Italy Real Food Adventure

Italy Real Food Adventure

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8 Days From

$3330

Italy Real Food Adventure

8 Days Starting in Venice and ending in Rome

Visiting: Venice, Bologna, Bologna / Modena, San Gimignano, Rome

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

ZMZB

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

15-99 years

Tour operated in:

English
From: $3330

NB: Prices correct on 23-Dec-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Italians are the masters of creating simple dishes that burst with flavour. Inspired by nonnas’ kitchens all over the country, this food is regional, seasonal and as fresh as possible. On this eight-day food-focused adventure through everybody’s favourite culinary hub, you’ll discover that pizza and pasta are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the diverse array of unforgettable street eats, meals and cicchetti from the postcard-perfect Venice to Rome, where medieval meets modern. Delight in local wine, fresh produce, homemade dinners and seasonal favourites in San Gimignano, Tuscany and Bologna.

Highlights

  • Stay in a traditional Tuscan farmhouse near San Gimignano, surrounded by vineyards and olive trees, and tour the grounds, indulging in tastings of their local wines and rich organic olive oil.

  • Take a cooking class and watch a demonstration of how Bologna pasta is made right in the heart of this culinary namesake before sitting down to enjoy the fruits (or pasta sheets) of your labour for dinner with your host.

  • Swap stories with a Roman local as you feast on seasonal dishes, homecooked for your group for dinner right in their home.

  • See Italy’s iconic sights, like the canals of Venice, the romantic streets of Rome and the UNESCO World Heritage Site in San Gimignano.

  • Find foodie bliss with a food tour that lets you taste all the regional highlights, like gelato, cicchetti, pasta, vinegar, cheese, seasonal fruit and veg and organic meats.

  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Cooperativa Coraggio. Donations help them regenerate 22 hectares of unused public land to create local jobs and produce organic food in Italy.

Places You'll See

The Colosseum, Rome

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Venice

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Location: Venice

Accommodation: Hotel

Buongiorno! Welcome to Italy. Your adventure starts in the iconic city of Venice. If you arrive early, take some time to get lost in the narrow cobblestone streets and spacious piazzas, crossing the tiny bridges to find shops, markets, galleries and churches. Stroll past St Mark’s Square, the Campanile and the Doges Palace. Cross the Rialto and admire the Bridge of Sighs. You’ll have a welcome meeting tonight at 6 pm. After, head out for a welcome aperitivo – the spritz and the bellini are local favourites. Venice's distinctive culinary heritage goes back to ancient times and features rich risottos, saline baccala (salted cod) and creamy polenta. If you're hungry, follow your leader to an atmospheric restaurant for your first introduction to Venetian flavours.

Included Activities:
-Venice - Welcome Aperitivo

Day 2: Venice

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Location: Venice

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner

Time to explore "La Serenissima". This morning you will be treated for a typical Venetian Breakfast by your tour leader. Stop at a local café’ to enjoy an espresso or cappuccino with local Venetian pastries such as Baci di Dama, Brutti ma Buoni, Bussola', then continue walking down the canals and watch farmers unload their produce from their boats, ready to be sold at Venice's famous Rialto markets. This tradition is more than 1000 years old. Next, you’ll swing past the fish market, where the day’s catch might come directly from the Venetian lagoon – the enclosed bay of the Adriatic Sea. You might want to enjoy the typical aperitivo Spritz after the market visit. The afternoon is free for your own exploration. In the evening, discover the Venetian answer to tapas on a cicchetti crawl through the city's fabulous bacari (wine bars). Snacking is an important pastime in Venice, with many people stopping for cicchetti both before and after meals.

Included Activities:
-Venice - Cicchetti tour
-Venice - Venetian Breakfast and Market Tour
-Venice - Traghetto Ride

Optional Activities:
-Venice - Doge's Palace & Bridge of Sighs
-Peggy Guggenheim Collection
-Venice - St Mark's Campanile
-Venice - Accademia Gallery
-Venice - San Giorgio Bell Tower

Day 3: Bologna

Location: Bologna

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner

Travel to Bologna by train this morning – this city's culinary claim to fame is significant, thanks to the ragu alla bolognese. Home of tagliatelle, mortadella and a range of other cured meats and salamis, Bologna, along with the surrounding Emilia Romagna region, is a foodie’s paradise. When you arrive, maybe wander past the beautiful old terracotta buildings and lively streets and acquaint yourself with the area. Later, you'll discover the real food of Bologna with a hands-on cooking class in the fine art of pasta-making. Feast on your handiwork over dinner with your host and your group, celebrating your new skill.

Included Activities:
-Bologna - Pasta class

Optional Activities:
-Bologna - Eataly World - Free
-Bologna - Torre degli Asinelli Tower

Day 4: Bologna / Modena

Location: Bologna / Modena

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

Today you’ll discover the flavours of the renowned Emilia Romagna region. Visit a factory dedicated to producing one of Italy's most coveted culinary exports – Parmigiano Reggiano. Learn how this cheese is made, and then try it for yourself. Continue to the town of Modena and visit an acetaia – a house where the family produce fine-aged Modena balsamic vinegar in the attic. You'll see how the vinegar is aged in barrels made from different woods, learn why it’s never less than 12 years old and then see the difference between the factory-made vinegar and the real stuff with a tasting. Head to a trattoria for a delicious lunch of the best local produce and farm-fresh seasonal dishes. Wash it down with a glass of Lambrusco – the town's famed sparkling red. Stroll around the town and admire the Palazzo Ducale before returning to Bologna in the late afternoon.

