Exclusive VIP Gourmet and Cultural tour Departs 11 September 2023
Northern l Italy – 19 Days -One Departure  small group ( max 16)  Fully hosted and Escorted.

Day.01 (11 Sep). Arrival Milan
Own arrival in Milan. Make your own way to Hotel Villa Torretta. Meeting with your   Tour leader for a welcome drink and Dinner at the Villa.(D)

Day.02 (12 Sep) Milan Discovery
After breakfast we will be transferred by Minibus to the historical Centre, for a full day discovery of Milan including the GAE AulintI, to view the modern skyscrapers with its amazing “Vertical forest”. Visit the Duomo (Cathedral) and the Sforza Castle, your Tour Host, will arrange metro tickets on the Milan Metro and show you , hidden Milan with its history, designer and fashion centre . We will continue to the ‘Navigli (Canal) area, to board a Boat to navigate the canal. You will have the opportunity to admire the old “Vicolo dei Lavandai” and one of the century old washhouse where women handwashed clothes and linen for the Milanese, the San
Cristoforo Church, and finally to the Darsena, once upon a time Milan Port one of the greatest Internal Ports of the Mediterranean. dinner in the lively Navigli Area and return to our Accommodation at around 11pm (BD)

Day.03 (13 Sep) Como – Lugano -Locarno (Switzerland)
Breakfast at the Hotel and departure with our private Motorcoach to beautiful Lake Como, time at leisure to enjoy the sight and discover the township of Como continue to Lugano (Switzerland) where we will stop to admire Lake Lugano. Departure to Locarno, located on Lake Maggiore (Swiss side) for our overnight. Accommodation at the Hotel Belvedere or Similar. Dinner and overnight (BD)

Day.04 (14 Sep) Lake Maggiore – Stresa– Borromees Islands
Full Day to discover Lake Maggiore – we will have an option to navigate with the Local Ferry from Locarno to Stresa ,stopping at different lakeside resorts to
Stresa. Time at leisure to have lunch and to visit the Borromees Islands Isola Bella with its beautiful Gardens and Isola dei Pescatori (Fisherman Island) boat back to Stresa where we will meet with Driver to transfer us to
Locarno for overnight at your hotel (BL)

Day.05 (15 Sep) Lake Orta – Turin – Asti area
Breakfast at the hotel and early departure to Lake Orta time at leisure , continue to Turin, capital of the Piemonte Region time to enjoy a bicerin at a local Café ( Chocolate drink time at leisure in Turin afternoon departure to the Langhe area of Piemonte and accommodation at a Relais Saint Uffizio Dinner (BD)

Day.06 (16 Sep) Asti Area – Langhe Piemonte Grinzane Cavour
After breakfast we leave for the Grinzane Castle, a massive medieval castle, located in the town of Grinzane Cavour renamed in honor of Camillo Benso, Count Cavour, who was mayor of the city for 17 years. Cavour was a leading figure in the movement for the Italian Unification in the19th century. We will visit the Museum “EtnoGrafico”. In the afternoon visit to other parts of the Langhe return to your hotel(BT)

Day.07 (17 Sep) Alba – Truffle Hunting – Barolo Langhe
Departure to the Alba region after Breakfast , we will meet with our Guide and Go truffle hunting – Lunch With truffle Afternoon departure to Barolo where we will visit the Marchesi Di Barolo, guided tour of the historical Enoteca and wine tasting including the famous Barolo wine. Return to your hotel (BLT)

Day.08 (18 Sep) – Nervi -Genova – Portofino – la Spezia
departure to the region of Liguria. Time for a stop stop in Nervi or Genova before continuing to Santa Margherita Ligure and the charming village of
Portofino   time at leisure, continue to La Spezia where we will check in to our Hotel le Ville nearby Dinner and overnight (BD)

Day.09 (19 Sep) La Spezia – Portovenere – Cinque Terre discovery
Accommodation in La Spezia area, breakfast at the hotel and morning departure to Portovenere where we will board our Ferry to the Cinque Terre going to
Riomaggiore and then on to Monterosso our driver will meet us in Monterosso to transfer us back to our Hotel (B)

Day.10 (20 Sep) Lucca – Bologna Area We leave La Spezia after breakfast toward Carrara and Lucca where we will stop for Lunch (not included) and a guided tour of this charming Tuscan Town. We will proceed to Emilia Romagna area to get to Castel San Pietro Terme in the Province of Bologna for our accommodation at Palazzo Varignana or similar. Dinner at the Hotel overnight (BD)

