What a year this has been for travel

I know the year is not over, but it is fast approaching.  When I look back at the 2022 travel season in Italy, it has been incredible.  People from all over the world were ready to travel, and boy did they!  The merchants I talked to told me it’s been wonderful having the streets filled with people again and welcomed the much-needed business.

Village Vacations in Italy welcomed clients with fully booked tours this year that have overflowed into 2023! Our clients were excited to go out and explore and were very happy with the experiences we offered. Italy was waiting with open arms, and she did not disappoint.

Learning the process of hand-painted ceramics in Deruta

As always, there were festivals throughout the year celebrating saints days, the Chestnut Festivals, the Infiorata, where streets are lined with flower petals formed into works of art, the “Cedano Nero Sagra” (black celery), the Vendemia ( grape harvest), and of course our guests enjoyed “Grape Squishing” and the Olive Harvest with this year’s freshly pressed olive oil right from the villa as well as wine & honey. The Italians love their festivals and celebrations.  The list goes on and on.

Enjoying the day in a vineyard, picking, squishing & sipping offered in late September

The Cedano Nero Festival in Trevi

The Olive Harvest for “Liquid Gold”

Celebration in Panicale

Infiorata in Spello, where the streets are lined with flower petals

Ferroaugusto on August 15, celebrating Emperor Augustus

The grapevines celebrate with bright, vivid colors before going to sleep for the winter getting ready for next year’s harvest.

If you are traveling solo or with a few friends Village Vacations in Italy offers all-inclusive tours, except airfare.  No need to rent a car; we will pick you up at Leonardo Da Vinci Airport Rome; day trip transportation is included on tour, two meals a day, breakfast and dinner, and accommodations in a gorgeous villa with beautiful grounds to enjoy. Cooking class, vineyard tour with wine tasting, olive oil tasting, visit villages such as Cortona, Assisi, Deruta, and Montefalco. Sign up for our “Grape Squishing” offered at the end of September and early October.

Recap of what is included:

Accommodations in a gorgeous villa

Breakfast and Dinner Everyday

Transfers from FCO-Villa-FCO

Day Trip Transportation with Escort

Assisi-Cortona-Deruta-Perugia

Cooking Class

Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting

Tours in 2023

April 22-29 (Sold Out)

May 3-13 (Sold Out)

May 20-27 (Sold out)

September 16-23 (Sold Out)

September 23-30 Still has openings

October 21-28  Still has openings

*If you are interested in a solo trip without joining a group or have a small group of friends or family, I can arrange that for you also*

2024 Tours will be published soon

Our philosophy is Slow Travel, Un-pack Once, and No Rush to enjoy your time in each village we take you to.  This a wonderful opportunity to spend time in Umbria and Tuscany in a beautiful villa with everything arranged for you to truly enjoy and live “La Dolce Vita” for the week you are with us. I don’t walk around with a flower on a stick and you following me,  I let you go off on your own to explore, sip and shop, and visit museums. It’s your day in each village we bring you to, and I escort you each day.

To find out more about our package, click here 

Former flight attendant Nedra Bottieri made a life-changing trip to Italy twenty years ago to re-discover her family heritage. Now with dual citizenship, she has a second home in Umbria. Through her company, Village Vacations in Italy, she organizes and hosts small group tours based in small villages in Umbria and Tuscany, normally customized tours for private groups. Groups have included yoga workshops, writing workshops, and groups of family and friends. Nedra draws on her extensive experience and relationships to plan special accommodations and activities to meet each group’s needs and dreams. Experience “La Dolce Vita” in Italy! To learn more about her tours, see www.villagevacationsinitaly.com Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.