Sip wine beneath the hills of Urbino, wander the cobbled lanes that inspired Wish You Weren’t Here, and fall in love with Italy’s rhythm — slow mornings, golden vineyards, and laughter that spills long past dinner.
Together with author Christy Schillig, you’ll trace a story of second chances and found family through truffle hunts, castle walks, and evenings that feel like pages come to life.
Investment starts at: $5,985 per person (based on double occupancy)
Deposit: $1200 per person
The Flight Before the Story
Every story begins with a crossing. Tonight, you close your laptop, zip your suitcase, and whisper a promise to the version of you that always dreamed of Italy. Tomorrow, that dream begins.
Note: Flights are not included. Travelers should book flights that arrive in Bologna on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Saturday, September 19, 2026 — Depart the US
Benvenuti in Italia
Touch down in Italy and meet your private tour escort before heading into the countryside of Urbino—a world of vineyards, rolling hills, and timeless charm. Check into the elegant Tenuta Santi Giacomo e Filippo Wine Resort & Spa, your home for the next few nights.
That evening, tour the estate’s vineyard and cellar before a welcome dinner that tastes like the opening line of a favorite novel: warm, slow, unforgettable.
Sunday, September 20, 2026 — Bologna → Urbino
The City on the Hill
Enjoy a slow morning and a long Italian lunch before setting out to explore the cobbled streets of Urbino, a UNESCO World Heritage town and birthplace of Raphael. Wander the Ducal Palace, feel history in the air, and fall in love with the art and architecture that inspired generations.
End the evening over dinner in town, wine glass in hand, as laughter spills into the night.
Monday, September 21, 2026 — Urbino
The Hunt for Hidden Treasure
This morning, head into the forest with a local truffle hunter and his dog for a true Italian adventure. Learn the secrets of the search, then taste the rewards with a truffle-infused feast and regional wine.
Spend the afternoon poolside back at the resort before another cozy dinner at a countryside agriturismo.
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 — Acqualagna
A Taste of Tradition
Roll up your sleeves for a private cooking class in Pesaro, where you’ll learn to make the local specialty Piadina Sfogliata. Later, explore Gradara Castle, the backdrop to one of Italy’s most tragic love stories, before toasting the sunset with an aperitif in the vineyards at Fattoria Mancini.
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 — Pesaro & Gradara
A Day of Indulgence
Check out and journey north to the Palazzo di Varignana Resort, an 18th-century villa nestled in the Bolognese hills. After a wine tasting and lunch at the exclusive Ginkgo Longevity Restaurant, unwind in the spa or one of the resort’s pools.
That night, dine at Il Grifone, where creative cuisine meets old-world elegance.
Thursday, September 24, 2026 — Bologna Countryside
A Taste of the City
Travel from Bologna to Venice with a stop in the heart of Bologna for a private food tour. Stroll its medieval markets, meet the legendary sfogline (pasta-makers), and savor every bite.
By afternoon, you’ll arrive in Venice by private water taxi—your first glimpse of the city reflected in its canals. Settle into your boutique hotel, Splendid Venice, steps from St. Mark’s Square.
Friday, September 25, 2026 — Bologna → Venice
The Floating Finale
Spend your final full day exploring Venice like a local. Visit the glassblowers of Murano, then glide across the lagoon in a traditional Venetian rowing boat.
That evening, gather for a farewell dinner paired with an interactive wine tasting—part storytelling, part celebration. Raise your glass to new friendships and a story you’ll never forget.
Saturday, September 26, 2026 — Venice
Arrivederci, Italia
A private water taxi carries you back across the lagoon. Venice fades behind you like the final scene of a film you’ll replay forever.
You arrived as a traveler. You leave as the heroine of your own Italian story.
Sunday, September 27, 2026 — Departure
Christy Schillig is a middle school teacher, author, and lifelong daydreamer who somehow made a degree in Italian Literature and Language her passport to real-life adventure. She lives in a log cabin in New Jersey with her husband (and best friend since sixth grade), their two kids, and two very opinionated dogs.
When she’s not reading YA romance under her desk at school, she’s planning off-the-grid escapes to Italy—the country that’s held her heart since Villanova. So when it came time to bring Wish You Weren’t Here to life, Christy didn’t just sign on for the ride—she helped design every detail. From truffle hunts to late-night vineyard dinners, each stop reflects her favorite corners of Italy and the kind of magic that fills her pages.
This isn’t just a tour inspired by her story—it’s her story, built for every woman who’s ever longed to live one of her own.
meet christy
Every story starts with a spark — a moment when you see a place and think, that feels like home, even though I’ve never been there.
That’s the heartbeat of Lumina. We build tours that don’t just take you somewhere beautiful — they drop you straight into the story you’ve been dying to live. The one filled with laughter over long dinners, quiet awe in ancient streets, and women who feel like old friends by day two.
When Christy told us about Wish You Weren’t Here, we saw ourselves in it: the bittersweet endings, the what-ifs, the messy, brave kind of love that always changes you. So we built a tour that feels like the book — not because you’ll trace her footsteps, but because you’ll feel what her characters felt. Wonder. Belonging. A little heartbreak that somehow makes life sweeter.
Every glass of wine, every cobblestone walk through Urbino, every laugh that spills out too loud at dinner — that’s Lumina magic. It’s the alchemy that happens when story, place, and sisterhood collide.
So if something in you is tugging — that whisper that says maybe this is my moment — we see you. This is your invitation to say yes.
We’ll handle the logistics. You just show up ready to live the story.
With love (and way too many cappuccinos),
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