Northern Italian Gastronomy Adventure - 14 Days

Highlights

• Discover the art of cicchetti (small bites) in Venice's atmospheric wine bars
• Sip Prosecco and lambrusco at wineries in the Veneto and Emilia-Romagna 
• Join a pasta masterclass in Bologna and learn to make different shapes and sauces
• Meet artisan producers of Parmigiano-Reggiano, Parma ham, and balsamic vinegar 
• Spend aperitivo hour with the locals in Milan's trendy Navigli neighborhood

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Venice, Cicchetti & Wine Tour

Say ciao to Venice! You've landed in Italy's famous floating city, so what better way to arrive at your hotel than via the water? Enjoy cruising along beautiful Venetian canals, passing impressive buildings and bridges in a water taxi. The boat will drop you at your hotel with plenty of time to check in and refresh ahead of this afternoon's first delicious adventure. Slip into something chic and set out to discover the Venetian art of cicchetti.

A private guide will lead you to a handful of traditional bacari (wine bars), where you'll stop to taste local food and wine at places where real Venetians go to drink and mingle. At each stop, you'll sample regional wines and Prosecco served alongside cicchetti, a Venetian style of appetizer or snack found at bacari. Your guide will lead you to the best spots so you can taste a range of these snacks, and you'll get your first glimpses of the city while discovering its distinctive food culture.

Day 2: Highlights of Venice Walking Tour

Discover the most important landmarks of Venice with a 2.5-hour guided walking tour this morning. With a history and culture expert as your guide, you'll explore the founding of "La Serenissima" and the city's unique character as you wander the center. Learn about its navigation system of canals, traditional neighborhoods, and delicious food along the way, crossing the iconic Rialto Bridge and stopping to take a picture of the incredible Grand Canal.

Weave through the small calli (streets) and campi (squares), then end your tour in the renowned Piazza San Marco, where your guide will share details about the grand San Marco Basilica and its iconic bell tower. The rest of the day is yours to relax, explore back streets, go shopping, or board a gondola for the bucket-list experience of gliding along the canals with a singing gondolier.

Day 3: Day Trip to the Prosecco Wine Valleys

Leave the city behind and join a full-day wine tour into the Veneto countryside and the Prosecco valleys, where you'll connect with winemakers and taste DOCG Prosecco at the source. Meet your knowledgeable wine guide in Venice and begin the journey, learning about the world-famous sparkling wine and the landscape that created it along the drive. Soon, vineyards will appear, and you'll reach the first winery, where the vintner will share stories about their family-run production. Identify different notes and varieties during a tasting, then sit down to a lunch of seasonal produce from the area.

Continue to a second winery in the afternoon. The producer will tell you about the Charmat method used to create Prosecco, and you'll learn about the history of this famous and fruity tipple—popular both on its own and as a key ingredient in the perennially popular aperitivo-hour spritz. See the cellar, the steel vats, and the vineyards, then enjoy a second wine-tasting session. Finally, return to Venice in the late afternoon.

Day 4: Train to Bologna, Pasta-Making Masterclass 

Grab breakfast in Venice this morning, then make your way to the train station for a high-speed service from Venice to Bologna. In less than two hours, you'll arrive in the heart of this ancient city famous for its student population and hearty cuisine. Bologna is a mecca for food lovers, with many famous pasta dishes, meaty sauces, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and balsamic vinegar all hailing from this region. Check into your hotel and drop your bags, then set off to discover how to make Bologna's greatest namesake: pasta Bolognese.

Day 5: Bologna Downtown Foodie Tour

Bologna is the delicious capital at the heart of Italy's Emilia-Romagna region, an area famous for food products like Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, prosciutto ham, aceto balsamico (balsamic vinegar), and lambrusco and sangiovese wines. There's a reason Bologna has the nickname "La Grassa," which means "The Fat One!" Today, you'll dive deep into the city's food scene with a full-day food tour that explores historic shops and quality delis.

