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  • Chautauqua Travels
    • Sustainable Norway with Mark Wenzler
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    • Colors and Canvases in Oaxaca with Erika b Hess
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    • England in Bloom with Betsy Burgeson
    • Cannes Film Festival with Marta Lamperova and Laura Savia
    • Clean Energy and a Changing Climate in Iceland with Mark Wenzler
    • Forks & Corks: Savoring Umbria & Chianti with Deborah Sunya Moore
    • London Theater: Page to Stage with Jade King Carroll
    • Santa Fe’s Art Scene with Judy Barie
    • Culture, Creation & Reconciliation in South Africa with The Rt. Rev. Bishop Eugene Sutton 
    • The Colors of India with Amit Taneja

Forks & Corks: Savoring Umbria & Chianti

October 22–28, 2027

Pricing: $8,750 per person; For a single room add $1,280

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For more information, contact ATA at 855-395-6100 or CHQtravels@academic-travel.com


Overview

In late October, central Italy settles into one of its most evocative seasons. Vineyards glow gold and russet, olive groves hum with harvest, woodlands scent the air with truffles, and kitchens turn instinctively toward the flavors of autumn. Based in Umbria and Chianti, this thoughtfully paced journey with Chautauqua Travels with your host, Deborah Sunya Moore, Sr. VP and Chief Program officer at Chautauqua Institution, celebrates regions where history, cuisine, and community remain inseparably linked to the land. From the hill town of Orvieto—shaped by Etruscan foundations, medieval civic pride, and Renaissance ingenuity— explore monumental architecture alongside living traditions: weekly markets, family bakeries preserving Slow Food–recognized breads, master ceramists, and small wineries working with local grapes. Visits to regenerative farms reveal how soil, biodiversity, and flavor are deeply connected, while olive oil tastings illuminate Umbria’s millennia‑old relationship with the olive tree. The journey unfolds slowly, with time for conversation, reflection, and shared meals that tell the story of place: truffle‑laced lunches after woodland hunts, pecorino cheeses shaped by pasture and season, and vineyard tables set with estate-grown produce. Crossing into Chianti, Renaissance gardens, organic vineyards, and medieval hill towns offer a new yet resonant sense of continuity. This is an immersive autumn journey—designed not to check sights off a list, but to experience Italy through taste, craft, landscape, and the enduring rhythms of everyday life.

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Questions?

Please contact ATA at:
Toll-Free Number: 855-395-6100
CHQtravels@academic-travel.com

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Trip Highlights

  • Experience central Italy at harvest time, when vineyards glow gold, olive groves buzz with activity, and forests yield prized truffles.
  • Explore Orvieto’s extraordinary layers of Etruscan, medieval, and Renaissance history through its Duomo, ingenious Pozzo di San Patrizio, civic theater, and vibrant weekly market—brought to life by local experts.
  • Meet cheesemakers, ceramists, winemakers, olive oil producers, and truffle hunters whose work sustains regional identity, offering rare insight into Italy’s small‑scale food and craft traditions.
  • Visit innovative farms practicing regenerative and organic agriculture, with unforgettable meals built around seasonal vegetables, estate olive oils, organic wines, and zero‑kilometer ingredients.
  • From truffle‑laced lunches and Chianti vineyard tastings to a Tuscan cooking class paired with live opera, this journey celebrates Italy through its most expressive forms—cuisine, landscape, and art.

Trip Host: Deborah Sunya Moore

Senior Vice President and Chief Program Officer Deborah Sunya Moore is responsible for establishing and leading programmatic vision for Chautauqua’s program pillars: Education, Arts, Religion and Recreation. The summer season programming includes the Chautauqua Lecture Series, Interfaith Lecture Series, Popular Entertainment, Schools of Performing and Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Youth & Family programming and resident companies inclusive of the orchestra, opera and theater. Ms. Moore has held positions at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, the Louisville Orchestra, and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She has been a speaker for the United States Department of State and served as a Fulbright Specialist.

Deborah Sunya Moore

Itinerary

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Days 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 1

Arrival in Umbria

Arrive in Rome and travel together into the Umbrian countryside, where rolling hills and age-old traditions set the tone for the journey ahead. Take a complimentary group transfer from Rome airport to Orvieto (approximately 1.5 hours drive), a hill town long shaped by community and craft. Settle in at the welcoming Emme Palace hotel in the heart of the historic center, before gathering for a celebratory glass of local wine. This evening, savor a seasonal, locally rooted dinner at neighborhood trattoria, renowned for honoring Umbrian culinary traditions, before returning to the hotel to rest and reflect on the day.

