9h – Guided tour of the UNESCO world patrimony city center. The amphitheater and the roman heritage, the ancient Saint Trophime cathedral (a master piece of Romanesque facade sculptures) and discovery of the life of Vincent Van Gogh settled here in 1888 and 1889. Stop by the chocolate shop Les délices du Sud and the pastry Leblanc. End of the tour by the Rhône river banks.
11h – From Arles, drive to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence passing by the abbey of Montmajour and also Fontvieille where the windmill of Alphonse Daudet stands.
11h45 – Arrival to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
Have a walk in the native city of Nostradamus, visit the huge neo-classical church Saint-Martin. This little city, symbol of the provençal lifestyle is perfect for a relaxing walk in the narrow steets of its old center and by the small squares full of fountains, especially when it is the market day (Wednesday and Saturday).
12h45 – Lunch in the center to enjoy local specialities made with goat cheese or local vegetables. Provence was called the “French garden” during the middle ages.
14h15 – Drive to Chateaurenard. On the road have a stop to the candy shop Lilamand (open at 14h30).
15h – Arrival at Chateaurenard. Visit of the feudal castle, an ancient fortress of the Counts of Provence. The visiting path is leading to a beautiful panorama and a gorgeous garden.
16h15 – Teatime at the pastry Hawecker, then drive to Aix-en-Provence by the highway (A7).
17h15 – Guided tour of Aix-en-Provence : The Cours Mirabeau where you can taste the special sweet of the city invented by the cooker of the last King of Provence, King René, in 1471 : « les calissons » ; the Mazarin neighborhood with its luxurious palaces and mansion-houses, the Place des Prêcheurs and the approaches to the ancient jail. Stop at the chocolate shop Chocolat de Puyricard.
It is possible to have diner in Aix-en-Provence close to an old fountain or a quiet square shaded by age-old plane trees.
Piazza IV Novembre. Presentation of its main monuments: Palazzo dei Priori and the Sala dei Notari (XIII-XIV century), Fontana Maggiore (early second half XIII c.), Cathedral of San Lorenzo (XIV-XV sec.).
Corso Vannucci n. 25: visit to the Collegio della Mercanzia, which since 1390 has its location in the ground level places of the Palazzo dei Priori, a rare example of wooden decoration, and to the Collegio del Cambio, one of the most distinguished Renaissance monument, painted by Pietro Vannucci, known as Perugino, between 1498 and 1500.
Corso Vannucci 32: Old coffee – pastry SANDRI. It is famous for the production of chocolate and cakes, as well as for artistic windows.
Corso Vannucci n. 43: Luisa Spagnoli; Clothes shop linked to Angora factory founded by Luisa Sargentini Spagnoli.
Corso Vannucci n. 110: PERUGINA shop
Piazza Italia and Carducci Gardens – Rocca Paolina – Via Marzia – Via Oberdan – Piazza Matteotti
Via Baglioni n.5: Creamery, born in 1025, decorated with original majolicas with themes related to milk production.
Via Alessi – via Angusta: first laboratory of the “Perugina”, made by Annibale and Luisa Spagnoli, in 1906, witnessed by the plaque affixed in 1980 realized by Aldo Spagnoli.
If the group is happy to walk through the narrow streets, we proceed to Via Cartolari, Via della Viola going back to Via Bontempi with some sections of Etruscan walls and the Etruscan-medieval Porta del Giglio.
Piazza Piccinino: visit to Etruscan Pozzo or Sorbello (III-II cent. BC) one of the most remarkable monuments of the Etruscan civilization.
Crossing the old town it is possible to visit various chocolate Store: Eurochocolate – Chocostore (Piazza IV Novembre), B and B Chocolate (Piazza Danti), Bottega del Vino (Spagnoli- Confiserie du chocolat), Talmone Chocolate (in via Maestà delle Volte, in which there is a very beautiful part of Etruscan wall) and the next opening café and chocolate shop in the historical place Volte di Braccio and the other in Piazza IV Novembre Turan Cafè.
Places of the realization of the Luisa Spagnoli TV fiction: Via Maestà delle Volte, one of the most suggestive place in Perugia; via U. Rocchi, Via Sant’Ercolano.
Piazza Braccio Fortebraccio: Etruscan Arch or Arch of Augustus (III sec. A. C.), impressive fortified gate of the Etruscan wall that continues with a beautiful view in via Battisti, next to the University for Foreigners (Palazzo Gallenga Stuart 1740-1758).
