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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 give attention to household, meals, and friendship.
Villaggio Excursions presents a deeply immersive journey into the very soul of Italian tradition, the place each cobblestone avenue and lingering meal tells a narrative. Visitors keep throughout the partitions of a Twelfth-century hill city, get pleasure from non-public dinners and tastings, harvest and forage seasonal produce, and expertise genuine Italian village life.
On the core of Villaggio (which implies village, in Italian) is Elizabeth Heath, a journey author (of one among our top-read options!) turned passionate advocate for genuine experiences. Collectively along with her Italian husband Paolo, whose roots run deep within the area, Liz (who’s initially from the U.S.) has crafted a collection of excursions designed to resonate with these looking for greater than only a checkmark on their journey bucket record.
With teams averaging 8-12 individuals, every tour is intentionally intimate, fostering a way of group and connection amongst travellers.
“What units us aside,” Liz explains, “is our dedication to authenticity. We’re a tiny little village, fairly distant, about 20 minutes from the historic city of Orvieto. We’ve a group of people who find themselves actually captivated with what we’re doing and who need individuals to see our village and recognize it, style the meals, and really feel the hospitality. It’s actually real.”
“The phrase genuine will get used lots, however this actually is. The individuals who dwell within the city, these are our relations, our pals. We dwell in a village of 200 individuals, and also you’ll most likely get to learn about 50 of them while you’re with us.”
Clearly, this isn’t simply tourism—it’s a real invitation into their village of Allerona and their lives. Villaggio Excursions immerses guests in a world the place time slows all the way down to savour the finer issues: regionally sourced delicacies, superb wines, and the nice and cozy hospitality of a close-knit group.
The excursions are meticulously curated to cater to a various viewers—households, {couples}, and pals alike—all looking for an escape from the quick tempo of recent life. “We’ve at all times envisioned these excursions as small group,” Liz explains, “good for travellers who recognize good meals and nice firm.”
The excursions are all-inclusive as effectively. “As soon as individuals be part of us, they don’t should open their wallets. We care for every part, so you possibly can eat and drink to your coronary heart’s content material.”
Central to the Villaggio expertise is the culinary journey.
Guided by Liz’s mother-in-law, company 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 actual meals, the meals that individuals eat right here,” Liz smiles. “We’re about hand-made pasta and meats and native recreation and greens. I’m the one one who’s actually bilingual, so there’s quite a lot of translation forwards and backwards, which makes it actually enjoyable.”
The authenticity extends past the kitchen to native artisans and producers. Villaggio Excursions actively helps the encircling group by collaborating with small-scale purveyors of olive oil, wine, and different regional delicacies. Relying on the season, company could discover themselves knee-deep within the grape harvest or foraging for truffles—an intimate glimpse into the rhythm of rural life hardly ever seen by outsiders.
“Umbria,” Liz muses, “is just like the nation cousin of Tuscany—extra earthy, unfiltered, somewhat rougher across the edges.” In contrast to its extra curated neighbour, Umbria presents a uncooked appeal that captivates guests with its rugged landscapes and unspoiled magnificence.
For Liz and her household, Villaggio Excursions isn’t only a enterprise enterprise; it’s a lifeline for his or her group.
“Our village is shrinking,” Liz explains, “persons are leaving, particularly younger individuals.” She hopes that by tourism and hospitality, they’ll breathe new life into their group, the place each her husband and 12-year-old daughter had been born.
Seeking to the long run, Villaggio Excursions 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 strategy and dedication to localized experiences.
Whether or not 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 Excursions invitations you to embark on a journey that guarantees not only a go to however an unforgettable chapter in your journey story.
Uncover 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 examine in contrasts to make sure.
Springtime Immersive Umbria
Have fun the top of winter with per week of touring and tasting the springtime bounty in Umbria! This 8-day, 7-night tour is their basic Immersive Umbria expertise, with some particular seasonal actions thrown into the combo, 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 delicate journey contains a few of Villaggio Excursions’ 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 lively 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.