ACROSS ITALY & BEST OF TUSCANY

Arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport.

Meeting with your private driver and transfer to your elegant accommodation Grand Hotel Palace and Spa, 5 stars, in b&b treatment. The location is extremely central and in a nice street of Rome -Via Veneto.

Time at leisure to stroll around Rome to familiarize with this enchanting City.

Lunch at leisure in a local authentic restaurant, we will be glad to advice in compliance with your preferences and expectations

Dinner event to a unique restaurant our seasoned partner, featuring the real Roman Cuisine, “la vera Cucina Romana”. I suggest this restaurant for the real atmosphere, the possibility to have dinner in a beautiful Roman Piazza. You will taste: a selection of typical roman appetizers (grilled and au gratin vegetables, veal meatballs, mushrooms, Parma ham, buffalo mozzarella, sheep ricotta, beans “alla contadina”; two selected pastas dressed in two different ways: Penne alla “papalina” with mushrooms, green peas and cream; Rigatoni “amatriciana” with tomato beacon and chili peppers; Sorbetto.

Breakfast and private transfer from Rome hotel to Rome Rail Station. Direct train

from Rome to Chiusi, Tuscany (about 1 hour and a half).

Private transfer from Chiusi train station to your luxury accommodation in Pienza, La Bandita

TownHouse, in b&b treatment. This is the most authentic area of Tuscany, where a physical and mental retreat is guaranteed!

Meeting with your driver and time at leisure in Pienza, the wonderful hamlet ideated by Pope Pio II, where you will taste the best pecorino cheese, matched with wine and other spectacular food products of this land!

Breakfast, and full day tour of Pienza surroundings. Meeting with your private driver and guide.

You will visit Montepulciano (2 hours), and move towards a wonderful estate that produces an organic wine in an innovative and environmentally sustainable way. The wine cellar is one of the most innovative concept in Italy, an unique architecture in Italy.

Guided visit and wine-food tasting at the wine cellar. You will then move towards Monticchiello, along the most photographed street of Tuscany, all made in a zig zag, among olive trees and cypresses. You will stop in the most famous Osteria of the area for a sample of Vin Santo and Cantucci – local dry biscuits. Finally you will reach Bagno Vignoni, with time at leisure in the wonderful “open air spa” village. Transfer back to your hotel.

Light lunch included.

Dinner at leisure.

Breakfast and meeting with your driver. Private chauffeured transfer towards Chiusi train station.

Train transfer from Chiusi to Venice (about 4 hours) first class by bullet train, the mythic Frecciarossa or the elegant Italo riding at almost 200 miles per hour.

Check in at your accommodation Hotel Bucintoro, 4 stars Hotel in Venice, in b&b treatment beautiful and centrally located.

Optional Gondola ride: You will embark on a gondola in your preferred time and area in Venice.

Optional itinerary for the evening at leisure: From your Hotel I would suggest this itinerary:

Bacareto da Lele – find it in Campo Tolentini Santa Croce n. 183

The Bacareto da Lele is an authentic local institution, a tiny bar 100% made in Venice, perfect for a drink during the evening.

Here you will have the chance to choose from a wide variety of mini sandwiches and wines. All this, just for few Euros!

Osteria Alla Rivetta (3 min) Campo della Lana – Sestriere Santa Croce 673/a

This typical Venetian tavern is run by two nice gentlemen always welcoming and helpful. The food is simple and genuine: “ovi duri” (boiled eggs), meats, cheeses, salt cod, sopressa salami, porchetta, artichokes. The wine is served directly from the carboys and even in this case the prices are really low. The walls of the rooms are covered with special items, and you can always find some interesting reading between the books at the entrance.

If time permits, I suggest to stay outside in the courtyard that overlooks the canal.

Then move towards Rialto bridge, to the traditional fish market, one of the beating hearts of the city as well as the largest fish market in Venice. Here the Venetians do their shopping and it’s all a swirl of colors, sounds and voices.

To reach the third bacaro I suggest:

Go through the fish market and reach the Stazio Santa Sophia, the starting point of one of the six gondolas ferry that carry passengers from one bank of the Grand Canal to the other. With very few money, to be paid to the gondolier on the spot, you reach the opposite bank. On these gondolas, much used by the Venetians the journey is always very short. This will allow you to reach the next bacaro avoiding a lot of walk.

Once you get off from the ferry walk a few meters to your left. At the end of Calle del Pistor, on the right you’ll find one of the historic bacaros in Venice.

Osteria Alla Vedova (10 min). Calle del Pistor, Cannaregio 3912

The ancient Osteria alla Vedova, also known as Trattoria Ca ‘d’Oro, is one of the most popular and famous of the city. It still maintains its link with tradition and retains the spirit of the old Venetian bacaro. In the ceiling you will find pots and old tools, on the walls mirrors of various sizes. Here, spending only a bit you can taste the most delicious meatballs of all Venice, as well as several varieties of cicheti (tapas) matched, as always, with good house wines. In this tavern you can also dine. The choice is among the many Venetian specialties, including: fish soup, stew or spaghetti with clams, Venetian liver. Inside there is a good number of tables.

Back to your Hotel. Dinner at leisure.

Breakfast and morning at leisure around Venice.

Afternoon 2.00 pm.-6.00 pm. Join a small group tour to the Islands of Venice. This tour will give you the opportunity to visit the beautiful islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. Murano – originally known as “AMURANIUM”, became prosperous and reached its zenith in the 16th century. Since 1291 it became world famous for its glass. Burano is known for its lace and its colorful houses. The ancient tradition of the “Lace” dates back to the 16th century. Its products have reached all the major courts and European collections. Torcello is famous for being the first settlement in Venice. The island’s name seems to derive from “Turricellum” (the little tower erected in memory of the lost homeland).

Lunch at leisure. Dinner at leisure.

Breakfast and check out from your Hotel in Venice.

Direct train transfer from Venice to La Spezia (about 5 hours) – option private driver.

Private transfer from La Spezia to PortoVenere (Cinque Terre). Check in at your Grand Hotel Portovenere, wonderful 4 stars Hotel (in b&b treatment).

Time at leisure in the afternoon to enjoy a nice minicruise by ferry boat that will take you to discover the beautiful scenery of Le Cinque Terre: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia and Vernazza or Portofino. (Tickets to be bought on the spot on the base of your choice and timings).

Lunch at leisure, Dinner at leisure.

Breakfast and check out from your Hotel in Portovenere.

Private transfer from Portovenere to La Spezia train station.

Direct train transfer from La Spezia to Rome Termini train station (about 4 hours).

Meeting with your private driver and transfer to your elegant 5 star accommodation in b&b

treatment.

Time at leisure to stroll around Rome, for shopping or to visit some museum or site.

Lunch at leisure. Dinner at leisure. I suggest: Ristorante Brunello or Ristorante Moma

Breakfast and private transfer from your accommodation towards Rome Fiumicino airport