Ciao Bella!

Starts in Milan or Venice – Ends in Rome (10 days–2 nights in Milan/2 nights in Turin/4 nights in Pisa/1 night in Orvieto)

* ENJOY THE APERITIVO RITE AND A ROYAL BREAK, FRESH FISH AND FRESHLY BAKED CHEESE FOCACCIA

* VISIT LAKE MAGGIORE, LE LANGHE, LE 5 TERRE, PISA, LUCCA, ORVIETO AND CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO

* MEET WINE PRODUCERS, A FISHERMAN, A SHOE ARTISAN TO GET AN INSIGHT ON DAILY LIFE IN ITALY

More info

Day 1 – Milan
Your introduction to Milan will be at the covered market of S. Maria del Suffragio which has been recently revived thanks to the commitment of some well-known entrepreneurs in the field of culinary excellence. The market recently resumed the ancient function of a square as a place of exchange for products, experiences and culture, food and places. You will sit in a colorful space, with a casual atmosphere and modern design to sample fruit smoothies, vegetarian food, fresh fish, pizzas, cold cuts and cheeses and natural ice cream. If you arrive in Venice, you can reach Milan in approximately 2 hours and a half by fast train
Day 2 – Lake Maggiore
Stresa is a little picturesque town and the departing place to visit the magnificent Borromean Islands. Spend some time in this lovely town, stroll along the lake or walk through the small streets and stop at a delicatessen to taste the “margheritine di Stresa”, crumbly and buttery pastries covered with sugar. Dickens once wrote: “For however fanciful and fantastic the Isola Bella may be, and is, it still is beautiful”. The palace on the island belongs to the Borromeo family and you will be amazed at its sumptuous furniture and decorations, glass and crystal chandeliers, displays of Flemish tapestries and white marble statues. The Grottoes are the biggest draw: underground rooms decorated with multi-colored pebbles that make them resemble a huge, one-of-a-kind mosaic with designs reflecting aquatic themes. The Isola Madre will be an equally pleasant surprise: entirely covered in lush English-style botanical gardens playing host to a variety of species from all over the world. The historical palace, dating back to the 1500s, features rooms with atmospheres reminiscent of the old noble country houses, displaying terracotta tiles, coffered ceilings and big fireplaces
Day 3 – Turin
Its extraordinary palaces, royal residences and museums testify to Turin’s rich cultural and artistic heritage, stroll through elegant streets and historical buildings and treat yourselves to a Royal Break right in the heart of the Palazzo Reale or in a Historical Café, an atmosphere reminiscent of the old days, sipping steaming hot chocolate and sampling “bagnati” cookies and delicious pralines of the finest Turinese patisserie. Do not miss the unique opportunity to see how Italian shoes are made in a craftsman’s workshop. Turin is the capital of the aperitivo, the vermouth was born here and the Martini headquarters are just outside the city. The aperitif hour is about socializing and having fun with people who gather at one of the many bars and elegant cafés and enjoy drinks served with an array of complimentary finger food, which in Turin is the so-called Merenda Sinoira. Time flies and food is so abundant that you can actually decide to dine this away.
Day 4 – The Langhe
Vineyards as far as the eye can see, rolling hills dotted with ancient villages and castles: welcome to the Langhe! A truffle hunter and his specially trained dog will show you how to hunt truffles in the woods and he will share with you all his secrets. Enjoy a tour of this spectacular landscape and stop at a winery to learn about a variety of red wines by sampling them, including what is known as the king of wines and the wine of kings: the Barolo
Day 5 – Pisa
Pisa is known all over the world for its Piazza dei Miracoli consisting of the Duomo, the Baptistry, the Camposanto and the Leaning Tower. Yet it is filled with squares, streets, alleyways, buildings, monuments and churches that are equally worth exploring. It is the birthplace of Galileo Galilei and the place where the illustrious scientist returned to study medicine, true to his father’s will. Galileo was appointed professor of Mathematics at the University of Pisa. The Duomo holds the so called “suspended lamp of Galileo Galilei”, which inspired him to study the movement of the pendulum.
Day 6 – Le Cinque Terre
Discover the marvelous Cinque Terre, a natural regional park acknowledged as a Unesco World Heritage Site, along its waterfront breathtaking view paths, through vineyards and olive groves. Either by boat or train, reach the picturesque small villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. Stop at a winery to taste the local wine Sciacchetrà and do not miss the chance to enter a bakery for some freshly baked cheese focaccia, a delicious local specialty
Day 7 – The Etruscan Coast
The complex morphology of its coastline and the rich variety of marine life make the Tuscan Sea the ideal place for embarking on a fishing expedition. Get on a boat where fishermen will share the secrets of fishing with you for a unique trip through the tastes and traditions of the sea and of the fishing culture. Finally enjoy a delicious and well-deserved fresh fish meal. This area is still known as the Etruscan Coast, a stretch of coastline that is so many different things at once: seaside, old villages, hills covered in vineyards and olive groves, wonderful olive oil and excellent wines. This is the birthplace of the Sassiccaia wine, which has become synonymous with the Tuscan coastline and ranks among the world’s top wines. Visit one of the many wine cellars and sample extraordinary red wines with a unique character and personality, along with fresh whites and intense, aromatic dessert wines
Day 8 – Lucca - Carrara Marble Caves
On a 4x4 vehicle tour to the marble quarries in Carrara, explore the place where for the last 2000 years nature and man's work daily embrace and reject each other in order to supply the raw material for architectural and artistic works that embellish the squares, the palaces, and the private buildings all over the world. This is the place from where Michelangelo took the marble for his masterpieces. The tour includes tasting of the Lardo di Colonnata, a type of charcuterie, made by curing strips of fatback with rosemary and other herbs and spices which is included in the Ark of Taste catalogue of heritage foods. The ageing process takes place in marble basins where the lard placed together with salt and various spices produces a brine that preserves and maintains it for years. Lucca is a beautiful walled medieval town, a place to experience at your own pace on foot or by bike. Walking through its small streets and alleyways you will be constantly surprised by such beauty appearing round every corner: churches, palaces, towers, squares, streets and wonderful, unique green walls
Day 9 – Orvieto – Civita di Bagnoregio
Orvieto, one of the most ancient towns in Italy and of Etruscan origins, stands on a tufa rock with caves open for visits where wine producers still keep their local wines. The best feature of Orvieto is its Cathedral, the Duomo, one of the greatest artistic achievements of the late Italian Middle Ages; it is a unique example that defies any simplistic style classification where different art styles harmoniously blend. Civita di Bagnoregio has been dubbed the “dying city” because of the crumbling tufa rock on which it stands and, in a few decades, it could disappear forever. The tufa rock promontory is flanked by two deep canyons carved by the waters, its setting is a scenic valley carved by wind and water, painted in the colors of a clay soil that has given origin to spectacular badlands
Day 10 – Orvieto - Rome
We are at the end of this tour: leave the touching beauty of Orvieto to reach Rome, the eternal city