Italian Food & Wine

Today, depart for Rome, Italy.

Please note: Due to flight scheduling and availability, some customers may be required to depart on Day 2, to arrive on Day 2. Flight times will be indicated on your final documentation, which you will receive 4-6 weeks prior to departure.

Meals included: In-Flight

Upon arrival, you'll be met and transferred to your hotel in Rome. This iconic city offers so much more than a simple tourist experience, so make the most of it by immersing yourself in the exclusive bars and jazz clubs, historic restaurants, theatres and museums to suit every passion and taste.

Overnight: Cristoforo Colombo Hotel or similar, Rome

Meals included: None

Following breakfast at your hotel this morning, join a half-day guided tour of Rome's 'Eternal City'. With a local guide, you'll experience some of the richest historical landmarks in the world and discover layers of Roman history on Palatine Hill, where former emperors and influential figures once lived, before continuing to Baroque Rome to admire the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona Square.

In the afternoon, enjoy a Trastevere guided food tour. Visit this iconic and funky bohemian area that clings to its centuries-old, working-class roots. It's known for traditional and innovative “trattorias” (a typical local restaurant), craft beer pubs and artisan shops on the opposite bank of the river Tiber. Taste a traditional “suppli", a crunchy little ball of rice with a soft mozzarella centre, a uniquely Italian street food. Taste the best Italian pizza and gelato.

Overnight: Cristoforo Colombo Hotel or similar, Rome

Meals included: Breakfast

Today enjoy a day at leisure in the 'Eternal City' of Rome. Perhaps take the chance to visit the famous Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel or the legendary Colosseum (entrances not included).

Please note:
• It's highly recommended to pre-purchase tickets to the Museums, Sistine Chapel, and Colosseum to avoid excessive queue times.

Overnight: Cristoforo Colombo Hotel or similar, Rome

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, your Italian journey continues as you set off on a guided day tour covering approximately 200 kilometres to the beautiful medieval city of Montepulciano. This is a reigning hilltop wine town and quintessential Tuscan vision with a medieval centre overlooking lush vineyards. Here you'll enjoy a tour of the historic cellars of the “La Citta Sotterranea” (underground city), where the evocative Gothic-Renaissance atmosphere thrives with passages, cool tunnels, hidden crypts and stone steps.

In the numerous cellars that make up the path of the underground city, you will encounter oak barrels of various sizes as well as small fountains and two authentic Etruscan tombs. Enjoy a wine tasting of the famous Montepulciano wine and a light lunch with traditional Tuscan delicacies.

Afterwards, continue through the Tuscan countryside to the tiny UNESCO-listed medieval village of Pienza, in the beautiful Val d'Orcia valley. Enjoy a walking guided tour of the charming village, the perfect mix of Renaissance architecture, food & tradition built to represent a 'Utopian City'. Pienza enjoys a strategic position standing high atop a hill, dominating all the Orcia Valley with extraordinary views.

Overnight: Villa Nottola Hotel Farmstay or similar, Montepulciano Area

Meals included: Breakfast

Today, continue your tour towards the beautiful medieval city of Siena in the heart of Tuscany. On the way, stop at Montalcino, a gem of history and art, buried deep in the rolling hills of the Val d'Orcia. Admire the old medieval layout, with its steep streets that offer breathtaking panoramas at the top. Montalcino is also known as the town that produces Brunello di Montalcino, one of the most famous wines in the world.

Continue to Siena, where you'll take part in a guided tour of this preserved Italian town, built around Piazza del Campo. The Cathedral Square is dominated by the stunning 'Duomo' and is a masterpiece of Romanesque-Gothic architecture with breathtaking mosaic flooring. The beauty of Siena is best experienced by walking through its historic streets and relaxing at the outdoor cafes in the Piazza Del Campo. Afterwards, check into your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Today, travel approximately 80 kilometres.

Overnight: Hotel Executive or similar, Siena Area

Meals included: Breakfast

Get hands-on in a fun Italian cooking class today, followed by a delightful lunch and wine tasting.

