Italy GrandMaster Experience

 (Northern Italy 1)

The Perfect Italian Honeymoon and Getaway

 

Tuscany - Bologna – Ravenna – Verona – Palladio - Venice

www.ItaliaSpeciale.com

 

 

DAY ONE – Sunday

 

 Rome – Montepulciano – Wine Tasting of Excellence – Pienza

Val d’Orcia- Siena

• Meet in Rome and take a very special drive from Rome to Tuscany with your Host as you visit a marvellous part of Italy!

• As we drive through the Lazio and Umbria regions, 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 dynasty, followed by a lovely wine tasting of excellence and light lunch
• After lunch, we carry on towards the Val d’Orcia region of Tuscany with a visit the tiny but charming town of Pienza
• Enjoy the several cheese tastings in one of the town's numerous cheese boutiques, as Pienza is considered the capital of Tuscan Pecorino cheese
• Our drive through Chianti and Val d’Orcia and afternoon arrival at our Hotel in the heart of Siena
• Check in followed by a typical dinner in town to discover Tuscan flavours
• Good night's rest
  • 4 Star or 5 Star Accommodation:  Palazzo Ravizza: https://palazzoravizza.it/en/ OR similar

 

 

DAY TWO – Monday

 

Tuscany Val d’Orcia & Chianti: Siena

 

·  After breakfast, a leisurely morning in Siena

· In the afternoon, a guided walk around Siena, Tuscany’s most beautiful medieval town with its fascinating Piazza Del Campo, home to the famous Palio di Siena

· You will immerse yourself into a breathtaking world of history, art and traditions

· Evening at leisure with dinner arranged by Guests

 

 

 

 

 

DAY THREE – Tuesday

 

Tuscan Cookery Masterclass & Wine Pairing - Afternoon at Leisure

Siena Museums

• This morning…sleeves up for a hands-on Cooking Masterclass with Chef to disclose the some of the secrets behind a few Tuscan staple dishes!
• Our location is a medieval castle in one of the most evocative and unspoilt corners of the Tuscan countryside
• Your class will cover the most delicious Tuscan preparations and recipes under the guidance of our passionate Chefs, followed by lunch to sample the fruits of our labour!
• Lunch will also feature a wine pairing experience to enhance the flavours of your preparations
• Return to Siena and afternoon at leisure to wander the town on your own and discover its several Museums featuring stunning art, crafts and traditions
• We recommend the Pinacoteca Nazionale Art Gallery to discover the medieval Sienese School of Painting which flourished in Siena between the 13^th and 15^th century
• This fine gallery hosts an unsurpassed collection of Medieval painting by artists of the ‘Scuola Senese’, or Sienese School. Highlights include works by Duccio and Simone Martini. Here you’ll admire the ‘Annunciazione” by Ambrogio Lorenzetti and the famed ‘Mystical marriage of Saint Catherine’ by Michelino da Besozzo. The first floor is dedicated to Sienese art in 16th and 17th century
• We also recommend the Museo Civico in Palazzo Pubblico and its Frescoes set inside the Palazzo Pubblico – Siena’s Town Hall – in the magnificent square Piazza del Campo. Here you’ll find one of the most important series of secular frescoes from the Middle ages. The most famous is the fabulous Allegory of Good and Bad Government by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, located in the Sala della Pace.
• Evening at leisure with dinner arranged by Guests

 

 

DAY FOUR - Wednesday

 

 San Gimignano - Florence

 

• This morning we will reach the lovely town of San Gimignano along the Via Francigena to admire its walled medieval town that beautifully preserves its landmark Towers and medieval, Romanesque and Gothic architecture, making it a UNESCO World Heritage Site

·   Lunch in San Gimignano before heading to Florence in all its beauty and cultural significance that inspired the glorious Poet Dante

·   Check in at our Hotel in the heart of Florence

·   Afternoon at leisure to explore Florence, visit a Museum, etc

o   4 Star or 5 Star Accommodation:  The Frame Hotel: https://www.theframehotel.com/ OR similar

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAY FIVE – Thursday

 

Florence Art & Culture – Foodie Experience

                                         

