Travel Italy: Vacation Packages, Tips, Tours of Italy

Beginning November 7-8, you can enjoy five week-ends filled with olive oil events in Umbria.
Frantoi Aperti, an event aiming to promote the olive oil produced in Umbria, offers for five week-end — from November 7 through December 8 — guided tours and visits to frantoi (’frantoio‘ is the factory where the olive oil is produced).

Umbria is a well-known area for the production of one of the finest quality olive oil in Italy.
Of course the visits include tasting sessions of olive oil paired with the many local specialties.

It is not just about olive oil, Frantoi Aperti offers a very unique experience, the chance to combine the finest gourmet and culinary tradition with art and culture, by visiting the charming countryside and the many perfectly preserved historic towns that make Umbria known and appreciated worldwide.
Some of the towns involved in Frantoi Aperti include Spoleto, Spello, Campello sul Clitunno, Castiglione del Lago (on the Lake Trasimeno shore).

Programme and details of the event are available at Frantoi Aperti website.

When: November 7 - December 8 (in the Weekend)
Where: Umbria

Those who are visiting Umbria in November should not miss the many events dedicated to the truffle.
Two major truffle festivals are taking places in two towns located in spectacular settings at the foot of the Apennines mountain chain: Città di Castello (Umbria) and Acqualagna (Marches).

About 50 km of a very panoramic road, crossing Apennines mountain chain, separate the two towns. It offers a chance for a gourmet tour with tasting of truffle and of the many woodland delicacies including mushrooms, chestnuts, honey, wild-berry jams, the area offers.

Acqualagna, located at the heart of one of the most important areas for truffle-hunting in Italy, is one of the two major centers in Italy — the other one is Alba, Piedmont — for the truffle market.

Città di Castello is one of the better preserved Renaissance towns in Italy.
Where and When:
- “Fiera Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco Pregiato di Acqualagna- Acqualagna - First two week-ends of November) (annual)
- “Mostra del Tartufo Bianco e dei prodotti del bosco- Città di Castello - November 6, 7, 8 (annual)

In October, Perugia, capital of Umbria and home of the famed bitter-sweet chocolate and hazelnut blend, Bacio Perugina, hosts Eurochocolate, its chocolate festival.

The new edition of Eurochocolate, Play Chocolate, features a week of exhibits, tastings, music and chocolate-themed attractions taking place throughout the city of Perugia, from October 16 through October 25.

(Find out festival details at http://www.eurochocolate.perugia.it/)
When: October 16-25, 2009 (annual)
Where: Perugia

The historic town of San Miniato, in Tuscany, hosts an unusual medieval festival, the “Palio del Papero” — Duck Festival.

The festival, held the second Sunday of October, offers visitors a chance to visit a delightful medieval borough, just 40km away from Florence.

More than for its medieval festival, San Miniato is well-known for its precious white truffle.
A trip there offers the chance to taste the dishes based on this precious tuber as well as many other local specialties and excellent local wines.

when: Oct 11, 2009 (annual)
where: San Miniato (Tuscany)

Those who appreciate the starter dishes may want to plan a trip to Foligno, Umbria, the last week-end of September.

This Umbrian city, just one and a half hours train ride from Rome, a bit more from Florence, hosts an annual food festival of starter dishes, “Primi d’Italia“.

The festival is a celebration of the countless recipes of pasta, rice, dumplings, soup, and polenta Italian cuisine offers. “Primi d’Italia” offers a varied programme of food tasting sessions, culinary demonstrations, entertaining shows and educational activities.

Twelve stands recreating a medieval village — “Villaggi del Gusto” — , offer a gastronomic ride through the diversity of Italian regional cuisine. Details and programme at Primi d’Italia website: http://www.iprimiditalia.it/

When: from Sep 24 through 27, 2009 (annual, last week-end of September)
Where: Foligno - Umbria