Journey to the stunning Tenuta Torciano Estate, a historic farm and winery in the San Gimignano area since its founding in 1720. Tuscan wines and oils are known for their highest quality, and the vineyards and olive groves of the Estate cover many hectares of land. Learn about authentic Italian cuisine with the Tenuta Torciano Chef. The homemade pasta and other delicious Tuscan recipes for sauces, meats, and desserts are prepared using only the freshest, high-quality ingredients. In the Tenuta Torciano Estate's kitchen, you'll have fun learning to cut, cook, and prepare a complete Tuscan meal, creating truly unforgettable dishes. Join your fellow travellers, experience fun and laughter as you taste your creations of homemade pasta, locally sourced meats, vegetables fresh from the garden and plenty of fresh bread with extra virgin olive oil. The experience features the creation of a full meal, including an appetiser, first course, main course, and daily dessert. The recipes are chosen by the Chef according to seasonality.

In the afternoon, continue to the 'Cradle Of Renaissance', the magnificent city of Florence. On the way, stop at San Gimignano. A beautiful town nestled between the Tuscan hills, surrounded by thirteenth-century walls and rich in still intact medieval charm, a beloved Tuscan Pearl. Today, travel approximately 104 kilometres.

Overnight: Starhotels or similar, Florence

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch

This morning you'll depart for the beautiful city of Florence, which is bathed in architectural beauty, artistic charm and centuries of history. Upon arrival, you'll enjoy a guided tour of the “Cradle Of Renaissance' to see Piazza Duomo, better known as 'Duomo', and one of the most impressive constructions in Europe. You'll then admire Piazza della Signoria (Signoria Square), where copies of Michelangelo’s David and views of the Ponte Vecchio ('Old Bridge') await.

Afterwards, enjoy a traditional lunch with a famous Florentine steak speciality, Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine style beef/steak). An Italian steak dish made from a young steer, and one of the most celebrated dishes in Tuscan cuisine. Enjoy the afternoon to yourself to explore at your own pace.

If you’re an art-lover, no trip to this beautiful city is complete without a visit to the Uffizi Gallery (entry not included), home to the largest collection of Renaissance art in the world. If you’re looking for some retail therapy, you’ll find it at the historic Ponte Vecchio, a medieval bridge that boasts authentic Italian jewellery shops and more.

Overnight: Starhotels or similar, Florence

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch

In the morning, depart for Bologna, the capital city of the Emilia Romagna region, and enjoy a guided tour of the city centre. Bologna is a city of two intriguing halves; one side is a modern city where suave opera-goers waltz out of regal theatres and into some of the nation's finest restaurants. The other half is an edgy city, home to one of the world's oldest universities and famous for its graffiti-embellished piazzas buzzing with student life. Admire the Middle Ages historical porticoes listed by UNESCO, including the university and a skyline full of towers, including Asinelli Tower and the city’s main square, Piazza Maggiore. Stroll around the Quadrilatero, a small area in downtown Bologna where walking streets connect some of the city’s best shopping spots. These include the glossy and upscale shopping mall, Galleria Cavour, which houses boutiques of luxury brands.

Afterwards, enjoy a traditional lunch in a local restaurant “Osteria’ to taste some of the famous specialties of Bologna, and in the afternoon visit the Ferrari Museum Maranello (entrance included). This is the best experience for those interested in the history of the Ferrari company and brand and the personality behind it (Enzo Ferrari). The Ferrari Museum in Maranello, in the Bologna area, is the best choice for F1 enthusiasts. ‘Live the dream” is the claim that welcomes visitors, promising an immersive, unique experience. The museum focuses on Ferrari’s present and future, whilst remaining deeply rooted in the Prancing Horse’s extraordinary history. A permanent exhibition dedicated to Formula 1 and the World Championship, complete with cars and a “pit stop wall” where visitors can gain an understanding of telemetry and pilots’ in-race driving behaviour, is flanked by five rooms that host themed exhibitions with wide-ranging appeal. Today, travel approximately 165 kilometres.

Overnight: Hotel RMH Modena or similar, Modena Area

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch

Today is a day of tastings to experience some of the best Italian gastronomic specialities, with a visit to the wonderful Food Valley in the Emilia-Romagna region. There is no better place to explore Italian cuisine than in the world-famous Food Valley, the Emilia Romagna region is called "the belly of Italy" for a reason!

