Assisi, Umbria & the Adriatic Coast

SAVE UP TO 15% ON 2022 - 2024 HOLIDAYS

One of Italy's less-travelled corners, the blue Adriatic and some of its greatest glories, discovered and explored. This wonderful holiday is based in the traditional Adriatic resort of Pesaro. From this delightful base, with its elegant old town and host of cafés and gelaterie, you'll journey through the unspoilt Le Marche region. See Urbino and its famous ducal palace. Take in Ravenna, home to some of the world’s finest Byzantine mosaics, and visit tiny San Marino. The Umbrian cities of Perugia and Assisi - both surrounded by idyllic countryside - and the chance to visit the pilgrimage shrine at Loreto, complete this memorable tour.

Highlights

Enjoy a week in the traditional Adriatic resort of Pesaro
Explore the historic hill town Urbino and its famed ducal palace
Journey through the unspoiled countryside of Le Marché
See the famed mosaics in the UNESCO-listed Ravenna
Discover tiny San Marino, one of the world’s smallest republics
Wander down Perugia’s famous Corso Vanucci street
Visit exquisite Assisi, with its majestic Basilica
Choose to venture to Loreto and the Conero Riviera

Inclusions

Seven nights' dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation at a four-star hotel
An excursion to Urbino
A tour of Ravenna
A visit to San Marino
A tour of Perugia and Assisi
Return flights to Bologna
Coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

Day 1

Upon arival, meet your tour manager and board our coach for the transfer south and east across Emilia-Romagna, into Le Marche, and on to your hotel in Pesaro. Settle in to your surroundings, and perhaps enjoy a stroll before dinner is served at your hotel.

Day 2

The first of your included tours begins with a short drive through the countryside of Le Marche to the exquisite university city of Urbino. Here, in the 15th Century, the court of Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino, was one of Europe’s greatest centres of culture and civilisation. The great, UNESCO-listed Palazzo Ducale is one of Italy’s finest Renaissance buildings - its elegant rooms and astounding collections a monument to the life of one of the period's most powerful and influential figures. Surrounding the palace, a lively jumble of medieval streets and squares offers much of interest, and plenty of places in which to enjoy a drink or a bite to eat before you return to Pesaro.

Day 3

Rest and relax in your hotel or in Pesaro itself, where you'll find beaches fringed by blue waters, café life is centred on the elegant buildings of the central Piazza del Popolo, and where the most energetic pastime on offer is strolling the seafront promenade, gelato in hand. The birthplace of the composer Gioachino Rossini (composer of the William Tell Overture), the town, the delightful heart of which is only a short distance from the seafront, pays homage to its famous son with a museum at his birthplace and a theatre named in his honour. By day and by early evening, when the passeggiata takes place, Pesaro is a lively, colourful, but low-key seaside town.

Day 4

Today’s excursion heads first to majestic Ravenna, the ancient former capital of the Western Roman and Byzantine empires. Once a major port, but now some distance from the sea thanks to centuries of accumulated silt, Ravenna is famous the world over for its stunning mosaics - often considered the finest in western art – and which are found in no less than eight UNESCO World Heritage sites dotted around the compact city. After a walking tour, take a seat at a café in Ravenna’s elegant expansive central square, Piazza del Popolo, before re-boarding the coach to journey to the tiny Republic of San Marino. The world’s fifth-smallest country, the microstate of San Marino is completely encircled by Italy. Take in the spectacular views from the ancient Città, the old town that crowns this fiercely autonomous and resolutely mysterious corner of Europe, before you return to Pesaro in time for dinner.

Day 5

Today you'll have another free to enjoy the pleasures of the hotel and the town.

Day 6

Relax in Pesaro, or join today’s optional excursion to Loreto, one of the most revered Catholic pilgrimage shrines. Here the Holy House of the Virgin Mary draws the faithful and the curious from across the globe. In addition to the shrine’s religious significance, it's also a home to some remarkable Renaissance art and set amid beautiful scenery. You’ll also take in the dramatic cliffs and beautiful surroundings of the Conero Riviera, with its pretty ports and tiny coves. Visits to cliff-top Sirolo and colourful Numana, with its busy harbour, add to the pleasure of a wonderful day.

Day 7

Perhaps saving the best till last, today’s excursion takes you through the marshes (hence 'Le Marche') into Umbria, Italy’s "green heart". Here the stunning countryside of rolling hills is studded with ancient towns and cities, none more fascinating and compelling than medieval Perugia. Discover the city's famous people-watching street, the Corso Vannucci, its cathedral and its medieval centre, before heading to Assisi, birthplace of Italy’s patron saint, and perhaps Italy’s most famous hill-town. Assisi's Basilica of St Francis is Umbria's greatest glory, and is home to one of the world's finest art collections. The renowned frescoes, especially those in the Upper Church, reflect the life of the "most saintly of all the saints". Return to Pesaro to enjoy a last dinner at your hotel, and to relive the memories of the past wonderful week.

Day 8

Bid farewell to your Italian hosts and transfer back to Bologna airport to check in for your flight home.

Further Information

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately two hours.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Changes to your hotels

Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Entrance fees

Please note: Since some attractions visited offer free admission to visitors at certain times of the year, we do not include entrance fees. These will be payable locally where applicable.

Travelling to Europe

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. Note that these new rules do NOT apply when travelling within the United Kingdom or to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. You do require government issued ID when travelling by air though. Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be less than 10 years old on the day you return home – please check the 'date of issue' and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home – please check the 'expiry date'. These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland where you can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay. Visa - If you’re a tourist, you do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. Different rules will apply to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania; if you visit these countries, visits to other EU countries will not count towards the 90-day total. Travel to Ireland will not change and stays there will not count towards the 90-day total. European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Towards the end of 2022, it is likely that non EU citizens will be required to apply online for an authorisation to visit most European countries. The current details suggest there will be a charge of €7 per person and the authorisation will be valid for all trips made to the EU in a three year period from issue. We will advise you of confirmed details prior to your tour’s departure. Border Control - At border control, you may need to show proof of your return journey - your travel documentation issued by us will be sufficient for this. You will also need to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens if manual checks are required. Healthcare Cover - You should always get appropriate travel insurance with healthcare cover before you go abroad which covers pre-existing conditions. You should understand the terms and conditions of your travel insurance and be happy with its cover for healthcare and travel disruption. Newmarket sell a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Ask our travel consultants for more information. You should also apply for a UK Global Heath Insurance Card (GHIC) which lets you get urgent state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Note GHIC is only valid in EU countries and not in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Mobile Roaming - Roaming charges are applied by some UK providers when visiting the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Prior to travel, please do check with your phone operator for the most up to date information.

Terms and conditions

Terms and Conditions: Save up to 15% discount applies to specific 2022-2024 holidays and tours only. All tours are marked with the discounted percentage. The ‘Dream it. See it. Share it.’ offer applies to new bookings only for 2022 -2024 departures booked between 6 June and 31 July 2022 inclusive. The Offer does not apply to holidays with late availability pricing and excludes Ocean Cruise, River Cruise, Lapland, Andre Rieu, and Wimbledon. This offer cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other discount, promotion or concession. When booking a holiday as described above, prices shown will automatically have percentage discount applied on our website. The discount applies to the tour price (excluding extras and holiday insurance) at the time of booking. The Offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time.