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Ciao from Di in Italia
This years grape harvest - there’s still time to join us - but you'll have to be quick!
Only one seat left now on our October 1 - tour so if you’re desperate for a quick escape to Tuscany - right now is the perfect time to visit – the temperature is ideal and the rich golds, burgundy’s and coral reds of Autumn create a vibrant vista that is every photographer’s dream >>> read more about the tour
The heart of Bella Italia Tour itineraries is always Tuscany – its gentle climate essential to its famous regional wine. Tuscan vineyards are famous for their delicious ‘reds’ and cool ‘whites’ and we've timed our October 1 tour perfectly to enjoy the excitement of this years wine harvest. What fun. The harvesting starts at sun up and finishes with the sun high before a huge lunch of cheese, ham and salad – followed quickly by – you guessed it – the long afternoon siesta! At ‘La Mimosa’, (the farm where I live just outside of Lucca) we celebrate our wine making with a wonderful festa. Four or five families get together for a huge dinner and spend the night ‘tasting’ our new seasons wines – not for the faint hearted!! 
Montecarlo – hilltop fortress town
During our October tour we’ll visit the well-known vineyards in the Lucchese hills with Montecarlo at its centre (not Monte Carlo on the French Riviera – but the tiny Italian Montecarlo – a hilltop fortress town which boasts its own opera theatre and beautifully preserved 12th Century fortress).
Photo Left - Gary chomps into a 'panino caprese' a typical Tuscan snack of mozzarella cheese with caprese salad.
Lucca – not just for lovers of Puccini
Lucca – the starting place of our ‘Charming Italia’ Tours, is the birthplace of Giacomo Puccini renown for the great operas “Madam Butterfly” and “Turandot” but this elegant, walled, Lucchese town really rocked this summer to the sounds of - Tracey Chapmen, Santana, Eric Clapton, and Simply Red. Passionate concert goers poured in to Lucca from around the world . . . . . I even spotted well-known Australian personalities, Alyssa-Jane Cook and Andrew McFarland amongst the summer concert crowds.
Photo right - Lucca nestles behind its massive centuries old walls
Carrara – ‘that’s not snow …….its marble’!
For those of you flying into Pisa to join us for the October ‘Charming Italia’ Tour – look out for the ‘snow’ on the tops of the Apuan Alps …….. its not really snow – its marble! >>> more about the tour
Carrara is home of the prized white marble famous since the time of Ancient Rome – and treasured by famous sculptor Michelangelo. Amazingly, I’m told there‘s still enough marble in these mountains to mine for next 1000 years.
When you see the marble mountains only kilometres from the Mediterranean it’s awesome. Even more breathtaking is to see the great slabs of marble sitting on the docks waiting for shipment. ‘Oh, could that piece really be my new kitchen bench-top being hauled up by that huge crane’. Alongside the Marina di Carrara is a wonderful sight – yachts in the foreground, white marble mountains in the background and seafood to die for in the yachting marina restaurant.
Planning your tour to Europe in 2007
‘Charming Italia’ tour runs (Spring) April 10, April 29 and (Autumn) October 12
‘Colours of Italia’ runs (late summer) September 23 - this tour is designed for those of you with a special interest in painting, sketching and/or photography >>> tour dates and costs
About ‘Postcards from Bella Italia’
'Postcards' are written by me, Diane (or Dianella if you're in Europe) in Italia and sent from our main database with my colleague Sandy’s email address. Sandy lives in Sydney, Australia and I live near Lucca in Italia – you can contact either of us by telephone or email see details below and visit our website www.bellaitaliatours.biz >>> read about your tour hosts Di and Sandy
Fares to Europe for April 2007
Economy Class - Fly Air France from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide or Cairns to Pisa (via Paris) for $1900 plus departure taxes. Stopovers are permitted in Paris and Singapore
Companion Fare
Business Class Special – for two people travelling together - fly from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Adelaide to Rome with Malaysia Airlines for $4800 per person plus departure taxes. Stopovers permitted in Kuala Lumpur. Contact Anne Martin on 1300 130 754 (toll free from anywhere in Australia) or by email to amartin@travelplan.com.au to discuss your travel requirements.
