A Taste of Italy

Take part in a grand adventure as we weave our way through the beautiful northern Italian region on our mission to find out what makes Italy truly unique. Our journey takes us from the Italian region of Piedmont, known for its sublime wines and culinary traditions to Modena, famous for balsamic vinegar in the heart of Italy and the mouthwatering gastronomy in the Emilia Romagna region. We enjoy scenic drives, guided walking tours and visits to stunning lakes, historic villages and medieval small towns with streets lined with pretty porticos and sun-bathed squares.What's Included?
Includes- Return coach travel & ferry crossings- First & last night on a bed & breakfast basis in France (JG3 rating)- 9 nights at selected hotels in Italy (JG2, JG3+ or JG4 rating) with breakfast plus 7 dinners*- Excursions to Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore Fanano, Bologna, Biella & Turin- En-route visits to Vercelli & Sirmione- Guided city tour of Modena- Balsamic Vinegar Tasting Tour at Acetaia Malpighi- Admission to the Ferrari Museum- Admission to the MeBo Museum of Brewing and Cheesemaking- Guided tour of Villa Griffone (Marconi Museum)- The 'Southern Shores of Lake Garda' coach tour with a lunch stop at Rocca Scagliera- Guided walking tour of Biella- Services of a tour manager*Please note all lunches are on own arrangements

Itinerary
ItineraryDay 1We board our ferry to Calais and stay overnight in France on a bed and breakfast basis.Day 2We travel to the Hotel Madonna di Luciago, close to Lake Orta and surrounded in the distance by the Italian Alps. This small hotel is quite typically Italian and has a restaurant, a bar and an outdoor swimming pool.Day 3 - Lake Orta & Lake MaggioreAfter a leisurely breakfast, we board the coach for a short scenic drive to Lake Orta, one of the smallest lakes in Italy but also one of the prettiest. After taking in the wonderful views of the lake, we explore the town of Orta San Giulio and have time to enjoy a coffee or take the public boat over to the tiny island of San Giulio.Next, we drive to Lake Maggiore, enjoying the stunning views along the way, as we follow the shore via Baveno to Stresa. Stretching upwards to Switzerland and the foothills of the Alps, Lake Maggiore enchants all who visit. The second largest lake in Italy is surrounded by charming towns and villages, such as Stresa, Verbania, and Ascona, each offering unique cultural and historical attractions.We take time for lunch in Stresa and have time to explore the shops and lakeside promenade. We also take the public boat over to Isola Bella (one of the 3 Borromean islands), with its 17th century Palace and stunning Italianate gardens.Day 4 - The Heartland of ItalyAfter breakfast we check out of our hotel and travel to our next Hotel in Fanano (Emilia Romagna region) via Vercelli where we stop for lunch.Vercelli is one of the oldest cities in northern Italy, founded around 166 BC. Known as the rice capital of the world, Vercellese Rice is popular here as well as many cured meats and an ancient white peach called 'Bella di Borgo d'Ale.' The surrounding views of paddy fields make for a fascinating lunch location!After lunch, we continue to the Hotel Firenze in Fanano. A small village nestled in the Apennine landscape, Fanano is located in the province of Modena. On arrival at our hotel, perfectly positioned in the centre of the village and our home for the next four nights, we enjoy time to relax and explore the facilities available.Day 5 - Fanano Walking Tour with Tour ManagerWe spend the day exploring the mountain village of Fanano with its picturesque and historic centre, ancient churches and noble buildings. We enjoy a guided walking tour, viewing the artistic stone sculptures in the Urban Park as well as the village centre. In the evening, we have dinner at our hotel's atmospheric restaurant.Day 6 - A Taste of Emilia Romagna: Modena & MaranelloWe start this exciting day of sightseeing with a guided walking/city tour of Modena. Sitting in between Milan and Bologna in a long flat valley, known for luxury sports cars (Lamborghini and Ferrari) the birthplace of Luciano Pavarotti, parmesan cheese, tortellini pasta and balsamic vinegar, of course!We stop for lunch in Carpi, a pretty and photogenic medieval town with plenty of cafes and restaurants serving fantastic food to choose from. After our fascinating tour, we reboard our coach and travel to Maranello. Inside the famous Ferrari Museum see firsthand beautiful vintage vehicles and stunning F1 cars as well as many trophies on display.Day 7 - Bologna - 'La Grassa' city of food & cultureWe spend the day