Tour description
Food, Wine & Culture Tour of Italy
DAY 1 PADUA
Our excellent chauffeur will collect you from Venice Airport to begin your Tour of Italy and France. In Padua you will be met by our charismatic art guide, who will take you on a fascinating guided tour of this historic city. The old town of Padua, established in 1222, will fascinate you with its historical monuments, charming old streets and delicious foodie hot spots. Together with your guide you will explore the famous frescoes by Giotto and the 13th century Basilica, with its Byzantine domes and beautiful artworks. You will visit the amazing Scrovegni Chapel, and afterwards, you may like to visit Museo Civico di Padova; the art and archaeological museum attached to the chapel. You will find fascinating Renaissance and Baroque Art from Bellini, Giotto and Tintoretto just to name a few. Your food and culture tour will also visit Sotto il Salone, a deli food market like no other! Here you will find high quality regional produce in specialized butchers, delicatessens with fresh cheeses and colourful selections of fruit and vegetable – the array is just phenomenal!
For something a little different, walk to the breathtaking Orto Botanico di Padova, the world’s first university botanical garden, where research into plant species began in 1545! The recent botanical hothouse is a gorgeous architectural gem. After all your walking exploring this fantastic city why not treat yourself to the favorite pasticceria of Paduans; Pasticceria Biasetto, not far from the Botanical garden. The pastry selection and quality are out of this world! This evening relax in your family-run 5* spa hotel on the outskirts of Padua. Why not enjoy an afternoon of wellness at the wonderful hotel spa, take a dip in one of their thermal pools and / or time in the saunas, steam bath and thermal water pool with massaging water jets. There are also many spa treatments available if you would like to book a massage, facial or body treatment.
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured transfer. Free day in Padua. Overnight in a relaxing 5* spa hotel, on the outskirts of Padua.
DAY 2 GRAPPA & VICENZA
Your tour of Italy & France takes you to the Veneto Grappa area today, the largest and most important of the 5 grappa producing areas in Italy. Heading to Bassano del Grappa, a tiny town with a pretty and compact historic center, you will stroll through squares as you pass fine buildings, enriched with ornamentation. Bassano is extremely photogenic so don’t forget the camera! The 16th century Ponte Vecchio (designed by Palladio) is gorgeous and the view of the town over the Brenta River is special. Here you will visit an important artisan Grappa distillery dating back to the 15th century. It was not until the 1980s when they began to source the best leftovers from Italy’s finest vintners for their pomace. Rather than allowing the pomace to sit around for days, they decided to distil it as soon as possible. Now headed by the fourth generation, their Grappas are among the most renowned in the world, known primarily for their mesmerizing ripeness and juiciness. Your in-house guide will take you on a tour of the distillation room and cellars. Finishing in the tasting room, you can try a variety of Grappas, including some interesting Grappa Aromatizzata flavored by adding natural herbal extracts and fruits.
You will then head to Vicenza composed of palazzi, villas, monuments and churches that make it an aesthetically perfect city. At a lauded local restaurant, enjoy a delightful lunch with wine and of course, some Grappa to aid digestion! Vicenza is the city of Andrea Palladio; the 16th-century Renaissance architect, who gave us the Palladian style. An afternoon aperitivo behind Piazza dei Signori will perfectly finish your visit here. Our chauffeur will then transfer you to your luxury hotel, surrounded by vineyards. This 5* hotel is renowned for its offbeat art collection, which will surely grab your attention as you stroll through to your room.
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured transportation. Grappa distillery visit and tastings. Visits to Bassano del Grappa and Vicenza. Regional lunch with local wines and grappa. Overnight in a luxury 5* art hotel, in the Valpolicella wine region.
DAY 3 LAKE GARDA
Another wonderful part of Italy awaits you on your tour of Italy and France; enjoy a relaxing day at the edge of Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake. On the way, you will stop at a small but revolutionary Bardolino winery. The region itself is not prestigious (yet), and is still quite unknown, but this small organic tenuta is a contrast to the well-established players you will be visiting. The wines are great and very affordable, the olive oils are excellent and the passionate winemaker will surely engage you in the visit while sharing their latest developments! Their winemaking is quite different, with surprising experiments and an interesting approach.
