Italy Grand Corsa Discovery, Cookery & Foodie Experience

Siena - Florence – Bologna – Mantova – Verona – Venice

by Ferrari & Lamborghini

www.ItaliaSpeciale.com

DAY ONE

 

 Rome – Ferrari & Lamborghini - Montepulciano – Pienza – Montalcino&Brunello Siena &

Val d’Orcia

 

• 9:00 / 9:30am: Your Ferrari or Lamborghini will be waiting for you in Rome to start our journey of discovery with a very special drive into Tuscany to visit a marvellous part of Italy!
• Our first destination will be the town of Montepulciano
• Visit to the impressive Underground City and the ancient Etruscan cellars owned by a local wine maker with a tasting and chance to purchase typical products
• Visit to the Church of San Biagio
• Lunch at our special local venue with great views over Val d’Orcia
• After lunch, carry on towards the Val d’Orcia region of Tuscany with a visit the tiny but charming town of Pienza
• Cheese tasting in one of the town's numerous cheese boutiques, as Pienza is considered the capital of Pecorino cheese
• This afternoon we will reach our beautiful family-run winery near the town of Montalcino for a wine tasting of one of the world's most exclusive wines: Brunello di Montalcino
• Late afternoon arrival at our lovely accommodation near Siena overlooking the wonderful Tuscan countryside of Chianti and Val d’Orcia
• Welcome drink aperitif as our hosts welcome you to the peace of the Tuscan countryside,
• Once you have settled in and absorbed the beauty of the surrounding area, typical dinner at your accommodation will follow
• Good night's rest

 

DAY TWO

 

Foodie Discovery – Firenze Vecchia - Bologna

 

·   This morning you will head out on a unique "Explore & Nibble" experience with your Host

·   Our destination will be Florence's most authentic food market  with a selected Cheese tasting with Truffled pecorino and other different aged pecorinos, fresh ricotta, mozzarella etc., followed by a transfer to Florence's most authentic quarter for a Bread tasting in a famous local bakery

·    We will also look out for our favourite butcher for a tasting of typical  finocchiona, salame di cinghiale, prosciutto, coppa, etc. 

·    This afternoon will feature a driving tour to Piazzale Michelangelo and to the Church of San Miniato, including a drive through the city centre and surrounding area for a taste of the art, history and sites of Florence, including the Oltrarno area to explore Florence's old "botteghe", where the artisans will be working away creating masterpieces of silk, bronze, mosaic, gold, leather, hand-made shoes and carved wood!

·    Departure to reach Bologna in the early evening for a typical dinner, where the locals go!

·    Evening walk in the centre and a good night’s rest

 

 

DAY THREE

 

Bologna – Foodie - Cookery Experience

 

·    After breakfast, it will be time to explore Bologna 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

·    After lunch, time at leisure for a passeggiata before... sleeves up for a cooking session at an exclusive Bolognese venue

·    The fruits of our labour will feature at our dinner

·    Evening at leisure in Bologna

 

 

DAY FOUR

 

Ravenna & Mosaics – Bologna Hills & Wine Tasting Dinner

 

·   After breakfast, we head off 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, return to Bologna to further discover the town at leisure and an excursion into the rolling hills of Bologna to enjoy beautiful roads, panoramic views and a wine tasting followed by dinner

·   Evening at leisure in Bologna and a good night’s rest

 

DAY FIVE

 

Lamborghini Museum & Ferrari Museum – Il Cavallino Maranello - Parmigiano Reggiano Parma - Agriturismo

 

·   This morning we say goodbye to our Hosts in Bologna and start a day of insights into the Legends of Ferruccio Lamborghini and Enzo Ferrari, combined with a Foodie Day of tastings and visits to the staples of the Emilia-Romagna region

·   We head towards Sant’Agata Bolognese, Headquarters of Lamborghini, for a visit to the Museo Lamborghini

·   Then it will be back in our Supercars to drive to Maranello, the town synonymous with Ferrari, for lunch at the famous Ristorante Il Cavallino, THE Ferrari restaurant

·   After lunch, visit to the The Ferrari Museum in Maranello and (time permitting) the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena, where our Hosts will be waiting for us

·   Later in the afternoon, we will reach the Emilia Romagna countryside, where our Hosts will welcome us to their estate with a sumptuous dinner featuring their very own authentic Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma, the real exquisite Italian flavours of the region

 

DAY SIX

 

Mantova – Verona – Piazza Erbe – Arena - Romeo &  Giulietta

 

·  This morning, we head towards beautiful Mantova, where your Host will walk you 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 & Opera 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 SEVEN

 

Verona – Padova - Venice

 

·   After breakfast, a walking tour of Verona to discover the Arena Amphitheatre, the Casa dei Capuleti and Juliet’s Balcony, among the highlights

·   Lunch either in Verona or en-route to Venice

·   En-route visit to Padova and its famous Basilica of S. Antonio

·   In the late afternoon, we reach stunning beauty of Venice and its Lagoon

·   Check in at Hotel and evening walk around before dinner as we say goodbye to our Supercars

 

DAY EIGHT

 

Piazza San Marco & Basilica – Palazzo Ducale

Basilica Santa Maria della Salute & Canal Grande

• This morning,  meet your Host in Piazza San Marco to start a full-day insightful immersion in the history and culture of Venice
• Guided visit of:
  • Piazza San Marco
  • San Marco Basilica
  • Palazzo Ducale
• This morning will continue with a visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, either by a pleasant walk along the Canal Grande or by water-taxi
• A quick lunch break before reaching the Island of Murano this afternoon
• Guided visit and chance to admire Murano’s world-renowned glass-art craftsmen
• Return to Venice for an evening at leisure

 

 

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!

 

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Highlights & What's included

From €6950  eur 

• Guests: min 4 / max 8
• Starting point:Rome Airport @ 9:00am on Day One (please contact us for arrangements)
• Ending point: Milan Airport on Day Nine (please contact us for arrangements)
• Fully escorted by our Tour Leader and Hosts
• Ferrari or Lamborghini chosen from our fleet
• Accommodation 8 days / 7 nights: SINGLE/DOUBLE EN-SUITE ROOM ACCOMMODATION (NO single room  supplement!) in selected venues that deliver a true feeling for the town & area
  • 1 night in the sweeping hills of the Tuscan countryside and Val d’Orcia near Siena or Florence
  • 3 nights in Bologna
  • 1 night in Reggio Emilia or surrounding area
  • 1 night in Verona
  • 2 nights in Venice

• An exciting and unique journey of discovery through the very best of Northern Italy
• Hands-on Cookery Classes at our exclusive venue in Bologna
• Foodie Experiences:
  • Markets in Florence in the lovely Oltrarno quarter of Florence
  • Cheese Tastings
  • Wine Tastings & Winery visits
  • Balsamic Vingar - Parmigiano Reggiano & Parma Prosicutto Tastings
• Accompanied visit  through the beauty of Florence
• Visit to several beautiful towns and sights
• Visit to the Lamborghini Museum and the Ferrari Museum
• All restaurants and venues are highly selected and offer the most special ItaliaSpeciale Experiences!
• All meals included as per the program with selected wines
• T&Cs and Security Deposits apply and vary dependant on car model chosen

 

Not included

• Flights
• Gratuities

 

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