Via Pinturicchio n. 2: Cholate and Ice-cream Augusta Perusia (also present in via Bonazzi 31 as Chocolate Augusta Perusia and in via C. Piccolpasso 1 / A, with the possibility to visit at the handcraft laboratory)
Possibility to visit the Spagnoli textile factory (located in Santa Lucia) to see the workers’ village and the chapel of Luisa Spagnoli Sargentini, founder of Perugina and of the Angora Spagnoli. http://www.luisaspagnoli.it/
Nearby there is the Chapel dedicated to Luisa in 1937, decorated with ceramic panels to shine by the famous sculptor Pietro Melandri from Faenza, visible from the outside.
Perugia – Visit of the main monuments of the historical center: Palazzo dei Priori and the Sala dei Notari, Fontana Maggiore and San Lorenzo Cathedral.
Corso Vannucci 32: Old Coffee – SANDRI pastry,
Etruscan Arch and Etruscan walls of Via C. Caporali, Palazzo Gallenga – Piazza Braccio Fortebracci –
Via Pinturicchio n. 2: Cholate and Ice-cream Augusta Perusia and new “Perugina” Shop to the Logge di Braccio
Corso Vannucci n. 110: PERUGINA shop and new “Perugina” Shop to the Logge di Braccio
Piazza Italia and Carducci Gardens – Rocca Paolina
Corciano: Dulcinea Perugia, Industrial Area – via P. Togliatti
Visit of the medieval village
ANTIQUARIUM; ELLEGI Chocolate and Confetti, Via Guthenberg n. 20.
Day 2
At about 96 km from Perugia, we can find Norcia. The city is located at an altitude of m. 604 slm, it is an ancient Sabine city, then Roman, near the Sibillini Mountains. It has been the birthplace of St. Benedict, and it is an holiday destination both in summer and in winter for the practice of winter sports, it is also known for its traditional charcuterie and black truffles, but also for its important art and cultural heritage and historical evidences, from the Roman remains to the medieval walls, and the splendid Piazza San Benedetto. Relevant is the Castellina Museum.
Visit the Piano Grande, at m. 1270 s.l.m., dominated from Castelluccio di Norcia at m. 1452, the picturesque mountain village, base for interesting excursions in the nearby of the Sibillini Mountains and winter sports destination.
Day 3
From Perugia to Todi, to Rome
Volumni Etruscan Tomb, necropolis of Palazzone and Antiquarium – Ponte San Giovanni.
Torgiano: tour of the village
Guided tour of the Cantine Lungarotti
MUVIT Wine Museum with wine and local products tasting
Deruta: tour of its ceramics factories (ancient pottery Grazia)
Regional Museum of Ceramics.
Vannucci Spa Chocolate, Via Caselle n. 286/1 – Pantalla di Todi
Visit Todi with its important monuments from the Etruscan and Roman periods till the Middle Ages:
The Town Hall
Bishop’s Palace
The Cathedral, San Fortunato, Roman cisterns, walls and doors, etc.
Perugia preserves, at an altitude of 494 m S.L. m., the evidence of the various civilizations that have passed through its long history: it has been one of the most significant Etruscan city, a Roman colony Augusta Perusia, an important medieval city and a free municipality, then, it has lived through successive periods that have left their signs in the city, from the Renaissance to the Risorgimento until now.
Today Perugia is the administrative capital of the Umbria region, cultural and tourist destination and prestigious, university city for over 700 years. The historic Academy di Belle Arti, the Music Conservatory and the Foreigners’ University, with students from all over the world, define a strong international vocation. City of art, but also city of music with the Umbria Jazz and the Sagra Musicale Umbra festivals, city of the alternative mobility and chocolate city.
Perugia, its history, its culture and its main monuments:
Piazza IV Novembre, the heart of the city, where it is possible to find the main monuments: Palazzo dei Priori, the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, and other important buildings. Just in the middle of the square there is the Fontana Maggiore, the symbol of the maximum grandeur of the city.
City of Culture, for the presence of historical universities: the University of Perugia, the Italian University for Foreigners, the Academy of Music, the Academy of Fine Arts “Pietro Vannucci”.
City of Art, for its many museums, including the National Gallery – the greatest Umbria museum collection – and the National Archaeological Museum, the Collegi del Cambio e della Mercanzia, churches and oratories up to the Civic Museum of Palazzo della Penna dedicated to the ‘900.
