experience dating back to the Roman times. From Ischia there are daily excursions visiting the cultural and archaeological sites of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvius, the beautiful Amalfi coast (Sorrento) and the island of Capri .

Departing from Sorrento, starting from March to October.

Don’t miss the chance to take part of capitanoago Capri excursion. Amazing sensations impossible to describe,.... but we will now try!

Capitanoago will pick you up, either you are single a couple or travelling with your family, with a comfortable air conditioned shuttle bus, from your accommodation in Sorrento to reach within few minutes Piano di Sorrento. The departure harbour.

Time for boarding, few explanation on the route and ANDIAMO cruising the coast of Sorrento. In 20 minutes we will reach the closest point of the peninsula to Capri. In half hour of relaxing cruise we will be in Marina Grande.

Capitanoago before dropping you at the harbour for your day tour will provide you with usefull Travel information of Capri will remind your some tips and wish you a great capri excursions.

Capitanoago will make sure you know how to reach the most important sights, he will points you on the map, where you will find the public transportation and their costs. After three hours, you will meet him again at the harbour. The cruise around Capri island will start and you will admire the incredible scenery designed by hundred meters tolls cliffs, falling in many different water colours, changing like a chameleon meters after meters.

Swimming, snorkelling, jumping, relaxing are the activity of this tour, and the greatest pleasure after have been walking for three hours in warm attractive little street of the island. The blend of sunlight’s with sea breeze, will make you laying down on the warm woods deck in front of a scenery unique and hard to forget.

No longer then half of the tour of Capri island and you will be invited to consume a fragrant packed lunch, along with fresh fruit and alcoholic and un-alcoholic drinks, then jump in the water and fell the Mediterranean life.

The bests of the tour will be visits to the grottos.

The first stop will be to the The White Grotto. Here capitanoago will bring you in a little adventure, though the dark and light blue of the sea to discover the secret and the sensational beauties of this natural cave.

The second not for the importance will be visiting The Green Grotto, here waiting you some other secrets and beauties that you will discover tough capitanoago help. Here you will swim in water colour like emeralds and fell once again regenerated.

Just the time to dry skin and hair from the salty perfumed Capri sea water, and the engine will slowly give motion to the boat with route The Blue Grotto. Capitanoago enjoy everyday of his work same like you will enjoy the tour. With no stress to be back in time, you will arrive at the entrance of the magnificent cave. The rest we let discover by your self.

In this stunned status you will slowly cruise back leaving the legendary island on your shoulder desiring to make this tour once again.

Excursion lasts about 8 hours
DEPARTURE : 9,30am RETURN ABOUT 5,30pm

email US to reserve Capri Excursions and Tour of the island.

A Cook Italy 3 or 6 nights class in the countryside - just like the day classes in Bologna which are so convenient for those staying in Florence and Milan - is above all enjoyable. Serious about food and cooking but very relaxed in spirit. It is about enjoying Italy and Italian food in convivial company, a very Italian approach! On a Cook Italy week, you will have 5 hands-on cooking classes preparing three course meals using authentic regional recipes. In choosing the meals, I like to showcase the richly varied range of Italian regional cuisine and to give you the history and background to a dish, not just the recipe and cooking tips. You join in according to your mood, cooking a lot everyday or sometimes just watching, chatting, sipping wine, helping set the table or tidying up.I keep the groups very small, usually 2 - 6, never more than 8. That way you really get to do hands-on cooking and get individual attention too. The techniques are straight forward as is usual with Italian home cooking. It avoids fussiness, aiming instead to let the food speak for itself - to bring out the flavours of the food, not to impose flavours from the outside. On some weeks there is a food related tour to the producers, who are people who I have chosen for their skill, passion and dedication to their art, whether cheese, olive oil, prosciutto or wine making. The warmth of the hospitality is the other basis for my selection - it is not unusual for the olive oil or wine maker to join us for lunch or invite us to a special food and wine event, or to personally ring a restaurant to make a booking on our behalf and ensure we get the best treatment. And there is one free day for you to fill as you please, to accommodate the varied interests of the typically independent Cook Italy guest!

Imagine Your Dream Vacation in Tuscany and Umbria...

Our Italian Cooking Vacations through Tuscany and Umbria are not just about what you see, but how you see it. They are all about fun, laughter and a sense of family. We reject mass tourism in favor of discovering the real Italy. After all, it's about so much more than just the sights you see, so we integrate you into the warm and friendly Italian culture at every opportunity. You will discover Italy among the Italians, rather than being wrapped in a crowd of other tourists. This wonderful and warm Italian experience is what makes it the trip of a lifetime. Look further and discover what makes us so special... and get ready to become a part of our extended family!

You can also feel confident with us. We are a well-established organization based in the United States, but operating in Italy. We are one of the most successful and well established cooking vacation operators in all of Italy, and we always welcome requests for references.

La cucina del gusto is one of the older cooking school of Sorrento.
We started in 2001 and step by step we get very succesfull. The secret of our success is that all classes are completely hands on
and clients will eat what they prepared during the class.

2010 Culinary programs,all year round
 
For 1 or 2 days we welcome you in

One day hands on cooking classes in Chianti or in Florence also with your children, or for a special event
or join our

Wine and Olive Oil tour and Food Tasting to enjoy the essence of wine, extravergin olive oil and Tuscan food

Market Visit + Food and Wine tasting to immerse in Italian lifestyle

Herbs,Vines and Olives walking tour, to discover the countryside

For more days enjoy our

Chianti Packages ,including cooking classes, tours and living with an Italian family for 2-5 days

or take part in our

5 Day Cooking courses
where we can offer a more complete experience

5 Day Italian language classes ,where we can teach you our language in a relaxed way

 
Classes in Chianti are held in an evocative stone farmhouse, in the hills of the
Chianti wine region,surrounded by vineyards & olivegroves

 
Classes in Florence , are in a classic apartment 10 minutes walk from the most
important museums and masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

TUSCANY - ARGENTARIO
Villa - park with a beautiful garden, swimming- pool, parking. Located at 2 km. from the center of Porto Santo Stefano, ARGENTARIO center of turistic itinerary.
Connection with the Islands of Giglio and Giannutri,15 minuts from the Feniglia beach next to marina of CALA GALERA ,30 minuts from the “ UCCELLINA NATURAL PARK” in the heart of the Tuscany MAREMMA.
Wiew of one of the most beautiful bay of the ARGENTARIO.
nine rooms with all the comfort.

"If Italy is the body of art and culture in the world, Tuscany is the heart and Cortona is its soul..."Cortona, just 10 minutes away, is a small medieval 'hill town' above the Valdichiana in eastern Tuscany. It offers the best of traditional Tuscan lifestyle in a rural country setting and the conveniences of a small city.This classic Etruscan hill town lies between Lago Trasimeno and the Appenine mountains. It is rich in archaeological wonders from the Etruscan, Medieval, Roman and Renaissance eras. During the summer, Cortona hosts numerous activities including festivals, art exhibitions, antique markets, and a number of gastronomic fairs.The surrounding countryside offers stunning views, many walking trails, hundreds of miles of country roads for bicycling or car touring and swimming at Lago Trasimeno.