You will then head along the shore to Malcesine, a pretty little medieval town clustered at the edge of the lake at the base of majestic Monte Baldo. Here you will have free time for lunch and to visit the castle that offers the most panoramic spots of Malcesine and the lake. Otherwise, what about taking a cable car up Monte Baldo? The views up the mountain allow you to see right across the lake; and at the surrounding lesser-Dolomites. We will provide you with great suggestions and recommendations in your Food, Wine & Culture Tour of Italy and France Travel Journals. This evening you will be dining at the glamorous restaurant in your hotel. An original cuisine, combining mouth-watering flavors, scents, colors and exceptional technique, will, of course be accompanied by some top Valpolicella wines.
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured transportation. Bardolino winery visit with tastings. Visit to Lake Garda. Dinner with wine. Overnight in the Valpolicella wine region.
DAY 4 VALPOLICELLA
Your food and wine tour of Italy and France has you visiting a truly incredible piece of history today; where wine meets literature, surrounded by vineyards. This estate was purchased in 1353 by the son of the renowned Italian poet, Dante. The estate has remained a part of the family for 21 generations with winemaking taking place continuously since the 1500s. Today the estate produces all varieties of Valpolicella wines, especially an excellent Amarone which, after two years aging in oak barrels, spends another four months in cherry wood ones. You will tour the estate and discover the history of this land and the techniques behind their wine production. After walking through the gardens, vines and visiting the ancient cellars, your winery tour ends with a tasting of their best Ripasso, Amarone and Recioto wines. For lunch you will be eating at a classic family-run trattoria in a tiny hamlet, whose traditional cuisine is regionally famous.
Later this afternoon, a legendary Valpolicella winery awaits, high in demand and stratospheric in quality. An in-house expert will take you on a complete tour of this family run winery, where you will hear how they avoid using herbicides or chemical fertilizers. In the winery you will learn the phases of their wine-making process with cultivation of the highest quality grapes, harvest, vinification and ageing being carried out directly by the family. Particular attention and care are given to the delicate process of grape drying, appassimento, that is essential for the making of Recioto and Amarone. An exclusive tasting of their top-class wines will finalize your visit. The rest of your afternoon / evening is free. Maybe you would like to take a short taxi ride from your hotel and stroll through Verona’s picturesque centre. An aperitivo on a delightful terrace in Piazza Bra overlooking the amphitheatre and watching the world go by will surely round off the day nicely.
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured transportation. Two prestigious Valpolicella winery visits and tasting. Authentic trattoria lunch with local wines. Overnight in the Valpolicella wine region.
DAY 5 BOLOGNA
From wine to food today, when you catch the high speed train to Bologna; ‘La Grassa’ (the fat one). Bologna is Italy’s first university town and the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, but more than anything, it is renowned for its devotion to all things edible; famously known as Italy’s ‘food capital’.
Your historic 4* hotel, in the heart of Bologna, allows you to step out along the timeless streets and explore the squares and churches, food markets and cafes. The kilometres of porticos for which Bologna is famous, offer endless shopping choices and authentic eateries. Bologna’s lively Piazza Maggiore contains fascinating medieval architecture from the likes of Basilica di San Petronio and Fountain of Neptune, to the city hall. To the east of Piazza Maggiore, you will find Il Quadrilatero, the street of locksmiths; this small yet vibrant area is a fun place to try gourmet delights and cafes.
As you stroll through the historical streets make sure to see the Basilica di Santo Stefano, the city’s most unique religious site. Not only is the unique combination of Lombard and Romanesque influence fascinating, but also the fact that it was originally made up of seven churches; of which only four now remain. Another great place to visit is the Museo della Storia di Bologna to gain an insight into Bologna’s golden past. The modern, interactive and educational museum skillfully takes you back to the medieval era. Hard to miss are Bologna’s two towers, Torre degli Asinelli and Torre Garisenda. Why not burn off your delicious Bologna cuisine lunch by climbing the steeper, taller tower of the two, which is open to the public? In your Food, Wine & Culture Tour of Italy and France Travel Journals, we will provide suggestions for additional visits and places of interest, and will also take care of your restaurant bookings.
