IN THE MOOD FOR FOOD

Crunch your way through Bologna’s streets and squares on this private gastronomic tour. You will discover why the city gained its famous nickname La Grassa (the Well-fed) as a tribute to its epicurean delights and has earned a well-deserved reputation, both locally and abroad, as Italy’s foodie capital. As you walk past market stands and deli stores, your guide will unveil the history and traditions that make up Bologna’s culinary heritage.

Bolognese ragu sauce, balsamic vinegar, mortadella, prosciutto, salami and the famed tortellini are among the list of world-renowned tasty delicacies that originated in the city and nearby towns of Emilia Romagna. Tortellini, ring-shaped pasta typically stuffed with a mix of prosciutto or cheese, are one of the signature dishes of Bolognese cuisine. The origins of tortellini, long disputed between the once rival cities of Modena and Bologna, are steeped in mystery. According to a popular medieval legend, one night Venus stayed at an inn in the town of Castelfranco Emilia. The innkeeper was so captivated by her beauty that he could not resist a peek through the keyhole of her bedroom. All he could see in the candle-lit room was her naval, a vision that left him spellbound. He immediately rushed to the kitchen and created a pasta inspired by the goddess’ belly button… and that’s how tortellini were first invented! The most ancient recipe referring to a predecessor of modern tortellini dates back to the 14th century so we can assume it is a medieval creation. Whatever the true story, the invention of tortellini must be ascribed to the Po Valley due to the abundance of pork meat and Parmigiano cheese, the two ingredients used for the filling.

You begin your day taking in the sights and scents of Bologna’s fresh food market. Here, as you amble past the stalls, you will gain a glimpse of the city’s food-centred culture. See where locals meet trusted traders, watch shoppers purchase their supplies and feast your eyes on the tempting array of goods on display including meat, charcuterie, cheese, fruit and vegetables. Next, drop in at a delicatessen to sample mortadella – a delicacy thoroughly enjoyed by Italians since Ancient Roman times. Also on the agenda are stops at a bakery to taste typical crescenta, a focaccia bread filled with ham, and at a confectionary where you may treat your taste buds to fudgy delights. Top off your morning with a glass of Sangiovese wine… cheers to irresistible Bologna!

In the afternoon see the very best of Bologna and discover the city’s rich cultural legacy on a private walking tour through the historic centre, extraordinarily untouched since medieval times.

Bologna’s origins date back to the Etruscan era but this centre grew and flourished in the Middle Ages when a burgeoning economy led to a steady expansion and a series of towers, erected by wealthy families wishing to make a show of their prestige, sprouted across the city. Approximately one-hundred of them looked out on Bologna in the 13th century and twenty-two still stand guard today. Your guide will lead you on a carefully planned trail past arcaded walkways, basilicas, palazzi and case-torri that together make up one of the country’s finest medieval cityscapes.

A multifaceted city, Bologna has earned many epithets: “la Rossa” (The Red) refers to the red terracotta bricks of its buildings and to the city’s left-wing political stance; “la Dotta” (The Learned) as it is home to the world’s oldest university, founded in 1088, which boasts a long list of famous students and professors; “la Grassa” (The Well-Fed), a nod to the city’s celebrated cuisine, internationally-renowned for its tortellini, ragu sauce and charcuterie. Popular song lyrics have nicknamed the city “la Vecchia Signora” (The Old Lady) since Bologna sags with history from every corner and one may still feel, see and touch its ancient texture.

The imposing 16th century bronze statue of Neptune welcomes visitors to Piazza Nettuno and the adjoining Piazza Maggiore, the very heart of Bologna, where the most important events in the history of the city unfolded over the last eight hundred years. Your guide will point out the amazingly well-preserved medieval structures which were once the seat of government, city hall, notaries’ guild and banking centre. This square was witness to a series of happenings, both glorious and gory – from an imperial incoronation to public executions – about which you will learn as you pause here.

