Gastronomic tour of Italy
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Tour highlights (October 17 - 27)
One-of-a-kind tour for lovers of Italian food and wine. Our tour will show you Turin, site of the 2006 Winter Olympics - Alba, a gourmet's resort, well known for its white truffles - Barolo, famous for its red wines - Genoa, Italy's greatest seaport - Parma, home of Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese - Florence, city of Art and home of Michelangelo's famous "David" - Montepulciano, with its "Nobile" wines - Pienza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site....
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Tour itinerary
Day 1 - Day of departure
Depart on your overnight flight to Milan via a European gateway.
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Day 2 - Turin
On arrival in Turin, you will be met by our ground operator and transferred to your hotel. Dinner this evening will be at your hotel.
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Day 3 - Turin
Buffet breakfast at your hotel, followed by a half day guided tour of Turin to include Piazza San Carlo, the Academy of Science and St. John's Cathedral. Enjoy a typical lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon enjoy a visit to an elegant 1800's cafe where you will taste delicious home made chocolate products. Dinner this evening will be on your own.
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Day 4 - Turin / Alba / Barolo / Genoa
After breakfast, depart to Alba, a gourmet's resort, made famous by its delicious "tartufi bianchi" (white truffles), which are found by dogs trained at the truffle-hunting dog's school at Roddi, southwest of the town. It is also an important grape and wine market (Barolo, Barbaresco) and the headquarters of a school of oenology (the study of wines) in Italy. Morning at leisure to visit this beautiful little town and its several food shops selling truffle products. Lunch will be at a typical local restaurant. In the afternoon depart to Barolo, famous for the production of a vintage red wine. There will be a visit to the ancient wine cellars with a wine tasting. Depart to Genoa. Dinner this evening will be on your own.
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Day 5 - Genoa
After breakfast, enjoy a half day guided tour of Genoa, the greatest seaport of Italy. See its palaces, its lovely ancient streets and quarters over a mountain amphitheatre. Typical lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon enjoy a boat ride to discover the old, fascinating port (in case of bad weather, free time for shopping). Dinner this evening will be on your own.
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Day 6 - Genoa / Parma
After breakfast, check-out from your hotel and depart to Parma. Arrival will be by lunch time. Typical meal at a local restaurant. In the afternoon enjoy a half day guided tour. Parma is built on the banks of a tributary of the Po. Its attractions are its streets near the cathedral, its clear light and the refined and gentle manners of its people. Stendhal, who lived here, made it the setting of his well known novel, "The Charterhouse of Parma". Interesting sights include the Episcopal Centre, Palazzo della Pilotta (from outside only) and the castle of the Viscontis. Dinner this evening will be on your own.
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Day 7 - Parma
Breakfast followed by a morning dedicated to visits of food production facilities. Our first stop will be the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese making facility. Then on to the antique cellars where the famous Parma Ham is stored and seasoned. Lunch will be here, and will include tasting of local cheese, salami and red wine. Dinner this evening is on your own.
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Day 8 - Parma / Modena / Florence
After breakfast, depart to Modena. Enjoy a visit to an old, charming "acetaia" (balsamic vinegar production facility). You will taste balsamic vinegars of different ages as well as products made from this delicious condiment. Typical lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to Florence. Dinner this evening will be on your own.
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Day 9 - Florence / Greve
After breakfast, enjoy a half day guided tour of Florence to include the Duomo, Baptistry, Piazza Signoria and more. Typical lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, depart for Greve where you will enjoy a wine tasting of Chianti wines in a local cellar. Dinner this evening will be on your own.
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Day 10 - Florence / Pienza / Montepulciano
After breakfast, depart for Pienza. On arrival, you will have some free time to discover this beautiful town with its typical food shops on your own. The town takes its name from its founder Pope Pius II. Interesting sights include the Cathedral and Palazzo Piccolimini. Lunch at a typical restaurant. Continue to Montepulciano, where you will visit an antique cellar and taste the "Nobile of Montepulciano" red wine. Dinner this evening will be on your own.
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Day 11 - Return to Canada
Transfer to the airport, in order to take your flight back to Canada.
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Contact Touringhouse
Our Tour Escorts are personable and knowledgeable. Contact us for more information on any of the travel experiences we offer.
Tour costs include:
Airfare from Toronto or Montreal to Turin and back from Florence via a European gateway
9-night accommodations in Superior 4 and 5-Star hotels, based on double occupancy:
- 2 nights in Turin
- 2 nights in Genoa
- 2 nights in Parma
- 3 nights in Florence
meals as follows:
- Buffet breakfast at the hotels every morning
- One dinner on the day of arrival
- 9 lunches in carefully selected local restaurants (with mineral water and wine)
Deluxe chartered coach transportation throughout the tour (from the time of arrival in Catania until departure from Palermo)
All guided tours, visits, winetastings and excursions (including all entrance fees):
- Half day Turin
- Half day Genoa
- Boat ride in Genoa (weather permitting)
- Half day Parma
- Half day Florence
- Tasting home made chocolate products in Turin
- Visit to a cellar and winetasting in Barolo
- Visit to Parmigiano Regiano cheese facility
- Visit to cellar where the famous Parma Ham is prepared and stored
- Visit to an "acetaia" (balsamic vinegar production facility) and tasting
- Winetasting in Greve
- Visit to a wine cellar and winetasting in Montepulciano (red wine)
All service charges and taxes
Touringhouse Certifications
ACTA certified
Tico certified
TIDS certified
OBR certified
GST number
Offered by Touringhouse
$5,000,000.00
liability insurance