in Bologna, one of the most historical and well-preserved medieval cities in Italy and a haven for food lovers. A city with streets full of porticos and squares, there is also water and boats just like Venice. Bologna is known for Parmigiano Reggiano and so many traditional Italian dishes but is most famous for Bolognese sauce! Known locally as ragú, the dish originated in France from sauces using broth only with no meat, however by the 18th century, documents show the first meat-based sauce served over pasta in Imola, a town near Bologna.In the afternoon, we meet at the Villa Griffone - the Marconi Museum - for a fascinating tour tracing the origins and history of the famous inventor and developments in telecommunication.Day 8 - The Southern shores of Lake GardaWe check out of our hotel and travel from Fanano to Biella via Lake Garda. We enjoy lunch at Sirmione, a charming resort town on the south of the lake called Sirmione. The town is dominated by its medieval castle (Rocca Scagliera) and a stroll to the tip of the peninsula reveals ancient Roman ruins.Later we arrive at our base for the next three nights, the Hotel Agora Palace in the heart of Biella. Tonight, we enjoy an evening meal at our hotel.Day 9 - Menabrea Brewery & Botalla CheesemakersWe enjoy the morning at leisure in Biella. By taking the rack and pinion funicular (a cogwheel railway) we can explore the Old Town, and the historic centre of Biella Piano to Piazzo. Here we discover the rich history of the town and the importance of the Cervo stream and industry.Don't miss the historic cathedral, churches, noble mansions and bespoke shops. There are several pizzerias and restaurants to choose from for lunch.In the afternoon we visit the MeBo Museum of Brewing and Cheesemaking and enjoy a guided tour and tasting.Day 10 - Turin, First Capital of ItalyOur morning excursion takes us to Turin where we enjoy a guided walking tour of this beautiful city, surrounded by the magnificent backdrop of the Alps. We take in the sights of the elegant, arcaded streets, the royal palace (entrance not included) and historic cafès. There are many local delicacies, such as 'gianduiotti' speciality chocolates, 'torrone' nougat, and more. We return to our hotel in Biella for lunch and the rest of the day at leisure.Day 11Travel to our overnight hotel in France.Day 12Continue to Calais for our return ferry home.Hotel
Hotel Madonno di Luciago, ArmenoJG3 ratingHotel Madonno di Luciago is located in the picturesque town of Armeno and offers stunning views of the surrounding landscapes with Orta Lake only five km from the hotel. All rooms are en-suite and feature a flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi. Hotel facilities include a restaurant, seasonal outdoor terrace, fitness centre an outdoor pool.Hotel Firenze, FananoJG3+ ratingIn the heart of the Apennine Mountains, located in Fanano's town centre, only a 5-minute walk away, this rustic and comfortable hotel offers a traditional atmosphere. All rooms are en-suite and feature a flat-screen TV, safety deposit box and phone. Hotel facilities include a fitness centre, a roof garden and a shared lounge.Hotel Agora Palace, BiellaJG4 ratingClose to the main square, the Hotel Agora Palace provides the perfect location for us to explore a selection of restaurants in the evening. Overlooking the park, near the central Via Italia, this stylish and contemporary hotel is close to local amenities. All rooms are en-suite and equipped with mini bar, LED TV or smart TV, tea & coffee making facilities and Wi-Fi. The hotel offers a lounge bar and restaurant, roof garden and fitness room.Hotel RatingJG3 ratingHotels with a JG3 rating tend to be a more formal style of hotel, often part of a hotel chain, or are very-welcoming family-owned properties. Generally, they offer a greater range of facilities and services, and bedrooms tend to be a little more spacious with additional features. Public areas are larger and include lounge seating, bar and restaurant with good quality food served either buffet style or waiter service.JG3+ ratingJG3+ hotels typically enjoy higher levels of satisfaction on both online hotel rating sites and our own customer satisfaction surveys and may enjoy superior locations close to resort attractions or surrounded by spectacular scenery.JG4 ratingAccommodation in our JG4 category is of an even higher standard, typically offering a wide range of facilities and services. Bedrooms are designed to make your stay the most comfortable possible and the staff provide a service that reflects the detail and quality. You can also expect higher standards of food and beverages.