Your custom tailored Italy tour of private cooking courses, wine, and olive oil tasting takes you through the sites and flavors of Italy, exploring illustrious dishes every step of the way. The enticing aroma of fresh pasta emanates from a small restaurant in an antique building. Wander a medieval town with a chef as your guide, stepping into historic cheese and butcher shops to find the perfect ingredients to use for cooking. Michelangelo’s David stares down at you from a stunning perch etched...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Rome – Beginning of Italian Flavor
Rome is known as the Eternal City, watching the world change over thousands of years and letting its local flavor evolve with the cultures. St. Peter’s Basilica adds dimension to the skyline. The Colosseum is a constant reminder of the city’s history wrapped in elliptical grandeur. Cobbled lanes line the Tiber River creating more walkable charm to the already majestic streets. Boats dock against the walkways and linger in the gentle current, opening bars and restaurants to passersby.
Your private transfer meets you at the airport ready to escort you into the ineffable charm of Rome’s antiquity and indelible flavor. The remainder of the day is yours to get acquainted with the Eternal City. In the neighborhood of Trastevere, you find the small gems of a bygone era strung together with washing line. New cafes set out umbrellas and tables along the ancient cobblestones near Piazza Santa Maria. Mothers push around baby strollers, and artists display their paintings underneath the lingering Roman sunlight. In the evening, you smell the scent of freshly made pasta sweeping through the city. The nearby traditional trattoria, Da Felice, will give you a true sampling of Roman cuisine. Exposed brick burst from the wall and an impressive wine list accompany the succulent flavors of the bucatini all’amatriciana, spaghetti with a hollow center served in a red sauce with pancetta and pecorino cheese.
What's Included:
Day 2
Rome – Aromas of Rome on Foot
Day 3
Trevi – Heart of Italy
Day 4
Trevi – Unbelievable Umbria
Day 5
Trevi – Embracing the Kitchen
Day 6
Trevi – Surpassing Flavors
Day 7
Florence – Renaissance Days
Day 8
Florence – One Last Taste
Trip Highlights
- Revel in private cooking courses with a classic Italian chef
- Indulge in the local flavors of your cuisine paired with specific wines chosen by a sommelier to bring out the best combinations
- Explore the fabulous history and culinary neighborhoods of Rome on a walking tour
- Spend time in a medieval village situated atop the Umbrian hillside
- Discover the endless charm of the Tuscan countryside near Florence
- Traverse the artistic streets and museums of the Renaissance city of Florence and its wealth of celebrated restaurants and gelaterias
Detailed Description
When you think of Italy, you can’t help but think of fresh pasta and mouthwatering sauce. On this 8-day Italy tour of private cooking courses, wine, and olive oil tasting tour, you will spend time in the traditional region of Umbria to explore more than just the medieval towns. The majesty of the countryside and the culture of the people lie as much in the museums as in the food they eat. Savor the aroma of garlic and rosemary. Indulge in a taste of black truffle. Follow in the footsteps of a chef and learn the treasured art of eating in Italy.
Your culinary discovery tour begins with your arrival in Rome, the enigmatic capital of Italy. The historic streets have seen Roman warriors and gladiators, Renaissance artists and popular 1960s movie stars. Your private transfer meets you at the airport and escorts you to a marvelous hotel located near the city center. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the piazzas and streets at your own pace.
The next day, your guide meets you at the hotel and takes you on a private walking tour of the city to see the marvelous artwork and culture scattered around Rome. That evening you revel in a local restaurant celebrated for its indulgent pasta. The following day, you make your way to Trevi, a small medieval town located in the region of Umbria, the known heart of Italy. Spend time with a chef learning the intricacies of Umbrian and Italian cuisine. Each dish you prepare comes with a local wine chosen by a sommelier. After your cooking course, you make your way to an olive mill for a delightful sampling of bruschetta.
Once again, your chef meets you at the hotel. This time, you travel around the city to meet with the local purveyors from whom he gets ingredients. Soon after, you are in the kitchen preparing delectable Umbrian dishes paired with select local wines. For your final cooking course, take in the bold and coveted flavors of black truffle and see how the single ingredient can be both delicate and bold.
Next, board the luxury train car and travel northbound to Florence in Tuscany. The following morning, you venture into the city for a vibrant exploration of the Renaissance city, enjoying the open-air museum of the city streets and the actual museums such as the Uffizi Gallery and The Accademia. On your final morning, your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you to the Florence Airport for your flight home.
Starting Price
$4,795 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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