This is a truly unique opportunity to visit the only place in the world where these renowned products are made, processed and developed according to strict traditional methods. You will taste the authentic Parmigiano Reggiano PDO, Prosciutto di Parma PDO and Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PDO right where they are produced, guaranteeing an unparalleled and genuine culinary experience.

Parmigiano Reggiano PDO
Enjoy a guided tour of a Parmigiano Reggiano company with a cheese tasting. Discover how the king of all cheeses has been literally made by hand in the same way since the Benedictine monks invented it 10 centuries ago! From the curdling into the typical copper heaters to the salting and the final ageing in the so-called wheel cathedrals, you will be a privileged witness to almost all the steps of production of this out-and-out food icon. This strict adherence to tradition and the unique local environment is what gives it its Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. Indulge in a cheese tasting at the end.

Prosciutto di Parma PDO
Afterwards, head to the prosciutto or Parma producer for a guided tour and a typical lunch, followed by a transfer to the very lowlands of Parma, where the river Po gradually unveils its meandering lines. Learn about one of the most artisanal and prestigious cured pork meats in the world that can only be aged in this extraordinarily humid microclimate. The combination of this specific geographical area and the recognised know-how of local producers is why only prosciutto made here can be called Prosciutto di Parma PDO.

Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PDO
End this culinary day with a guided tour and tasting of the traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Produce. This ancient product, with its complex flavour profile, is aged for years in a series of wooden barrels. Its Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status ensures that every bottle is a testament to the long-standing tradition and specific production methods exclusive to this region.

Today, travel approximately 70 kilometres.

Overnight: Hotel RMH Modena or similar, Modena Area

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch

This morning, continue your gastronomic tour to the beautiful Lake Iseo. Nestled in between Lake Como and Lake Garda, surrounded by dense woodlands and soaring peaks, it’s the hidden gem, an awe-striking sight to behold, with an enormous mountain that shoots straight out of its waters.

Today, enjoy a Franciacorta wine street tour. Franciacorta is Northern Italy's regional sparkling wine. Made in a variety of styles, with the addition of Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay, using the same technique and grapes that create Champagne. Join a tasting in one of the most iconic wineries, Berlucchi and visit the historic cellars with a guided tasting of Berlucchi Franciacorta paired with artisanal baked goods. At the end of the tour, join a wine tasting accompanied by a Sommelier (wine professional).

Today, travel approximately 170 kilometres.

Overnight: Hotel Ulivi or similar, Iseo Lake Area

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, head to Milan. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided city tour (approximately 3 hours) of Milan. Celebrated as the Italian capital of fashion and design, Milan is a city rich in art, history and culture. The tour begins from Sforza Castle (entrance not included) before walking towards the Duomo (entrance not included). On the way, admire elegant buildings along two of Milan’s iconic streets - the Via Dante and Via Dei Mercanti. Piazza del Duomo is the heart of Milan, and the Duomo - where German influences are softened by the finesse of Italian artists - is one of its most significant Gothic-style monuments. From the Piazza Duomo, the tour continues through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Italy’s oldest active shopping mall and a major landmark of Milan, before arriving at the Piazza Della Scala, home to one of the most famous theatres in the world, La Scala (entrance not included).

In the afternoon, enjoy time at leisure in the cosmopolitan city of Milan.

Later join the famous 'Italian Aperitivo'. 'Aperitivo' in Italy is traditionally a drink or light meal that takes place at the end of the day, before dinner, as a kind of warm-up to dinner. Enjoy a farewell 'Aperitivo' with a drink and nibbles in one of the most glamorous bars of Milan city centre.

Today, travel approximately 90 kilometres.

Overnight: Hotel Milan Concorde or similar, Milan Area

Meals included: Breakfast

Today at the appropriate time, you'll be transferred to the airport for your return flight home after your trip of a lifetime!

Meals included: Breakfast; In-Flight

Please note: Some flights may arrive +1 day later.

Meals included: None