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Highlights of Northern Ireland
 Northern Ireland, a land of immense variety with wave swept coastal drives, hazy mountains, vast open moorland, tranquil rivers and glassy loughs.
Compact and accessible, it’s a region you can explore at your own pace. From the breathtaking scenery of the Antrim Coastal Route – considered one of the most attractive driving routes in Ireland – to the rolling countryside of County Tyrone, the historic walled city of Derry and the vibrant capital Belfast, all so different but all uniquely Northern Ireland!
Let us design your special visit to enjoy all the wonders of this beautiful corner of Britain.
A sight from Alentejo, one of our favorite hidden gems…
Alentejo is the widest region of Portugal. Here the landscape is “gentle” composed by rolling hills covered by cork oak trees, vineyards and wheat fields. The lifestyle is serene in the small villages with white washed houses where the time slowly passes by… The gastronomy is robust and creative with wines to match it, in contrast with the calmness of the local people of the region. Évora is a beautiful small town and the most important of the Alentejo region. Still surrounded by the old walls it is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and will attract you for its medieval appearance, the narrow streets, the historic centre and the kindness of the locals. Amongst several interesting monuments, you shall not miss the Roman Temple from the 1st century, unique of this kind in Portugal. This is also the perfect place for a great gastronomic and wine experience, as this is one of the regions in Portugal with more traditional and quality at this level. You shall not miss the opportunity of having a meal in one of the city’s restaurants.
Alentejo is just one of the amazing places to visit in Marvelous Portugal. Let us craft your perfect itinerary……
INDIVIDUAL ROOMS NOW AVAILABLE!
EXPERIENCE PARADISE IN THE SWISS ALPS AT
THE LODGE IN VERBIER, SWITZERLAND.
Sir Richard Branson’s stunning mountain retreat, perched high in the Swiss Alps in Verbier, is a perfect year-round escape. The 13 friendly and experienced staff include a Necker Island trained General Manager, an activities co-ordinator, spa therapist, Raymond Blanc trained chef and Bam Bam – the chalet dog. Each one is dedicated to tailor-making each guest experience…. People may arrive as guests but often leave as friends.
Individual rooms now available. Experience winter at The Lodge without hiring the whole chalet! We’ve got individual rooms available in March and April 2012 for 3, 4 or 7 nights. Exceptional meals and drinks, (plus champagne and all the usual inclusions!). The team can also organize all your transfers, lift passes, lessons and ski equipment for an additional cost.
  
  
 
VERBIER, SWITZERLAND
Verbier, “the resort that smiles at the sun”, and the second largest resort in the Swiss Alps, is a delightful French speaking village located on a sunny plateau, on the grand circuit of the “4 Valleys” ski area.
Situated between the Matterhorn and Mont-Blanc at a height of 5,000 feet, Verbier has one of the largest skiing areas in Europe. Your lift ticket is honored at the 100 plus lifts and cable cars which service over 250 miles of ski runs. This vast ski area is topped by Jumbo, the Verbier-Mont-Fort cable car, with a 150 person capacity. Ascending to almost 11,000 feet, this telepherique opens up some of the steepest mechanically accessible ski runs in the Alps. Moderate to easy runs are plentiful and the “4 Valleys” 200 instructors are there to help you develop your skills.
Verbier’s ultramodern sports center enables you to play tennis, squash, ice-hockey, curling, skating and swimming. Verbier has some 60 restaurants plus 9 nightclubs and pubs, and though sporty and active, appreciates an equally calm and relaxing atmosphere. For nonskiers, nearby cities such as Montreux and Lausanne are easily accessible by public transportation.
Ask Trisha Iannazzi, your Swiss mountain specialist for more details.
Trip prices are per person and subject to availability.
Connoisseurs will recognize Spain as a producer of many fine wines, which is why we have created this fantastic special interest Spanish Wine Tour. Designed specifically for groups with a passion for wine, guests will be guided by our enthusiastic wine expert and gain access to a number of the best Bodegas for tastings.
This itinerary explores the picturesque vineyards of Spain, enjoying the wines and hospitality these regions have to offer.
Highlights: Barcelona, Priorat Region, Penedes, San Sebastian, Rioja, Marques de Riscal, Vega Sicilia, Seville, and Jerez
Enthusiasts will relish the opportunity to experience Spain’s wonderful hospitality whilst sampling some of the best vintage harvests amongst acres of picturesque vineyards in the Penedes, Rioja and Jerez regions.
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| Spanish Wine Tour
• 6 full days and 2 half-days sightseeing in the Spanish wine regions of Priorat, Penedes, Rioja, Jerez and more, visiting some of Spain’s most prestigious bodegas and sampling some of the country’s best vintage wines.
• Visit to the outstanding Dinastía Vivanco wine museum
• An afternoon of indulgence in the Caudalíe Vinothérapie Spa
• A professional A&K Tour Director and expert local guides
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner where stated including welcome drinks and dinner at a local restaurant |
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Please contact IANNAZZI ENTERPRISES for more details…..
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Ciao amici.
With the coming of Easter, Italy begins to wake up. People stroll about in the piazza (town square) and streets and you can just about hear the joy as the sun warms things up and makes everyone giddy and social. Springtime is also the beginning of the festivals, concerts and sagre throughout Italy. We would like to introduce you to a few of Italy’s finer festivals in Umbria and Tuscany.