Your local food expert will lead you to special shops where sfogline (pasta makers) can be seen rolling out sheets of pasta with a pin. Then you'll step through Quadrilatero, the historic market district, to find irresistible temptations such as formaggio bianco, tortellini, mortadella, and more. You'll taste it all (of course) with a glass of local wine. Beyond food, you'll also gain an insider view of Bologna's top monuments with a sprinkle of history. Step through Piazza Maggiore, past the Neptune Statue, and see the world-famous UNESCO-listed Porticoes. 

Day 6: Free Morning in Bologna, Evening Food & Wine Tour

Use your free morning in Bologna to discover the city's rich history and architecture. Start at the magnificent Piazza Maggiore, where you can find the impressive Basilica di San Petronio and the Palazzo Comunale. Stroll over to the Torre degli Asinelli and visit the Basilica di San Domenico, home to stunning frescoes and Michelangelo's masterpiece, "The Deposition." For more art, try the Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna. Then, revisit the Quadrilatero district, where you can continue your exploration of the historic food market, the Mercato di Mezzo, for lunch.

This evening, you'll dive even deeper into Bologna's famed food and wine culture with a guided food tour that takes you to off-the-beaten-path spots. Start with a quick espresso at the counter of a local café, then use your bolt of energy to explore. You'll taste fantastic cured meats, Parmigiano cheeses, and balsamic vinegars. Stop to savor natural wine at a historic enoteca, and sample a slice of traditional Roman pizza. Taste three famous homemade pasta dishes at a typical trattoria, and polish it all off with artisanal Italian gelato.

Day 7: Train to Modena, City Highlights Walking Tour

After a quick breakfast of cappuccino and cornetti, make your way to the train station for a 30-minute train from Bologna to Modena. You're staying in the same province—the delicious Emilia-Romagna—but now using Modena as your base. This smaller city is filled with Italian charm and is known for its balsamic vinegar, opera heritage, and sports cars—both Ferrari and Lamborghini are based here. Drop your bags at the hotel, then enter a local trattoria to try local tortellini or garganelli pasta, which is similar to penne. This afternoon, a Modena local will take you on a two-hour private walking tour of the city.

Don't be fooled by the small size—there's plenty to see in the hometown of Luciano Pavarotti and Enzo Ferrari. Your guide will meet you at Piazza Roma, where you'll admire the imposing 17th-century Ducal Palace, then continue down narrow streets and past Renaissance palaces. Stop at Pomposa Church and the Novi Sad Park archaeological site, then enter the buzzing Piazza Grande with its Cathedral and the Ghirlandina Tower. A few steps away, visit Albinelli Market and Corso Canal Grande, where you'll find Modena's grand theater dedicated to the beloved local tenor, Luciano Pavarotti.

Day 8: Best of Emilia-Romagna Food Tour, Prosciutto & Parmigiano-Reggiano Tasting

Today you'll set out on a gastronomic pilgrimage around Modena and Parma to discover the flavors of authentic Emilia-Romagna cuisine—and taste it all at the source. The foodie fun begins with a visit to a Parmigiano-Reggiano DOP producer, where you'll see them create the cheese using a process in use for over eight centuries. Artisan cheesemakers use fresh milk, rennet, heat, and plenty of time and skill to craft this special formaggi, which you'll get to taste after the visit.

Next, meet a prosciutto producer to learn about the long process of creating the cured ham and enjoy a delicious tasting. Then, it's time to discover Italy's "black gold," the traditional balsamic vinegar produced around Modena. Local families age the vinegar in barrels in the attic, honoring traditions with noble roots. The last stop is a wine tasting in the most famous cellar of the region. Learn how the farmers pick, crush, blend, and bottle their grapes. Finally, sit down for a six-course gourmet lunch with local wines at a family-run restaurant in the hills.

Day 9: Lambrusco di Sorbara Wine Experience

Taste your way through some of the region's best wines during today's special guided experience. Your immersive tasting journey starts at a rural vineyard, where you'll discover some of Emilia-Romagna's most exquisite lambrusco wines. Follow a winemaker through the vines and cellar, learning about the grapes, climate, terroir, and techniques used to create lambrusco di Sorbara, a delicate, effervescent wine with a pinkish froth that's considered the lightest and finest of the lambrusco varieties.

