DAY 1 ROME - ORVIETO - PERUGIA – SIENA AREA (km 300) In the morning, pickup of the rental car at Fiumicino airport or Termini station, then departure for Orvieto. Here free time to visit the town on one’s own; do not miss the majestic Gothic Cathedral and the suggestive St Patrick’s Well. Then we continue to Perugia, a city rich in history and monuments and home of the Baci, the world-famous chocolates sweets with love phrases in their wraps. Here the greedy ones can participate in the visit of the Perugina chocolate factory with chocolate tasting. At the end of the day you arrive at the hotel, located on the hills a few kms from Siena and featuring a beautiful swimming pool. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. Meals included: Dinner. OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Walk with a private guide in Perugia, Visit of the Perugina chocolate factory with chocolate tasting. DAY 2 SIENA AREA - VAL D’ORCIA- MONTALCINO - BAGNO VIGNONI- PIENZA - MONTEPULCIANO – SIENA AREA (km 150) Breakfast at the hotel, then departure to discover the Val d’Orcia, along beautiful scenic roads in the Tuscan hills, which have inspired many an artist. The first stop is at the village of Montalcino, to be explored by walking through the medieval alleys: a tasting of the famous Brunello wine is also scheduled here. We then continue towards Bagno Vignoni, a spa with a large swimming pool located right in the central square of the village, which will leave you speechless. The next stop will be at the small village of Pienza, a Renaissance masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage Site also famous for its “pecorino”, a sheep's cheese, which you can taste in one of the many country shops. The last stop of the day will be in Montepulciano, where a visit to a vinery cellar with a tasting of the typical local wine is included. Return to hotel, dinner and overnight stay. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner. DAY 3 SIENA AREA - SIENA - CHIANTI - SAN CASCIANO IN VAL DI PESA - FLORENCE (km 120) Breakfast at the hotel, then departure for Siena, where a city guided walk is scheduled, to admire the famous shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and learn about the history and traditions of the famous Palio. After leaving Siena, we immerse ourselves into the Chianti landscape, worldwide-known for its wines. Driving along these roads will be a pleasure for the eyes and the mind, among rolling hills and fortified villages. Depending on the time available, you can stop for a walk in one of the many villages, such as Monteriggioni, Radda in Chianti, Greve in Chianti. In the afternoon there will be a tasting of local oil and wine in San Casciano Val di Pesa. At the end of the day we arrive in Florence, where we spend the night at the hotel. Meals included: Breakfast. DAY 4 FLORENCE - BOLOGNA (km 110) Breakfast at the hotel, then full day dedicated to discovering Florence. In the morning a guided walk that reaches the symbols of the city is included (Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio with its goldsmith's shops). In the afternoon we recommend visiting the Cathedral interior, with the famous Brunelleschi Dome, or one of the main museums: the Uffizi Galleries, with the masterpieces of the masters of the Italian Renaissance (Leonardo, Caravaggio, Raffaello, Tiziano, Botticelli and many others ), or the Accademia Gallery, which houses the original of Michelangelo's famous statue of David. In the late afternoon, at the end of the visit in Florence, departure for Bologna. Overnight stay at the hotel. Meals included: Breakfast. OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Skip-the-line guided tour of Florence Cathedral, Guided tour of the Uffizi Galleries, Guided tour of the Accademia Gallery. DAY 5 BOLOGNA - PARMA - MODENA - BOLOGNA (km 210) Breakfast at the hotel, then departure for Parma, the heart of the Italian 'Food Valley', home of raw ham and Parmigiano Reggiano. Here, in addition to visiting the city, a food tour to taste the exquisite local products is strongly recommended. In the afternoon, returning to Bologna, we stop in Modena, where a visit to a vinegar factory with a taste of the famous balsamic vinegar is included. Motor enthusiasts can also make a detour to the nearby Ferrari Museum in Maranello. Return to Bologna at the end of the day, overnight stay at the hotel. Meals included: Breakfast. OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Food tour in Parma, Visit of the Ferrari Museum in Maranello. DAY 6 BOLOGNA - FERRARA - PADUA (km 130) Breakfast at the hotel, then morning dedicated to the visit of Bologna: a food voucher is ROME - ORVIETO - PERUGIA – SIENA AREA (2 NIGHTS) - VAL D’ORCIA - CHIANTI - FLORENCE (1 NIGHT) - BOLOGNA (2 NIGHTS) - PARMA - MODENA - FERRARA - FLORENCE Guided visit of the city BOLOGNA Food experience PARMA History and gastronomic tradition VENICE The charme of a city built on the water PADUA City of art and history included to taste the typical local products while walking through the streets of the city centre. Possibility to purchase the return ticket for the panoramic train to San Luca (the hill overlooking Bologna) with a multilingual audio guide. For food lovers, it is also possible to organize a Bolognese cooking class with lunch at the home of a real 'sfoglina', one of those ladies who still make egg pasta by hand according to the ancient recipe. In the afternoon stop in Ferrara, a Renaissance city with a wonderful castle: here you can participate in a guided tour or visit the town on your own. Eventually, we continue to Padua, where we arrive in the evening. Accommodation in hotel and overnight stay. Meals included: Breakfast. OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Panoramic train for San Luca, Cooking class in Bologna with a real 'sfoglina', Guided walk in Ferrara. DAY 7 PADUA - VENICE - PADUA (km 80) Breakfast at the hotel, then departure for Venice, full day dedicated to visiting this fascinating city. Once you arrive in Venice, you can either take a guided walking tour through the most famous places of the city (Piazza San Marco with the Basilica and the Clock Tower, the Rialto Bridge, Campo Santa Maria Formosa) and others less known; or a skip-the-line guided tour of the Doge's Palace, with the Doge's luxurious apartments and the famous Bridge of Sighs; or a tour of the traditional shops, to see the craftsmen who create carnival masks in papier-mache, velvets and brocades, gold and silver jewellery, marbled paper, books and leather bindings and other wonders. Alternatively, you can take the boat trip to the islands of the Venice lagoon: Murano, known all over the world for the processing of glass; Burano, famous not only for its lace, but also for the picturesque fishermen's houses painted in bright colours; and Torcello, the first settlement centre in the lagoon. In the afternoon, a gondola ride is included. The gondola, the iconic Venetian wooden boat, will be shared with other passengers. At the end you can live the experience of 'drinking like a Venetian' with a tasting of local wines. Return to Padua at the end of the day, overnight stay at the hotel. Meals included: Breakfast. OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Guided walking tour, Guided tour of the Doge's Palace, Tour of the artisan shops, Excursion to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello, Tasting of local wines. DAY 8 PADUA - VENICE (km 50) Breakfast at the hotel, then free day to visit Padua on your own or with a private guide. The city is less known than the nearby Venice and Verona, but not less interesting and full of treasures. Do not miss the Scrovegni Chapel with Giotto's frescoes; the St Antony’s Basilica; Piazza delle Erbe, which houses the fruit and vegetable market, the beautiful Town Hall and the amazing Palazzo della Ragione; and Prato della Valle, a grand triangular square adorned with statues and canals, which is said to be the second largest in Europe after Moscow's Red Square. At the end of the day, return the rental car to Venice airport or to the city gates (Piazzale Roma). Alternatively, you can continue the journey by joining another itinerary of ours. Meals included: Breakfast. OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Visit of Padua with a private guide.
