Culinary Tour of Italy
Lake Como, Cinque Terre, Tuscany & Emilia
FIRST CLASS HOTELS
3 overnights in Como at Hotel Barchetta Excelsior – or similar
3 overnights in Santa Margherita L. at Hotel Jolanda – or similar
4 overnights in Firenze at Hotel Nh Porta Rossa – or similar
2 overnights in Parma at Hotel – or similar
The Quote does include:
First-class or Boutique hotels for 12 nights
Hotel taxes and service charge
Hotel Porterage services
Daily buffet breakfasts
3 included gourmet dinners with renowned wines
6 included lunch with renowned wines
2 cooking classes with light lunch
Spumante and wine tasting in Gavi
Wine Tasting in Chianti
Parmigiano Reggiano tasting
Prosciutto di Parma tasting
Colonnata Lard tasting
Touring by luxury private air-conditioned minivan or minibus
Parking fees ,Motorway tools, City permits fees, Fuel
Train tickets from/to Portofino
Private transfer from the Milan Airport to Hotel in Como
Boat tours on Cinque Terre
Boat Tour on Lake Como
Local Guide where mentioned
Professional Tour Director / Assistant
Sightseeing as indicated
Culinary Tour of Italy
Lake Como, Cinque Terre, Tuscany & Emilia – 12 nights
Day 1 > Milan – Lake Como [B, D]
Arrival at international airport Milano Malpensa. Welcome by your tour escort and transfer to Lake Como.
Orientation tour nearby your hotel given by your tour escort. Rest of day free. Dinner in a traditional local restaurant.
Day 2 > Lake Como [B]
After breakfast meet your driver and take a ride to the magnificent lake Como. Driving along the lakeside you will enjoy its memorable views. A private boat will wait for you to reach the charming resort of Bellagio. Free time for lunch. Return to Como in the afternoon.
Day 3 > Milan [B]
Visit the Castello Sforzesco, then walk to visit La Scala Opera House and conclude your tour with a visit at the majestic Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.
Enjoy shopping at the famous “Quadrilatero della Moda,” considered a must for all visitors since Milan has been called the Fashion Capital of Italy. Evening free. Lunch at local traditional restaurant suggested, try the very best risotto alla Milanese with ossobuco, and other gourmet dishes of haute-cuisine. Return to Como.
Day 4 > Milan – Gavi Spumante – Santa Margherita Ligure [B, L]
Transfer to your Hotel in Santa Margherita Ligure. On route stop in Gavi. Gavi is in the DOCG region of Cortese di Gavi; Cortese di Gavi produced within the comune of Gavi may be labeled “Gavi di Gavi”. Continue to Asti, visit of Asti at local Spumante Estate. Visit and tasting of the famous italian wine-spumante. Light lunch and continue to the Tigullio bay. Arrival in Santa Margherita Ligure and check-in at Hotel. Evening at leisure, enjoy one of the most beautiful promenade of the Riviera.
Day 5 > Cinque Terre [B]
Today, after breakfast we will leave Lerici for an excursion to the Cinque Terre. Enjoy the beauties of these 5 hamlets. Arrival in Rio Maggiore. Here, after a short walk to the Cala dei Pescatori, a small port, you will take a boat that will take you the next village. Walk along the main road where you will experience the authentic life of a small fishermen’s village. Suggested lunch in Vernazza at Belforte local traditional restaurant, try Spaghetti alla Bruno and any other suggestions.
Continue by boat to Monterosso al Mare, enjoy a walk along the promenade before you get to the train station and board the train to Santa Margherita Ligure Portofino (42min).
Day 6 >Portofino and Cooking class (learn how to make Pesto) [B, L]
Transfer to Portofino. Enjoy a cooking class with our local chef. Learn how to make the original pesto and other traditional recipes of Ligurian cuisine. Lunch included and afternoon at leisure in Portofino. Rest of the afternoon and evening free for dinner.
Day 7 > Carrara – Pisa – Florence [B, L]
Departure for your transfer to your Hotel in Florence. On Route stop to see Carrara, it is the famous capital of white marble. Visit a remarkable quarries and if you wish you might keep with you a very nice souvenir from the area.
Than move to the village area of Colonnata, learn how the most famous Italian Lard is made, conclude with a nice lunch buffet of local products.
Move than to Pisa. Visit at the famous leaning tower that stands proudly on Piazza Campo dei Miracoli (Miracles Field). Continue to Florence, the city of the Renaissance, check-in at your hotel. Evening at leisure in Florence.
Day 8 > Florence – San Gimignano [B, D]
Meet your local guide at your hotel to start your tour of Florence. Visit at the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s masterpiece, The David.
Continue to the Duomo, than reach Piazza della Signoria, the most elegant square of Florence, embellished by its statues, where you will admire Palazzo Vecchio.
Stop to see Ponte Vecchio, filled with artisan jewelry shops and finish your tour at Santa Croce Square, where you can shop for leather manufactures. Free time for lunch. Late afternoon continue to San Gimignano, driving on the lovely hills of Tuscany. San Gimignano is known for its medieval walls, towers and smart boutiques. Spend your afternoon exploring the charming center with extraordinary views of the surrounding countryside and enjoy a farewell dinner at local restaurant.