First, a quick glossary to the Italian terms:
- The Italian word for festival or performance is manifestazione and the posters you see about town for concerts or shows are called manifesti - a “manifestation” of some cultural event in the arts or music.
- A festa on the other hand is usually intended for a holiday or birthday or party. It has many meanings and there are many feste in Italy.
- A sagra (plural = sagre) is also a festival but is usually intended for a feast of some sort. A sagra is a traditional or popular festival with a market celebrating a specific food.
Here are a few of our tops picks for this summer:
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Umbria Jazz
This is one of Italy’s hottest jazz and music festivals with international musicians and celebrated artists coming to perform in Umbria’s capital city of Perugia in the month of July. Umbria Jazz had its first performance on August 23, 1973 at the outside park in Piediluco, a small town on the lake above Terni in southern Umbria. This year the festival takes place from July 6-15 ending with a performance by Sting at the San Giuliana arena. |
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Il Palio di Sienna
Il Palio is a horse race held annually every July 2nd and August 16th in Siena’s main square, il Campo. The fun part of the Palio is not so much the race but the pre-Palio festivities during the four days prior to each event. The participating contrade (neighborhoods) have their taverns open to the public for dinners of traditional Tuscan fare served in historic costume. There are practice races in the Campo during the day. So, even if you decide not to take part in the actual race day with 30,000 other spectators, you can still get a feel for the passion and tradition that is the Palio. |
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Infiorate di Spello
The Corpus Domini flower festival in Spello is a Catholic religious holiday on the 9th Sunday after Easter where people celebrate by designing stunning flower carpets to line the streets of this Roman town. This has become a competitive event with various organizations and groups vying for first price in artistic composition and design. Each year there is a religious theme given to the competing groups and they then have to create a design and execute the final product using only flowers and their pedals, stems and leaves. |
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La Gaita di Bevagna
One of Umbria’s favorite medieval festivals is celebrated annually at the end of June. Bevagna, an antique Roman town in the flatlands between Montefalco and Foligno in Umbria was divided into four neighborhoods in the Middle Ages that governed the town and administered the economic and social aspects. Today, Bevagna hosts a re-enactment of those years between 1250 and 1350. For 10 days Bevagna takes a leap back in time and completely transforms itself into the Medieval village it was during those years. |
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So now that Easter is closely approaching it is time to call us and book a week in Italy. Once you have decided what week or weeks best suits you the next question to ask is “What manifestazione or sagra or festa is happening that week in Italy? Sign me up!!”
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Rolling Beyond the Wall: Experience Berlin to Dresden
From the pulsating energy of Berlin, to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Potsdam and the treasure that is Dresden today, Germany still resonates as a flashpoint in historybut also a country with a progressive edge. Wrapped in B&R’s unparalleled hospitality, this journey combines urban explorations with easygoing rides that take you into the stunning countryside of Swiss Saxony, the Elbe River Valley, and the magnificent grounds of Sanssouciyou’ll even enjoy a punt in the Spreewald. It’s an experience that covers the ages.
For more details on this and other great bicycling adventures call us …. 585-624-1285
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Fiction into Reality
With Downton Abbey attracting huge viewing numbers on both sides of the pond, let us design a visit to England for you which will include an on location visit to the scene of all the drama, Highclere Castle as well as offering some imaginative close encounters with Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, Charles Dickens and Sherlock Holmes.
If you have really enjoyed these spectacular costume dramas, bring them we can design a tour that converts much loved fiction into reach out and touch it reality.
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| For more details and booking please contact Trisha at IANNAZZI ENTERPRISES |
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| Spread the love this Valentine’s week by sharing your love of food and robust wines.
If you have a penchant for Piedmont cuisine and like to get bold with a Barolo, then our Chef on Wheels tour will certainly whet your appetite and quench your thirst for adventure.
That’s right, we are teaming up again with Josh and Jen Ziskin of La Morra Restaurant for a bike tour and culinary exploration of Piedmont. Home of Barolo wines, the Alba Truffle festival an the birthplace of the Slow Food movement, Piedmont is not only one of the world’s most alluring gastronomic destinations, but it’s vine glad ridges and hilltop villages make it a premier cycling destination as well.
This year’s tour will run from October 14-19… just in time to watch the leaves change in the vineyards, taste the freshly-harvested Nebbiolo grapes and visit the world-famous white truffle festival in Alba. The ultimate pairing!
If you are interesting in finding out how to share the love with this exciting tour, please call IANNAZZI ENTERPRISES at 585-624-1285 |
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Experience Burgundy: where the pursuit of happiness is easier (and tastier).
Burgundy is vintage Butterfield & Robinson territory ,your backyard if you will, and we know it better than anyone else. And what a backyard it is! Exquisite biking and walking routes, tailor made for daydreaming. Exceptional wines. Timeless villages. What’s not to love? On a B&R trip you’ll meander through lush vineyards, sip grand crus in the fields where they were conceived, and wander cobblestone streets to find old friends. You’ll dine at some of the region’s best-known establishments and at bistros revered by the locals for their hearty country fare. It’s the only place we know of where fights can erupt over selecting the right vintage to pair with a prized Époisses .
Private Escape in Burgundy
In the middle of Burgundy’s bucolic vineyards lies the beautiful town of Beaune. We’ve crafted the perfect 4-night experience, featuring a stay at the most intimate of accommodations, the Butterfield’s own private residence. It’s the ultimate romantic getaway for two.
To book a magnificent biking or walking tour in Burgundy or any other of the many B&R destinations, just give us a call at 585-624-1285
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