The majestic Basilica of San Petronio, dedicated to the city’s patron saint and one of the world’s largest Christian churches, dominates the piazza. Construction began in the late 1300s and, although it took three centuries to gain its present appearance, it is still – beautifully – incomplete, as evidenced by its facade, half marble and half brick. Don’t miss the bas-reliefs that frame the main portal, representing prophets and biblical stories, as well as a lunette with a Madonna and Child, Saint Ambrose and Saint Petronius, all the work of Renaissance sculptor Jacopo della Quercia. Step inside to admire the church’s richly decorated chapels and marvel at the achievements of astronomer Giovanni Cassini who designed the longest indoor sundial in the world. This 67-metre-long time device, created in the mid-17th century, still indicates the solar noon throughout the year with astounding accuracy.

You will walk past the Archiginnasio, the former seat of the University of Bologna, and reach the monumental monastic complex of Santo Stefano, famous for its labyrinth of intercommunicating churches, originally designed to symbolically reproduce a journey through the sites of Christ’s passion.

As you make your way through the city’s maze of streets you will certainly notice a famous feature of Bologna’s cityscape – its porticoes. Thirty-eight kilometres of covered sidewalks shelter visitors on rainy days and were originally built with the aim of allowing extra room to be added to the buildings’ second storeys without having to occupy public outdoor spaces.

The final stop will lead you to discover Bologna’s iconic monuments: the stunning leaning Towers of Asinelli and Garisenda, which have been looming over the city since the 12th century.

Discover two of Italy’s best-known automotive brands and two of Emilia Romagna’s celebrated delicacies on this full-day excursion to the food and motor valley. Gourmands and sports car lovers will see how fine Parmigiano Reggiano and balsamic vinegar are produced, visit a surprising collection of vintage cars and experience the thrill of driving a Ferrari.

Your chauffeur will pick you up at 8:00 AM at your accommodation and drive you to the Umberto Panini museum of vintage cars and motorcycles, where the most complete collection of Maserati vehicles in the world is on display. Strange as it may seem, the models are housed inside an organic cheese farm which has been producing Parmigiano Reggiano since the mid-1980s. Before admiring the extraordinary fleet, accompanied by a member of staff, you will have the opportunity to visit the dairy and ageing warehouse. Here, learn all about the age-old art of cheese making and get to know the strict rules that regulate the production of Italy’s king of cheeses. Believe it or not, Parmigiano Reggiano has delighted the palates of Italians for some eight hundred years. Its extraordinary fragrance, distinctive flavour and processing methods have hardly altered over the centuries, thanks to the skill of local cheese artisans and their efforts to preserve regional gastronomic traditions. As you will have the chance to see and savour, only this unique territory could reward us with such a tempting treat, born of an abundance of water, extensive grazing grounds and, most important of all, prime quality milk.

Now it’s time to admire the wondrous automobile collection featuring rare Maserati creations, including the A6GCS Berlinetta Pininfarina (of which only four models were ever made), and Tazio Nuvolari’s prize-winning 6C 34. Ducati motorcycles, vintage bicycles and tractors are also exhibited. You will have time to examine these masterpieces of engineering and design and find out how this peculiar collection was first assembled.

A short drive will then bring you to Maranello. Here, on a guided tour of the Ferrari Museum, you will get to know the history behind this famous sports car brand, from its founding in 1947, through the creative and engineering developments of the following decades, to the recent victories of its Formula One racing cars. You will also hear about the life of Ferrari’s creator, the automotive visionary Enzo Ferrari. Born in Modena in 1898, Mr Ferrari devoted his entire life to designing and building sports cars. He discovered his passion for racing at the age of 10, when his father took him to watch a competition at a motor racing circuit in Bologna. Rejected as an employee by FIAT, Enzo Ferrari did not admit defeat and ended up developing his very own racing cars which would become one of the world’s most sought after sports car brands, a symbol of luxury and affluence for generations of drivers.

On display you will see exclusive creations for track and road together with engines, trophies, photographs and memorabilia relating to the motor racing industry. The museum also hosts a Ferrari store selling official merchandise, including clothing for men, women and children, model cars, mugs and caps.

