ITALY À LA CARTE

Raise your glass to the delights of Piedmont on this full-day excursion to the Langhe region, realm of the King of Italian Wines, His Majesty Barolo. Wine lovers will learn all about this prized wine on a visit to a renowned cantina and a tour of a castle where artefacts relating to farm life are on display.

After breakfast meet your private guide and driver at your accommodation and relax on the ride, through gently rolling hills, to a Barolo wine estate. Along the way your guide will fill you in on the history of Langhe and explain why this UNESCO-listed landscape is known as one of the world’s most prestigious wine producing regions.

Upon arrival, a member of staff will greet you and show you around the property and cellar. You will hear about the different stages in the wine-making process and discover the characteristics of the terroir and climate that make wines produced here so exquisite. You will also get to know the strict regulations that define the production of Barolo which must contain 100% Nebbiolo grapes and be aged at least 38 months before being released. But every winery has its own precious formulas which you will have the chance to unravel and applaud! Enjoy a guided tasting of the estate’s wines, then rejoin your driver and set off for the charming little village of La Morra for a walk and some free time for lunch.

In the afternoon, together with your guide, you will explore the quaint town of Barolo, dominated by the 16th century Falletti Castle and replete with wine shops and cellars.

The last stop on your excursion will bring you to the Castle of Grinzane Cavour, where you will find out more about local history and traditional agricultural activities. The castle’s fame is closely linked to its most illustrious resident, Piedmontese statesman and architect of the Italian unification Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, who lived here from 1830 to 1849. Today the castle houses the Regional Wine Cellar, showcasing top-notch Piedmontese producers, and an Ethnographic Museum which tells the story of the rural world. Here you will find original period furniture and items connected with Cavour and his stay, together with explanatory panels and artefacts pertaining to wine production. Among the highlights are also displays focusing on truffles, reproductions of a cask-maker’s workshop, 17th and 19th century kitchen settings and a distillery from the 1700s.

After the visit return to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Unearth Piedmont’s tastiest secrets on this full-day excursion to the Langhe region. Gourmands will discover how Barbaresco wines are made and join in an exhilarating treasure hunt in the woods, courtesy of Mother Nature.

After breakfast meet your private guide and driver at your accommodation and relax on the ride to a well-established wine estate near Barbaresco. The property has belonged to a noble dynasty since 1797 though it wasn’t until rather later that the winery itself was established. For almost two hundred years the family produced and sold its grapes in the Alba market each autumn. One of its owners, who began supervising the agricultural operations of the family estates in the 1960s, grew weary of seeing others benefit from transforming the fruits of their labours into wine. He decided that rather than just supplying top quality grapes to the best wine producers in the area he would produce the finest wine himself. In 1973 he began creating his first distinctive wines, labelled with the family’s coat of arms. Today, thanks to his dedication to the terroir and adoption of the highest standards of cellar practices, this estate’s wines enjoy recognition from Barbaresco lovers worldwide. On a tour of the cellar, led by a qualified member of staff, you will find out about wine production and ageing methods, get to know which grape varieties blend in Langhe wines and discover the characteristics of the soil and climate that make wines produced here so special. A guided tasting of a selection of the estate’s wines, including a Barbaresco, will allow you to savour the outstanding results of almost fifty years of constant commitment.

After some free time for lunch at a nearby restaurant you will reach the home of a trifulau, a professional truffle hunter, located between Alba and Asti. After an introduction to the history and practice of truffle hunting and an explanation of the different types of truffles to be found in each season, you will take part in an unforgettable adventure as you nose your way through the woods. It is actually the trifulau’s dogs who will lead you on the trail, while they follow this unique and precious scent, digging out aromatic treasures.

Truffles are one of the world’s most expensive, sought-after delicacies. They are the fruiting bodies of subterranean fungi that rely on a symbiotic relationship with trees. Nature has chosen to bestow these rare gifts with particular generosity on the unspoiled hills of Piedmont. A favourable climate, fertile soil, dense vegetation of poplar, hazelnut and oak all contribute to the growth and flavour of the delicious black and much prized, rare white truffle.