Day 9 > Greve in Chianti, Montefioralle, Castellina in Chianti & Monteriggioni – Wine Region [B, L]
Meet your driver and your Tour Director at your hotel and drive to Greve in Chianti.
The “Strada del Vino Chianti Classico” (road of the wine Chianti Classico), is immersed in a unique landscape made of vineyards, olive and oak trees.
Guided tour including a wine tasting at very exclusive Wine Estate, the Castello di Verrazzano or a similar one. Next to Greve in Chianti, you want to see Amerigo Vespucci’s bit town, Montefioralle, a very small hilltop town with very picturesque narrow streets. Once in Greve take a look at historical butcher shop called Macelleria Falorni. Continue to the other famous towns of Castellina in Chianti for a stop to visit another winery and to stroll around the charming historical centre. On route you will stop in Monteriggioni, the smallest of medieval towns in Siena province, untouched and unique landmark. Return to Florence and rest of the afternoon and evening.
Day 10 > Montalcino (Cooking class) – Pienza – Montepulciano [B, L]
This morning reach Montalcino for a lovely cooking class at local boutique Hotel & restaurant. This hilltop town is famous for its Brunello di Montalcino wine. The town is located to the west of Pienza, close to the Crete Senesi in Val d’Orcia. Stop a famous Poggio for wine tasting and visit. Take a short ride along the Sangiovese vineyards to the Abbey of Sant’Antimo, a worth stop. Continue to Pienza. Visit the medieval village today in the UNESCO’s World heritage list and famous for its “pecorino” cheese all over Italy. Drive than to the hill-top town of Montepulciano. Montepulciano is a major producer of food and drink. Renowned for its pork, cheese, “pici” pasta, lentils, and honey, it is known world-wide for its wine. Connoisseurs consider its Vino Nobile, which should not be confused with varietal wine merely made from the Montepulciano grape, among Italy’s best.
Day 11 > Florence – Bologna – Modena – Parma [B, L]
Morning departure to Bologna. Bologna is considered the seat of the oldest Universities of Europe. Visit the faculty of Medicine and the Torre degli Asinelli. Shopping under the “portici bolognesi” and enjoy the magnificent Piazza Maggiore with the Neptune fountain. Than move to Modena, the capital of balsamic Traditional Vinegar and Lambrusco wine. Experience a tasting session at one of the oldest balsamic vinegar cellars followed by a gourmet lunch at local restaurant, try the best Tagliatelle alla Bolognese and Tortelli stuffed with pumpkin, parmigiano and balsamic vinegar. Continue to your Hotel in Parma. Check-in and rest of the day at leisure.
Day 12 > Parma [B]
Parma is the home of Parmiggiano Reggiano cheese and the cured Prosciutto di Parma. Today you will explore the so called “food valley of Italy”, you will taste and learn about all the techniques & traditions of making Parmiggiano Reggiano cheese and cured Prosciutto. Return to the Hotel. Evening at leisure.
Day 13 > Parma to Milan Airport
This morning transfer to Milan Airport. Ciao Ciao Italia!
Venice
Visit the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark square with its Basilica.
Enjoy a gondola serenade along the nerrow canals.
Shop at one of the local Murano blooming Glass factory-showroom.
Verona
the city of the ywo famous lovers, Juliet’s House.
Amarone wine tasting.
Arena di verona Amphiteatre.
Milan
Visit of Castello Sforzesco, La Scala Opera House, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and the Duomo.
- Milanese aperitivo – Happy Hour.
Parma
the home of Parmiggiano Reggiano cheese and the cured Prosciutto di Parma
Explore the “food valley”, taste and learn about all the techniques & traditions
Cinque Terre
Vernazza and the Belforte traditional restaurant, a gourmet experience with our Chef Alessandro.
Manarola and route of love
The fisherman’s village of Rio Maggiore with Ca’ da Posa e Ca’ da Sera local white wine from Corniglia slopes
Local fresh “pesto alla genovese” from Monterosso al Mare and squid ink linguine pasta
Portofino
Walk along the harbor and continue up to the Medieval Castle and the promontory, here admire the beautiful corniche of the Tigullio bay and the luxury yachts
Luxury shopping & gourmet restaurants for lunch
Pisa
visit at the famous leaning tower on Piazza Campodei Miracoli (Miracles Field)
Continue to Piazza dei Cavalieri and the medieval city wall
Florence
The visit of the Italian Capital of Renaissance will start with a guided tour of the Academia museum to admire Michelangelo’s original “David” statue
Santa Maria del Fiore and the “Gates of Paradise” doors
Signoria and Santa Croce square where you will experience a leather demonstration at authentic “made in Italy” florentine retailer
Ponte Vecchio, the goldsmith and their jewelleries
Panoramic view from Michelangelo square
Enjoy the night atmosphere at one of the local centuries Cafe’
Chianti Wine Region
Vineyards and hills of Chianti
Wine tasting at famous prestigious winery of Chianti Classic – tour of the castle and the old wine cellars
*** OPTIONAL – Cooking demonstration class followed by lunch in Chianti
San Gimignano
famous medieval Towers
Pottery shopping – best italian gelato – local extra virgin olive oil – wild-boar prosciutto and pecorino cheese
Date
20 Jul - 01 Aug
Duration
13 Days
Price
€3250€2850
Availability
20
