Your Life Experience:
Day 1. MAY 1, Friday. Arrival & Welcome Dinner
- Arrival at the airport, Bologna (BLQ), or at the train station (Bologna Centrale), and transfer to hotel Guerro in Castelvetro di Modena
- Welcome dinner at the Acetaia La Vedetta, Modena. An area free from industrial pollution, surrounded by green vineyards and olive groves. Here the sequence of weather events repeats, unchanged, the ancient process which for centuries has served as an essential support in the natural production and maturing of an extraordinary balsamic vinegar
- Introduction of the tour with chef Gregorio and Flavia
- Overnight at the hotel Guerro in Castelvetro di Modena
Day 2. MAY 2, Saturday. Visit Cantina Chiarli 1860 and wine tasting
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Late morning departure to visit Cantina Chiarli in Castelvetro, one of the oldest wine makers in North Italy. Private tour of the vineyard and return to the cantina for wine tasting
- Lunch at a special resort Opera 02
- Afternoon in Vignola, visit the historic center of the town, walking and shopping
- Typical dinner at “Agriturismo Le Casette”, a local home-restaurant with delicacies from the area
- Overnight at the hotel in Castelvetro di Modena
Day 3. MAY 3, Sunday. Visit to Prosciutteria Villani 1886. Pizza dinner
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Morning departure to visit Prosciutteria MUSA, Villani 1886. Tour of the building and prosciutto crudo and salami tasting
- Lunch at “Agriturismo La Barbera”. An agriturismo is an organic farmhouse. Here we will eat on truly local delicacies that are all farmed, raised and produced on site by the owners
- Afternoon in Castelvetro, Modena
- Return at the hotel
- Pizza dinner at agriturismo Rubbio, with artisanal Italian beer and wines pairings at a wooden oven pizzeria
- Overnight at the hotel Castelvetro di Modena
Day 4. MAY 4, Monday. Day trip to Verona.
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Morning departure to Verona, the Medieval city that inspired W. Shakespeare to set Romeo and Juliet and the Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free time to explore Verona. Arena di Verona, Castel Vecchio, Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore, Piazza delle Erbe, Torre dei Lamberti. Via Mazzini is a great place for shopping
- Lunch at “Locanda degli scaligeri”. Verona is well known for filled pasta and meats
- Afternoon in Verona
- Return to the hotel
- Dinner at Eglise restaurant
- Overnight at the hotel in Castelvetro di Modena
Day 5. MAY 5, Tuesday. Day trip to Ravenna. Afterwards, the city formed the centre of the Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna until the invasion of the Lombards in 751, after which it became the seat of the Kingdom of the Lombards. Ravenna has eight buildings comprising the UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will meet Chef Gregorio’s sister and her husband who have been living there for 15 years, and they will show us around
- Lunch at a Piadineria. Piadina is fresh Italian flatbread stuffed with Italian salami (Parma ham, prosciutto cotto, bresaola, speck, capicollo, pancetta, salami, Spianata Calabra, sausage, turkey), selected cheese (quacquerone, Mozzarella, Grana, Alpigiana, Brie, Edam, Buffalo Mozzarella, smoked Provola, Ricotta cheese, Gorgonzola, camoscio) and fresh vegetables. Piadina is the most popular street food in Emilia Romagna
- Gelato tasting at an artisanal gelateria in Ravenna
- Free time for shopping and exploring the town
- Return at the hotel and dinner at a local Osteria Borgo Castelvetro
- Overnight at the hotel in Castelvetro di Modena
Day 6. MAY 6, Wednesday. Caseificio, Parmigiano Reggiano DOP. Cooking class and balsamic vinegard di Modena D.O.P. tasting
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Morning departure to visit a local cheese company, caseificio azienda agricola Moscattini. Tour of the building and cheese tasting
- Tipycal lunch at a “Agriturismo del Papa”
- Free afternoon for rest, time to visit town of Castelvetro di Modena
- Cooking class and visit to an historical “acetaia”. Acetaia is the place where they make balsamic vinegar in the old traditional way. Tour of the building, and aceto balsamico tradizionale tasting at different ages. Dinner at Agritursimo La Vedetta
- Overnight at the hotel Castelvetro di Modena
Day 7. MAY 7, Thursday. Modena. Ferrari museum. Tortellini
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Morning departure to Modena. Visit of the town and central market Albinelli.
