Blog - Page 2 of 210 - Slow Travel Tours

Travel Through Time

Posted on September 1, 2022 by Michelle LogueSeptember 1, 2022

Travel through time when you visit Orvieto. The town is medieval, with cobblestone streets, but you can literally see the passage of time when you visit the Church of Sant’Andrea.

This Romanesque church was built in the 11th-12th century over the ruins of an Etruscan temple. It is the first church built in Orvieto. Just inside the entrance of the church, you can go through the wrought-iron gate which leads down to the crypt.

Gates leading down to the Crypt

Francesco, a local archeologist, leads a tour through the crypt. Upon entering the crypt, the first thing you see is sections of a mosaic floor from the 6th century.

Francesco takes guests on a tour of the crypt

If that weren’t impressive enough, look BELOW the mosaic floor to see remains dating back through four different evolutionary periods. Ceramics from the Villanovan period, 9th century BC, make up the bottom layer. Some pieces are on display in a local museum. Much of what is unearthed tells of the Etruscan period from the 6th century, BC.

You can see how the roads were laid out, where wells and drainage were built, and even the floor of a house.

Etruscan road

Etruscan pipes

Floor of an Etruscan home

Evidence of previous temples, even the grounds of a Byzantine baptismal font and sarcophagus all tell the story of the past. Imagine yourself here as you travel through time back to the age of the Etruscans.

Evidence of baptismal font

Byzantine sarcophagus

The church of Sant’Andrea is a marvel of history!

To learn more about Orvieto and Adventures in Italy, try these:

Gather Together Again

Hidden Gems of Orvieto

Pozzo di San Patrizio

Michelle Logue leads cultural and creative adventures in Orvieto, Italy. With a mandate to provide "travel that transforms", Adventures in Italy gives guests an immersive experience. After more than 15 years of return trips, Orvieto has become a welcoming home base surpassing the typical Italian vacation.

Adventures in Italy operates trips in May and September, with two options: Artistic Enrichment nurtures creative expression, while Discover Orvieto invites visitors to focus on the history and culture of Orvieto and live as locals. Find out more about tours and special offers by following Adventures in Italy on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and visit www.adventuresinitaly.ca

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.

Sleeping Beauty

Posted on August 29, 2022 by Sue AranAugust 29, 2022

The city of Bordeaux has been known as the Sleeping Beauty of Gascony because of its position nestled against the Garonne River, and the unexpected tranquility of its historic city center. One can easily tuck into a quiet square, find calm at a decorative retro café, and watch the world go by. Unlike frenetic Toulouse, going slow in Bordeaux is easy. By doing less, you experience more.

Bordeaux is famous all over the world for its wine and surrounding vineyards, but in recent years it has been transformed through ambitious urban development programs. One such program called Culturalspaces http://www.culturalspaces.com has modified what was one of five submarine bases built by the Germans on the French Atlantic seaboard during World War II. Located close to La Cité du Vin, http://www.laciteduvin.com in the Bacalan district, another immersive cultural experience about wine, it’s a short riverside drive outside the city center.

The Bassins des Lumières, Pools of Light, http://www.bassins-lumieres.com is one of the largest digital art centers in the world. It is three times the area of ??the Carrières des Lumières in Baux-de-Provence, and 5 times area of the Atelier des Lumières in Paris, also managed by Culturespaces. It includes four water basins, 360 feet long by 72 feet wide, and 40 feet high, with 80 audio speakers, and 90 video projectors displaying images over 129,000 square feet of surfaces.

After spending a leisurely day in Bordeaux recently, I experienced firsthand the remarkable metamorphosis of concrete and water into Venise: la Serenissima, Venice: the Serene. Lulled by the dark, the music, and the paintings of Tintoreto, Bellini and Canaletto, the shimmering mosaics of Saint Mark’s Basilica, La Fenice opera house, and the Doge’s Palace reflected in the Grand Canal, I was magically transported to one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Sue Aran lives in the Gers department of southwest France. She is the owner of French Country Adventures, which provides private, personally-guided, small-group, slow travel tours into Gascony, the Pays Basque, Provence and beyond. She writes a monthly blog about her life in France and is a contributor to Bonjour Paris and France Today magazines.

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France, England and other European countries.

