Escape the hustle and bustle of Rome for a day and tour the lovely small towns of the Etruscan area north of the Eternal City.

Traveling by private Mercedes minivan, your first port of call is Orvieto, built on top of a plateau of tufa stone, half-way between Rome and Florence. Boasting bags of charm, and one of Italy's most beautiful gothic cathedrals, admire the façade of this historic monument, completely decorated with mosaics.

Orvieto is also known for its white wine and outstanding foods and olive oil, and a stop at a country-style restaurant will introduce you to some of these taste sensations.

Continue to Civita di Bagnoregio, sitting on a plateau of tufo stone just like Orvieto. The town can only be reached by a footbridge, and the plateau is slowly deteriorating, so that the town might not be there for much longer.

You can also visit a winery to sample superb Umbrian wines, exemplified by the hillside towns of Orvieto and Assisi.