Your day among the vines culminates with a tasting of five different labels of the sparkling wine accompanied by locally sourced delicacies. Hear more about the family-run vineyard and their dedication to their craft as you sip and snack, then say your goodbyes and join your driver for the quick trip back to Modena for the evening.

Day 10: Train to Parma, Home Cooking Workshop

Your delicious journey across Emilia-Romagna continues today with a 30-minute train to Parma, your base for the next two nights. Known for ornate medieval architecture, castles, and its famous prosciutto namesake, Parma, along with Bologna, is considered one of the top foodie destinations for travelers to northern Italy. Drop your bags at the hotel, then set out for a special cooking class at a local's home.

This afternoon you'll explore the region's culinary heritage with a local cesarine (home cook) when you enter their kitchen. In this private workshop, you'll cook up a feast using seasonal ingredients and local recipes, handed down from generation to generation. Enjoy an Italian aperitivo with Prosecco and nibbles while you receive your instructions. You'll prepare a perfect starter of bruschetta, then cook three authentic local dishes. When the meal is ready, sit down together and celebrate your hard work with a glass of wine.

Day 11: Morning Walking Tour of Parma

After a leisurely breakfast, step outside and meet your private guide for a walking tour of Parma. Over the next two hours, you'll stroll around the piazza at the heart of the city and see the stunning 12th-century Duomo di Parma. Its pink marble Baptistery is considered to be among the most important medieval monuments in the country. Your guide will bring the city to life, giving context to the Romanesque cathedrals, Roman ruins, and Renaissance art that line the streets of Parma.

As a private tour, your route can be flexible, but don't miss a to visit the Palazzo della Pilotta, a large complex that houses galleries, art collections, and the amazing 17th-century wooden Teatro Farnese. Make sure to spend some time in the National Gallery, one of Italy's most important. Afterward, the rest of the day is yours to explore the city. Perhaps you could pop into Mercato della Ghiaia to discover fresh produce and local specialties.

Day 12: Train to Milan, Aperitivo Hour in Navigli

Your final train journey is from Parma to Milan, a one-hour ride that will land you in the heart of Italy's capital of fashion, design, and finance. Drop your bags at the hotel so you can go exploring. Visit the elegant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade, a symbol of Milanese style, then shop the Quadrilatero della Moda fashion district or Via Montenapoleone, home to high-end boutiques. See Leonardo da Vinci's iconic masterpiece, "The Last Supper," at Santa Maria delle Grazie, and visit the historic Sforza Castle, where you'll find art and museums.

This evening you'll become a true Milanese when you join an evening aperitivo tour in trendy Navigli. As the sun begins to set, the locals step out for a predinner ritual featuring classic cocktails, delicious bites, and shared stories. With a guide leading the way, you'll stop at several bars to try different drinks and delicacies. Try Italian cheeses, charcuterie boards, and street foods, such as fried Milanese cutlets, while wandering the cool canals of Navigli.

Day 13: Visit Milan's Cathedral, City Highlights & Food Tour

This morning's tour focuses on Milan's most important sight: the enormous Duomo di Milano. Construction of this artistic and religious monument spanned over six centuries, starting in 1386 and ending in 1965. The Gothic cathedral is made of Condoglian marble, giving it a pink-hued white appearance, and it contains some 3,400 statues. The golden Madonnina statue atop the highest spire is a symbol of the city, and the space has a capacity for 40,000 people, making it one of the largest Catholic cathedrals in the world.

In the afternoon, you'll squeeze in your last culinary experience of the trip—a food tour across Milan. This three-hour walking tour combines sightseeing and architecture with the best Italian cuisine in the city. Across the afternoon, you'll taste Italian coffee, sweet cannoli, perfectly cured prosciutto, various Italian cheeses, Milan-style meatballs, risotto Milanese, and savory lasagna, plus wine and Prosecco. Follow your guide into shops and markets, meeting passionate vendors and chefs along the way.

Day 14: Depart Milan

It's your final morning in Italy. When the time is right, enjoy a comfortable private transfer to Milan's airport for your departing flight home or onward. Safe travels!

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