Itinerary
- Day 1
Venice
You'll arrive in Venice and have the rest of the day to walk through the city on your own pace. The narrow cobblestone streets and multiple bridges connect different areas, so you can stop by St Mark's Square, climb the Campanile, check out Doges Palace, cross the Rialto Bridge, and see the Bridge of Sighs whenever you feel like it. At 6 pm there's a welcome meeting, and after that you'll have a welcome aperitivo with local drinks like spritz and bellini. If you're hungry your leader can point you toward a good local restaurant for your first meal of Venetian food.
Included Activities
- Welcome meeting at 6 pm
- Welcome aperitivo with spritz and bellini
Optional Activities
- Explore narrow cobblestone streets and piazzas
- Visit St Mark's Square
- Visit the Campanile
- Visit Doges Palace
- Cross the Rialto Bridge
- View the Bridge of Sighs
- Dinner at a local restaurant for Venetian cuisine
Landmarks St Mark's Square Campanile Doges Palace Rialto Bridge Bridge of Sighs 
- Day 2
Venice
Start with a typical Venetian breakfast at a local café, so you'll get espresso or cappuccino and some local pastries. From there you'll walk along the canals to see farmers unloading produce at the Rialto Markets, which has been operating for about 1000 years. The fish market is nearby where you can see fresh catch from the Venetian lagoon being sold. Your afternoon is free to go wherever you want around the city. Later tonight you'll do a cicchetti crawl through some bacari (wine bars), trying the Venetian version of tapas.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Typical Venetian breakfast at a local café with espresso or cappuccino and local pastries like baci di dama, brutti ma buoni and bussola)
Included Activities
- Venetian breakfast at a local café with espresso/cappuccino and local pastries
- Rialto Markets tour
- Fish market visit
- Cicchetti crawl through bacari (wine bars)
Optional Activities
- Afternoon free exploration of Venice
- Aperitivo spritz at the fish market
Landmarks Rialto Markets - Day 3
Venice to Bologna
This morning you'll take the train to Bologna. Once you arrive you can walk around and see the beautiful terracotta buildings and busy streets. The main activity is a hands-on pasta-making class where you'll learn to cook traditional tagliatelle. After that comes the good part, you'll have a dinner feast made from what you just prepared, eating together with your cooking host and the rest of your group.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with pasta prepared during the cooking class, shared with host and group)
Included Activities
- Pasta-making cooking class
- Dinner with pasta prepared in class
Optional Activities
- Explore terracotta buildings and streets in Bologna
- Day 4
Modena - Bologna
You'll spend today tasting the flavors of Emilia Romagna region. First stop is a Parmigiano Reggiano factory to see how this cheese gets made and try it fresh. Then you'll head to Modena to visit an acetaia, a family house where aged Modena balsamic vinegar is made and stored in wooden barrels for years. You'll learn why real balsamic needs to be at least 12 years old and can taste the difference between authentic and factory versions. A trattoria lunch includes local seasonal dishes and a glass of Lambrusco sparkling red wine. Before heading back to Bologna late afternoon, you'll walk around Modena and see the Palazzo Ducale.
- Meals
- Lunch (Trattoria lunch of the best local produce and farm-fresh seasonal dishes with a glass of Lambrusco sparkling red wine)
Included Activities
- Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory visit and tasting
- Acetaia visit with balsamic vinegar tasting
- Trattoria lunch with local produce and seasonal dishes
Optional Activities
- Explore and admire the Palazzo Ducale in Modena
Landmarks Palazzo Ducale - Day 5
Bologna to Pancole, Tuscany
This morning you'll travel to Pancole, a small village in the heart of Tuscany near San Gimignano. You'll check in at a traditional Tuscan farmhouse surrounded by vineyards and olive trees. A guided walk takes you through the vineyards and cellars, ending with a tasting of local Tuscan wines and olive oils that have been made organically for over 50 years. Dinner features seasonal foods made from ingredients picked fresh from the farmhouse garden, including homemade pasta, salads, finocchiona salami, crostini toscani, and seasonal vegetables.
- Meals
- Dinner (Seasonal favorites made with ingredients freshly harvested from the farmhouse garden, including homemade pasta, salads, finocchiona salami, crostini toscani, and seasonal vegetables)
Included Activities
- Guided walk through vineyards and cellars
- Tuscan wine and olive oil tasting
Landmarks San Gimignano 
- Day 6
San Gimignano
This morning you'll walk part of the Via Francigena, the major pilgrimage route that people used to walk to Rome during medieval times. You'll explore San Gimignano, a UNESCO World Heritage site known as the Town of Fine Towers because of all its preserved tower houses. Stop at an award-winning gelateria to try interesting flavors like gorgonzola cheese and walnuts. The rest of your day is yours, so you can walk around the paths near the farm, relax by the pool, and enjoy the views of the Tuscan countryside.
Included Activities
- Walk a section of the Via Francigena
- Leader-led exploration of San Gimignano medieval walled town
- Gelateria visit with award-winning gelato
Optional Activities
- Explore walking paths around the farm
- Relax by the pool
Landmarks San Gimignano Via Francigena 
- Day 7
Pancole to Rome
You'll take a train to Rome, Italy's capital known for both its fresh food and ancient ruins. When you arrive your leader will take you on an orientation walk through the historical center, going past Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Venezia, Roman Forum, and Colosseum. Later you'll go to a local's home for a special homecooked plant-based dinner. You'll share stories with your host while eating seasonal dishes, and afterward you might head to a local bar to have a glass of local wine and toast your trip.
- Meals
- Dinner (Home-cooked, plant-based dinner at a local's home featuring seasonal dishes)
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk through historical Rome
- Home-cooked, plant-based dinner at a local's home
Optional Activities
- Visit local bar for wine after dinner
Landmarks Spanish Steps Trevi Fountain Pantheon Piazza Venezia Roman Forum Colosseum - Day 8
Rome
Your food adventure ends today with nothing scheduled after breakfast. You can leave Rome whenever you want, or if you'd like to stay longer just contact your booking agent about extending your stay.
