Days 1-2 Rome
Welcome to Rome, our starting point for this tour of Italy's gastronomic delights.
Our welcome night dinner is set in the quiet lanes of Trastevere, full of cobble
stoned streets, fine wine, delicious pasta and silky smooth desserts. Tonight
is a small introduction to the succulent treats that await us on this truly
memorable trip. Buon appetito! Enjoy an orientation walk of Rome and
sample the underestimated but often enjoyed myriad of Gelati flavours.
Trying to limit yourself to just one may become the biggest challenge of
your journey.
Travellers arrive from all corners of the world during the day. Although there are
no arranged activities on day 1 please arrive by 6pm as we have a group
meeting followed by dinner. Please check the notice board in the hotel to
find out exactly where this important meeting will take place.
If you wanted to visit the magnificent Vatican Museum, including St Peter's
Basilica, we suggest you arrive a day or two earlier to see this site and the other
highlights of Rome. We suggest you arrive at the Vatican Museum queue at
approximately 08:00 (opens at 08:45) - this allows you to avoid the huge
line-ups later in the morning. Unfortunately the Vatican Museum cannot be
booked in advance.
Days 3-4 Priocca
Possibly the most underestimated and unique culinary experience of our journey
lies in the heart of Piedmont. The tiny village of Priocca lies between Asti and
Alba and is home to one of the finest and most sought after restaurant
experiences in Europe. 'Il Centro' leads the way in the preparation and
presentation of the much sought after truffles. We are welcomed into the
kitchen and wine cellar of this restaurant to observe the pasta being prepared
for our dinner. Nebbiolo and Barbero grapes are the specialty of the region.
We are also guests of our friends at the Hilberg-Pasquero winery where we
will sample their prize-winning vintages under the trees on the hilltops of their
estate. A snack of salami, cheese and bread caps off a relaxed and
enjoyable afternoon.
Days 5-6 Levanto
We head up to the picturesque Cinque Terra in the heart of Liguria. This region is
world renowned for its many varieties of homemade pesto - we will have a
chance to make our own mix. The seafood here is very fresh and local foccacia
is famous throughout Italy. A picnic on the trails of the Cinque Terra is a must.
Days 7-8 Lucca
When it comes to Tuscan cuisine, great wines and superb olive oil are the
specialties. We visit our host Piero at the Colle Verde winery to enjoy a
presentation on the production of both of these products. We then enjoy lunch
at the estate overlooking the Tuscan hills. At some stage we will have to
motivate ourselves to leave here and head back down to the medieval walled
city of Lucca. But for the moment let's just have one more glass…
Bicycles are the best way to see the town of Lucca so be sure to strap on
a helmet and start peddling. An evening of wine tasting rounds out our
Luccese experience at the 'Vinarkia Enoteka' in the old city.
Days 9-10 Florence
On to our finishing point of Florence - the fabulous capital of Tuscany. There
are so many historical features to visit here, including the Uffizi Gallery, the
Medici's Pitti palace and the inspiring Duomo. We finish our culinary experience
by sampling the quintessential Tuscan meal, 'bisteka fiornetina' and don't
forget to stock up on the wines. On day 10 you are free to depart Florence
at any time, as there are no last day activities planned.
Travel Style
Gourmet Traveller is the perfect trip for food lovers. Travelling in countries
renowned for their delicious cuisine our Gourmet Adventure trips make the
most of "food glorious food" while not forgettingto explore the cultural and
environmental highlights. From elaborate banquets to street side stalls,
from busy markets to frenetic kitchens we taste and discover a country,
meeting its people and experiencing its culture as we get to know the locals
and enjoy an insight into their lives and palates!
Group Size
12 maximum
Accomodation
Small hotels (7 nights), apartments (2 nights)
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