With guidance from your truffle seeker, you will identify different plant species, understand 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. After the hunt sit down to a truffle tasting washed down with a glass of wine… cheers to Piedmont!

Return to your hotel in the afternoon and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

After breakfast and check out meet your private driver at your accommodation and set off for your hotel on the Ligurian Riviera. En route stop to enjoy a food tour in Genoa. You will find out about the culinary traditions and gastronomic heritage of this lively port city, once a powerful maritime republic and major trade centre in the Mediterranean area. Follow your guide on a tasty route through the city’s maze of narrow alleys and discover hidden corners and historic shops where authentic Italian delights are still created the way they were generations ago.

From the arcades of Sottoripa you will venture into the medieval Vicoli, the very heart of the city, peppered with grocery stores, coffee bars and sciamadde where typical Genoese street food has been served for centuries. Here sailors once came to refuel with fried seafood, friscieu (fried croquettes filled with herbs), farinate (chickpea flour pancakes) and panisse (fried chickpea flour cakes) and visitors today may still savour those same age-old delicacies. You will drop in at a bakery, visit a spice shop and discover the city’s most famous confectionery where sugary treats, including chocolates, candied fruits, jellies and marron glacés, have been lovingly made since 1780. You will then explore the Macelli district, the ancient butchers’ neighbourhood, and take in the sights, scents and sounds of the Mercato Orientale, the bustling food market housed in an 18th century convent cloister. Here you will see where locals buy their supplies and feast your eyes on the array of fresh and seasonal products on display such as meat, fish, charcuterie, cheese, fruit and vegetables. Along the way your guide will reveal the history and secrets behind the tempting treats you will taste. Scrumptious highlights of your tour might include local focaccia bread, canestrelli biscuits, panera (fresh cream and coffee powder), gelato, chocolate and, of course, celebrated pesto sauce, Genoa’s signature flavour.

We know Ancient Romans used to prepare moretum, a green paste obtained from cheese, oil and herbs, but the most ancient reference to Genoese pesto as we know it today dates back to 1863 when gastronomist Giovanni Battista Ratto published his compendium La Cucinera Genovese. This is his recipe, should you like to try it out: “Take a clove of garlic, basil or, when that is lacking, marjoram and parsley, grated Dutch and Parmigiano cheese and mix them with pine nuts and crush it all together in a mortar with a little butter until reduced to a paste. Then dissolve it with good and abundant oil. Lasagne and trofie are dressed with this mash, made more liquid by adding a little hot water without salt”.

Top off your tour with a refreshing glass of Ligurian wine, then rejoin your driver and reach your hotel on the Riviera where you will be staying for 4 nights. After check in spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Jump aboard your private boat and enjoy a memorable day at sea. Your skipper will meet you at the port and lead you on a boat excursion along the Gulf of Paradise. Sit back, relax and watch the glorious spectacle of the Riviera as it unfolds before your eyes. You will bathe in crystal-clear waters, explore a quaint coastal town and soak up fabulous views of the Ligurian landscape.

Weigh your anchor and reach your first port of call, Camogli, stopping en route for a refreshing dip in Punta Chiappa. In olden times a thriving harbour, boasting a fleet of almost seven hundred ships at the peak of its glory, today Camogli is a charming fishing village and a popular summer resort. The town’s history is inextricably linked to the sea. According to a local belief, its etymology derives from the shortened words Casa delle mogli, meaning house of the wives, which is thought to be a reference to the women who guarded the town while their husbands – fishermen, sailors or captains – were away at sea. Rows of houses painted in shades of red, pink, apricot and amber once helped sea workers find their way back to the port and today provide a delightful pastime for visitors who enjoy spotting the illusions that decorate their facades. Lifelike inhabitants peer out of the windows, a graceful cat perches perilously on the window sill… and are those real shutters casting shadows on the wall?

