Day 1 - Arrival and Transfer to Oviglio

You will be greeted by your English speaking assistant in the airport upon your arrival in Milan and transferred in a private car to Oviglio in the heart of the Monferrato region. Check in at the beautiful Castello di Oviglio. The rest of your first day is free for you to relax and absorb the serene atmosphere of this charming area. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 2 - Barolo and Barbaresco Wine Tour

After breakfast with your English speaking guide you will explore the Langhe area in the southern part of Piedmont, famous for the production of the sought-after Barolo and Barbaresco wines.The morning will include Grinzane Cavour where you will visit the impressive XIII century castle which also hosts the Cavour Regional Enoteca and an ethnographic museum. Continue to Barolo, the town where the king of wines was first produced in the XIX century. Visit of the historic cellars of a renowned Barolo producer, and learn the techniques employed in the production of this refined garnet red coloured wine. Wine tasting will follow the visit. You will then continue to the town of Alba, famous for its International White Truffle Fair. Here you will have time to look around and have lunch. After lunch you will head to the Barbaresco wine region where you will visit the Village of Barbaresco and a local winery.After your visit you will return to your hotel.

Day 3 - Cooking Class in the Langhe region

Depart with your private driver for your culinary adventure in Piedmont.Enjoy a half day, hands on cooking class in the Langhe region at a typical country house in the Barolo region. Classes are held by Ivana, cook and sommelier, who will guide you through a morning or afternoon cooking experience. After class you will enjoy an aperitif and then taste the dishes you have prepared along with some wonderful wine. After lunch you will receive a copy of the recipes of the dishes you have created and you will be transferred back to your accommodations.

Day 4 - Piedmont, Cremona, Verona

Today you will depart with your English speaking driver/guide for Verona. On route you will stop in the town of Cremona. Cremona is most famous for being the home town of Antonio Stradivari, maker of the Stradivarius Violins. It is also a beautiful and historic town that is well worth the stop.Continue to your accommodations just outside Verona to the elegant Villa Quaranta.

Day 5 - Verona

This morning after breakfast, your English speaking driver will meet you for your transfer to the city of Verona. In Verona, the local guide will meet you for a fascinating two and a half hour walking tour, starting with the Romans conquering Verona, and ending with its contemporary history, showing you the different ages of the city through all the various monuments scattered around its historical centre. You will visit the Arena di Verona, a 2000 year old Roman Arena that still remains intact, with an opera stage that is the largest in the world. In the summer months the arena hosts opera and other performances. Visit Ponte Scaligero for a beautiful view, and Ponte Pietra, a Roman era bridge over the Adige River. Next, visit Juliet's House (Casa di Giulietta). No one is sure that Shakespeare ever visited Verona. The characters from the famous play were taken from a story by Luigi da Porto of Vicenza. It is still well worth visiting this legendary house with its famous balcony and statue of Juliet. Visit Piazza dei Signori, a central square including a statue of Dante, who resided in Verona for a while. Continue to Piazza delle Erbe, which used to be the Roman Forum, but now it is a wonderful open air market surrounded by historic buildings with frescoes and peppered with sculptures.

Day 6 - Valpolicella Wine Region

After breakfast, you will depart with your English speaking driver/guide for a drive in the nearby hills to explore the delightful countryside of the Valpolicella wine region. Here you will visit an evocative and historical winery, where you can taste the different local wines, including the famous Amarone.

Day 7 - Verona - Villa Luppis

After breakfast, check out from your hotel and depart with your private English speaking driver to Friuli. On the way you will visit the beautiful hill country of Veneto in northeastern Italy. Framed by the Dolomites, it is a place where peace, tranquillity and natural beauty will provide you with memories that will last a lifetime. During the tour you will visit Asolo, the pearl of Veneto, perched on lush, green hills. Along with its delightful gardens and palatial villas, the spectacular views of the surrounding countryside have inspired poets and writers over the centuries. You will also see Villa Barbaro(Maser), one of Palladio's most celebrated works with fine frescoes by Veronese. Next, on to Medieval Marostica, with its imposing castle and giant chess board permanently laid out in the town square where the famous living game of chess is played. And lastly, the Prosecco wine road, where you'll celebrate your day in the Veneto region with a refreshing glass of Prosecco in a local vineyard.Continue to your beautiful accommodations at the Villa Luppis. Tonight you will dine in the fine restaurant of the Villa sampling wonderful foods of the region.