Day.11 (21 Sep) Bologna Breakfast and transfer to the historical centre of Bologna for a two and half hour sightseeing tour Our lunch today will be an unforgettable experience, we will assist the cook La Cesarina, in preparing a four course meal of Bolognese dishes from old traditional recipes. The preparation and lunch will take about 3 hours, afternoon departure to Dozza where we will visit this surprising artistic Village before returning to our accommodation (BL)

Day.12 (22 Sep) Modena – Maranello Ferrari – Parma
Depart after breakfast to the next destination in Emilia Romagna, enroute we will stop in Maranello to see the birthplace of Italy’s most acclaimed excellence for Car Enthusiasts : Ferrari. After a visit to the Ferrari Museum, we will continue to an Acetaia taste the original Balsamic Vinegar. Departure to Parma were we will reach our accommodation at the Antica Torre Agri-Turismo in the Province of Parma for Dinner and overnight (BD)

Day.13 (23 Sep) Parma – The Duchy Castles of Torrechiara
and Montechiarugolo This morning we will discover the renowned “Food Valley” starting with a visit to a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory to learn about the ancient traditional art of making “ the king of Cheeses” Then on to a Prosciuttificio to learn how the Prosciutto di Parma has earned its status of excellence in the world, we will have a tasting of typical“ Salumi “ and wine. Continue to the Village of Torrechiara to visit its beautiful Castle used as the set of the movie Lady Hawke. After the visit brief stop in Montechiarugolo to see the medieval Village and its Castle on the way to Parma were we will enjoy a guided tour of the Romanesque Duomo with its magnificent fresco by Correggio the pink hexagonal Baptistery and the Ducal palace with its beautiful gardens. Dinner at the Historical Trattoria Corrieri (since 1800) with traditional authentic Parmens dishes. (BTD)

Day.14 (24 Sep) Parma and Verdi Country
Morning departure to Colorno to see the Beautiful Ducal Palace, formerly summer residence of Parma’s beloved Duchess Maria Luigia of Austria who ruled the Duchy of
Parma from 1812 to 1847- Lunch at the Historic Salsamenteria Baratta, one of the oldest food parlor in the area ( since 1873) loved by Opera Composer Giuseppe Verdi. where will have time to admire, the Maestro’s original memorabilia. After Lunch we will visit the nearby Village of Fontanellato with is beautiful Castle, then on to
Busseto’s Verdi Theatre where we will be greeted by story tellers portraying Verdi’s life in his native town and beyond. Visit the house where Verdi was born before returning to our Accommodation.(BL)

Day.15 (25 Sep) Mantua – Verona – Dolo prov. of Venice Breakfast at the hotel and departure to the Veneto Region, en route we will stop in Mantua to view the Piazza and the Ducal Palace time for a coffee break and continue to Verona where we will enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Juliet’s Romantic town. Late afternoon departure to Villa Ca Zane Martin Dolo, province of Venice. Gourmet regional Dinner at the Villa overnight. (BD)

Day.16 (26 Sep) Veneto Cruise on the Brenta River Visit Palladian Villas- Bassano del Grappa Breafast at the hotel and early departure to Stra’, river cruise on the Brenta River dotted with magnificent Palladian Ville, we will visit the Stunning Villa Pisani and Villa Wildeman- Arrive in Origo at around 13.30 where we will enjoy a typical lunch. In the afternoon we will proceed to Bassano Del Grappa a charming town at the foot of the Grappa Mountain ( a Mountain dedicated to the Fallen of the Great War) Bassano is renowned for its “ Grappa” visit to the Poli Distillery and its museum with Grappa and local products tasting. (BLT)

Day.17 (27 Sep) Vadobbiadene – Prosecco wine route. Departure Conegliano were we will meet our guide on the historic road of Prosecco we will have a typical Veneto lunch in a Trattoria in the afternoon we will visit the Molinetto della Crod and the beautiful Abbey of Santa Maria di Frollino one of the most beautiful Villages in Italy We will proceed   to a Prosecco Cantina for awine tasting and ” Brindisi “of the famous Cartizze( BLT)

Day.18 (28 Sep) Venice

Transfer to Venice, afternoon walking tour Farewell dinner (BD)

Day.19 (29 Sep) Venice  

Breakfast at the Hotel and end of services (B) (or Additional nights package in Venice)