Next, slip into the driver’s seat of a Ferrari, buckle your belt and live your long-wished-for Italian dream. After a technical briefing with an instructor, you will have the opportunity to test drive a Ferrari. Enjoy the riveting sensation of driving through the streets of Maranello behind the steering wheel of this iconic, epoch-making motorsport legend. Your instructor will sit next to you on the passenger seat throughout the test drive so as to ensure a safe, smooth experience.

A delicious lunch featuring local specialities will then be served at a traditional Emilian restaurant in the nearby town of Castelvetro di Modena.

Finally, treat yourself to a visit and tasting at a family-run acetaia, well-known for making fine balsamic vinegar since 1860. Top quality vinegar is the fruit of a long history of tried and tested techniques passed down over decades. The earliest recorded reference to balsamic vinegar – created centuries ago as a medicine and disinfectant – occurred in a 1046 poem, which noted that a bottle was donated as a gift to Emperor Henry III himself. From curing sore throats and labour pain in the Middle Ages to becoming a prime condiment in Emilian cuisine, balsamic vinegar has taken gigantic strides. Soak up some of the secrets behind its production as a member of staff explains the various stages in its creation – from the selection of vines, through the hand harvesting of crops, to the ageing process in wooden barrels which are used to perfect the aroma and taste of this elixir.

Return to your accommodation in Bologna still tingling with the sensations of the day.

After breakfast and check out meet your private driver outside your hotel in Bologna and relax on the ride to Florence where you will be staying for 3 nights.

Following lunch and check in, which will take place after 2:00 or 3:00 PM, enjoy an unforgettable ride through Florence on a private Segway tour.

What a glorious way to get a close look at the squares and bridges, the monuments and magnificent facades of the city’s favourite buildings as you sail along smoothly and silently on your own personal transporter! You will enjoy the best of Florence’s iconic attractions together with a tailor-made commentary from your expert guide while cruising around aboard the very latest and greenest motorized vehicle. This carefully planned tour will lead you past picture-perfect piazze, down fashionable streets and hidden alleys, allowing you to gain a real feel for the texture of life in Florence, past and present, in record time. There’ll be ample opportunities for snapping shots of the city’s major landmarks as well as everyday scenes and bustle that take your fancy.

Your guide will meet you at your hotel, accompany you to the starting point of the Segway tour and give you a brief orientation session on how to manoeuvre this 2-wheeled, easy-to-handle, electric vehicle. Once you’re ready, hop on your Segway and begin your exciting ride back down the centuries. You’ll roll across charming squares, beside the River Arno, past glorious churches and noble palazzi, while learning about the most significant events in the history of the city. From its early days as an ancient Roman military settlement, through its rise in the Renaissance as a prosperous trading centre and thriving artistic hub, to today’s prestigious role as one of Italy’s major travel destinations… you’ll have 2,000 years to cover.

Make your way to Piazza del Duomo, the city’s religious heart, graced by three striking monuments: the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence’s best-known landmark and an astonishing feat of engineering; Giotto’s Bell Tower, a fine example of Gothic architecture; the Baptistery, the city’s oldest religious site where poet Dante Alighieri himself was baptized. As you lap up views of the square, you will discover how architect Filippo Brunelleschi, back in the 15th century, built the largest masonry dome still in existence and hear about the competition for the creation of a bronze door that, according to tradition, marked the beginning of the Renaissance era in 1401.

Gripping tales of capture, conspiracy and coups await you in Piazza della Signoria. The square is dominated by the towering Palazzo Vecchio, the seat of political power and intrigue for over seven hundred years. Here, in the out-door sculpture gallery of the Loggia dei Lanzi, you will come face to face with Greek heroes Hercules and Perseus, brought vividly to life on the cusp of their triumphs by Giambologna and Benvenuto Cellini.

Highlights of your tour also include Piazza San Lorenzo with its imposing basilica, once the ruling family’s private place of worship and mausoleum; the popular shopping street of Via Tornabuoni; the superbly decorated exterior of the Church of Orsanmichele… And don’t forget to rub the boar’s snout as you wheel through the Porcellino Market so that you will – as legend has it – one day return to Florence.

