A Taste of Italy

Itinerary for a trip into Italian food, wine, beauty and more

Code:

Highlights:

		Get ready to dive into the incredible beauties of Italy. Rome, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Milan, Como, Venice…
		Meet food artisans, wine producers, chefs and local people.
		Live an authentic experience traveling from north to south at a slow pace and taste the richness of Italian food and wine.

Your experience includes:

1. Trip without extension (9 days) and without flight: the final cost per person without flight is 2’810 USD in double room (single supplement is 650 USD per person).

The tour includes:

Bilingual (Italian-English) Tour Manager with the group 24/7 from the arrival in Italy to the departure (pick up at airport, drop off at airport);
Private bus (class: Euro 5 or superior) with the group from pick-up at arrival airport until drop off at airport on departure day, available for all transfers to/from included activities;
overnight in 3* or 4** with rich continental breakfast included, in twin/double room;
6 dinners, three courses unless differently stated; water is always included in the meals, other beverages are not included unless differently stated;
Wine tasting in Tuscany;
Visit with tasting at Parmesan factory;
Cooking class in Rome followed by upgraded dinner;
CinqueTerre card to move along the Cinque Terre with the train;
Minicruise between Cinque Terre and Porto Venere;
Entrance to Museum of Accademy in Florence; Last Supper in Milan; Cathedral in Siena; Ferrari museum
Tour of Carrara marble quarries on Jeeps;
4 guided visit with a local guide (Milan, Florence, Siena, Rome).

The tour doesn’t include:

flights to/from the US;
travel/health insurance;
tips;
anything not stated in “the tour includes”.

2. Trip with extension (12 days) and without flight: the final cost per person without flights of 3’270 USD (single supplement is 810 USD)
The tour includes:

3 overnight in 3* or 4** with rich continental breakfast included, in twin/double room;
3 dinners, three courses unless differently stated; water is always included in the meals, other beverages are not included unless differently stated;
Walking tour of Venice with a local guide
Minicruise on Como lake

The tour doesn’t include:

flights to/from the US;
travel/health insurance;
tips;
anything not stated in “the tour includes”.

3. Trip without extension (9 days) and with flights is of 3’980 USD It includes everything that is stated at points 1 above and flights in economy class from the airport of Columbus, Ohio to Rome Fiumicino airport and return from Milan airport to Columbus, Ohio with a group ticket. Departure or return from any other airport, or on flights different than the one scheduled for the group, may have a different cost. The group flight includes a minimum of one stopover and a maximum of two. Cost with flights doesn’t include: travel/health insurance; tips. It does not include anything not stated in point 1, 2 and 3.

4. Trip with extension (12 days) and with flights is of 4’440 USD. It includes everything that is stated at points 1 and 2 above and flights in economy class from the airport of Columbus, Ohio to Rome Fiumicino airport and return from Venice airport to Columbus, Ohio with a group ticket. Departure or return from any other airport, or on flights different than the one scheduled for the group, may have a different cost. The group flight includes a minimum of one stopover and a maximum of two. Cost with flights doesn’t include: travel/health insurance; tips. It does not include anything not stated in point 1, 2 and 4.

Good to know:

You can add 3-days extension in Como, Verona and Venice to your trip.
You can book a return flight from/to Ohio (Columbus) as an extra or request a quote from/to another airport.
Travel insurance can be bought as an extra service and will be taken out at a later time. You will receive all documents via e-mail. Until you get them, you can always change your mind about it.
All rates are inclusive of a non-refundable deposit of 150 USD per person.
You can pay the trip in full at once or pay in monthly installments.
This trip is designed for adult travelers only.

Itinerary: Day 1 – Arrival in Rome
Sunday 5th June 2022

Overview: Arrival in Rome and transfer to the centrally located hotel.

In the afternoon, travelers will have a choice between a visit of the Colosseum or the afternoon at leisure.

The visit of the Colosseum an Optional excursion that can be booked separately. Cost 35 USD per person. Minimum number of travelers needed to run the optional excursion: 12 travelers.

Dinner included.

Overnight in Rome.

Day 2 – Rome
Monday 6th June 2022

Overview: Time to enjoy the Eternal city! For the morning, travelers will have a choice between a visit of the Vatican Museums or a walking tour of Rome.

The visit to the Vatican Museums includes the Sistine Chapel and St Peter Basilica. It is an Optional excursion that can be booked separately. Cost 55 USD per person. Minimum number of travelers needed to run the optional excursion: 12 travelers.