Tour in a nutshell: High speed business class train tickets to Bologna. Overnight in an historic 4* hotel, in the heart of Bologna.
DAY 6 PARMA
Say ‘arriverderci’ to Bologna, because today you are heading to the countryside of Parma: a truly gourmet day awaits! First you will learn more about the world of cheese as you visit a wonderful Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese producer. Parmigiano-Reggiano can only be officially named if it is made in this particular region of Italy; if not then it must be called Grana Padano. On your guided Parmigiano tour you will learn the specific process of making this cheese, as well as enjoy a fascinating tasting. Your next gourmet visit is to one of the oldest producers of Balsamic Vinegar in Modena. Take a step back in time as you discover a fascinating attic full of ancient casks that centuries later are still used to achieve distinctive and incredible flavours – remember the older the cask the better the balsamic vinegar will be! A complete tasting will finalize your tour to discover the differences, nuances and singular versatilities.
After lunch you will head to your hotel, a farm estate, owned by one of Italy’s most cherished food producers. On the farm you will see and learn about the Nera Parmigiana ancient breed pigs, and then you will head to the famed cellars where thousands of culatello di Zibello cured hams and Parmigiano Reggiano cheeses are left to age. Afterwards you will enjoy a tasting dinner at their lovely rural restaurant, with a selection of their fine cured meats and other on site produce, along with more local specialties and Emilia-Romagna wine.
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured transportation. Visit and tastings at a Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese factory. Visit to one of the oldest producers of Balsamic Vinegar in Modena. Visit and tastings dinner to a Culatello di Zibello ham producer. Overnight in a romantic 16th Century mansion in Emilia Romagna.
DAY 7 BARBARESCO
As you get closer to France, it’s only fitting that your Italy & France tour takes you back to discovering wine! In Piedmont you will learn why this region’s wines are so iconic. Passing by rows of vineyards, our chauffeur will take you first to the quaint village of Barbaresco, where you will pop into the Enoteca Regionale; a fascinating combination of architecture, history, commerce and tourism. This wine temple is stocked with representative wines of most of the wine producers of Barbaresco, with bottles from 130 different wineries and 250 labels which you will surely enjoy perusing.
From here you will visit a winery on the outskirts of Barbaresco, which owns one of the DOCG’s finest single vineyards, the mythical Martinenga (all of it Nebbiolo planted) where an ancient Roman temple once stood. On your visit you will hear all about this landmark of Piedmontese winemaking, tracing back to the 18th century, with exclusive tastings to finish. Your regional lunch at a delightful farmhouse restaurant overlooks the vineyards, and will be accompanied of course by more wonderful Barbaresco wines. Your final visit of the day is to the family home and winery of a Barbaresco favorite. The family warmly welcomes you into their world with the head of the family Giulio shaking hands with nearly every guest who visits. You will hear how they maintain their traditional values with particular attention to the vines, especially during pruning, crucial for yield control and fruit quality. Your home for the next two nights is a privileged location in the heart of the most beautiful Barolo vineyards. Their restaurant offers traditional Piemontese cuisine and they also produce their own excellent Barolo wines.
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured transportation. Two prestigious Barbaresco winery visits with tastings. Regional lunch with wine. Overnight at a charming villa in the heart of the Barolo wine-making region.
DAY 8 BAROLO
If your Food, Wine & Culture Tour of Italy and France coincides with autumn, a fun adventure of truffle hunting awaits you this morning! Your truffle hunting guide will escort you to the woods to find truffles. After your experiences yesterday with Barbaresco, the Queen of Italian wines, today you are going to meet the King – Barolo. You are already in the heart of the Barolo wine region but this morning you will start by exploring the northern part of this wine lover’s paradise. Our chauffeur will take you through unspoiled wine country with undulating hills of vines, to an historic family run estate in La Morra. This lovely winery not only produces excellent Barolos, their juicy Dolcetto d’Alba and fragrant Langhe Arneis are also top notch. Your visit will finalize with a tasting of their finest wines in a room overlooking the most beautiful part of the valley.
