Alberobello and Trulli Dwellings

Alberobello, in the Puglia region on southern Italy, is a picturesque and fairy-tale like destination which makes an interesting daytrip destination of a pleasant base for a few days while traveling through Southern Italy. Famous for its trulli, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.It is a featured stop on Celtic Tours new The Amazing South of Italy tour.

A trullo is a small dwelling built with the local limestone, thick dry-stone walls and a characteristic conical roof. Many trulli roofs are adorned with ancient symbols of their pagan inhabitants. Trulli were generally constructed as dwellings or storehouses and were traditionally built without any cement or mortar, thus avoiding taxation. Legend has it that trullo were built by peasants and when the tax collector came around, they quickly dismantle their house. The vast majority of trulli have one room under each conical roof, a multi-roomed trullo house has many cones representing each room.

Icons of the Puglia region, trulli dot the countryside. But nowhere are they as numerous as in the city of Alberobello. Take a stroll through the twisting and turning steets, lined with trulli, of Rione Monti, The streets are also filled with wine shops, artisanal shops and kitschy souvenir shops. Around the main tourist area, there are many little bars, snack-shops, restaraunts and pizzerias, some in trulli. There are also a handful of small museums. When visiting Alberobello, don’t miss the Chiesa Sant’Antonia: a giant trullo church.

Visit Alberobello and the fairy-tale like trulli on Celtic Tours new The Amazing South of Italy Vacation.

The Amazing South of Italy Vacation

Amazing South of Italy!

Join Celtic Tours as you journey through southern Italy and experience its rich scenery, art, culture, food and wine! Witness the breathtaking scenery of the Amalfi Coast, discover the ruins of Pompeii, and visit the stunning trulli village of Alberobello. Sail to enchanting Capri and sip coffee in the Piazza.

Your Celtic Tours Amazing South of Italy Tour Includes:

* Accommodation at 4 Star hotels
* Italian buffet Breakfast daily (no eggs)
* Return Transfer by private car/minibus and driver from/to the airport in Rome to hotel in Rome
* Four dinners and two lunches included
* Service charges and taxes included
* Ground transportation by deluxe motorcoach from Day 3 until day 7 (with the arrival at the hotel in Rome)
* Tour escort / Assistant beginning on day 3
* Sightseeing tours as per the itinerary
* Local guides (English - French - Spanish language) and entrance fees during the tour

Learn more about Celtic Tours newest vacation in Southern Italy

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast

"Do you know the land where the lemons are in flower?

In the green leaves golden oranges shine

A quiet wind blows from the blue sky

Quiet is the myrtle, serene the laurel

Do you know it well?

There, there

I would like with you, my love, to go!"

J.W. Goethe

Sorrento, wedged on a ledge between the mountains and the Mediterranean, is an attractive resort of 20,000 residents. Spritzed by lemon and olive groves, this gateway to the Amalfi Coast has an unspoiled old quarter, a lively main shopping street and a spectacular cliffside setting.

Sorrento Peninsula has a landscape unique in the world, where low and high hills, deep valleys and majestic mountains alternate, where the Man’s work - who levelled even the most impervious areas, transforming them in the famous terraces degrading towards the sea, on which he cultivated orange and lemon trees, olive groves and vineyards - has been grandiose. These are the delight’s gardens that in springtime exhale a stirring scent of orange - blossom. The mild and dry climate for most part of the year makes Sorrento Peninsula the ideal destination in every season.

The Amalfi Coast, Italy (la Costiera Amalfi tana) is a breathtaking 35-mile stretch of mountainous coastline situated on the Sorrento peninsula, just south of Naples, in the region of Campania. Considered one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, it is characterized by very steep, rocky hillsides plunging dramatically into the Mediterranean Sea. Precariously perched on these hills are charming old fi shing villages. Around every turn of this “road of a thousand bends”, one catches a new view of the seaside more spectacular than the last. Across the water lies the Isle of Capri, or the Blue Island. The Isle of Capri is renowned the world over as an exclusive holiday destination.

Join Celtic Tours for an unforgettable Sorrento and Amalfi Coast Vacation

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast!

The Amalfi Coast, Italy is considered one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. The Isle of Capri is renowned the world over as an exclusive holiday destination.


Your Sorrento and Amalfi Coast tour includes:

*Six nights accomodation in 4-star hotel in Sorrento.
*Ground transportation by deluxe motorcoach including airport transfers.
*English-speaking guide throughout.
*Italian buffet breakfast daily excluding the day of arrival.
*One welcome dinner + farewell dinner including wine and water.
*One farewell dinner at the Villa with drinks included.
*Four hotel dinners.
*Half-day guided tour in Pompeii including entrance fees.
*Sightseeing tours as per itinerary.
*Local taxes and tips (excluding tips to driver and guide).
*Celtic Tours flight bag and portfolio of travel documents.

Witness the breathtaking scenery of the Amalfi Coast, discover the ruins of Pompeii and sail to enchanting Capri on Celtic Tours Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast Vacation.

5 of Celtic Tours Most Romantic European Vacations

5 of Celtic Tours Most Romantic European Vacations

Planning to surprise your loved one by whisking them away this Valentine’s day to a truly romantic spot? Here you will find a list of 5 of our top Romantic European Vacations to get your inner cupid working.

