Village Italy tour October 10

Took the tour in 2011, but would consider it again. Enjoy. Lucca, Orvieto, Levanto (Cinque Terre) - all places I remember with fondness and that I will return to. For some reason, this tour seems more laid-back than some others I have been on. Maybe it was because I gave myself frequent time-outs. While others were hiking paths in CT, I was in the lovely water of Levanto. Now for you, going a week or two after I did, the beach opportunity may or may not work out, depending on the weather. We had really warm weather.

Have fun.

I agree with Debbie, I would consider this one again, it was such fun! I went in 2014, started the last of Sept, maybe 28 or 29. This was such a fun tour, I loved it!

Here are some things that come to mind:

-I hope you are allowing yourself an extra night in Padua. I did not, headed out to Padua on the morning the tour started and then wished I had more time! Lots to see there! I enjoyed the Botanical Garden (was not able to spend as much time here as I would have liked) and Basilica of St Anthony (did not have enough time here either!).

-If you have any issues with heights, know that the causeway that leads to Civita di Bagnoreggio is very high...which you can't tell from the pictures.

-If you want a quirky focus - you'll get an opportunity to see lots of relics, starting with St Anthony's jaw, vocal cords and tongue, St Catherine's head and thumb in Siena, and others which I can't recall right now! Slightly creepy but I tried to see them all!

-Lucca - your guide will probably pay for bike rental for you to ride the walls but I just went and walked around them on our full day there and it was wonderful. So much fun to see how the Luccese use this park area. High school gym classes were out doing things, younger kids were out, older people were out, very fun! I had ridden it on a bike a few years ago on a Heart of Italy tour but we were pressed for time and just kind of went as fast as we could. Walking really allowed me to see it and soak it in!

-Orta San Giulio - I had the best sorbetto EVER at the Gelato Artiginale Eliot on the piazza. Oh my word. I had fresh green apple and fresh pear. I went 2 days in a row and the first day he had fig which I was too chicken to try, then when I wanted it the next day he said...sorry, no more figs on the tree in my yard!! I loved that he used his own yard fruit!

-Sorbetto (I'm vegan so don't go for gelato but love sorbetto) - Excellent peach sorbetto in Ravenna and Orvieto as well as the Orta

First, what Pam said! I would add that for us, adding a few days in Venice prior to the tour was fantastic...you are just a half hour by train to Padua. We've taken this tour twice (it's SO much fun and friends wanted to go the second time)...so my other thought is that, if you fall in love with the ceramics at the family-owned workshop in Deruta, don't hesitate to pick out some beautiful pieces and have them shipped home. We bought just a few things on the first trip..they were packed so incredibly carefully and arrived in perfect condition, so went a little crazy on the second trip last September....lovely people, too!
You'll have a wonderful time!

About ceramics in Deruta: Several years ago, while on a bike trip that stopped there, I splurged on a lovely urn. I almost didn't get it because the cost of the urn plus shipping was probably around $400, but at last I went for it. When it arrived, in the most fantastic wooden crate, one handle was broken. I sent a photo to the company, who said they didn't have any more, but would be happy to make me another one. They did, and it arrived in perfect condition. I asked if they wanted me to send the broken one back, but they didn't want that (what would they do with it!). But since the handle had a clean break, we were able to glue it back on almost invisibly--so I now have a pair! I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to have something shipped back home. The ceramics are wonderful and make the most marvelous souvenir of your trip. I love ceramics, and usually try to get something that would be useful as a serving platter or dish so I can remember my trips when I use them. The urn was definitely something different, but I am so glad I got it--even if I hadn't wound up with two!

Thanks everyone. Some great suggestions here. Only two months to wait!

Another question for those past participants. The final village on the lake (orta?) - was that town large enough that there would be a car rental agency there? We are thinking of combining this itinerary with a river cruise starting in Lyon, France but public transportation between the two looks rather complicated. Driving we would be able to visit some towns in the south of France along the way.

Sorry to hijack the thread...

Thanks!

Other posters have reported that renting a car in Country X and dropping it off in Country Y usually results in a large one-way rental fee. I don't know where the nearest car-rental agency would be. Maybe Varese?

Orta San Giulio is so small that you could not buy a train ticket there...it had to be purchased at a previous tour stop. Not sure at all if they would have car rental BUT it's only an hour or so via taxi to Malpensa airport in Milan which would have a good selection. Do check on the international drop off fee which you might find prohibitive.

Thanks for starting this thread. My husband and I will be joining this tour as well and I can't wait to meet you.

My question for others who have previously taken this trip: Rick always does a great job showing highlights of things to see and do, but he does not talk much about shopping opportunites. I'm not an intense shopper, but I do like to bring home a few things from our travels. The ceramics sound wonderful on this tour. Are there other shopping recommendations?

