General Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Italy. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they take this tour. Although we do our best to make sure that what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document that will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
ENTERING ITALY: United States citizens need a passport valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay. At the time of writing, no visa is required for US citizens spending 90 days or less in Italy. Citizens of other countries should consult their Italian embassy or consulate to inquire about entry requirements and visas.
MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of Italy in the University of Texas collections here. The US Department of State background note on Italy is also available on line.
HEALTH: This tour is not a strenuous one: walking, occasionally over rough or steep terrain, is the only physical requirement, but participants always have the option of sitting out any activity they’d prefer not to take part in, or simply perching alongside the trail to enjoy the beauty of the Tuscan spring.
Mosquitoes can be an annoyance in the marshes, so bring an insect repellent or headnet; ticks are present in some areas.
It may be impossible to obtain certain prescription medications during the tour, so bring all you are likely to need with you in their original labeled containers.
The Centers for Disease Control advise that all travelers make certain that their routine vaccinations (such as for influenza, chickenpox or varicella, polio, measles/mumps/rubella, and diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus) are up to date. The CDC also suggests that vaccination for hepatitis B and a booster for tetanus-diptheria may be needed for visitors to western Europe. Check with your personal physician or local health department for more information well in advance of traveling, and review the latest CDC advisories.
Tap water is safe and widely drunk in hotels and restaurants in Italy.
Please note that any health/medical information contained herein is gleaned by WINGS from websites that are dedicated to traveler’s health issues. Advisories and recommendations by agencies such as the CDC can and do change frequently. We urge you to consult with your physician, local health department, or the CDC for the most up-to-date health advisories for travel to Italy. You can check with the CDC on line.
ALTITUDE: We will be birding at elevations from sea level to approximately 6,000 feet. Our highest altitudes—slightly above that of the Denver airport—are not generally great enough to occasion any difficulties, and we will walk slowly whenever we are high in the mountains; should you experience any discomfort, it will be possible to rest, return to the vehicle, or even be driven a short distance downhill, where recovery should be swift.
CLIMATE: Temperatures in central Italy at this time of year typically range from morning lows in the mid-50s to highs in the mid-70s F; it will be noticeably cooler at our higher-elevation sites, where warm clothing (including hat and gloves) may be helpful. Afternoons along the coast can be quite warm, but there is usually a pleasant moderating breeze. You will be most comfortable if you dress in layers that can be shed as the day goes on. May is usually relatively dry and sunny, but rain is possible at any time, and it is best to be prepared with a light rain jacket or umbrella.
PACE OF TOUR AND DAILY ROUTINE: This is a very relaxed tour. We will be based in just three hotels, one for six nights near Manciano and the second for three nights in Castelnuovo, north of Lucca between the Apennines and the Apuanian Alps; we’ll also spend one night in Florence. We will drive from the hotels to our birding and sightseeing localities each day; the longest drive is on Day Seven, when we travel the 110 miles from Manciano to Florence by way of Siena. None of our other destinations is much more than an hour from our hotel. Our group starts will be relatively late, after breakfast in the hotel. Most of our lunches will be hot meals in restaurants, though we anticipate a picnic lunch or two featuring local specialties. On most afternoons we’ve scheduled breaks at the hotel. We make every effort to be seated for dinner before 8:00 on most days.
Our birding walks are all easy to moderate, on good paths or trails. Our walks in the Apennines and Apuanian Alps necessarily include some uphill stretches, but we will opt without exception for gentle, well-engineered trails, and there will always be the opportunity to stop and rest. In some of the coastal marshes, we’ll be birding mostly from the roadsides; elsewhere we’ll walk up to a mile on level trails and roads to blinds or overlooks.
The most extensive walking of the tour will be found at historical and cultural sites. Though public buildings in Italy are required to provide access for visitors with limited mobility, there are nevertheless certain areas that can be reached only with the ascent and descent of stairs. Because some municipalities ban vehicles from the historic centers, we will occasionally need to walk a short distance from our parking areas to our cultural destinations. In general, it is well to recall that European cities—including hotels, restaurants, and museums—generally have more stairs, curbs, and other obstacles than you may be used to.
With the exception of Day Seven, when we meander from our hotel in Manciano to Florence by way of Siena, every day on the itinerary leaves open the possibility for group members to opt out of part or all of the day’s itinerary and to spend some time simply relaxing.
ACCOMMODATION: Our hotels are modern, comfortable three-star establishments conveniently located for our birding and cultural excursions. All rooms have private bathroom facilities, heat, and air conditioning. Our hotel at Manciano is a renovated country estate with 12 rooms in two buildings; there is a swimming pool, and we’ll take advantage of the fine restaurant for several dinners. Our Florence hotel also has 12 rooms, all overlooking the hills. We’ll stay in Castelnuovo in a bright modern hotel with 30 rooms and a swimming pool.
FOOD: Italian breakfasts tend to be relatively meager, but we will have opportunities to stop at a bakery most mornings for a snack. Our restaurant lunches will be full meals, an opportunity to relax between the activities of the morning and the afternoon; picnic lunches will include local breads, cheeses, meats, and fruits. Note that Italy eats late in the evening, and though we will make every effort to be seated as early as possible, some of our dinners may go until after 10:00 pm.
TRANSPORTATION: We will travel from our hotel to our birding sites in a vehicle driven by our Italian leader. Participants will switch seats each day and must be able to sit in any seat in the vehicle.
DRESS: Dress will be “birder casual” during our time in the field, though somewhat nicer (but still informal) clothes are recommended for evening meals out and for visits to museums and churches. Sleeveless shirts, shorts, or short skirts are generally not acceptable in churches in Italy.
SMOKING: Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles or when the group is gathered. Smoking is not permitted inside in Italian restaurants or hotels; smoking is permitted outside and on the balconies. If any accommodation or location where the group is gathered has a stricter non-smoking policy than the WINGS policy, that stricter policy will prevail.
GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information and Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Italy will be sent to each registrant on receipt of the booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be sent to you about three weeks before the tour starts. Other news will be communicated as necessary.
Updated: July 2009