1. Endless Possibilities Package – Enjoy this wonderful 7 Nights self-drive tour, and see the most romantic spots of Ireland. With 2 Nights in Dublin, tour the city and pay homage to St. Valentine himself at Whitefriar Church. 4 Nights open B&B vouchers allow you to choose where you want to go: visit Galway, with its wild, windswept vistas and charming villages filled with cozy pub charm; or the Powerscourt Estate in County Wicklow, a glittering jewel of the Emerald Isle; marvel at the mighty Cliffs of Moher. Put the finishing touch on your romantic Ireland Vacation with a castle stay!

2. Castles and Gardens of South England – What could be more romantic than a self-drive tour of South England. Visit Scotney Castle, a hidden gem and fairytale 14th-century moated ruined castle, surrounded by stunning gardens; Brighton the most enchanting, exciting, extraordinary seaside city in Britain; prehistoric Stonehenge and the medieval city of Salisbury.

3. Dublin & Rome City Stay Package - This 2 Spectacular City Stay Package of Ireland and Italy starts in the eternal city of Rome and ends in cosmopolitan Dublin. Rome-the home of great lovers like Casanova and Romeo and Juliet, makes the perfect first stop on this romantic vacation. Dublin is a wonderful city for romantics to visit. With endless possibilities for romance: art, theater, music, famous gardens and Guinness!

4. Paris City Stay – Paris is easily one of the most romantic cities in Europe. Try romantic spots such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Luxembourg Gardens and the Arc de Triomphe.

5. In a Tuscan Villa – Celtic Tours Tuscan Villa Stay features an authentic Italian Villa stay for four nights, a perfect romantic base for touring and tasting the Tuscan region while enjoying the warmth and charm of Villa Casagrande!



These are just a sampling of Celtic Tours offerings, learn more about Celtic Tours World Vacations.

History of Whipped Cream

Every January 5th we celebrate National Whipped Cream Day and pay tribute to the sweet cream that compliments a wide range of desserts. Not surprising that this luscious topping originated from France, where it is known as Crème a la Chantilly.

Crème a la Chantilly’s exact origins are unknown, legend has it that it was invented in the 17th century by Francois Vatel, maitre d’hotel at the Chateau de Chantilly. At the Chateau de Chantilly, Vatel supervised a huge banquet for Louis XIV and a reported 2000 guests, where he created the now famous cream for use in pastries. Sadly, Vatel would not be able to enjoy the later popularity of Chantilly cream. He committed suicide later that night, when he feared his fish would be served late.

The Chateau de Chantilly is a historic chateau in the town on Chantilly, France. The Chateau bears a storied history itself, the original mansion, built in 1528 but was destroyed in the French Revolution. It was rebuilt in 1875 by the Duc d’Aumale to augment the 17th century remains with a neo-gothic museum to house his fine collection of art. Works by Raphael, Titian, Poussin, Tiepolo as well as the extraordinary book of hours once owned by the Duc de Berry hang in the salon-style picture galleries.

The Chateau de Chantilly comprises two attached buildings, the newer Grand Chateau, which houses the Musee Conde, and the Petit Chateau which was built around 1560. The Musee Conde is one of the finest art galleries in France and is open to the public. The Gardens feature extensive parterras and water features were laid out principally for the Grand Conde. The English Garden was designed in 1819 with romantic highlights such as the Temple de Vénus, the abode of swans and other aquatic birds that nest in its numerous islands, the Jardin Anglais, which also contains a large multi-basin fountain designed by Le Nôtre in the 17th century, and the Cascades de Beauvais.

The estate overlooks the Chantilly Racecourse and the Great Stables. According to legend, the Prince of Conde believed that we would be reincarnated as a horse after his death, and had stables built to suit his rank. These 610 foot long stables are considered by some to be the most beautiful in the world.

An underrated and somewhat less congested domain than the Loire, the scenic Chateau de Chantilly makes an ideal day trip from Paris. Explore the eclectic home of the Princes of Conde and later the Duc d’Amale, sample Crème a la Chantilly at its birthplace, and delight in the extensive gardens.

Foodies, history buffs and art lovers aren’t the only ones who will enjoy the Chateau de Chantilly. Choose to visit the Chateau de Chantilly with your small group on Celtic Tours exclusive Experience France Vacation.

Killybegs and Donegal Carpets

Killybegs is a great harbor town in County Donegal, Ireland. A mecca for tourists with beautiful scenery, golden beaches and rich cultural interests. Killybegs is well known as a famous fishing town throughout Ireland and it is brilliant for water sports like surfing, canoeing, windsurfing, diving and much more. You can also find activities such as rock climbing and horseback riding.

Killybegs is most famous for its tapestries and carpets, some of which are produced on the biggest carpet loom in the world at the Donegal Carpet Factory. These hand-knotted wool carpets are treasured throughout the world adorning important buildings such as Dublin Castle, the Vatican, the White House, the International Space Station, Buckingham Palace and the University of Notre Dame. In the past few years, some of the original Donegals have sold at auction for $75,000 - $125,000!

The Donegal Carpet Factory closed three of the four factories, and production was centered in the original factory in the village of Killybegs. But by 1987, orders had dwindled and the factory closed its doors. In 1999, with a new commission for the Irish government, Donegal Carpets reopened and the original looms came back to life.

Visit the historic Donegal Carpet Factory to learn more about this traditional craft on Celtic Tours Ancient Ireland escorted motorcoach tour.