Day 8 - Cooking Lesson and Wine Tasting

Today you will participate in a cooking lesson featuring the innovative as well as traditional delicacies of the Friuli and Veneto regions with the chef of the highly acclaimed restaurant at the Villa. After the lesson you will enjoy a wine tasting lesson at the Villa's suberb winery.

Day 9 - Venice

This morning after checking out of your hotel, your private English speaking driver will meet you to drive you to Venice. In Venice, you will be transferred by private boat to your hotel. The balance of the day will be at your leisure.

Day 10 - Venice City Tour

Venice's charm lies both in its unique civil engineering achievements, and in the harmony of Eastern and Western artistic styles that have flourished here over the centuries. Your private guided city tour will include some of the major sights that define the look and history of Venice: Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basilica and St. Mark's Square.Balance of the day is at your leisure.

Day 11 - Arrivederci Italia

Our representatives will pick you up upon check out from the hotel this morning for your private transfer to the Venice Airport for your departing flight.

Accommodations

Oviglio Castello di Oviglio (or similar)

Verona Villa Quaranta (or similar )

Pordenone Friuli Villa Luppis (or similar)

Venice Hotel Duodo Palace (or similar)

Sightseeing

Private full day guided tour of Alba and Monferrato

Wine tastings at Castello di Grinzane Cavour (Barolo) and Regional Enoteca of Barbaresco

Visit of Castello di Grinzane Cavour

Visit of Cremona

Verona city tour with local guide including entrance fees

Excursion into Valpolicella wine region including winery visit

Private full day guided tour of Prosecco Valley, Asolo and Villa Barbaro including winery visit, and entrance fee at Villa Barbaro

Private Venice city walking tour including Doge's Palace entrance fee

Transfers

All transfers are private from and to airports and rail stations with assistance

Private transfer from city to city as per itinerary with English speaking drivers

Meals

Breakfast at hotels daily

3 Dinners at Castello di Oviglio

Wine tasting of Barolo wine

Wine Tasting of Barbaresco wine

Cooking classes in Piedmont including lunch

Welcome dinner at Villa del Quaranta

Wine tasting in Valpolicella region

Prosecco tasting

Welcome dinner at Villa Luppis

1 Cooking class at Villa Luppis

1 Wine tasting at Villa Luppis

Services

Assistance from our Road to Italy office in Rome and local representative offices throughout Italy

Local emergency contact number daily

Does not include

Airfare

Travel Insurance (highly recommended)

Tips and gratuities to drivers and local guides

1) Consult with our tour designers

Contact our office by phone or e-mail and speak to one of our tour designers who will answer any question you have about our suggested tour. They will listen attentively to your ideas and plans and suggest changes to personalize the tour based on your interests and budget.

Tel: 416 964 7600
Toll: 1-800-848-8163
reservations@roadtoitaly.com

2) We send you a Proposal

Shortly after your initial contact with our tour designers, you will receive a draft proposal based on your earlier discussions, normally within 2 business days. This proposal is a no obligation draft for your review and comments. Any additions or modifications will be implemented and a new proposal will be forwarded to you for approval.

3) You like what you see!

Upon meeting your requirements and expectations, you will be requested to send a deposit in the amount of 25% of total. Final Payment is due 45 days prior to scheduled departure date.

4) Buon viaggio!

Approximately, 2 weeks prior to departure you will receive a personalized and detailed day by day itinerary booklet and the necessary vouchers for the services to be provided, along with a general information section on the various regions of Italy.

The booklet and vouchers will include all the important information; addresses, phone & mobile numbers for all your service providers, hotels as well as the phone number of our office in Rome.