City of History and Tradition between the past and the present: there are many Etruscan, Roman, medieval evidences (like the city walls, their Etruscan doorways, the dominant Etruscan Arch, the Pozzo of Sorbello, the Hypogeum of the Volumni, the Orpheus mosaic, the Underground of the Cathedral), the original Rocca Paolina, crossed by escalators where stands the powerful sculture Grande Nero of Alberto Burri to seal the continuous and scenographic combination offered by the city of ancient and contemporary, the recent Fontivegge Management Centre, designed by the famous architect Aldo Rossi, the various systems of escalators and the Minimetro designed by the famous architect Jean Nouvel, which connects the historical center to the big parking, crossing the city in the north direction.
Sustainable City: alternative mobility system (Minimetro, bike sharing, urban trekking).
During the year they will take place international events such as the Umbria Jazz music festival and the Sagra Musicale Umbra. The city is also the capital of chocolate, with the Historical Museum of Perugina and the international exhibition of Eurochocolate. And also… the international Journalism Festival and, from the 2016 the historical commemoration “1416”, dedicated to the figure of the mercenary Captain Braccio Fortebracci, which tells the passage of the city from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
9h30h – Visit of Roquebrune-sur-Argens. Discover the Heritage House where is an ancient ice storage from the 17th century and the charming provençal village with its colorful houses with arches, its fountains, its belfry and its old center from the Middle Ages. The most relevant monument is the 16th century church Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul.
10h30 – Visit the Maison du chocolat et cacao located in a 17th century chapel and have a taste of chocolate beans. Then have a taste of the unique black chocolate of the chocolate maker Mélissa Ouvry by Chocolats et Gourmandises. Then have a tasting of hot spicy chocolate from the Marquise de Sévigné recipe, accompaigned with nougat « le Rocher » from the chocolate master Philippe Vinay by the chocolaterie du Rocher. Finish your morning with a taste of the local farmers products such as honey, olive oil, marmalades, rosé wines by the Maison du Terroir.
12h – Lunch at the restaurant La Place which works with the local products.
13h30 – Drive to Nice passing by the coastal road : Saint-Aygulf, Fréjus, Saint-Raphaël et la Corniche de l’Estérel. This jaw pending panoramic road offers sumptuous views over the Estérel mountain where the Cap Roux and its red rocks are diving from 452m high into the turquoise sea. Arriving at Mandelieu-la Napoule it is easy the join the highway and drive straight to Nice.
15h – Arrive in the capital city of the French Riviera and drive along the “Promenade des Anglais”.
Walking guided tour of the city. Go up the hill of the castle to admire the entire Baie des Anges. Walk by the ancient palace of the Sardinians Kings and the chapel of Miséricorde. Then the visit will lead you to the justice palace square and the Rossetti square, one of the most busy square downtown. Discover the Sainte Réparate cathedral and opposite to it, the mythical ice-cream maker Fenocchio, renowned for his delicious icecreams with the craziest flavors such as basil-tomato, thyme or beer… Follow the tour by the Saint François square and the majestic Palais Lascaris, a pure jewel of barocco architecture from the 17th and 18th century with its monumental staircase full of paintings and its living-rooms with the most luxurious artefacts.
Finish the tour with a stop by the pastry Serge Serain, on the square Garibaldi, next to the old center.
16h30 – Drive to le Paillon et La Trinité.
Discover the church of the Très-Sainte-Trinité, which original project comes from the church of the « Gran Madre di Dio » in Turin, built in the beginning of the 19th century. Its front is inspired by the Pantheon of Rome.
Stop at the chocolate maker Pascal Lac, on the road to Laghet. He twice received an Award from the Le Club des Croqueurs de chocolat.
Cacao, polifenoli e salute, esperti a confronto ad Eurochocolate. Qual è il rapporto tra cioccolato e salute? Intorno a questo interrogativo si è svolto, sabato 15 ottobre, il convegno Cacao, polifenoli, e salute. L’incontro è stato organizzato dall’associazione C4H Cocoa for Health nell’ambito di Eurochocolate, in collaborazione conl’Università di Perugia, l’Università di Camerino, International Society of Cocoa Chocolate and Medicine e Accademia Maestri Cioccolatieri Italiani.
Il professor Di Renzo spiegò: “In piccole dosi e con una elevata percentuale di cacao, il cioccolato garantisce importanti effetti benefici – spiega il professor Di Renzo – Il nostro organismo, quando assume cibo, produce una certa quantità di ‘rifiuti’ che i polifenoli aiutano a smaltire. Effetti positivi sono stati riscontrati in casi di ipertensione, per esempio. E ancora nelle donne in gravidanza. Mangiare una barretta al giorno di cioccolato, 30 grammi al 70% di cacao, nell’ultimo mese di gravidanza e nel primo di allattamento, come conferma uno studio partito proprio da Perugia, aumenta le capacità antiossidanti del latte materno”
