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By Kristina Smith
Nestled within the coronary heart of Italy’s rustic Umbria area lies a hidden gem for these within the know: small-group excursions with a deal with household, meals, and friendship.
Villaggio Tours affords a deeply immersive journey into the very soul of Italian tradition, the place each cobblestone road and lingering meal tells a narrative. Guests keep throughout the partitions of a Twelfth-century hill city, take pleasure in personal dinners and tastings, harvest and forage seasonal produce, and expertise genuine Italian village life.
At the core of Villaggio (which implies village, in Italian) is Elizabeth Heath, a journey author (of certainly one of our top-read options!) turned passionate advocate for genuine experiences. Together along with her Italian husband Paolo, whose roots run deep within the area, Liz (who’s initially from the U.S.) has crafted a sequence of excursions designed to resonate with these in search of greater than only a checkmark on their journey bucket record.
With teams averaging 8-12 folks, every tour is intentionally intimate, fostering a way of neighborhood and connection amongst travellers.
“What sets us apart,” Liz explains, “is our commitment to authenticity. We are a tiny little village, reasonably remote, about 20 minutes from the historic town of Orvieto. We have a community of people who are really enthusiastic about what we’re doing and who want people to see our village and appreciate it, taste the food, and feel the hospitality. It is really genuine.”
“The word authentic gets used a lot, but this truly is. The people who live in the town, these are our family members, our friends. We live in a village of 200 people, and you’ll probably get to know about 50 of them when you’re with us.”
Clearly, this isn’t simply tourism—it’s a real invitation into their village of Allerona and their lives. Villaggio Tours immerses guests in a world the place time slows all the way down to savour the finer issues: regionally sourced delicacies, effective wines, and the nice and cozy hospitality of a close-knit neighborhood.
The excursions are meticulously curated to cater to a various viewers—households, {couples}, and mates alike—all in search of an escape from the quick tempo of recent life. “We’ve always envisioned these tours as small group,” Liz explains, “perfect for travellers who appreciate good food and great company.”
The excursions are all-inclusive as nicely. “Once people join us, they don’t have to open their wallets. We take care of everything, so you can eat and drink to your heart’s content.”
Central to the Villaggio expertise is the culinary journey.
Guided by Liz’s mother-in-law, friends partake in hands-on cooking classes the place the secrets and techniques of conventional Italian recipes are shared with enthusiasm and love. “It’s about real food, the food that people eat here,” Liz smiles. “We’re about hand-made pasta and meats and local game and vegetables. I’m the only one who’s really bilingual, so there’s a lot of translation back and forth, which makes it really fun.”
The authenticity extends past the kitchen to native artisans and producers. Villaggio Tours actively helps the encompassing neighborhood by collaborating with small-scale purveyors of olive oil, wine, and different regional delicacies. Depending on the season, friends might discover themselves knee-deep within the grape harvest or foraging for truffles—an intimate glimpse into the rhythm of rural life not often seen by outsiders.
“Umbria,” Liz muses, “is like the country cousin of Tuscany—more earthy, unfiltered, a little rougher around the edges.” Unlike its extra curated neighbour, Umbria affords a uncooked appeal that captivates guests with its rugged landscapes and unspoiled magnificence.
For Liz and her household, Villaggio Tours isn’t only a enterprise enterprise; it’s a lifeline for his or her neighborhood.
“Our village is shrinking,” Liz explains, “people are leaving, especially young people.” She hopes that by means of tourism and hospitality, they’ll breathe new life into their neighborhood, the place each her husband and 12-year-old daughter had been born.
Looking to the longer term, Villaggio Tours goals to increase its choices past Umbria, with potential excursions to locations like Isola del Giglio and the Dolomites, whereas sustaining their signature small-group method and dedication to localized experiences.
Whether you’re drawn by the promise of handmade pasta, the attract of Umbria’s wealthy historical past, or just the prospect to decelerate and savour actual moments, Villaggio Tours invitations you to embark on a journey that guarantees not only a go to however an unforgettable chapter in your journey story.
Discover the center of Italy with Liz and her household—a heat embrace awaits within the area they proudly name residence.
Fall In Umbria & Hidden Venice
It by no means will get too crowded in Allerona, however Venice is one other story! That’s why they added this low season extension which takes in La Serenissima after a few of the crowds have gone residence. This 11-day tour begins in Venice with an itinerary that’s nice for first-timers or Venice veterans alike, then follows with their Immersive Umbria expertise—a research in contrasts to make certain.
Springtime Immersive Umbria
Celebrate the tip of winter with per week of touring and tasting the springtime bounty in Umbria! This 8-day, 7-night tour is their traditional Immersive Umbria expertise, with some particular seasonal actions thrown into the combination, like foraging for mushrooms and wild asparagus or Truffle looking with a neighborhood tartufaio (truffle hunter) and his canine.
Coastal Tuscany & Umbria
This late summer season smooth journey contains a few of Villaggio Tours’ favorite areas of Italy—the wonderful Argentario promontory and the Isola del Giglio off the coast of Tuscany. This 8-day, 7-night journey is extra energetic than their different excursions and features a sailboat experience, nature hikes, swimming and snorkelling, plus 4 days within the Umbrian countryside.
Save $250 per particular person on any 2025 tour! Use low cost code WANDER when reserving at villaggiotours.com.