USA

Monday, October 27 - Depart the USA on our group flight to Rome, Italy

Rome

All roads lead to Rome ... "The Eternal City"!

“When in Rome, do as the Romans” -- eat, drink and experience ancient wonders alongside a modern metropolis. Rome is one big historic (open-air) museum and with so much to see you always experience a lack of time. History is around every corner where you can still feel the legacy of an empire that conquered and then brought it's art and engineering to half of the world. From the The Vatican, to the Trevi Fountain and Colosseum or exploringthe maze of tiny off-the-beaten-path streets, no one does Rome better for African-American women than BlackGirlTravel.com! And for those born in Rome, no one does Italian food better that the Romans. Authentic Roman cuisine is based on fresh seasonal ingredients mostly from Roman Campagna, and prepared with delicate balance of ingredients that not focus of the dish is never over prowering. Romans are know for creating mouth watering dishes with only 3-4 ingredients. Although pasta is a staple for all Italians, in Rome pasta served with less focus on red sauces and more so on with sauces of butter, olive oil, and cheese!

Tuesday, October 28th - Get ready to hit the ground running! Upon arrival you well transfer by private deluxe motor coach to your hotel near the Vatcain City where you will have time a quick shower before your walking tour that will start with a metro lesson and tour orientation lunch (included in package). After you will Roam Rome on walking tour and step into a time elevator while visiting the Trevi Fountain, Piazza del Popolo, Spanish Steps, and the Pantheon. Originally the Pantheon was a temple for all pagan gods, the temple was converted into a church in 609. The Pantheon contains the tombs of Raphael and of several Italian Kings. At the top of the dome is a large opening, the oculus, which was the only source of light. Later you will expreince an amazing dinner with Fleace and her Italian friends filled with stories and great conversation. Get some rest for your next big day!

Wednesday, October 29th - Its Wine Time! This morning you are off to Castel Gandolfo, the traditional papal summer hilltop residence outside of Rome overlooking Lake Albano. The surrounding ancient village is know for its frascati wines. Here you will have walking tour which will include a vineyard visit and wine tasting. Don't forget to get a few bottles to take home. After return to Rome in time for shopping along Rome's leading shopping streets, Via del Corso and Via dei Condotti. Later, wine and dine at dinner in a famous wine shop, where the in-house wine experts will pair the perfect wine(s) for your dinner choice (food and wine not included). Later stumble home with laughter and memories of a wine filled day in Rome.

Thursday, October 30th - Time to get this tour cooking! Italian frigoriferi (refrigerators) are tiny by American standards as many italians make daily visits to the market for "fresh" ingredients, from the butcher, to the baker, to stands with colorful veggies and fruit everything MUST be fresh! So, when in Rome ...! This day you will be off to be a local chef who will take you on a market tour to discover how to pick the perfect cuts of meat and other food selections that will be used in your cooking class. Follow him to his kitchen in Trastevere on the banks of the Tiber river for an hands on cooking class where you will prepared real Italian food while learning the histories behind the dishes. Afterwards enjoy the fruits of your labor for lunch. Be ready to lick your spoons. An optional wine pairing will be offered.


Friday, October 31st - Your BOOaful day will start with a trip to the Vatican for a visit to St Peter's Square and Basilica. In the early fourth century Emperor Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome, decided to build a basilica on Vatican Hill at the site of small shrine that marked the likely location of the tomb of St. Peter. Construction of the basilica started between 319 and 322. It was consecrated in 326 AD and finally completed around 349 AD. Over the centuries many a number of different architects, all of whom made changes to the design, most notably Michelangelo Buonarroti, who became chief architect in 1547 at the age of seventy-two. He conceived the imposing dome. The building itself is truly impressive. The largest church in the world, it has a 211.5 meter long nave (694 ft, including the narthex). The basilica's dome is one of the world's largest measuring 42 meters in diameter and reaching 132.5 meters high (more than 434ft). Once inside the nave the enormous size of the church becomes apparent. The opulence of the interior bears testimony to the wealth of the Catholic church. After your tour of St Peter's. It's time for a light lunch before returning to room to change into your Halloween costume for a BOOtylious cooking class in a private home. Italian mothers are world renown for thier cooking but this cooking class will be lead by Annalisa one HOT mama. This fashion icon and amazing cook with host you in her beautiful home for a halloween cooking class you will never forget. Enjoy dinner at Annalisa home before heading out to sexy halloween party and turn the evening out BGT style. This is also the day we will celebrate our birthday Bellas!

Saturday, November 1st - After a night on a town, garb a grande cup of espresso and your camera as we head of to the enchanting Medieval village Vitero located between Rome and Tuscany is an oasis of good food and relaxation. tep back to the Middle Ages. Thanks to the town's lack of development since the Middle Ages, it is now famed for one of the best-preserved medieval centres in Italy, popular with film crews in search of authentic atmosphere. A pleasant morning can be spent wandering the medieval lanes of San Pellegrino, a historical area of unaltered stone houses with the original external staircases, little lanes, squares and towers. While there you will visit a tiny wine shop where the owner makes his wine in the shop's basement. After lunch head back to Rome for a some free time to explore on your own before another night of partying.