·  This morning you will head out on a unique experience with your host

· Time to experience the open air Museum that Florence actually is throughout its centuries of history: Piazza della Signoria, Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, Piazza del Duomo, etc…

· You will visit the Oltrarno area to explore Florence's old "botteghe", where are artisans will be working away creating masterpieces of silk, bronze, mosaic, gold, leather, hand-made shoes and carved wood

·  For lunch, a stop at one of Florence's most authentic foodie venues for a tasting experience of the Tuscany’s most typical delicacies, from Truffled pecorino "tartufone" and other different aged pecorinos, to fresh ricotta, mozzarella etc., accompanied by local breads and desserts: schiacciata all'olio, pane toscano, pane ai cereali, crostata, "cantuccini di Prato" biscuits etc..

· We will also get our favourite butcher to prepare a tasting of typical  finocchiona, salame di cinghiale, prosciutto, coppa, etc. 

· We recommend dinner at our favourite local places in Florence, where the locals go!

·  A good night’s sleep

 

 

DAY SIX – Friday

 

Bologna

 

·   This morning, check out of your Hotel in Florence and departure for Bologna to reach our Hotel (I will try to get an early check-in) (1h30min drive)

·   Lunch at leisure in a recommended restaurant

·  14:30 or 17:00: 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

 

Selected Accommodation in the heart of Bologna:

• Art Hotel Commercianti – 4 Star: LINK  OR similar
• Deluxe Rooms

 

 

 

DAY SEVEN – Saturday

 

Ravenna & Mosaics

 

·   After breakfast, a leisurely 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 in Ravenna

·   After lunch, return to Bologna for a pleasant late afternoon in the buzz of Piazza Maggiore and I Portici

·   Evening and dinner arranged by Guests

 

DAY EIGHT – Sunday

 

Modena– Ferrari Experience - Parmigiano Reggiano – Prosciutto di Parma - Verona

 

·   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 could include a fabulous (optional) Ferrari Supercar Driving Experience (street and/or track), 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 Verona, the town of Romeo & Giulietta of Shakespearean fame

·   Dinner in the heart of Verona arranged by Guests followed by a good night’s rest

 

Selected Accommodation in the heart of Verona:

·       Hotel Touring Verona – 4 Star: LINK or similar

• Hotel Milano & Spa Verona   https://www.hotelmilanoverona.com/en/ or similar

 

DAY NINE – Monday

 

Verona – Piazza Erbe – Arena - Romeo &  Giulietta

 

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

·  After a typical local lunch, afternoon at leisure to further explore Verona on your own, meet the locals and immerse yourself in the elegance of La Dolce Vita with a passeggiata and a spot of shopping along its elegant Corso Mazzini

·  Dinner in the heart of Verona arranged by Guests followed by a good night’s rest

 

DAY TEN – Tuesday

 

Palladian Villas – Venice – Piazza San Marco

 

·    10:00am: After breakfast, departure for a day of architectural beauty and inspiration as we visit the monumental Palladian Villas of the Veneto region and reach Venice

·   Our first destination will be the iconic Villa Almerico Capra, also known as La Rotonda, built atop a hill on the outskirts of Vicenza and the very inspiration for the White House

·   Our next visit will feature the nearby Villa Valmarana Ai Nani with its beautifully landscaped Italian Garden and its stunning  1757 frescoes by Giambattista and Giandomenico Tiepolo, the absolute highest expression of 1700s painting

·   After a typical lunch in the area, we head to Venice and its Lagoon

·   Check in at Hotel and guided walk around Campi & Campielli, Rialto Bridge, San Marco Square and Ponte dei Sospiri Bridge before dinner arranged by Guests

 

Selected Accommodation in the heart of Venice:

·       Hotel Ai Cavalieri Venezia – 4 Star Superior: LINK OR similar

 

DAY ELEVEN – Wednesday

 

Venice

• 9:30am: After a leisurely breakfast, it will be time to check out and reach the stunning beauty of nearby Venice and its Lagoon (1.5 hr drive)
• Meet your Host for a guided walk around Campi & Campielli, Rialto Bridge, San Marco Square and Ponte dei Sospiri Bridge