Following a delicious Piemontese lunch, you will continue to the southern part of Barolo, the Monforte area, where many prestigious cellars are clustered. You will visit one of the region’s premier producers of Barolo wine, famous for their majestic Barolo wines of extraordinary depth, complexity and longevity. To end your Barolo day, we can arrange a visit to the 10th century castle that dominates the town of Barolo, now converted into a fascinating wine museum where you can discover the traditions, history and personalities that have shaped the history of Piedmont and Italy, highlighting the excellence of Langhe wines.
Upon return to your luxury retreat, enjoy a fantastic dinner of traditional Piedmont dishes, with the local truffles from Langhe, maybe the ones you found this morning? Your meal will be accompanied with their Barolo wines and served in their smart dining room overlooking the vineyards, against a stunning backdrop of the snow-capped peaks of the Alps.
Tour in a nutshell: Morning truffle hunting with a local guide. Chauffeured transportation. Two prestigious Barolo winery visits with tastings. Local lunch with wines. Exquisite Piedmontese cuisine dinner with truffles and wines. Overnight in the Barolo wine region.
DAY 9 LAKE COMO
This morning you will travel with your private chauffeur to the tranquil beauty of Lake Como, one of Italy’s most enchanting and romantic destinations.
You will check into your charming 4* lakeside hotel in the picturesque village of Varenna. Set directly along the water, this historic property offers elegant rooms, serene gardens, and beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains – an idyllic base for the coming days.
The rest of the afternoon is yours to unwind. You may choose to relax by the pool, stroll through Varenna’s peaceful waterfront, or simply enjoy the calm atmosphere from the comfort of your hotel. We will include personalized suggestions for dinner and evening walks.
Tour in a Nutshell: Private chauffeured transfer to Lake Como. Overnight in a 4* lakeside hotel in Varenna, Lake Como.
DAY 10 LAKE COMO
This morning you will explore Lake Como with our charismatic local skipper, who will share stories, history and insights about the lake, its surroundings and its famous visitors.
Admire iconic lakeside villas including Villa Carlotta, Villa Melzi, Villa Oleandra (George Clooney) and the enchanting Comacina Island aboard a beautiful wooden Venetian boat. Your skipper will also give you a lot of practical local info on how to move around the lake with public ferries, he will also be more than happy to take some delightful pics of you too!
The rest of the day is at your own leisure and we will provide many free time suggestions.
Included: Private Lake Como boat tour. Overnight in Lake Como.
DAY 11 MILAN
This morning your private chauffeur will transfer you to Milan, Italy’s sophisticated capital of fashion, design and contemporary culture. Upon arrival, check into your elegant 4* boutique hotel in the historic center and take a moment to settle in.
In the early afternoon, our engaging local guide will await you for a private introduction to Milan’s most iconic landmarks. Begin at the magnificent Duomo di Milano, where you may ascend to the Duomo Rooftops for panoramic views over the city’s skyline. Continue through the historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest and most glamorous shopping arcade, before strolling toward the atmospheric Brera district – known for its cobbled streets, artisan workshops and artistic heritage. Along the way, enjoy curated tastings of classic Milanese specialties.
Your tour concludes with a visit to Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie -one of Milan’s most coveted cultural experiences and a profound highlight for art lovers.
Tour in a Nutshell: Private transfer to Milan. Boutique 4* hotel check-in. Private guided tour including the Duomo and the Last Supper. Overnight in Milan.
DAY 12 DEPARTURE MILAN
Private chauffeured transfer to the main Milan airport of Malpensa or to the smaller Linate Airport for your departing flight.
Tour in a Nutshell: Private Transfer to Milan Airport.
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