Take a Spa and Wine Vacation to Southern Poland and Krakow in 2023

Posted on August 14, 2022 by Sarna RoseAugust 14, 2022

Dr. Irena Eris Hotel & Spa in Krynica Zdroj, Poland

Get pampered at a luxurious Polish spa, discover great tasting Polish wines and the magic of Krakow with Poland Culinary Vacations on this small group vacation. Let us be your guide to a week of wellness and relaxation in Poland!

Spa at Dr. Irena Eris Hotel & Spa in Krynica Zdroj, Poland

Swimming pool at Dr. Irena Eris Hotel & Spa in Krynica Zdroj, Poland

Southern Poland is a never-ending destination to experience world-class spas, family owned wineries, cultural attractions and fine dining. In addition, travelers to the area can also enjoy unique handicraft shopping and activities such as easy hiking in the mountains, visiting agrotourism farms and tasting high-quality artisan foods made by local producers.

Touring of Srebrna Gora vineyard, Lesser Poland region

Wine tasting at Srebrna Gora winery, Lesser Poland region

Cable-car ski lift to Mt. Jaworzyna Krynicka

Let us be your guide to a week of wellness and relaxation which will include: individualized spa treatments, small family vineyards touring & spectacular wine tastings, a cooking class with a Polish chef and sightseeing in Malopolska – Lesser Poland region. Lesser Poland have rolling vineyards, enchanting palaces and manors, UNESCO Timber Architecture Church Route and Krakow Market Square, rich cultural heritage and breathtaking mountainous scenery.

Guided tour of Krynica Zdroj, Lesser Poland region

Your first four nights accommodation will be at a 4-star Dr. Irena Eris Hotel & Spa in Krynica- Zdroj (Zdroj – means mineral spring in Polish) with peaceful, tranquil atmosphere perfect for a spa vacation. On most days while in Krynica, you will enjoy different spa treatments which will be rejuvenating, relaxing and unforgettable! The small spa town of Krynica Zdroj is a cultural and wellness oasis and because it is located in the mountains, easy hiking is also very popular activity here.

Outdoor relaxation area at Dr. Irena Eris Hotel & Spa in Krynica Zdroj, Poland

We have assembled our own guide to areas greatest destinations and attractions to make your vacation in southern Poland and Krakow most memorable!

UNESCO Krakow Market Square, Lesser Poland region

Here’s what’s included during a whole week of Polish spa pampering, vineyard tours and Polish wine tastings and cultural discovery:

- Six nights accommodations, double-occupancy, with en suite bathroom (four nights at 4-star Dr. Irena Eris Hotel & Spa in Krynica Zdroj and two nights at a boutique Hotel Wawel Queen in Krakow.)
- Arrival transfer from Hotel in Krakow at 10:00 a.m. to Dr. Irena Eris Hotel & Spa in Krynica Zdroj
- Daily breakfast
- Daily lunch
- Dinner as outlined on itinerary
- Local beer, house wine, tea, and coffee with all included meals (Please note that cocktail drinks and drinks consumed outside of mealtime are not included)
- Full body massage included. Discounted personalized face and body spa treatments as per spa menu provided
- Private tours and Polish wine tastings at family owned wineries in Malopolska region throughout the week
- One hands-on and/or demonstration-style Polish cooking lesson with local chef
- Excursions to cultural sites, all entrance fees and food artisan visits
- Transportation where specified
- English interpreters
- All luggage transfers
- Taxes and service charges

For a relaxing and culturally rich adventure in Krynica Zdroj, Krakow and Lesser Poland region join Poland Culinary Vacations on our “Spa and Wine Vacation in Southern Poland and Krakow” in 2023. Click here for day-by-day itinerary and vacation details.

See you in beautiful Poland!

Malgorzata (Sarna) Rose, is a native of Poland. Poland Culinary Vacations grew out of her love and passion for travel and everything Polish, including fine Polish cuisine, eventually blossoming into a first-class culinary travel company. While growing up in Poland, she experienced the great joy of cooking with family and friends. Using her grandmothers' recipes and fresh ingredients from their gardens, they prepared food for weddings, parties, and traditional holidays. Now, through Poland Culinary Vacations, she wants to share that experience with you, and show you the best of everyday Polish living: the special people and their hospitality, and the heritage and traditions unique to each region. Only a native can help you discover and fully experience the authentic Poland!

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.