We are going to a resort this fall!
Discover Central Europe (northern Italy, Croatia, Slovania, and Austria) and , Transform Yourself
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From Strangers to Family
Join a journey where strangers become friends, and friends become family. Over40CONNECT’s exclusive Italian adventure is more than sightseeing—it’s a celebration of connection and conversation. Guided by the world’s leading expert on this region, you’ll uncover hidden gems, share unforgettable experiences, and immerse yourself in Italy’s vibrant heart. By the end, you won’t just feel enriched—you’ll feel at home.
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With Over40CONNECT, you’ll enjoy the safest, most enriching way to experience northern Italy, Slovania, Croatia, and Austria. It’s going to be magical. ensuring authenticity and exclusive access to the best Europe has to offer. Sip wine under the Italian sun, Crotatian Dolomites, Slovanian beaches and stroll through medieval villages, and taste pastries so flaky and divine they’ll spoil you forever. Every detail is designed to help you savor life, love, and unforgettable magic.
Eight days of adventures. Our next European trip is in the fall of 2025 to Northern Italy, Slovania, Austria, and Croatia/h2>
Join us for our fall 2026 trip as part of a group of friends, that includes adventures, new words, hugs, community, friendly locals, love, wine, unique activities, dancing, laughter, fun guides, monster gardens, gondolas up the mountain and hot springs. And food.
We’ll have a safe, guided (by a renowned expert), loving week in one of the most beautiful parts of Europe and will hit four countries in 9 days. Did we mention the food? This itinerary will spoil you and stuff you with all the fantastic local food you can eat.
Here is the draft itinerary. There may be some minor changes (if we get even better ideas for adventures) but it will be close to this. We have hired an Italian travel agent experienced in group excursions in the region to manage money and details. His office can help you with your flights or you can book them yourself directly.
Itinerary
April 22 – DAY 1 – ENROUT
Flight from Ottawa to Florence (in the Tuscany region)
April 23 -- DAY 2 – FLORENCE (in the region of Tuscany)
Most flights arrive from North America to Florence in the morning.
Check in at the bed and breakfast to freshen up.
Guided trip into the museum to see Michelangelo’s David
Group picnic dinner and relaxing evening after our travel.
Or roaming around Florence for those who can live on less sleep.
April 24 DAY 3 – FLORENCE AND ORVIETO (in the region of Umbria)
Breakfast at the B & B
Market in Florence, rub the snout of the pig’s statue (it’s actually a wild boar) at the Mercato del Porcellino so you will be sure to come back, and see the ancient and famous goldsmiths at Ponte Vecchio (alternatively, the famous Cathedral)
Make your way to the train station at around noon. The train station in Florence offers a number of great food choices, from quasi-formal dining to pizza, from ice cream to street food, to chocolate. You will enjoy a free lunch while we all wait for the train.
To check out all the food and shopping choices, see the Santa Maria Novella web site:
https://www.firenzesantamarianovella.it
Outside the train station there is one of the oldest pharmacies in Italy (since 1221) called Officina Santa Maria Novella and if you look back before entering the train station, you will see the façade of the of Santa Maria Novella Cathedral, a masterpiece of the Renaissance designed by famous architect Leon Battista Alberti.
Please don’t linger, as the train to Orvieto leaves at 1 pm. There is a meeting spot at the train station. This is the last chance to join the group before we head to Orvieto, if you are arriving later. The train ride to Orvieto is about 2 hours.
Once at the Orvieto train station, you will be joined by the local organizers. There is a gondola (= funicolare in local lingo) to ride up the mountain and you will check in at BB Hotel Valentino, a lovely Hotel in centre town. Please note that even though Orvieto is up a mountain, the city per se is flat and quite walkable, with very few ups and downs.
We’ll enjoy dinner at Corsica restaurant. Life is good.
April 25 (National Holiday) – DAY 4 – FICULLE (in the region of Umbria) It’s a National holiday!
Italy celebrates the liberation from the Nazi-fascists in 1945.
Breakfast at Hotel Valentino
Bus trip to Ficulle. National ceremony if we get there on time, it’s really short. Mid-morning coffee & pastries at Caffè La Rocca.
Pottery guild at Ficulab (with lesson and demonstration), best pizza in town at Pizzeria Il gusto for lunch.
For dinner, trip downhill to Vitalonga, an organic winery with restaurant — 5 course food & wine tasting.
April 26 – DAY 5 – Perugia (in the region of Umbria)
Breakfast at Hotel Valentino
Train trip to Perugia (the main city in Umbria; the ancient called it Pulchra Perusia, beautiful Perugia) It’s an elegant, Parisian-inspired city with incredible lunch spots. It’s the best of Italian cities without the price gouging of Florence or Venice. They invented the Baci Perugina chocolate and the people watching is amazing. Anywhere in town you can buy fresh Baci.
