Day 1: Milan-Como Lake
Arrival at Milan airport and private transfer to your accommodation in Como. Free time to settle down and start exploring Como on your own.
Day 2: Como Lake, Visit to Olive Growers Cooperative with Oil Tasting & Wine Tasting with Dinner
This morning you will be transferred towards the Eastern side of the Como Lake where an agronomist of the “Lake Como Olive Growers Cooperative” will bring you to the olive groves of Perledo and Varenna and explain you everything about this ancient tradition, the difficulty of survival of olive growing and the potential of our territory. Olive groves, short paths, an old mill and a castle with falconry will be the background to this experience. End the experience with oil tasting.
Possibility of an optional lunch in a “crotto”, a natural cavity typical of the mountainous regions of the Alps. Return to Como during the afternoon.
In the evening enjoy a wine tasting and a guided tour of the vineyards in a winery around Como Lake followed by a dinner with Traditional Menu.
Overnight in Como.
Day 3: Como/Milan
Private transfer from Como to Milan. Accommodation in hotel centrally located. Day at disposal to visit the city by your own, possibility to book an optional private tour. Overnight.
Day 4: Milan- La Spezia, CinqueTerre and Pesto cooking course
Breakfast, check out and transfer to La Spezia. Accommodation in hotel.
This afternoon meet your private tour leader and reach beautiful Cinque Terre by train. Take your time to discover this Italian coastal paradise and visit of some of the most beautiful villages and landscapes of Cinque Terre National Park (a world-heritage protected by UNESCO since 1997).
End your day with a hands-on workshop in an unforgettable location with breath taking view. You will have the opportunity to prepare pesto, learning to use a mortar and pestle to give life to this fragrant, flavorful and ancient sauce. The preparation will be accompanied by a narration on the history and traditions that gave rise to pesto, and at the end of the course you will taste the fruits of your work.
Back to La Spezia by train, free time for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: La Spezia, Extra virgin olive oil mini course
This morning join an half day course on Extra Virgin Olive Oil taken by Nicola, an experienced, professional olive oil sommelier who produces his olive oil on the hills between La Spezia and Cinque Terre. He will guide you through the experience of smelling, tasting and eating olive oil on a variety of “bruschetta” to understand which oil goes on which food and with which wine (Nicola is also a wine tester). You will learn the basic steps to recognize a “good” olive oil from a “standard” one and how to buy a good olive oil. Enjoy some interesting moments, surrounded by a peaceful terraced olive grove, situated in the splendid Poets’ Bay, next to the Cinque Terre.
Free afternoon on your own and overnight.
Day 6: La Spezia,/Florence, Handcrafts and Artisans shops private walk
After breakfast check out and catch the train to Florence. Arrival, accommodation in hotel 4*close to the station. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon meet our local guide for a walk in the historical centre and an interesting tour of the ancient shops and artisan laboratories of the town. You will discover the excellence of the “made in Italy” getting to know the traditions and the techniques of the artisan work that will reveal an authentic and “off the beaten track” side of Florence. Enjoy some free time in town. Possibility to book extra escursions. Overnight.
Day 7: Florence, Chianti Wine & Olive oil tasting tour with lunch
After breakfast, join our small group tour. Departure by minibus from Florence to Tuscany countryside for an authentic gastronomic experience among olive groves and vineyards.. The area explored is outstanding; Chinati produce some of the best wines in the world with a blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo and different varieties of red grapes blended differentely by the producers. But you will also get a detailed introduction to the world of extra virgin olive oil, the techniques of olive collection, the kinds of trees available in Tuscany and the “mentality” of the local olive farmers.
During the day you will learn the different characteristics of wine, you will get to know how distinguish the acidity, the taste, and flavor pairing with food.
This experience includes the visit of an olive oil mill in an ancient noble estate, where you will enjoy a guided tour of their spaces in a unique mix of ancient and modern setting, learning about the processes involved in producing olive oil. A taste of their gourmet olive oil will reveal all the incredible flavors that their passion and work generate.
After the olive oil experience you will discover two wineries and their cellars: a famous and glorious winery, with a spectacular cellar, and a fascinating small boutique winery. Both wineries boast international wine awards.
The tour also includes the wine tastings at the wineries you will visit, a typical Tuscan meal (lunch or dinner depending if you choose the am or pm departure), many photo opportunities and the friendly feeling of a small and intimate group of wine lovers.
Get to know the area of the great wines, get to know Tuscany, join the perfect experience for wine lovers.
Return to Florence later in the afternoon. Free time for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Florence/Rome, Ape Calessino tour
After breakfast, catch the train to Rome. Accommodation in your hotel close to the station.
In the late afternoon, enjoy a welcome tour to Rome aboard a snappy Ape Calessino, “cousin” of the Vespa but more like a buggy, that was very popular among the youth and even became a protagonist of roman Dolce Vita in the 1960’s, still preserves its timeless charm. This vehicle, originally designed for the transport of goods and animals, turned into a comfortable mode of transport for passengers, will accompany you to discover the wonders of the Eternal City.
You will see the most iconic sites of the city with its baroque squares. From Piazza di Spagna to Trevi Fountain, you will walk through the Eternal City and visit its most picturesque spots.
Dinner at leisure. Return to the hotel and overnight.
Day 9: Rome, Free time & Trastevere Food Tour
After breakfast, free time in Rome. Possibility to book optional excursions (Coliseum & Roma forum, Vatican Museums, Borghese Gallery, etc ).
In the late afternoon enjoy a stroll through the charming neighborhood of Trastevere, one of Rome’s most authentic and vibrant areas. Thanks to our buddy guide you will really eat local, with locals!
In our tour we will show you that Italian cuisine is more than just pizza and pasta, there is so much variation and regional differences! We will try to give you an overview of the Roman cuisine and you will learn the ‘do’ and ‘don’ts’ of Eating in Italy. Our local buddy guide will tell you interesting stories about the food, regional recipes, and will introduce you to local vendors. Everything you will taste is very simple but made with high quality and locally sourced ingredients. Some of the tasting locations include a century old cheese shop, a cookies’ factory that dates back to 1920, a traditional wine cellar. As a backdrop to our walk, Trastevere will surprise you, especially because our tour does not exclusively visit the famous squares and streets known and visited by most, but we travel the intricate alleyways and hidden corners and go off the beaten paths.
The tour includes 10 food tastings and 2 wine tastings in 5 different locations.
Evening at leisure. Overnight.
Day 10: Rome, Frascati Wine & Food tour
Free day to discover the city by your own or to book and additional excursion in the Roman countryside to discover the genuine wine & food tradition of the charming Roman hills. Overnight.
Day 11: Departure
Free time for dinner. Return to the hotel and overnight
Breakfast. Check out and transfer to the airport for the departure or extend your vacation To Naples or Amalfi Coast.
Price per person: from 2660 euro in dbl room
