I HIGHLY recommend this small educationally minded tour company run by a bilingual Italian prof. !!!! They advertise in the New Yorker, but clients come from all over.
Make your own trip! Here's a clip from their website:

We offer five customized tours for individuals and groups: Lake District- Castles, Villas, Wineries; The Veneto�s Renaissance Villas; Medieval Tuscan Towns; Umbrian Cuisine, Culture, and Countryside; Sun and Sea in Capri. All Palladio destinations are carefully selected for their natural beauty, cultural interest and historical depth.
The mastermind behind the tours, Claudio Mazzola, is a Ph.D. Italian professor. He has over 25 years teaching experience in both Ivy League classrooms as well as adult education settings. One of Mr. Mazzola's greatest pleasures is introducing Americans to his native Italy.

please contact: palladio@aol.com
or visit our website: http://www.palladio-tours.com/about/about1.htm
Buon Viaggio!