Art, Food & Wine - A True Adventure for the Senses
Vineyards, olive groves, and cities that float. Incredible history, indelible culture, and unforgettable cuisine. This is l’Italia at its most iconic. Enjoy the natural beauty and calm of the Alpine Lakes region. Snake along the edge of the sea to the medieval villages of Cinque Terre. Aboard off-road vehicles, explore the marble quarries of Carrara, where Michelangelo obtained the marble for his statue of David. Relax during a leisurely 4-night stay at a Tuscan villa. Explore the Duomo of rose hued Siena. At a family-run winery, learn the fine art of creating Tuscan cuisine during a cooking class and wine pairing. Explore Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Discover Venice, a city of winding canals and bridges. From medieval masterpieces to bustling piazzas, be swept away by the legendary treasures of northern Italy.
At a glance
- Day 1 - Overnight flight
- Day 2 - Stresa, Lake Maggiore
- Day 3 - Stresa, Cheese & wine tasting
- Day 4 - Stresa - Lake Orta - Italian Riviera
- Day 5 - Italian Riviera - Conque Terre
- Day 6 - Italian Riviera - Carrara Marble Quarries - Tuscany
- Day 7 - Tuscany - San Gimignano
- Day 8 - Tuscany - Siena
- Day 9 - Tuscany - Florence
- Day 10 - Tuscany - Bologna - Venice
- Day 11 - Venice
- Day 12 - Venice, Depart for home
Ask about optional pre and post-tour extensions in Rome and Venice.
Welcome to Lake Maggiore
Day 2 - Stresa, the heart of Lake Maggiore
Begin on the arresting shores of Lake Maggiore, surrounded by the peaceful beauty of the Alpine lakes region. Cruise to Isola dei Pescatori, the most picturesque of the Borromean Islands, where you’ll engage with new friends at a dinner welcoming you to Italy.
Accommodations: Regina Palace Hotel
Dinner
Day 3 - Stresa
In an ancient village nestled in the mountains, a local family welcomes you to sample their very own artisanal cheeses, paired with the region’s best wines. The remainder of the day in Stresa is at your leisure. Explore the piazzas, flower-lined cobblestone streets, and lakeside promenades. Or, perhaps relax and enjoy the breathtaking surroundings during an optional cruise of this scenic lake region. This evening, visit a wine shop and enjoy a cocktail party with some antipasto snacks.
Accommodations: Regina Palace
Breakfast
Day 4 - Stresa - Orta - Italian Riviera
Witness picture-perfect views from Lake Orta, an ancient glacial lake in the Alpine foothills. A boat delivers you to the island of San Giulio, dominated by its working convent. Journey to the Italian Riviera and discover its immeasurable grandeur along the Liguria coast.
Accommodations: Grand Hotel Dei Castelli
Breakfast & Dinner
Day 5 - Italian Riviera - Cinque Terre - Italian Riviera
Travel by rail today as you discover the colorful Cinque Terre (UNESCO), a string of medieval villages perched on the edge of the sea. Feel like you have stepped back in time as you traverse the rugged coastal area dotted with terraced vineyards. Spend an afternoon independently exploring this awe-inspiring landscape.
Accommodations: Grand Hotel dei Castelli
Breakfast
Day 6 - Italian Riviera - Carrara Marble Quarries - Tuscany
Veer off the beaten path to visit one of Italy’s great natural wonders: the Carrara marble quarries. During an off-road drive in the Apuane Mountains, you’ll follow the roads the cavatori (quarrymen) carved into the mountains while extracting the precious stone. Over the centuries, Carrara marble was used by artists such as Michelangelo to carve his Pietà in Rome’s St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as his legendary Statue of David. Enjoy some free time to explore Carrara’s old town on your own; view the town’s cathedral, the Duomo, built in white marble, or search for Michelangelo’s bust marking his former home. Continue on through the rolling hills of Tuscany, ending the day in a historic Tuscan villa for a rejuvenating 4-night stay**.
Accommodations: Hotel Villa Lecchi
Breakfast & Dinner
Day 7 - Tuscany - San Gimignano - Tuscany
This morning, journey into the heart of the Tuscan countryside, where a family-owned villa welcomes you. After a tour of the house and grounds, you’ll engage in a hands-on cooking lesson. Break bread during an authentic Tuscan lunch and toast to your host with local Chianti wine. Later, take in Tuscany’s landscape, a spectrum of verdant vineyards and endless groves en route to San Gimignano. Nicknamed the Manhattan of the Middle Ages, San Gimignano’s 14 towers soar distinctively over the landscape making this iconic Tuscan hilltop village stand out against the rolling hills. Taste authentic Italian gelato from an award-winning ice cream parlor while you wander the cobbled streets and gaze up at the imposing towers during time at leisure in this Tuscan gem.