After the tour spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Language and proverbs reflect the customs, culture and tastes of a territory. It may come as no surprise that many traditional Tuscan expressions are inspired by gastronomy, culinary habits and the act of eating or sharing food, revealing the age-old origins of the region’s food-focused way of life.

Here are three sayings that are evidence of how food has always been central to the hearts and minds of Tuscans and is an essential component of the territory’s culture. Né amico riconciliato, né pietanza due volte cucinata conveys Tuscans’ belief that once your trust in a friend has been broken, your relationship will never be the same again – just like a dish never tastes the same after it has been reheated. Più vale un pan con amore che un cappone con dolore means that a simple piece of bread made with love is better than a succulent capon made with anger, as love is the best of ingredients. A tavola non si invecchia – translating as “one never grows old at the table” – is a tribute to the dinner table and to long-lasting Sunday lunches. An unbroken flow of wine, food and good conversation enlivens spirits, raises energy levels and increases pleasure for all dining companions.

By teaching you how to prepare traditional dishes this cooking lesson will allow you to delve further into Tuscan culture and give you a key to the local gastronomy-centred lifestyle. Although we can’t promise eternal youth, we can indeed guarantee a delectable, enjoyable and educational experience.

Your professional chef will meet you at the location of your cooking class and guide you through the preparation of a delicious meal in true Tuscan style. The aim of the course is not only to teach participants how to create a dish by following a recipe but to provide a culturally enriching experience. In addition to explaining the technical aspects of cooking, your chef will share his culinary knowledge and passion for food by unveiling the secrets behind the ingredients used. You will savour local flavours, learn how to recognize healthy, prime quality raw materials and enhance your awareness of the environment and eating seasonally.

After the cooking lesson, take a seat around the dinner table and enjoy the meal you just prepared… Buon appetito!

Later, it’s time to discover Florence’s most cherished artworks on a tour of the Uffizi Gallery. Your guide will lead you through the halls and highlight the masterpieces no visitor to the city should ever miss. The treasure trove you see today originated over four hundred years ago as the Grand Duchy’s administrative centre having been built at the request of Cosimo I de’ Medici to house the Florentine magistrates’ judiciary offices – called uffizi in old Italian. Construction work began in 1560 under the direction of architect Giorgio Vasari and was completed by Bernardo Buontalenti in 1574. Only 7 years later, in 1581, Francesco I de’ Medici, Cosimo’s son, set up his private gallery inside the building’s rooftop loggia adorning it with all sorts of precious artefacts, including cameos, stones, jewellery, bronzes, scientific instruments, paintings and statues. As time passed the Medici family’s collection was enriched until it was eventually bequeathed to the city of Florence by the last member of the dynasty, Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, in 1743. The gallery first opened to the public in 1769 and has delighted visitors ever since with its vast store of wonders.

Where else in the world could you find such a dazzling, prestigious collection of Renaissance marvels? Over sixty rooms display stunning works of art from the 12th to the 16th centuries, including classic paintings by well-loved artists Cimabue, Giotto, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian. Your guide will treat you to the insider information you need to appreciate the significance of the pieces on display and the circumstances in which they were produced and commissioned. Who could resist the charms of Botticelli’s Venus emerging from her shell, as pure and perfect as a pearl? The grace of Leonardo’s Gabriel announcing the glad tidings and the thrill of meeting an illustrious Italian couple, immortalised in Piero della Francesca’s finely rendered portraits are among the lasting Florentine memories you will take away with you.

Nose your way through the woods on an exciting truffle hunt. Adventure-seeking foodies will embark on a quest for these exquisite gifts of nature and delight in a mouth-watering Tuscan meal.

Truffles are one of the world’s most expensive, sought-after delicacies and the Italian white variety – growing from October through December – is the most valuable of all, with a market price of up to € 6,000 per kilo. The mild climate and terroir rich in mineral salts typical of the countryside surrounding San Miniato contribute to the growth and flavour of delicious truffles – as well as top-class olive oil and wine.

