Travel Italy: Vacation Packages, Tips, Tours of Italy

First week-end of November is an important date for those who are looking for olive oil tours. “Frantoi Aperti” is an event held in Umbria (this 2007 edition on November 3 and 4) to promote the local olive oil (this region is well-known for production of high quality olive oil).

Visitors are able to choose among the many itineraries and guided visits to frantoi (’frantoio‘ = olive mill, is where the olive oil is produced). The visits include tastings of olive oil and local dishes.

It’s a week-end where you will be able to combine gastronomy, art and culture, a mix that contributes to make this land well-known worldwide.
For event details and schedule visit frantoiaperti.net.

- Browse accommodations in Assisi and Umbria.

Those who are visiting Umbria this week, can combine visits to two of the major historic towns of the region with important truffle events. Beginning October 31 through November 4, two major white truffle exhibitions will be taking place in the towns of Città di Castello and Gubbio.

These events celebrating the truffle, are also an occasion to taste local oil, wine and cheeses as well as the many woodland delicacies these areas offer. Besides truffle, olive oil, wine, the stands will also display mushrooms, chestnuts, honey, wild-berry jams, and many other woodland delicacies.

When and where:
- “Mostra del tartufo Bianco e dei prodotti agroalimentari” in Gubbio (October 31 through November 4)
- “Mostra del Tartufo Bianco e dei prodotti del bosco” in Città di Castello (October 31 through November 4).

Getting there (by public transp.):
- Città di Castello: take train to Perugia (Ponte S.Giovanni station, around a couple of hours away from Rome). In Perugia - Ponte S.Giovanni station change, take Ferrovia Centrale Umbra railway to Città di Castello
- Gubbio: take train to Perugia (around a couple of hours from Rome). In Perugia take a bus (Piazza Partigiani bus station) to Gubbio. From there it will take you around 1 hour.

- See Città di Castello and Gubbio on the interactive map.

- Browse accommodations in Umbria.

A lot of people who have never visited Assisi, ask us if it is possible traveling by train from Florence to Assisi, visiting the town, and traveling on to Rome all in one day.

No, you definitely need more than a day to experience all that Assisi has to offer, so you shouldn’t rush that. Assisi is a delightful town preserving a lot of original feel. You will enjoy walking the narrow streets, see lovely small courtyards and visiting lots of churches.

- What’s the best season to visit the town?

For the crowds and the prices, keep in mind that offseason is after Christmas festivities season (January 6th, Ephifany), until mid-late April (and more generally until Easter).
Offseason starts again after St. Francis Day (October 4th) through mid December. Assisi has a huge festival first week of May, the Calendimaggio.
However you could reasonably say Assisi is not so touristy (with crowds) all year round, except for the major festivities.

- See Assisi on the interactive map.
- Browse accommodations in Assisi and Umbria.

Keep in mind that the Assisi train station is in nearby Santa Maria Degli Angeli, a 5 km away from Assisi.
So you would have to use taxis or buses to get to and from the train station. Under normal conditions a trip with a bus from the station up to Assisi takes a 10 -15 min.
Taxi can be quite costy; it will cost about 20 Euros each way.

Among the places you can visit in the surroundings of Assisi, assuming you don’t hire a car, are Spello and Perugia.
They are 10 min. and 20 min. train ride respectively.
 
- See Assisi on the interactive map.
- Browse accommodations in Assisi and Umbria.

On Sunday October 28, it is taking place the 22nd edition of the Venice marathon.

The Venice marathon starts in Stra, a few kilometres east of Padova, then runs through the small towns of the Brenta Riviera, past the Venetian villas and reaches the city center; it crosses Grand Canal, runs next to Piazza San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale, and finally, reaches the finishing line at Riva dei Sette Martiri, on Venice’s picturesque waterfront.

For details and registration find out here.