R
Northern Italy Discovery, Cookery & Foodie Experience
Bologna – Ravenna - Ferrara - Mantova – Verona – Venice
(9 days / 8 nights: Mon-Tues)
www.ItaliaSpeciale.com
DAY ONE
Bologna & Foodie
· 11:00am: Meet your Host in Bologna to explore the town in all its ancient and fascinating beauty on a lovely walking tour
· Your Host will walk you through the history and architecture of Bologna and to see the University of Bologna, the oldest University in the world that has been operating since the year 1088, all beautifully combined with a foodie experience under the famous Portici that will also lead you to discover Bologna’s culinary tradition, typical dishes and its flavours as you taste excellent Parmigiano, Balsamic Vinegar, local cheeses, olive oil, Mortadella Bolognese and typical dishes and breads
· Lunch will be with the locals, followed by Italian gelato
· Afternoon and evening at leisure for a passeggiata around town
DAY TWO
Ravenna & Mosaics – Ferrara
· After breakfast, morning to discover the beauty of Ravenna and its superb byzantine mosaics in the Basilica of San Vitale
· Both a former capital of the Roman and the Byzantine Empires, Ravenna is a fascinating discovery of art, architecture and history with its Unesco World Heritage Sites of Basilicas of San Vitale and Sant’Apollinare in Classe and Mausoleums
· Typical lunch by the Adriatic Sea at Marina di Ravenna
· After lunch we immerse ourselves in the fascinating Renaissance town of Ferrara, where our Host will guide us through
the intriguing history and architecture of a town contended by the Este Family and the Papacy for centuries, as we visit the
imposing Este Castle, the impressive Cathedral of Saint George with its Gothic façade and juxtaposition of several styles
and the several Renaissance Palazzi
· Dinner will be either in Ferrara or in Bologna
DAY THREE
Bologna - Cookery Experience - Bologna Hills & Wine Tasting Dinner
· This morning, sleeves up for a cooking session at an exclusive Bolognese venue with our Chef and Hosts
· The fruits of our labour will feature at our lunch
· After lunch, an excursion into the rolling hills of Bologna to enjoy panoramic views and a wine tasting
· Evening at leisure in Bologna and a good night’s rest
· Afternoon and evening at leisure to further explore Bologna for some shopping, mingling with the locals, visit to the
Museums and Art Exhibitions or sipping an Espresso or an Aperitivo in the lively Piazza Maggiore
DAY FOUR
Modena & Tastings & Ferrari Museum – Parmigiano Reggiano – Parma
Mantova
· This morning we say goodbye to our Hosts in Bologna and start a Foodie Day of tastings and visits to the staples of the Emilia-Romagna region
· We head towards Modena, the town famous for its highly appreciated balsamic vinegar and for Ferrari
· Visits will include the Ferrari Museum and a Traditional Balsamic Vinegar producer
· Lunch will be in the Emilia Romagna countryside, where our Hosts will welcome us to their estate with a sumptuous lunch featuring their very own authentic Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma, the real exquisite Italian flavours of the region
· After lunch, visit to the cheese factory before heading off to reach Mantova for the evening
· Dinner and evening at leisure in Mantova
DAY FIVE
Mantova – Verona – Piazza Erbe – Arena - Romeo & Giulietta
· This morning, walking tour of Mantova with your Host through the beauty of Piazza Sordello as we approach Palazzo Te and Palazzo Ducale
· Visit to the Palazzo Ducale of the Gonzaga Family to admire the masterpieces painted by Renaissance artists Pisanello and Mantegna
· After a typical local lunch, departure to reach Verona, the town of Romeo & Giulietta of Shakespearean fame
· Evening walk with your Host through the elegant Piazza delle Erbe of the charming Verona Antica
· If available and based on the official Lyrical Calendar, possibility to attend a fascinating opera at the Arena di Verona
· Dinner in the heart of Verona followed by a good night’s rest
DAY SIX
Verona
· After breakfast, a walking tour of Verona to discover the Arena Amphitheatre, the Casa dei Capuleti and Juliet’s Balcony, among the highlights
· Afternoon and evening at leisure to explore Verona on your own, meet the locals and immerse yourself in the elegance of La Dolce Vita in Verona
DAY SEVEN
Padova - Venice
· After breakfast, time to leave Verona and head to Venice
· En-route visit to Padova and its famous Basilica of S. Antonio
· After lunch in Padova, we reach the stunning beauty of Venice and its Lagoon
· Check in at Hotel and evening walk around Campi & Campielli before dinner
DAY EIGHT
Piazza San Marco & Basilica – Palazzo Ducale
Basilica Santa Maria della Salute & Canal Grande
DAY NINE
Venice – Airport or Optional Activities
· After breakfast, transfer to airport Venice / Milan OR Optional Activities pleased to assist with:
o Extension in Venice
o Drive along the Coast to Abruzzo for an amazing MasterExperience in the region
o Any other idea before arrivederci Italia!
________________________________________________________________________
Highlights & What's included
€3750 eur
Not included
A word on Tipping
At Italia Speciale our mission is to assure only the best experiences possible around Italy through our highly selected network of Partners and Hosts, all committed to delivering the highest standards of knowledge and service to our guests. We do this by nature and soul, as proud as we are of our proposals and our people. Tips are never expected and always come as a nice bonus for our partners.
Should you feel the need to share a token of gratitude, ideally your Host should collect €75 eur in cash per guest on Day 3 to cover all tips that deserve to be shared among all Partners. Tips are not compulsory by any means, and should be given exclusively for high quality service.
Payment: Bank Transfer + bank charges | Credit Card: +3.5% | Cash: €100 eur discount
Italia Speciale - Leonardo De Flaviis