You begin your day with a 70-minute ride from Florence to Forcoli. Here you will visit a small truffle museum owned by a local family of truffle hunters who pride themselves on supplying the kitchens and tables of famed chefs and the most discerning of palates. The family’s passion for truffles has been handed down for four generations, since the early 1920s. Among their achievements is that of having found the biggest, priciest truffle in the world. In 2007 thanks to their cherished dog, Rocco, a giant white truffle weighing 1,497 kilos emerged from the soil. We can’t promise you’ll be quite so lucky but keep your fingers crossed and your nose to the ground.

You will hear an introduction to the family’s history, activities and values and understand the importance of working in harmony with the land. Indeed only uncontaminated nature rewards us with its most wonderful fruits. Tuscany, with its pure, unspoiled green hills, is very generous all year long, making this truffle experience a gratifying activity in all seasons. Several kinds of truffle – including the black truffle, the scorzone truffle, the whitish truffle and the rare white truffle – grow in different areas and different seasons and you will learn about the characteristics of each type.

Then, head for the woods and enjoy an exhilarating truffle hunt accompanied by an experienced truffle seeker. It is actually the dogs who will lead you on the trail, as they follow this unique and precious scent through the trees digging out aromatic treasures. With guidance from your truffle seeker, you will identify different plant species, get to know the ideal habitat for truffle growth, find out why truffles are considered an icon of the slow food movement and discover how dogs are trained to detect these woodland treats.

Later, sit down to a tasty truffle-based meal. Highlights might include truffle bruschetta, cold cuts with truffle, pecorino cheese served with truffle honey, potato flan with goat cheese and truffle, risotto with truffle fondue, tagliolini pasta with truffle butter, fried eggs with truffle… Buon appetito!

After lunch explore Tuscany’s truffle capital. The enchanting hilltop town of San Miniato hosts a famous truffle fair every year in November attracting chefs, journalists and specialists from all over the country. Roam its pretty streets taking in splendid views of the Arno Valley below before returning to your hotel in Florence.

After breakfast and check out meet your private driver outside your hotel in Florence and relax on the ride to Tuscany. En route stop to enjoy a private tour of Siena, a beguiling medieval town recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Your guide will be waiting at the meeting point and make sure no fascinating detail eludes you as you follow a stirring trail. No doubt you will notice the symbol of Siena, the she-wolf and twins, which links the town with its Roman origins, though it was not until rather later that this centre bloomed into the glorious gem you see today. Legend has it that Remus’ sons escaped to safety here after the murder of their father by the children’s uncle Romulus, the founder of Rome. Siena is indeed immersed in legends, steeped in ancient traditions and replete with true stories of battles and bravery. The town is also richly peppered with wondrously preserved monuments, churches and architectural marvels, attesting to its extraordinarily rich and riveting past. Between the 13th and 16th centuries the town revelled in a golden age becoming one of the most powerful banking centres on the continent. A number of great artists were called upon to embellish its piazze and buildings securing its lasting fame.

Countless treasures await you inside the black-and-white striped Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta: the wonderfully inlaid marble flooring, the rose window by Duccio di Buoninsegna, the marble pulpit by Nicola Pisano, Donatello’s statue of St. John the Baptist and the gorgeous Piccolomini Library. Well-known for its illustrated hymn books and beautifully preserved Renaissance paintings by Perugian painter Pinturicchio, the library was built at the request of Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini, Archbishop of Siena, to honour the memory and manuscript collection of his uncle Pope Pius II. A radiant fresco cycle depicts a glorified version of the life of the pope as well as mythological scenes and ornate decorative motifs, all rendered with the greatest skill and painstaking attention to detail.

Not to be missed is also the shell-shaped Piazza Del Campo, for centuries the pulsing heart of the town’s social and political life and known the world over as the atmospheric setting of the Palio. Your guide will elucidate the origins of this famous horse race that still takes place regularly twice a year in July and August and help you understand why the event continues to play a significant role in fostering a Siennese sense of belonging, re-evoking the rivalry that flourished among its seventeen contrade and its legacy of ward-centric culture.