After a leisurely stroll through town, set sail for the secluded – though much sought-after – bay of San Fruttuoso. This inlet, tucked away between the sea and woodland slopes, can only be accessed by boat or by descending a steep trail from the mountain above. As far back as the 700s this isolated corner was chosen as the ideal location for a church. According to legend Saint Fructuosus himself, martyred in the 3rd century, indicated this spot as his final resting place. He is said to have appeared in a dream to 8th century Archbishop of Tarragon Prospero who had fled from Spain and the Moors in search of a site on which to preserve the ashes of the saint. The church was rebuilt by the Benedictine monks in the 11th century and from the 13th century to 1983 the noble Genoese Doria dynasty patronized the abbey, renovating its design and transferring the family’s burial ground here. Also located in this cove are a handful of restaurants, a 16th century watchtower and an underwater bronze statue of Christ of the Abyss, protector of all those who venture out to sea.

After some free time for lunch and a healthy dose of “vitamin sea”, rejoin your skipper and cruise back to the port.

Discover one of Italy’s most spectacular destinations on this full-day excursion to the Cinque Terre. This rugged, scenic portion of coastline on the Ligurian Riviera, stretching for eighteen kilometres to the west of the city of La Spezia, comprises five enchanting seaside villages. Along the sharply rising cliffs lie Riomaggiore, a jumble of narrow alleys flanked by pastel-hued tower-houses; Manarola, a splash of colour clinging to a rocky headland; Corniglia, perched precariously on the edge of a 100-metre-high promontory; Vernazza, with its tiny port dominated by the ruins of a medieval castle; Monterosso al Mare, the largest of the five fabulous jewels, graced by a sandy bay and famed for its lemon orchards and anchovies. Breathtaking views, crystal blue waters, gastronomic delicacies and a unique historic and artistic heritage have all contributed to the worldwide popularity of the Cinque Terre since the 1970s when they became a much sought-after vacation hub.

The earliest core of these towns dates back to the 11th century when the tribes that had settled on the hills further inland were prompted to move towards the shore as a consequence of their growing numbers and because Saracen incursions were no longer a threat. It is at this point in history that the heroic populations of the Cinque Terre began erecting dry stone walls, planting vineyards and transforming the rough, unpromising, steep slopes into bountiful cultivated terraces, thus forging the stunning scenery we can still admire today. Thanks to their gargantuan efforts this splendid corner of Liguria earned its World Heritage status in 1997 as an expression of “the harmonious interaction between people and nature to produce a landscape of exceptional scenic quality that illustrates a traditional way of life that has existed for a thousand years and continues to play an important socio-economic role in the life of the community”.

While exploring these fishing and farming villages, visitors may gain a feel for the difficulties and challenges of living in this still unspoiled, once remote pocket of land. Can you imagine how life must have been here before the late 1800s when the railway was first built? Dramatically strung between sea and rock, the Cinque Terre are today linked by trains, ferries and panoramic coastal and hillside hiking trails and are mostly inaccessible to vehicles. These circumstances have helped to preserve their distinctive atmosphere and timeless, magical appeal.

Your chauffeur will pick you up at your accommodation and drive you to the train station in Levanto. Here your private guide will be waiting ready to lead you on an unforgettable tour of three of the Cinque Terre’s villages. Depending on weather, sea conditions and the number of visitors present, you may travel either by train or public ferry boat – or both. A pesto making class followed by a delicious lunch, featuring burrata cheese, salted anchovies, bruschetta and vegetable pies, will take place at a wine bar in Vernazza or Manarola.

You will gain an overview of the region’s fascinating history, from its beginnings in the Middle Ages up to the present day, when the pressing need to protect this precious but geologically fragile heritage site from the onslaughts of extreme or inclement weather are felt with particular urgency. Your guide will be ready to show and tell you all you could wish to know about the fabulous five – from the unparalleled seascapes to culinary delicacies, from local legends to documented facts – ensuring a truly enlightening, enjoyable visit.

After the tour your chauffeur will drive you back to your hotel on the Ligurian Riviera.

After breakfast and check out meet your driver outside your accommodation and relax on the ride to your hotel in Florence. En route, stop to enjoy a private tour of Lucca.