Included Meal: Dinner

Accommodations: Emme Palace Hotel & Spa

Day 2

Stones, Stories & Spirals of Orvieto

Today explore Orvieto’s extraordinary past and living traditions. Walk the historic center with a local guide, discovering the Gothic Duomo—its shimmering façade a masterpiece of medieval faith and civic pride—along with San Patrizio’s Well, an ingenious Renaissance feat built to secure water during sieges, and the Torre del Moro, long the town’s civic landmark with sweeping views. Stroll through the weekly market, admiring the seasonal produce then, pause at a bakery to taste lumachelle: savory, snail‑shaped breads enriched with pecorino cheese and cured pork, born of rural ingenuity and now a Slow Food–recognized symbol of community. The afternoon continues with a visit to a local ceramist before driving through the surrounding hills to a family-run winery for a vineyard walk, cellar visit, wine tasting and light farm-to-table supper.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations: Emme Palace Hotel & Spa

Day 3

Regenerative Flavors of Umbria

After breakfast, depart for Quintosapore, an innovative Umbrian farm dedicated to regenerative, organic, and biodynamic agriculture. During a guided visit, learn how agroforestry, biochar, effective microorganisms, and biomimicry restore soil health and biodiversity, allowing vegetables to express true seasonal character. The experience culminates in a leisurely outdoor lunch: a full tasting menu crafted entirely from vegetables harvested that morning and cooked over the wood‑fired stove. This afternoon, continue to a local olive farm for a visit and guided olive oil tasting, exploring Umbria’s long tradition of high‑quality, sustainably produced extra‑virgin oils, before returning to Orvieto for a free evening.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: Emme Palace Hotel & Spa

Days 4

Truffles, Theater, and Umbrian Wine

This morning is devoted to one of Umbria’s most treasured traditions: truffle hunting. Accompanied by expert truffle hunters and their dogs, explore woodland paths while learning about the ecology, seasonality, and cultural importance of this prized delicacy. The hunt is followed by a leisurely lunch, where local dishes highlight the morning’s finds. Return to Orvieto mid‑afternoon for a visit to the elegant Teatro Mancinelli, a 19th‑century jewel reflecting the town’s civic and artistic life. After an informal wine tasting at a local enoteca the rest of the evening is at leisure.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Emme Palace Hotel & Spa

Day 5

From Cheesemakers to Chianti Hilltops

Check out of the hotel and depart Orvieto to visit a small, quality‑driven dairy celebrated for its respect for local milk and traditional methods. During the visit and tasting, sample a range of distinctive pecorino cheeses—from fresh and delicately milky to semi‑aged and fully aged varieties with deeper, nutty character—alongside creamy ricotta and other seasonal specialties shaped by the rhythms of the farm. Continue ontoTuscany, where cypress-lined roads lead into the rolling Chianti hills. Arrive at Borgo San Luigi, a beautifully restored 17th‑century hamlet set within expansive parkland, where historic stone buildings, terracotta roofs, and leafy gardens create a tranquil retreat in the heart of the countryside. Later, visit nearby Monteriggioni, one of Tuscany’s most perfectly preserved medieval villages. Encircled by intact stone walls and towers dating to the 13th century, the tiny hilltop town offers a rare glimpse into the Middle Ages, with cobbled streets and sweeping views. Return to the hotel for dinner featuring regional Tuscan cuisine.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations: Borgo San Luigi

Day 6

Historic Vineyards and Operatic Arias

In the heart of Chianti visit historic Castello di Verrazzano, a Renaissance estate overlooking Greve in Chianti. Explore the formal gardens and ancient wine cellars, followed by a guided tasting of the estate’s certified organic wines. The tasting will highlight classic Chianti grapes such as Sangiovese, alongside international varieties including Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, offering insight into both tradition and innovation. Lunch showcases Verrazzano’s deep commitment to sustainability, featuring zero‑kilometer dishes prepared with organic vegetables, estate olive oil, honey, and farm‑raised products. Enjoy a memorable evening at a 17th‑century Tuscan villa. Roll up your sleeves and join a cooking class focused on hand‑rolled pasta and seasonal sauces, before sitting down to enjoy the meal accompanied by a live opera performance—a stirring celebration of Italy’s culinary and musical heritage.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Borgo San Luigi

Day 7

Arrivederci

Check out of the hotel this morning and transfer to Florence airport for individual flights home.

Included Meal: Breakfast

What’s Included?

  • All accommodations for the duration of the tour
  • Meals, as noted in the itinerary
  • All sightseeing and visits as noted in the itinerary
  • Expertise of an expert and travel director throughout the tour
  • All gratuities for on-tour guides, drivers, hotel, and restaurant staff as part of the group program
  • The assistance of an ATA professional travel team to assist with pre-trip questions, travel arrangements, including flights, extra hotel nights and other services
  • Comprehensive pre-departure mailings and materials with information about the destination and what to expect on tour, including a suggested reading list
  • Emergency evacuation insurance

Accommodations

Emme Palace Hotel & Spa, Orvieto
Set on a cobbled street in Orvieto’s historic center, just steps from the Duomo, the Emme Palace is an elegant 5‑star boutique hotel blending aristocratic heritage with contemporary design. Housed in a restored historic residence, interiors feature clean modern lines, refined materials, and frescoed details. Service is polished yet warm, with notable attention to guest comfort. Amenities include a full spa with thermal facilities, gym, bar, and an excellent breakfast, making it an ideal, centrally located base for exploring Orvieto and the surrounding countryside. (4 nights)

Borgo San Luigi, Monteriggioni
Borgo San Luigi is a beautifully restored 17th‑century Tuscan hamlet set amidst 60,000 square meters of gardens and parkland near Monteriggioni. Spread across historic stone buildings, its rooms feature classic Tuscan décor, antique furnishings, and modern comforts. Guests enjoy a tranquil countryside setting with a large pool, tennis courts, and on-site restaurant serving regional cuisine, all ideally located between Siena and Florence for exploring Tuscany. (2 nights)

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