The looming Torre del Mangia, the elegant red-brick buildings and the medieval aura of the city’s narrow winding streets are among the unforgettable impressions to be savoured in this delightful wellspring of wonders.

After the tour and some free time for lunch your private chauffeur will drive you to your hotel in Tuscany where you will be staying for 3 nights. After check in spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Relish Chianti’s full range of delights on this full-day countryside excursion. Gourmands will have the opportunity to visit two farms and a wine estate, taste local gastronomic specialities and discover that Chianti is indeed a fine wine producing region but is also so much more.

After breakfast your private chauffeur will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to an estate well-known for its fine cheeses, extra virgin olive oil and wine. On this 140-hectare farm, cheese has been produced by hand according to traditional methods since 1992 using exclusively Sardinian sheep milk. Years of experiments have resulted in more than fifteen different types of cheese, from traditional Pecorino to a sophisticated Blue. A member of staff will give you a tour of the cellar and vineyard and explain the different stages in the dairy production process. Sit down to a special tasting of four cheeses, three wines and olive oil before moving on to your next destination.

Upon arrival at a farm located near Castellina in Chianti you will be greeted by the owner and his wife who will give you an introduction to farm life and explain the activities carried out on the estate. Here, lovingly cultivated vineyards and olive groves are expertly turned into fine Chianti and “liquid gold” while a rare species of pigs, called Cinta Senese, breed freely. At the top of the list of species at risk of total extinction in the 1990s, the Cinta Senese today is no longer endangered and its meat has been awarded the DOP classification from the European community. Native to this region and probably dating back to the Middle Ages, the Cinta Senese pig was once a popular farm animal and was even depicted in a famous 1338 fresco by Ambrogio Lorenzetti housed inside Siena’s Palazzo Comunale. The species owes its name to the black coat with a white sash (called a cinta in Italian) that runs across its shoulders, sides and front legs. After visiting the property and salumificio, top off your morning with a delicious Tuscan lunch. Tasty inclusions might consist of a bruschetta with extra virgin olive oil, a selection of cold cuts, Parmigiano cheese, a pasta dish, a second course made of pork, all washed down with full-bodied Chianti wine.

In the afternoon a pleasant ride through the splendid Tuscan hills will bring you to a renowned Chianti estate. Here, on a tour of the property, you will get to know about wine-making and ageing methods, become familiar with the particular features and regulations that define Chianti Classico and discover the unique characteristics of the terroir and climate that make wines produced here so special. Top off your day with a tasting of the estate’s wines and a toast… cheers to Chianti!

After the visit your private chauffeur will drive you back to your accommodation.

Language and proverbs reflect the customs, culture and tastes of a territory. It may come as no surprise that many traditional Tuscan expressions are inspired by gastronomy, culinary habits and the act of eating or sharing food, revealing the age-old origins of the region’s food-focused way of life.

Here are three sayings that are evidence of how food has always been central to the hearts and minds of Tuscans and is an essential component of the territory’s culture. Né amico riconciliato, né pietanza due volte cucinata conveys Tuscans’ belief that once your trust in a friend has been broken, your relationship will never be the same again – just like a dish never tastes the same after it has been reheated. Più vale un pan con amore che un cappone con dolore means that a simple piece of bread made with love is better than a succulent capon made with anger, as love is the best of ingredients. A tavola non si invecchia – translating as “one never grows old at the table” – is a tribute to the dinner table and to long-lasting Sunday lunches. An unbroken flow of wine, food and good conversation enlivens spirits, raises energy levels and increases pleasure for all dining companions.

Dip further into Tuscan lifestyle and unlock the secrets behind the region’s celebrated cuisine on a private cooking lesson. Your chef will guide you through the preparation of a delicious meal in true Tuscan style. You will be taught how to match different flavours, discover local recipes and culinary traditions, try out infallible cooking techniques and pick up tips you can use to impress your friends back home at the dinner table. After the cooking class tuck into the meal you just prepared… Buon appetito!

After breakfast and check out, which will take place before 10:00 or 11:00 AM, meet your private driver outside your hotel and head for the airport, train station or your next travel destination.