Originally an Etruscan settlement, the town was later conquered by the Romans and evidence of their influence can still be perceived today. The Church and Piazza di San Michele stand on the remains of an ancient Roman Forum while the outline of a long-lost Roman amphitheatre is still discernible in the shape of the exquisite Piazza dell’Anfiteatro whose buildings retrace the oval form of foundations and masonry from an earlier age. Lucca’s fortunes waxed in the Middle Ages when a booming economy, largely driven by the production of silk, led to a building expansion and a series of towers, erected by ambitious families wishing to make a show of their wealth, sprung across the city. Although only two still stand guard today, it only takes a tiny step of the imagination to picture the approximately 130 towers that used to loom over Lucca in its medieval heyday, each heralding the prominence and ambitions of the household who lived here.

Several Renaissance masterpieces attest to the town’s growth as a thriving artistic hub in the 15th and 16th centuries and to the prime role occupied by Lucca in nurturing some the most brilliant talents of the time – from military engineers to sculptors. Among the enthralling sights you will encounter on your tour are the imposing, perfectly preserved Renaissance era walls; the Romanesque Church of San Frediano, adorned by a 13th century golden facade mosaic; the Cathedral of San Martino housing the much venerated wooden crucifix of the Holy Face which, according to legend, authentically represents Christ’s real features. The exquisitely carved funerary monument of Ilaria del Carretto by Jacopo della Quercia and works by renowned Italian Renaissance painters such as Ghirlandaio, Tintoretto and Fra Bartolomeo are also among the cathedral’s cherished treasures.

After the tour and some free time for lunch rejoin your driver and reach your hotel in Florence where you will be staying for 4 nights. Following check in spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Bite your way through Florence’s streets and squares on this delectable food tour. You will dig into the belly of the city and discover that Florence’s gastronomic specialities are worthy rivals of its artistic treasures – and are just as ancient, owing to the Italians’ long-standing obsession with food.

Florentine Catherine de’ Medici, who became queen of France, is a famous ambassador for a long list of Italian epicureans. When she moved abroad in 1533 she insisted on taking her favourite cooks and preserving her Italian traditions and habits as she disliked French cuisine. She is said to have ignited the French passion for cooking and introduced many culinary innovations to the country. Some claim that dishes considered today as traditional French creations, including crepes, béchamel and onion soup, were actually brought into France by Catherine. She is also credited with giving the French court its first taste of olive oil, artichokes, truffles and figs and with teaching the French to use a fork at table!

Your private guide will lead you on a stroll through the historic centre, introducing you to popular local temptations. An indispensable ritual in the life of every self-respecting Italian is the prima colazione… Begin your day like a local, delighting your senses on a croissant and an expertly brewed coffee or cappuccino at the bar. You will then follow a tasty trail through the bustling Mercato Centrale, one of the city’s oldest markets. Admire stalls brimming with an enticing assortment of fresh, seasonal produce that will make your mouth water, feast your eyes on crisp green vegetables, delicious cheeses, top quality charcuterie and try out the regional favourites.

Your eating adventure also covers a deli shop, a winery and a gelateria. Indeed, no Florence food tour would be complete without a taste of gelato. Ice cream is an age-old treat, dating back thousands of years. Frozen desserts are recorded as far back as 3,000 BC when Asian cultures began consuming crushed ice and flavourings. Our modern gelato may well have its origins in a recipe brought back to Italy from China by Marco Polo. However it was during the Renaissance in Florence, under the rule of the Medici family, that the great tradition of Italian gelato began. Legend has it that among the chefs that Catherine de Medici would have loved to have employed at the French court was Ruggeri, the inventor of a prize-winning frozen dessert, but it is to 16th century Florentine architect, painter and sculptor Bernardo Buontalenti that we owe gelato as we know it today. His addition of milk and eggs to the mixture was a genial contribution to this world-acclaimed delicacy.

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.

Relish Chianti’s full range of delights on this flavoursome countryside excursion from Florence. 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.

The first stop will bring 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 in Florence.

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!

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 or your next travel destination.