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The Great Center - Open Play Trip | 10 – 19 March 2026

The Great Center - Open Play Trip | 10 – 19 March 2026

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT

  • 10 Days / 9 Nights exploring the heart of Central Italy.

  • Pickleball Activities included throughout the itinerary.

  • Tours in major cultural hubs: Rome, Florence, Siena, and Bologna.

  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Renaissance masterpieces.

  • Rolling hills, historic cities, and the beautiful Tuscan countryside.

  • History, architecture, art, and Italian traditions

WHAT IS INCLUDED

  • 9 nights in handpicked, strategically located 4-star boutique accommodations (Split between Rome, Umbria/Perugia area, and Florence/Tuscany area).
  • All Pickleball Activities scheduled during the trip.
  • All dinners (9 Gourmet "Special Theme Local Dinners").
  • Private deluxe motor coach for all transportation and excursions.
  • Guided tours in Rome, Florence, Siena, Bologna.
  • Experiences (3 unique experiences included - e.g., Cooking, Wine Tasting, typical local productions).
  • Bilingual tour leader.
  • Travel insurance.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Airfare, lunches, tips, extras, personal spending.

WOW MOMENTS

  • Walk in the footsteps of emperors while exploring the ancient ruins of Rome.
  • Witness the artistic genius of the Renaissance in Florence.
  • Challenge local players to a friendly pickleball match in the heart of Italy.
  • Savour authentic Umbrian cuisine during your stay in the countryside.
  • Drive through the iconic rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside, stopping in medieval towns like Siena and San Gimignano.
  • Visit the spiritual heart of Italy in Assisi.
  • Be amazed by the architectural splendor of Bologna's porticoes.
  • Be Italian for 10 days!

PICKLEBALL

This is an Open Play Trip: you will have the freedom to play with both your friends and local Italian players. Our local coaches will always be on hand to supervise.

Immerse yourself in a dream scenery: the Great Center!

This journey focuses on active exploration and play. You will have ample time for Pickleball Activities built directly into the itinerary, ensuring a perfect balance between cultural sightseeing and time on the courts.

Our courts near your accommodations, will provideexcellent settings for your play sessions.

TOUR LEADER

You will have a Worry-Free Journey with the experienced and professional Tour Leader of  Pickleball Italy Trips. This expert will be your travel companion, ensuring a seamless experience at every step. Our Tour Leaders, with their deep knowledge of the area and exceptional coordination skills, will create an engaging and unforgettable journey for you, filled with relaxation and discovery.

TRIP DETAILS

Join us for an immersive 10-day, 9-night experience dedicated to the artistic and historical heart of Italy. This journey is perfectly crafted for travelers who wish to explore the birthplace of the Renaissance while keeping up with their passion for pickleball.

We have structured the trip using strategically located 4-star boutique accommodations in three distinct regions—Lazio, Umbria, and Tuscany—minimizing hassle and maximizing your time spent exploring.

Why Choose The Great Center?

  • Artistic and Historical Hubs: Immerse yourself in the timeless grandeur of Rome, the unparalleled artistic legacy of Florence, and the medieval charm of Siena and Assisi.
  • Pickleball Balance: The itinerary is specifically designed to intersperse sightseeing days with dedicated Pickleball Activities, ensuring you get ample court time to stay active.
  • Tuscan Dreams: Experience the iconic rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside firsthand, visiting famous hill towns and indulging in regional food and wine.
  • Culinary & Wine Excellence: Your journey includes all dinners, featuring gourmet local cuisine. You will also participate in unique experiences (Cooking, Wine Tasting) that connect you directly to Central Italian traditions.
  • Worry-Free Travel: With all transportation handled by a private deluxe motor coach and a professional bilingual Tour Leader accompanying you, you can focus entirely on enjoying the history, art, and the game.

This journey is the ultimate Central Italian adventure, offering a seamless blend of historical depth, stunning landscapes, and active play.