• This morning,  meet your Host in Piazza San Marco to start a very special full-day insightful immersion in the history and culture of Venice
• A quick lunch break and check-in at your hotel 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 Leaving the island of Murano, we will arrive in Venice, not far from Campo SS Giovanni e Paolo where we can admire the Scuola Grande di San Marco, now a civil hospital, and the Basilica dei SS Giovanni e Paolo, the Pantheon of the Doges of the Serenissima, and also the largest church in Venice.
• In the square, we will also admire the statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni designed by Verrocchio, the teacher of Leonardo.
• We will pass by the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli, an enchanting Renaissance jewel by the Lombardo brothers. From there, we will walk towards Canaregio, crossing secondary calli, including the narrowest in Venice, only 49 cm, far from the hustle and bustle of the most touristy streets, to reach the Fondamenta della Misericordia.
• After crossing Campo de l'Abazia, we will reach the Fondamenta Gasparo Contarini from which we can admire what was once the Contarini Dal Zaffo palace, which now houses the Cottolengo di Venezia, where we will enter its garden for a pleasant surprise! We will then skirt the palace that, in the 12th century, was the home of the mischievous Mastelli brothers. After telling a legend linked to the palace, we will reach the silent and peaceful Campo della Madonna dell'Orto where we can admire the church of the same name in which Jacopo Tintoretto was buried.
• We will then deviate towards Campo dei Mori where we will find ourselves in a smaller Venice, far from the crowded tourist routes. Here is the house of the painter Tintoretto. In this square we will tell the legend of the swindling merchant Rioba Mastelli and his three brothers!
• We will resume our walk to reach the Fondamenta degli Ormesini and conclude the visit after visiting and narrating the history of the oldest Ghetto in the world and still today the seat of an active Jewish community of about 500 people.
• Evening at leisure and dinner arranged by Guests

 

 

DAY TWELVE – Thursday

 

Venice Airport OR Bullet “Ferrari” Train To Rome

 

·  9:30am: After breakfast, private boat transfer to Venice Airport OR to reach Santa Lucia Train Station to board the fast Bullet “Ferrari” train to Rome Termini Station (4 hour ride – Business OR 1^st Class tickets included).

·   Train departure: 11:05am (TBC)

Arrival at Rome Termini train station at 15:10 (TBC)....Arrivederci Italia

 

 

 

www.ItaliaSpeciale.com

 

 

 

---------------------------------------

 

 

Highlights & What's included:

 

€4650 – 2 Guests  ||  €4450 – 4 Guests  || €3950 5/7 Guests

• Italy GrandMaster Experience

   (Northern Italy 1)

  Tuscany - Bologna – Ravenna – Verona – Palladio - Venice

  www.ItaliaSpeciale.com

   

  Elegance, History, Culture & Flavours of Italy

   

  Highlights & What's included

   

 

 

• Guests: min 5/ max 7
• Starting point: Milan Airport @ 12:00pm on Day One (please contact us for arrangements)
• Ending point: Venice Airport/Station OR Rome on Day Ten (please contact us for arrangements)
• Fully escorted by our Tour Leader, Guides and Hosts
• Accommodation 12 days / 13 nights: SINGLE/DOUBLE EN-SUITE ROOM ACCOMMODATION (NO single room  supplement!) in selected venues and Hotels that deliver a true feeling for the town & area
  • 3 nights in Siena
  • 3 nights in Florence
  • 2 nights in Bologna
  • 2 nights in Verona
  • 2 nights in Venice

 

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 and, especially, feedback for our partners.

Should you feel the need to share a token of gratitude, ideally your Host should collect €95 eur in cash per guest 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%

 

**Itinerary could be subject to slight modifications. All experiences are guaranteed!

Not included

Flights Gratuities *Accommodation venue vary from 3S to 4- and 5-Star Hotels and luxury upscale B&B’s to a dispersed hotel concept with the rooms scattered around town / village Hands-on Cookery Classes at our exclusive venues Foodie Experiences:

• Markets
• Cheese Tastings
• Highly selected Wine Tastings & Winery visits
• Olive Oil Tasting

Visit to several beautiful towns and locations with incredible views All restaurants and venues are highly selected and offer the most special ItaliaSpeciale Experiences! All lunches and tastings included as per the program with selected wines

Italia Speciale - Leonardo De Flaviis