Veneto and Tuscany Wine Tour
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Duomo (Cathedral), Florence
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Sunlight reflecting on a wine glass
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Florence, Tuscany, Italy
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Exterior of Uffizi Gallery, Florence
Veneto & Tuscany including Verona, Florence & Milan
Start your Italian adventure with this luxurious tour of the Veneto and Tuscany regions, for a wine tour like no other. See undoubtedly some of Italy’s most beautiful regions and a firm favourite with travellers. Firstly, head to Verona and the wine-fields around the city and shores of Lake Garda, before heading down through Italy’s food capital of Bologna to Florence, which needs no introduction. Experience Golden wheat fields, silver olive groves and pea-green vineyards as well as soul-soaring medieval hilltop villages, mountain ranges and never-ending forests in the north. Here you will have the chance to combine sightseeing with Chianti, before heading back north to Milan via Parma and its two most famous products – ham and cheese!
Dates
Suggested itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Milan
when you arrive at Milan-Malpensa you will be met by your tour manager who will be with you for the duration of the tour, for assistance, guidance and translation. Your coach will then transfer you to your hotel in Verona with a stop en route at the delightful town of Desenzano del Garda, Lake Garda for some free time. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore Verona.
Day 2
Bardolino and Valpolicella Vineyards
After breakfast, your full coach arrives and you head north, firstly to the Bardolino area on the eastern shore of Lake Garda. Here, visit the Cabottura vineyard at which you will enjoy a tour of the wine-producing process, a tasting of at least three wines and delicious local snacks. tastings of own-produce olive oil and grappa are also on offer. Lunch is then at your leisure. In the afternoon, head east along the scenic Valpolicella wine road. Upon arrival at a Valpolicella vineyard, the Villa Mosconi Bertani vineyard, where apart from delicious tastings of these fine wines; Soave Lepia Doc, Torre Pieve Chardonnay, Pràgal Merlot Syrah and Valpolicella Ripasso Doc, you will also enjoy a tour of the villa, the park and the wine cantina. Then return to Verona and the rest of the day is at your leisure.
Day 3
Verona Sightseeing and Soave Vineyards
After breakfast, your guide arrives at the hotel and set off on a fascinating walking tour of Verona including the Piazza Bra’, Piazza Dante, Juliet’s Balcony, Piazza delle Erbe, and the Cortile of the Mercato Vecchio. Lunch will be at your leisure. In the afternoon, board your coach and head east to Soave wine country in search of dry crisp white wines of the area. Enjoy a tasting and tour at Montetondo winery near the town of Soave. Then you will return to Verona to spend the rest of the day/evening at your leisure.
Day 4
Verona to Bologna and Florence
After Breakfast check-out of your hotel and your coach arrives to transfer to Florence. There will be a mid-morning stop in Nonatola, near Bologna to visit the wine cellar and acetaia (vinegar factory) of Osteria di Rubbiara to see how Balsamic vinegar is made. Afterwards, continue to Bologna arriving at lunchtime with time at leisure.
Day 5
Florence Sightseeing
After breakfast, your morning guide arrives at the hotel to take you on a walking tour of Florence.
Day 6
Chianti Vineyards
After breakfast, your coach and guide arrive to take you on a wine-tasting tour of Chianti – because no wine and food tour of Italy would be complete without Chianti Classico! After an hour, arrive at the hill-top town of Panzano-in-Chianti. Just outside the town, Signora Monia runs the Il Palagio Agriturismo with her husband. Here, enjoy a mid-morning wine and olive-oil tasting with local snacks of hams and cheeses. Lunch will be at your leisure in Panzano. Continuing on to nearby Castellina-in-Chianti, where we can have a brief stop, and heading down the hill from Castellina, there is the well-renowned winery of Rocca delle Macie. Here, enjoy a wine-tasting of their superb selection of Chianti Classicos. Return to Florence via the splendour of the Chianti countryside. Rest of the day/evening at your leisure.
Day 7
Lucca, Tuscan Hills and Montecatini Terme
After breakfast, your coach arrives to take you on a cultural tour to the splendid city of Lucca, after which its beautiful hills. On arrival in Lucca, meet your morning guide for a walking tour of Lucca.
Day 8
Florence to Parma and Milan-Malpensa Area
After breakfast, your coach arrives to take you back north to the area of Milan. En route, while passing through the Parma Area, stop at a producer offine Parmesan cheese, such as the Caseificio San Salvatore, where you will learn about the long production processes of this famous cheese and have a taste. Next, around lunch time, stop at another producer of a famous Parma product: Parma Ham. Visit the Salmificio La Perla for a tasting and tour of the factory.
Day 9
Depart Italy and Return Home
After breakfast, check-out of your hotel and board your private group transfer to Milan’s Malpensa airport for your return flight.
Suggested Hotels
Hotel Academia Verona ****
Hotel Rivoli, Florence ****
Star Hotel Grand Milan Saronno ****
For other Group Travel tours to Italy, please find further details through this link:
The Italian Riviera of Flowers – Mediterranean Coast and Flower Gardens
https://www.greatdays.co.uk/tour/lake-garda/
City tax – A local city tax is payable per passenger per night directly to the hotel.
| Dates | 9 days / 8 nights |
| Summer dates | Available on request |
| Winter dates | Available on request |