During this 11-day vacation, discover Italia at its delicious best!
Begin in Rome with guided sightseeing, a Roman dinner party, and
a hands-on Italian cooking lesson. Next, travel through the beautiful Apennines to Tuscany, with a stop in Pienza to sample its famed pecorino cheese, and in the Montalcino wine area for a winery tour, lunch, and to learn about the process involved with producing Brunello di Montalcino. See the sights in renaissance Florence and pause for an evening of dinner and regional wines at a local Tuscan restaurant. An excursion to Verrazzano Castle includes wine tasting and the chance to learn about the creation of the acclaimed Chianti Classico. On to Modena for a special balsamic vinegar tasting and enjoy an introduction to one of Italy’s best-known cheeses when you visit a parmesan factory. Conclude your vacation in breathtaking Venice with guided sightseeing of the highlights and a farewell dinner.

Itinerary:

Day 1 Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2 Arrival in Rome, Italy
Time to rest or start exploring the Eternal City.This evening meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a special welcome dinner with wine in one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)

Day 3 Rome
Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM where Roman legions marched in triumph. This afternoon, time to explore the city on your own, relax, or join your Local Guide for an optional walk that takes you to the magnificent marbled Trevi Fountain , Navona Square, the well-preserved Roman Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, and that finishes with a Roman dinner party. (BB)

Day 4 Rome. Italian Cooking Lesson
This morning, a COOKING LESSON introduces you to the culinary secrets of some traditional Italian dishes. Afterward, savor the delicious lunch that you helped create. This afternoon, perhaps take a stroll along beautiful Via Condotti, discover Rome’s hidden treasures at your own pace, or just sit on a terrace and watch people go by. Tonight, why not join an optional dinner with local specialties at one of Rome’s famous restaurants? (BB,L)

Day 5 Rome–Pienza–Montalcino–Tuscany
Travel north into Tuscany through the lush Apennine Mountains, stopping in the renaissance town of Pienza. Renowned for pecorino cheese, enjoy an exclusive CHEESE TASTING here before continuing to the Montalcino wine area. The ALTESINO ESTATE and winery is beautifully located in the eastern hills of Montalcino and housed in an elegant 14th-century building known as the Palazzo Altesi. For the past 30 years the estate has been a trendsetter in the production of Brunello di Montalcino. We will tour the winery and taste a selection of their famed Brunello di Montalcino while the winemaker discusses the innovations that made their wines famous. Lunch will be served at the estate. An afternoon arrival at your hotel in Tuscany. (BB,L)

Day 6 Tuscany. Excursion to Florence
All day is dedicated to Florence, “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Follow your Local Guide to the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David and the magnificent CATHEDRAL. Admire Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE Time for independent sightseeing and browsing through the shops. Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry sold by the ounce are attractive buys. This evening, enjoy dinner paired with regional wines at a local Tuscan restaurant. (BB,D)

Day 7 Tuscany. Excursion to Siena & Verrazzano Castle
Today, a guided visit of Siena introduces you to PIAZZO DEL CAMPO and the Palazzo Pubblico, the city’s finest gothic palace and home to the CIVIC MUSEUM, housing masterpieces of Sienese painting giants Simone Martini and Ambrogio Lorenzetti. Time in Siena at leisure to explore on your own or you may opt to visit Nannini, one of Burt Wolf ’s favorite places for Tuscan cakes. Later, visit VERRAZZANO CASTLE, where you will hear about the fine art
of blending four types of grapes to obtain the famous Chianti Classico; here, enjoy WINE TASTING and lunch before returning to your hotel. (BB)

Day 8 Tuscany–Modena–Venice
A scenic drive through the Apennine Mountains and the fertile Po area to Modena to visit one of the oldest producers of balsamic vinegar. After learning about the production process, partake in a VINEGAR TASTING of the final product. Next, enjoy an introduction to one of Italy’s most well-known cheeses with a visit to a PARMESAN FACTORY. In the afternoon, continue to Venice. Enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT. You may want to join an optional dinner tonight. (BB)

Day 9 Venice
Highlights of your walking tour with a Local Guide are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the BYZANTINE BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS . Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. Spend the remainder of the morning and afternoon as you wish. (BB)

Day 10 At Leisure in Venice
A full day to enjoy Venice at your own pace. This city has attracted and inspired photographers from all over the world because of its breathtaking setting. Consider an optional tour with included lunch to the wine region of Prosecco and Treviso. This evening, an included farewell dinner celebrates the success of your Italian vacation. (BB,D)

Day 11 Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)