Departing Rome travel northwards along scenic farmlands skirting the Tiber Valley with its string of delightful hill-towns and reach Cortona in Tuscany. This ancient Etruscan town, still surrounded by cyclopic fortifications of the 5th century B.C. ,encloses an amazing middle-age atmosphere totally  untouched by modern times. Strolling about the historical centre discover its intriguing medieval character and the hidden silent corners to absorb the magical timeless mood. Let yourself be immersed in unspoiled Italian provincial daily-life of this beautiful  birthplace of great artists like Luca Signorelli, one of the masters of the Sistine Chapel, and Pietro da Cortona, forerunner of baroque art. The town is also an important art centre offering many treasures for art-lovers. Drive on to Lake Trasimeno, Italy's 4th largest lake, which enthused great authors like Goethe, Stendahl and Lord Byron, and enjoy the dream-like charming setting and see the shores where in the 3rd century B.C., Hannibal  with his elephants defeated the Roman Legions during the second Punic war in his bid to check to growing power of Rome. The crystal clear unpolluted waters offer swimming facilities and then continue your trip through the soft meandering slopes of the decanted Tuscan Countryside covered with colourful, lush and luminous vineyards and olive groves to Montepulciano, famous world-over for the production of "Vino Nobile". Here enjoy exploring Renaissance palaces, squares and churches and stop to taste the local wines in one of the oldest wine cellars along Via delle Cantine, which is carved out of the live tufa rock and discover some of the secrets of winemaking. In the late afternoon return to Rome.

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