Afternoon activity: cooking class followed by a dinner with what has been prepared, under the supervision of a private chef. Depending on the number of travelers, this may happen in the Trastevere neighborhood or in the Roman countryside.

Dinner included.
Overnight in Rome.

Day 3 – Siena and the Chianti region
Tuesday 7th June 2022

Overview: We continue the trip towards Tuscany, where we stop in the medieval city of Siena, famous for the Palio, among artists for its colors (Siena’s earth) and much more. In this marvelous city we’ll start with a guided tour by a licensed guide, enjoying the sights of the central square; visiting the Cathedral and passing by the headquarters of the oldest still working bank in the world, founded in 1472. Free time around lunch in Siena. Around 4 pm we will visit one of the oldest wine cellars and wine producers of the Chianti region, and we will have a wine tasting of high-quality Tuscan wines paired with some local specialties, at Castello Di Verrazzano (or a similar venue depending on number of visitors and availability).

Arrival in Florence around 7.30 pm.

Dinner is not included because we’ll snack abundantly at the winery, after that visit. people are usually not hungry.

Overnight in Florence.

Additional Info:

• Driving hours from Rome to Siena: about 3 hours.

• Driving hours from Siena to the winery: about 30 minutes.

• Driving hours from the winery to Florence: about 30 minutes.

Day 4 – Florence
Wednesday 8th June 2022

Overview: Breath some art around Florence with a visit at Accademia Gallery (Michelangelo’s David) with a licensed guide.

Afternoon at leisure.

Leisure dinner of Tuscan specialties starting with crostini and continuing with three more courses, including a tasting of DOCG wine

Overnight in Florence.

Day 5 – Cinque Terre
Thursday 9th June 2022

Overview: We’ll leave Florence in the morning: driving towards the Cinque Terre we’ll stop to visit the Carrara marble quarries where, since ancient times, some of the best quality marble is extracted. A great adventure, on Jeeps, off the beaten track.

We continue to Porto Venere where we have a walking tour followed by free time.

Dinner of traditional Ligurian specialties.

Overnight in La Spezia.

Additional Info:

• Driving hours from the winery to Florence to Carrara: about 1h15 minutes.

• Driving hours from Carrara to Porto Venere: about 45 minutes.

Day 6 – Cinque Terre
Friday 10th June 2022

Enjoy a full day in Cinque Terre, including transfers by train and a minicruise (weather permitting).

Overnight in La Spezia.

Day 7 – A day in Emilia Romagna
Saturday 11th June 2022

Overview: On the way from Cinque Terre to Milan, we will stop enjoy stops in Emilia Romagna, a land known for its food (balsamic vinegar, parmesan cheese and Parma ham are all from here) and for some of the best car manufacturers in the world: Ferrari and Lamborghini. We will visit the Ferrari museum and a Parmesan Cheese producer with tasting of cheese and wine (local wines are Lambrusco and Sangiovese).

Dinner included in Milan, made of Milanese specialties (three courses).

Overnight in Milan.

Additional Info:

• Driving hours from La Spezia to Emilia region: about 2 hours.

• Driving hours from Emilia region to Milan: about 2 hours.

Day 8 – Milan
Sunday 12th June 2022

Overview: Morning guided tour of Milan with a licensed guide including Castle, Duomo, Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Last supper”. Afternoon at leisure during which it is possible to discover the fashion area of via Montenapoleone, the Brera museum of art, climb to the top of the Duomo and enjoy the view and the details (over 3600 statues, 700 bas-reliefs and 135 pinnacles).

Dinner included: Milan style “aperitivo cenato” in the San Lorenzo and Navigli area.

Overnight in Milan.

Day 9 – Departure home or extension “Como, Verona and Venice”
Monday 13th June 2022

Overview: Departure to the USA or continue on a three-days extension at Como lake and in Venice.

The extension starts with a full day on Como lake, including a walk of Como city; a panoramic drive along the lake; a mini cruise to the village of Bellagio and free time there.

Dinner included in Menaggio village.
Overnight in Milan.

Additional Info:
• Como lake is about 1 hour from Milan

Day 10 – Verona and Venice
Tuesday 14th June 2022

Overview: We will spend half of our day in Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet, a beautiful city featuring one of the best-preserved Roman Arenas (still used for opera and rock concerts), a castle, a shopping street paved in marble…

We continue to Venice where we enjoy a walking tour of the city with a local guide and some free time before dinner.

Overnight in Venice region.

Additional Info:
• Driving from Milan to Verona: about 2 hours, that is on the way to Venice.
• Driving from Verona to Venice: about 1 hour.