Accommodations: Hotel Villa Lecchi
Breakfast & Lunch
Day 8 - Tuscany - Siena - Tuscany
Travel south to Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage site where stunning Romanesque and Gothic architecture can be found on every corner. Walk the narrow medieval streets on a guided tour. Get to know the local lifestyle of a contrada (neighborhood) whose community Museum is centered around the colorful Palio horse race. Retreat to your Tuscan villa for a relaxing afternoon.
Accommodations: Hotel Villa Lucchi
Breakfast & Dinner
Day 9 - Tuscany - Florence - Tuscany
Welcome to Florence – the birthplace of the Renaissance and the beloved home of the Medici family, Galileo, Botticelli and da Vinci. Set out on a walking tour of Florence’s treasures and monuments, including the glittering storefronts on the Ponte Vecchio (“Old Bridge”), the only Florentine bridge to survive WWII. You’ll also wander past the Palazzo Vecchio, the Piazza della Signoria, and Santa Croce. Enjoy time to explore Florence independently before returning to your villa.
Accommodations: Hotel Villa Lecchi
Breakfast
Day 10 - Tuscany - Bologna - Venice
On a walking tour, discover the culture of Bologna, a city barely changed since the time of the Renaissance and Italy's food capital. Browse the city’s specialty food shops and sample local delicacies such as parmigiano cheese, mortadella - the Italian progenitor of baloney - and lasagna. Arrive later in Venice, the “Queen of the Adriatic,” and settle in for a 2-night stay in one of the most romantic cities in the world.
Accommodations: Ca' Dei Conti Hotel
Breakfast & Lunch
Day 11 - Venice
Spend the day in Venezia, the floating city home to lavish art collections, wonders of architecture, and where marbled palaces tower over gondola-laden canals. Travel by boat to Murano*** for an expert glass-blowing demonstration, a renowned tradition on the island. Journey back to St. Mark’s Square, Venice’s iconic main square. A local guide takes you on a tour of its incredible sites, including the Bridge of Sighs, the Bell tower, and St. Mark’s Basilica. Say arrivederci to Italy at a savory farewell dinner.
Accommodations: Ca' Dei Conti Hotel
Breakfast & Dinner
Cost
Summer/ Fall 2024 tour dates and rates will be released in early 2023.
What is included?
Summer/ Fall 2024 Tour information and inclusions will be announced in early 2023
Not included
The land price does not include air travel, airline fees, airport or departure taxes, transfers, visas, customary end-of-trip gratuities for your Tour Manager, driver, local guides, hotel housekeepers, cruise ship waitstaff, and any incidental charges.
Benefits of small group guided travel
Take the path less traveled with Collette’s Small Group Explorations tours. Delve into engaging, immersive experiences. Settle into culturally reflective accommodations. Savor authentic, local cuisine. Absorb a destination’s true culture with more built-in free time. On a small group tour of 14-24 travelers, you won’t be part of the crowd – you’ll be an integral part of a cultural expedition. Embark on a small group tour and discover the heart of a destination like never before.
- Save time and money. The itinerary and logistics are planned by experts who specialize in that destination.
- We handle all the details, door-to-door so all you have to do is pack.
- Collette's experience and industry relationships provide you with the best value
- Professional guides are with you throughout the entire journey
- Travel worry-free
- Make it your own. Customize your tour with features such as on-tour options, pre-, and post-night stays, back-to-back tours, optional excursions, and different travel styles so that you can make every day a personal adventure!
- Take advantage of time on your own, when you want it
- The Collette Compass travel app provides you with a wealth of travel knowledge
- Roundtrip airport-to-hotel transfers are provided for all passengers who purchase airfare through Collette.
* Accommodations, transportation, tours, and activities described in this itinerary are based on availability and are subject to change at any time. If something is not available at the time of booking we will do our best to find a suitable alternative. For this reason, rates and availability will vary.
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Our thoughts about Travel Insurance
Travel should be fun and relaxing. But what if something happens? What if you or a family member becomes sick, your bags are lost or stolen, or you need to cancel a trip due to an emergency?
A travel insurance plan is a package of benefits and services intended to protect your travel investment, your belongings, and most importantly, you. Now more than ever, we have witnessed just how important travel insurance is. No matter what your vaccination status is, if you plan to travel it's important to have a financial safeguard in place for pandemic-related trip problems. This is especially true if you’re traveling abroad, where your U.S. health plan may have limited global coverage. Travel insurance can provide that safety net.
Most plans provide benefits for:
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip interuption
- Medical expenses
- Missed connection
- Travel delays
- Baggage loss
- Reimbursement for missed portions of your trip if you're forced into quarantine due to a positive Covid test.
- Optional "cancel for any reason" - a benefit of travel insurance coverage that offers the opportunity to cancel travel plans for reasons other than those listed as “covered reasons” on a policy.