FULL ITINERARY

  • Day 1: Arrival in Rome & Welcome
    Arrive at Rome Airport (FCO) and transfer to your hotel. Check-in and relax before the Welcome Dinner.
  • Day 2: Rome: History & Play
    Morning Pickleball Activities. Afternoon guided tour of Rome, focusing on its most famous ancient sites. Dinner included.
  • Day 3: Rome: Art & Culture
    Morning Pickleball Activities. Afternoon guided tour of the Vatican City and/or other major Roman cultural landmarks. Dinner included.
  • Day 4: To Umbria: Perugia & Assisi
    Morning departure from Rome. Travel to Perugia for a visit, followed by a spiritual and cultural tour of Assisi. Overnight stay in the Umbria region. Dinner included.
  • Day 5: Tuscan Hill Towns & Florence Base
    Morning drive through the Tuscan countryside, visiting iconic towns like Siena and optionally Volterra or San Gimignano. Continue to your Florence-area hotel. Dinner included.
  • Day 6: Florence: Renaissance & Play
    Morning Pickleball Activities. Afternoon guided tour of Florence, focusing on the Renaissance masterpieces and the Duomo area. Dinner included.
  • Day 7: Pisa & Coastal Play
    Morning Pickleball Activities. Day trip to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower and explore the historic square. Dinner included.
  • Day 8: Bologna's Charm
    Day trip to Bologna, known for its beautiful porticoes and rich culinary heritage. Guided sightseeing. Dinner included.
  • Day 9: Tuscan Countryside & Final Play
    Morning Pickleball Activities. Day spent relaxing and exploring the tranquil Tuscan countryside, including a final group experience. Farewell Dinner included.
  • Day 10: Departure from Florence
    After breakfast, transfer to Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR) for your flight home.

THE HOTEL

Your accommodations consist of wonderful small boutique hotels personally selected for their quality and strategic location. They are positioned to allow convenient access to all the planned experiences and tours across Central Italy.

THE MEALS

The meals are carefully selected to offer the best in authenticity and taste, starting with breakfast served in the resort. All the meals (inside or outside the resort, depending on the daily visits), have nothing to do with the classic international meals of resorts. Each meal will have a theme, it will be a real culinary journey through Lazio, Tuscany and Umbria, with the best wines in the world and by several tastings of typical local products.

CANCELLATION POLICY

  • 110+ Days prior to arrival – deposit always refundable
  • 71 – 110 Days prior to arrival – deposit non-refundable
  • 0 – 70 Days prior to arrival – 100% of the Total Price non-refundable

PLEASE NOTE: if the number of participants doesn’t reach the minimum number of participants, the trip will not be held and the full amount paid will be refunded.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

As a professional Tour Operator operating legally and in compliance with all current regulations, we always include travel insurance for participants in our trips.

In case you want to add additional travel insurances, we can suggest you to compare other policies with other well-known travel insurance providers, such as:

Travelex Travel Insurance and Travel Guard. You can also use InsureMyTrip.com to compare multiple companies’ plans.

USEFUL INFO

AIRPORT

ARRIVAL: We recommend arriving at Rome Airport (FCO) on Day 1. We will provide the ground transportation to and from the airport!

IMPORTANT: We recommend that you arrive at the Airport, on or before the first day indicated.

We’ll meet as a group on the first day indicated at 1pm (13:00) at the Airport (our private bus will leave at 1pm). Please ensure that your flight arrives at least 75 minutes before this time.

DEPARTURE: The departure airport is Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR) on Day 10. We provide the ground transportation to the departure airport.

On the last day of your trip, the private bus will take you to the airport, arriving at 11am (11:00). Please ensure that your flight departure time is after this time (we suggest at least 3 hours after this time for international flights).

If you have any questions or need further information, please don't hesitate to contact us.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

You will need:

  • Your passport
  • An EU outlet adapter (available on Amazon)
  • Your Pickleball paddle (if not don’t worry you can write us)

Recommended:

  • A portable charger for longer tour days
  • Travel insurance — for this trip or any other trip you take! We do not have a specific recommendation for travel insurance; this is up to you.
  • 50 - 200 Euros to have on hand. We recommend withdrawing Euros from an ATM once you arrive. Euros will be useful for street souvenirs, cash-only shops, tips, etc.

You will not need:

  • a Visa
  • a Covid test or vaccine
  • Tips are not expected by drivers/servers/staff in Europe. If you would like to tip, though, 5%-10% on your bill or a few Euros is the typical tipping range.

WEATHER

March in Central Italy can be sunny but quite cool and slightly wet. We recommend packing layers, including a warm coat and waterproof outerwear

PRICING & PAYMENT

  • Double Room - € 4,950 (per person when sharing a room) - initial deposit € 3,000 (€ 1,500 per person)
  • Single Room - € 5,750 (solo traveler with private room) - initial deposit €1,500
  • NO PICKLEBALL OPTION: if you are not playing Pickleball, just tell us, and you will receive a € 200 discount from the total price

Initial deposit will be always deducted from your grand total (listed above).

If you travel alone but you selected a double room (to be shared), please note that is possible to have two beds in one room (one bed for each person). Just write it in the additional notes so that we are aware.

After placing your initial deposit, your full payment is due 70 days prior to arrival.

The price in USD is for informational purposes only. All the transactions will be processed in the local currency (Euro). More info on our terms of service.

€1.500,00

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