Flavors of Italy

Passengers who purchase flights will depart 1 day before the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.

Note: Flights are not available on departures.

You can find more details on the Before You Depart page.

Today we'll arrive in Turin, the capital city of Piedmont in northern Italy and a city known for its cuisine and architecture. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive program will be met at the Milan Malpensa Airport and transferred to our hotel. This evening your tour director hosts a welcome dinner at a traditional Trattoria for a 3-course dinner with a glass of local wine.

This morning, we'll enjoy a guided tour of the city. The exteriors of the Palazzo Reale, Palazzo Madama, and San Lorenzo will give us our first glimpse of the magnificence of this city. Afterward, we'll stroll through the lively, Baroque historic district followed by a break at a local bar to savor a cup of "bicerin," a soothing local hot chocolate and coffee specialty. This afternoon, we'll travel to a nearby village for a guided visit and tasting in the wine bank. We'll discover Italy region by region through the history of its major wines and wine-growing regions at this museum to admire "with a wine glass in hand."

Today we'll travel to the Italian Riviera! Along the way, we'll stop in the small town of Canelli, considered the local capital of Asti with its Castello Gancia overlooking the historic district. Many tradition-filled wineries (laso called underground cathedrals) are located here. We'll visit one of these wineries and enjoy a spumante tasting (sparkling white wine). Next, we'll stop in Asti and stroll through the historic district. This former city republic with medieval character is known as the "San Gimignano of Piedmont" thanks to its many soaring family towers and as the center of the wine-growing region of Monferrato, where the most gentile representatives Moscato and Barbera d'Asti are grown.

Today takes us to the UNESCO World Heritage recognized hamlets that make up Cinque Terre. We'll discover these colorful villages nestled between lush vertical land and cobalt coves with a combination of train and boat travel (based on weather conditions) as the topography didn't allow for the development of roads for vehicles. We'll visit Monterosso, the largest; Vernazza, considered the most photogenic with its natural pier surrounded by colorful homes; and Corniglia, which unlike the others was built on a cliff above the sea making it the most difficult to reach and the least touched by tourists. In Manarola's small harbor, we can participate in an optional wine tasting with a sommelier before we continue to Riomaggiore, a peaceful place with its colorful homes hugging the hills.

After breakfast, we'll travel to the seaside town of Sestri Levante. We'll explore on foot before reaching the restaurant where we'll learn a local traditional recipe, the most classic Ligurian dish—Genoese pesto. The fragrant yet simple sauce is a divine combination of basil, pine nuts, olive oil, cheese, and garlic. We'll make this delicious pesto and enjoy our lunch of "Tofie al Pesto" in the place this recipe was born! After lunch, we'll continue to Radda di Chianti, a beautiful medieval town in the heart of the Chianti Valley with picturesque views, a small-town feel, and culinary delights that make it a unique destination. Upon arrival, we'll check into our hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Today's Tuscan adventure begins in the famous medieval town of San Gimignano, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its towers that rise above all the town's other buildings offering impressive views of both the town and the surrounding valley. At the height of its glory, the town's patrician families built about 72 of these tower-houses as symbols of their wealth and power. Today, San Gimignano still retains its feudal atmosphere and appearance though only fourteen of these towers have survived. Later, we'll visit a pasta factory in the heart of the Chianti Valley where we'll learn everything about the pasta made here. This afternoon is free to rest and relax, or we might consider an optional truffle hunt experience with a delicious tasting of local products.

We'll depart for Bologna after breakfast today. Along the way, we'll stop at a farmhouse in the heart of the Chianti countryside where we'll try Tuscan wines and taste the local delicacies like Pecorino Cheese, Bruschetta, and other cold cuts. After our stop, we'll continue to the medieval city of Bologna, the culinary capital of Italy famous not only for Bolognese cuisine, but for for its cultural and historical heritage. After we check into our hotel, we'll have some free time to relax and explore Bologna independently. Consider exploring the Quadrilatero, an area filled with historical buildings, old-world charm, and narrow streets lined with traditional Italian eateries.

Today's food adventure takes us to Parma, the capital of the world-famous Prosciutto and Parmigiano cheese. We'll visit a local producer of Prosciutto di Parma where we'll learn how this famous delicacy is made and enjoy a special tasting of ham with some Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. This afternoon, we'll continue our food exploration and experience with another signature product of this land, Balsamic Vinegar. On our return to Bologna, we'll visit a local producer and learn about the production process and taste this specialty. This evening, we'll come together for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant and reminisce about our wonderful memories on our culinary adventure in Italy.

Our tour comes to an end today after breakfast. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive package will transfer to the airport for our return flight back to the U.S.