Seven Tastes of Seven Italy Tours
Take a bite of one day...and another...and another
No other country is so overflowing with history, culture — and flat-out fun — as Italy. Maybe that's why Rick has designed more ways to explore this corner of Europe than any other.
To give you a taste of our seven Italy tours for 2011, we've picked one day from each — think of it as a traveling antipasto platter!
Whet your appetite with our one-minute Italy music video.
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Day 5: The Heart of Tuscany — We'll leave the coast today and drive to Tuscany, stopping in the charming and prosperous town of Lucca, home town of Puccini. We'll take a walking tour of Lucca's elegant pedestrian streets and Roman reminders, with free time to explore its impressive outer walls on foot or by bike. We'll end our day in the hill town of Volterra, enjoying a Tuscan feast together at a favorite enoteca. Let's try a little more... |
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Day 3: Verona and the Dolomites — We'll drive to Verona this morning for a walking tour of the town's medieval center, including the bustling Piazza Erbe market square, ornate tombs of the Scaligeri, and (of course) "Juliet's balcony." You'll then have free time to grab some lunch, and marvel at the Roman Arena — today a popular opera venue. Then we'll drive high up into Italy's Dolomite Alps, where the locals speak German first, Italian second. We'll have a hearty Tirolean dinner together at our Alpine hotel. Just one more taste, please... |
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Venice, Florence & Rome in 10 Days Day 3: The Art of Wandering in Venice — This morning we'll have our first real brush with the Renaissance — Venetian-style — with a tour of the Accademia's treasure trove of great Venetian art, starring Titian, Veronese, Bellini, Tintoretto...and every shade of color imaginable. Your afternoon is free for Venice's other famous sights, or to become happily lost in the tangled maze of alleys and shops. Tonight your guide will help organize a classic, romantic gondola ride for those who are interested. Maybe another nibble... |
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Day 4: Assisi and Truffles — This morning we'll take a short drive to St. Francis' hometown of Assisi, where we'll tour the magnificent art-filled Basilica. Afterward, we'll take a walking tour through the town, and have free time for lunch. We'll spend the late afternoon with a local farmer and his specially-trained dog, hunting for one of the area's specialties: the truffle. We'll stay on the farm for a while, joining the family for a hearty, home-cooked dinner (including the truffles). I've never had fresh truffles... |
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Day 4: Neighborhood Rome — This morning we'll take a more intimate look at Rome, with a Vespa-dodging walking tour through the city's proud and colorful Trastevere neighborhood. Our tour will continue across the river, where we'll learn about the rich, yet often-overlooked, history of Rome's Jewish Ghetto. Then we'll be treated to an enthusiastic cooking demonstration — creating today's tasty, Sicilian-style lunch. You'll have the rest of the day free to make your own neighborhood discoveries. Ready for more discoveries... |
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Day 7: Greek Paestum and Positano — Early this morning we'll drive into the Campania region and tour a water buffalo farm which produces the prized local specialty, mozzarella di bufala. We'll go into the barns and learn how this tasty delicacy is made and enjoy a gourmet lunch together including (you guessed it) fresh buffalo mozzarella. After lunch, we'll continue on to Paestum, where a local expert will bring to life the site's awe-inspiring lineup of three Ancient Greek temples — the best-preserved collection in Europe. Then we are off to the dramatic Amalfi Coast. We'll follow the cliff-clinging road that winds above the sea to Positano, where we'll sleep. May I have that from your plate... |
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Day 8: Colorful Maiolica and Mosaics — Today we'll drive inland to the pottery-famous hill town of Caltagirone, where we'll learn from a local artisan how the region's colorful Maiolica ceramics are made. Our focus on color continues to the Villa Romana del Casale, where we'll study the world's richest collection of Roman mosaics (including the time-bending "bikini girls" mosaic, discovered in 1960). Then we'll kick back at our countryside hotel. You'll have some time to relax by the pool before we enjoy a hearty dinner together. Hey, I'm far from finished... |
- To compare the basics of these tours: read Comparing Rick's 2011 Italy Tours