Catania, Sicily 

Sunday, November 2nd - Good-by Roma ... hello Sicily! Today you are off to Catania, Sicily. This triangular island, kicked into the Mediterranean at the toe of Italy's boot displays a rich mix of inherited cultures and cusine. Also, because of all that mixing, maybe that would explain why Sicilian men are so dang fine. :-)Italy has been occupied by foreign conquerors at one point or another, each time absorbing a few of the culinary traditions brought by those invaders. In Sicily, the indigenous dishes that pull heavily from the surrounding seas and such sun-loving vegetables as eggplant and peppers are complemented by Arab, Greek and Spanish influences. You will even find couscous used commonly in northwestern Sicily thanks to African influences, and the use of raisins, saffron and cinnamon reportedly came from the Arabs. Dessert is typically a much bigger deal in Sicily than in many other regions of Italy -- perhaps because citrus fruits and nuts grow so abundantly here. This island is also the birthplace of cannoli, meltingly light pignoli cookies and granita, a semi-frozen dessert made from water and various flavors like lemons and almonds. They pair well with a glass of Marsala wine, which also hails from Sicily.

Catania,Sicily is a wonderful combination of ancient and modern. Her history and character is inextricably linked to the formidable form of Mount Etna, who looms over the city like a maternal menace. At the foot of this great volcano, facing the Ionian Sea lies Catania, a Sicilian monument to survival and resilience, defying the ravages of time and nature. Etna has an interesting character, and despite its imposing appearance and destructive potential, is known to many as the "good volcano". due to historic accounts, it is more likely to damage places than people, as its lava flows tend to be slow, giving town inhabitants time to flee.

Mt Edna

Sunday, October 2nd - After arrival, we head towards Mt. Etna for wine tasting and a Sicilian cooking class. Volcanic eruptions, wildly unpredictable weather, steep slopes: Mount Etna is an insane place to produce wine. But its winemakers have an intensity to match its extremes. Yet somehow, Etna has become one of Italy's most exciting wine regions. Its volcanic soil and distinctive climate create wines with intense minerality and effusive flavors. Flavors you can not find anywhere else in the world.Here we learn about the rich volcanic terroir (land) in which the grapes grow and taste unique the wines of the estate. What a way to start a Sunday day!

Next we join the sexy chef in the kitchen to learn how to cook the Sicilian way, infusing every dish with the essence of the sun and sea. After the class we sit down to lunch to enjoy the fruits of our labors with MORE wine. We will head back to our hotel for a little rest (aka sleeping off all the wine before setting off for and evening apertivo hopping and dinner (dinner and drinks not included).

Taormina

Monday, October 3rd - Today you will visit Taormina, perched high on Monte Tauro. This charming town on two grand sweeping bays and is Sicily's best-known resort. The city lies on a terrace, with a view of the ancient Amphitheater (pictured above) against a backdrop of citrus groves with Mount Etna engulfed in the glory of the Ionian Sea beyond. Do forget your good credit card for the fashionable leather goods. You will have time to explore on your own before heading back to Catania and a free evening.

Tuesday, October 4th - Today we head back to Roma. For free day to explore on your own or in small groups or an optional trip to Florence, the capital of Tuscany. Nowhere in Italy was this mixture of ingredients to prove more fruitful for the development of the Renaissance (rebirth) than Florence, influencing all aspects of life around the world: science, philosophy, art, religion, politics and literature. Renaissance literally means “rebirth”, and it refers to the rebirth of two things: The first is the the rebirth of man, the greater importance of human presence on earth – people began to realise they could enjoy themselves here rather than the miserable medieval existence that was merely about waiting for the afterlife. The second was the rebirth of two important ancient cultures, Greek and Roman, which had been lost for more than 1000 years over the Middle Ages. Here you can visit the the Duomo. If you dare, best way to experience the cathedral is to climb up the 463 steps to get to the top of Brunelleschi's dome. It will give you the best perspective (literally) on why this building is an architectural masterpiece, not to mention wonderful views of Florence, a close up look at the frescoes and a birds eye view of the cathedral interior. No trip to Florence is complete with a visit to the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo's David. Don't forget to leave time to sample some Tuscan cusinse.

Wednesday, October 5th - Caio Bellas! . Today you board our flight back to New York. We have sipped, savored and seen some of the most unique places in all of Italy. Recipes, ingredients, memories and friendships will last, but we know we want to return to this never ending country of surprises, diversity and discovery!


As with all travel international travel local changes sometimes happen that can effect plans. We reserve the right to make minor changes in the itinerary if necessary due to weather conditions and/or other factors beyond our control or to enhance your experience.

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