- La Cà Bianca, Castelvetro di Modena. Visit a fresh pasta and tortellini laboratory. Where we will see only the old ladies making tortellini in the traditional way
- Lunch with fresh filled pasta, tortellini and other food from the area
- Afternoon visit the Ferrari museum in Maranello. Ferrari’s test driving for those who are interested
- Typical Modena dinner at a “Cà Berti”
- Overnight at the hotel in Castelvetro di Modena
Day 8. MAY 8, Friday. Firenze – Free time
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Morning departure to Firenze
- Check-in to Hotel Le due Fontane. The Hotel is located in the historical and artistic centre, in the most famous renaissance square of Florence, only 200 meters away from the Dome (Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral) and next to the most beautiful and famous Florentine tourist attractions.
- Walk to Mercato Centrale. It is one of the results from the time of Risanamento, the period when Florence was the capital of Italy in the late nineteenth century. Inside the market, vendors sell various primary ingredients of Tuscan cuisine. In the northern corner of the market, there is a seafood area in which vendors sell fish and shellfish that have been wild caught in Italy or imported. Fruit and vegetable stand as well as nuts, and spices stands can be found outside the market. Outside the Central Market is the Mercato di San Lorenzo, which mostly sells leather goods.
- Lunch at a local trattoria
- Free afternoon to explore Firenze. One of its most iconic sights is the Duomo, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi, and a bell tower by Giotto. The Galleria dell’ Accademia displays Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. The Uffizi Gallery exhibits Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation.”
- Dinner open in Firenze
- Overnight at Hotel Le due Fontane
Day 9. MAY 9, Saturday. Firenze – Free day
- Breakfast
- Free day in Florence
- Lunch open
- Free afternoon in Firenze
- Dinner at a local restaurant in Florence
- Overnight at Hotel Le due Fontane
Day 10. MAY 10, Sunday. Departure – Arrivederci e Grazie! Have a safe trip!
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Departure from the hotel with transfer to the train station or the airport of Bologna (BLQ).
Single Occupancy - 25%OFF
- REGISTER NOW TO GET YOUR SPECIAL OFFER!!!
Double Occupancy - 25% OFF
- REGISTER NOW TO GET YOUR SPECIAL OFFER!!!
PAYMENT OPTIONS & INFORMATION:
To sign up for the trip, a 50% deposit is required. Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure date.
We accept credit/debit cards, with a 3.5% processing fee. Visa, Mastercard, American Express.
Bank transfers are accepted for deposit and final payment.
Refunds are not permitted for cancellations made 60 days prior to the commencement date.
PRICE INCLUDES:
9 night accommodations at 3 and 4 Star hotels in Castelvetro di Modena and Florence; Transfers from and to the airport; Breakfast everyday; Aperitivo all’Italiana; 8 Lunches (includes wine and beer pairings with meal); 8 Dinners (includes wine and beer pairings with meal); Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; Dinner alfresco set on a local vineyard; Dinner at Agriturismo; Dinner at local Trattoria;Pizza party; Dinner at an Organic Farm; Parmigiano tasting, Aceto Balsamico and Lambrusco wine tasting; Prosciutto Crudo di Parma tasting. All ground transfers listed in the itinerary, including airport transfers; All tours and dining listed in the itinerary; Transportation to Ravenna, Verona and Florence; English/Italian speaking guides throughout the trip; All cooking lessons; Tax and VAT included; All gratuities are included.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
Airfare – Travel insurance – Any costs related to extra transportations, meals, or bar expenses not specified in the itinerary – Gratuities for tour leaders and drivers are also not included and are left to your discretion – Any personal purchases such as souvenirs or local products to take home.