Thanks
Ellen

Ellen, Lucca has many jewelry shops. Sadly, I did not indulge, but the window shopping was great. Plus, if I am not mistaken, mywalit is made in Lucca. I bought a small card holder / wallet that I have just begun using. I also bought two dinner plates from the artist in Lucca. There were ceramics I liked in Orvieto also, but passed them up. Some tour members bought scarves in Orvieto. I also bought a necklace made of titanium in Levanto. I believe there were nice table linens in Orta. At the ceramic factory we visited, I went minimal and bought a bottle holder, you know like a coaster for under the bottle? I use it for bottles, iced-tea glasses, hot mugs - all the time.

One of my favorite tour treasures came from Padua on the Village Italy tour. Across from the Basilica, there is a small souvenir shop that also sells wine. I bought a bottle the first night but had no cork screw. The shopkeeper opened the bottle for me, but then we could not get the cork back in! She had a few cork stoppers for sale, and I bought one with a depiction of the Basilica on it. Now this reminder of St. Anthony goes with me on every tour.

I was able to carry all I purchased, which is important to me. Of course, the chandelier I bought on the 7 day Venice tour was another story :-) Debbie

We were on this tour two years ago and found many opportunities for purchases. Most notably, a mosaic in Ravenna, a gorgeous scarf (Lucca or Orvieto, I can't remember). And a number of artist galleries and shops in Orta. There's also the gift shop in Carrara.

The scarf I mentioned came from a shop in Lucca. They are hand woven, gorgeous colors and patterns, lots of options for men and women. The name on the label is 'antiche tessiture lucchesi'. The shop is well worth a visit. For mosaic work in Ravenna, there is a small shop on the right side of the road to Dantes' tomb.

For Ellen re shopping-yes! Lucca for just about anything. My family took this tour in June 2015. My (adult) children and (teen) grandchildren managed to provide monetary support for many of the family owned shops in Lucca. They bought leather purses, wallets and shoes. Others bought lovely scarves (as mentioned previously) and I purchased a cashmere "poncho" that I love! Our guide told us she does a lot of shopping for clothing there. As I recall, most of the pottery shopping was done during a stop at a ceramics demonstration we attended (as part of the tour) earlier. It may be mentioned on your tour information/itinerary-or ask your guide. I am fairly certain it was Deruta but not positive..... Some lovely larger pieces were purchased there and shipped home and many more small treasures packed in luggage and safely hidden away in the deep storage under the bus for the rest of the trip. You'll really enjoy this tour. We spent a few days in Venice before taking the train from there to Padua (30 minutes) for an extra night there before the start of the tour. Pam's advice is spot on, there is a lot to see and do in Padua!

I remember some attractive shops in Orvieto, including one specializing in lavender products.

Shopping: on the tour we stopped at Deruta, with amazing pottery (I got a Christmas ornament), and Carrara, which had marble, of course- think cheese knife, rolling pin, candle holders, statues. We had a wine tasting and olive oil tasting where you could buy the products-the olive oil was my favorite. Lucca is great for clothing, and if you see anything you like, get it! I saw some lovely things, but didn't buy them and regretted it later. The gift shops at Ravenna churches had some great items with depictions of mosaics on them.
Advice: think about what you want to do in the Cinque Terre, have a back up plan or two, an then be ready to give them up for whatever catches your fancy. We planned to take the ferry to four of the villages, but fell in love with a restaurant and spent most of the afternoon having a leisurely lunch. It was the best day of our trip! Be sure to spend some time sitting in piazzas, drinking and people watching! Think about buying some cookies at a bakery or some Italian chocolates to share on the bus-hopefully other tour members will follow your lead and you will get to taste something new and delicious.
You'll love it! Buon viaggio!

Several more things come to mind for you lucky people going next month! Lucca is Puccini's home town, so you could Check into the Puccini concerts held every evening (almost) in a small church in Lucca. Your hotel will have info and tickets...it's fun...one doesn't need to be an opera buff to enjoy it...an easy walk. The singers & musicians are outstanding, and it's over in time to have a nice dinner.

On a different topic, we bring wine bottle "wraps" to safely bring bottles home (we check bags going home) and they're wonderful for olive oil or other liquids. You'll probably be at several places where you can get "small batch", super fresh olive oil....I bring it home and hoard it!
Have fun!

Dear Kim,
My name is Joanne and this is my 4th Rick Steves tour,I have never been disappointed. I live near Millcreek,Wa and I will be on the same tour,hope to see you there! ( :

Joanne M

Count me in as another happy veteran of this tour, I too would take it again.
I regularly suggest it to friends who haven't been.

I'm not a shopper but I did pick up a bottle of wine at the winery visit in near Orvieto. And a can of olive oil at the cooperative.

We went on to Milan post tour by train. Actually it was several of us including the guide. Picked up tickets a couple of days before at a travel agent in Levanto. Train ride was fine, one easy change of trains and we got in late morning.

Have a great time.