½ day local guided tour followed by shopping and/or museum. Italian tea & aperitif with yet more amazing food.
Train back to Orvieto and to Hotel Valentino
April 27 DAY 6 – Pienza (in the region of Tuscany) & Orvieto
Breakfast at at Hotel Valentino
Trip to Pienza, in Tuscany. It’s a utopian town, Cristina will give a quick explanation and tour. Pienza is also famous for Pienza cheeses, sometimes laced with black truffles, and for a special type of pasta, called “pici”
Back in Orvieto — visit to the world famous cathedral and museum of the Etruscan civilization. The Etruscans were conquered by the Romans and in theory disappeared, but their descendants are still here J
Free dinner
April 28 – Day 7 – Bomarzo (in the region of Lazio)
Breakfast at Hotel Valentino
Visit to Bomarzo– The Monster Gardens – a famous Renaissance place born of love and heartbreak.
Food & wine tasting at the Cantine Neri.
Free dinner with group reservations
April 29 – LAST DAY (8), HOT SPRINGS
(there are many hot springs in the area, so which one is TBD – the one in the picture looks good)
Breakfast at Hotel Valentino
Bus Trip to the famous hot springs (pack a bathing suit, they are not clothing optional) and some rubber beach sandals, very important!
Picnic
Back to Ficulle for a community dinner with live music and a meal/dance with the locals.
April 30, DAY 9, Florence-Ottawa
Train trip back to Florence to catch a plane (or continue your solo travels). The locals will miss you! Safe travels back to Ottawa or wherever your journey will take you.
Please note:
- Flight back at on the 30th of April MUST be later in the day as you need to leave 2-3 hours ahead to comfortably get to Florence by train (with an extra hour for delays).
- Trains in Italy are, for the most part, reliable, but there may be even serious delays. Italians are used to them, but for us Canadians travel delays may feel very disruptive. In case of serious delays, you can fill out a form online and ask for a refund up to a year after the trip. If you are delayed on the day of your flight, I recommend paying for a taxi outside of the train station.
- The prices quoted are for double occupancy. Single rooms require an increase in the amount quoted for the rooms. A separate price can be provided. Roommates can be matched if you are traveling solo. Single room addendum is $560 CNDN.
- The price includes all meals except for three FREE meals are covered (and we are told that EAT-aly is a truth so you may already be stuffed and happy with snacks). There are also three short taxi rides from airport/B & B in Florence that are not included in all the transportation.
- This price DOES NOT include flight to and from Ottawa- Florence. Some people are coming from different cities, some want to use points, some want to go early (or stay later) and travel around so including flights isn’t realistic. Flight prices are posted below (sourced Dec 1, 2024). Approx $1000 return.
- You need to purchase your own travel insurance. In case of an emergency, hospitals will want to know which insurance, if any, they can bill.
- We have experts on the ground who are bilingual, know the health care system and understand all the areas you will be visiting. This is a community group with love, local experiences and ease of navigating a historic Italian area. We are a group of people who will have your back.
- If you have mild mobility issues you can request assistance at train stations through Sala Blu. However given the cobblestones, hills, and activities you will need to make arrangements for additional support outside of the group. We will give you contact information.
- We will have at least two pre-trip meeting that will include easy and appropriate (and the fun, inappropriate) Italian words and phrases, Italian cooking, and getting to know your travel group. Any and all questions will be answered and assured. Tentative date for the first meeting is Monday, January 13th. Details will be confirmed. Join our mailing list below to be contacted.
- There are minimum and maximum numbers. A $1000 non-refundable deposit (unless we have the very unlikely situation where we don’t hit our min and have to cancel) will be required to hold your spot. Balance is due by March 1st. All monies will be held in trust and sent directly to the agent to confirm the reservations.
The total price is $2560 CNDN NOT including flights. This price is only held until Jan 13, 2025. Send your $1000 Cndn deposit NOW to hold your spot. We are 50% sold out.
And send an email with your phone number to be added to the What’s ap group (sue@over40connect.com)
Where else can you go on a trip with friends and your own world-renowned Italian expert and local guide? Expect it to be life-changing in the best possible way!
With love, Sue
This needs to be booked by Jan 13th and fully paid by March 1, 20025 or we cannot guarantee hotel rooms.
Send your $1000 deposit in trust to sue@over40connect.com TODAY! There is limited space and once it’s sold out it’s done.
It’s going to be life-changing!
SAVE THE DATE! The in person info night has been booked for Jan 10th 7-9 pm with snacks, Italian wine, fun words in italian lesson and any and all questions answered. 72 Union St. Ottawa