Included Activities:
-Modena - Acetaia Visit
-Modena - Trattoria Lunch
-Modena - Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory visit

Day 5: San Gimignano

Location: San Gimignano

Accommodation: Agriturismo

Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner

This morning, travel to the village of Pancole in the heart of Tuscany. The region is renowned for a cuisine that celebrates simplicity and the bounty of locally grown produce in hearty, rustic dishes. Pecorino cheese, farro (an ancient grain) and artisanal cured meats like lardo di colonnata are just some of the many local ingredients you can expect to indulge in during your stay. Your accommodation is a traditional Tuscan farmhouse near the enchanting village of San Gimignano. The farmhouse is surrounded by vineyards and olive trees that the family has been producing excellent wine and olive oil from by organic methods for over fifty years. Enjoy a guided walk through the vineyards and cellars of the estate, followed by a tasting of some signature Tuscan wines and olive oils. Dinner tonight will be seasonal favourites, made with ingredients freshly harvested from the farmhouse garden beds. This could include homemade pasta, salads, finocchiona salami, crostini toscani (chicken liver pate on lightly toasted bread) and seasonal vegetables.

Included Activities:
-Agriturismo - Tour with wine and olive oil tasting

Day 6: San Gimignano

Location: San Gimignano

Accommodation: Agriturismo

Meals Included: breaksfast

This morning, walk along a portion of the Via Francigena – the major pilgrimage route to Rome during the Middle Ages. Explore the medieval walled town of San Gimignano – a UNESCO World Heritage Site often called the Town of Fine Towers due to the preservation of several impressive torre (tower houses) within its walls. Stop past an award-winning gelateria, where intriguing flavours like gorgonzola cheese and walnuts await your tastebuds. Spend the rest of your time exploring the walking paths around the farm or, weather permitting, relaxing by the pool, enjoying beautiful views of the Tuscan countryside.

Included Activities:
-San Gimignano - Leader-led orientation walk
-San Gimignano - Gelateria visit
-San Gimignano - Walk a section of the Via Francigena

Day 7: Rome

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Location: Rome

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner

Today, jump on a train to Rome – Italy’s capital famed for its deliciously fresh food and scattered ancient ruins. When you arrive, take a leader-led orientation walk through the historical city centre, past the Spanish Steps, Trevi fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Venezia, Roman Forum, and Colosseum. After taking in all the big (and small) highlights of this magical city, you’ll head to a local’s home for a special homecooked, plant-based dinner experience. Swap stories with your host and sit down for a feast of seasonal dishes, which could include local favourites like cacio e pepe, saltimbocca, artichokes or porchetta. After, maybe head to a local bar and cheers to a trip well-travelled over a glass of local wine.

Included Activities:
-Rome - Leader-led orientation walk
-Rome - Home-cooked dinner

Day 8: Rome

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Location: Rome

Meals Included: breaksfast

With no activities planned after breakfast, your food adventure comes to an end today. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    Hotel (5 nights), Farmstay (2 nights)

  • Venice - Welcome Aperitivo

  • Venice - Cicchetti tour

  • Venice - Venetian Breakfast and Market Tour

  • Bologna - Pasta class

  • Modena - Acetaia Visit

  • Modena - Trattoria Lunch

  • Modena - Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory visit

  • Agriturismo - Tour with wine and olive oil tasting

  • San Gimignano - Leader-led orientation walk

  • San Gimignano - Gelateria visit

show more

What's Not Included

  • Tipping and Gratuities

  • International Travel

Included Activities

  • Venice - Welcome Aperitivo
  • Venice - Cicchetti Tour & Tasting
  • Venice - Venetian Breakfast and Market Tour
  • Bologna - Pasta Making Class including Dinner
  • Modena - Acetaia Visit
  • Modena - Trattoria Lunch
  • Agriturismo - Olive Oil tasting
  • Agriturismo - Wine Tour and Tasting
  • San Gimignano - Orientation Walk and Town Tour
  • San Gimignano - Gelateria visit
  • San Gimignano - Wine Museum

Transport

  • TRAINS
  • The main mode of transportation on this trip is by train. Italian long-distance and inter-regional trains are comfortable and often decked out with air-conditioning. Toilets are always available. Some of the trains have snack bars (or vending machines) and power points next to the seats but that cannot be guaranteed on every journey. Regional and metropolitan trains are usually a bit more basic and can be quite busy, but this just adds to the experience. Train travel is a fast way to traverse long (and short) distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre of your next destination.

Accommodation

  • The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
  • Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
  • EUROPEAN HOTELS
  • Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Rooms can be rather small, especially by American or Australian standards.
  • Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.

Important Information

  • 1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement exclude Days 5 and 6 (Agriturismo) where you will be in shared accommodation, and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
  • 2. While we endeavor to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.
  • 3. As of April 2024, Venice will implement a visitor’s fee for all travellers visiting the city between 25 April and 15 July 2024. This fee is not payable by Intrepid customers, however you will need to apply for an exemption before arrival at https://cda.comune.venezia.it/en/richiestaEsenzione. For further information, please see the “Passports, visas and entry requirements,” section of your Essential Trip Information.

Mode of Transport

  • TRAINS
  • The main mode of transportation on this trip is by train. Italian long-distance and inter-regional trains are comfortable and often decked out with air-conditioning. Toilets are always available. Some of the trains have snack bars (or vending machines) and power points next to the seats but that cannot be guaranteed on every journey. Regional and metropolitan trains are usually a bit more basic and can be quite busy, but this just adds to the experience. Train travel is a fast way to traverse long (and short) distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre of your next destination.

Check out our Q&As

  • Is this trip right for you

    The cuisine of Italy includes a lot of meat and seafood. For vegetarians and vegans, we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to Italy which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.

    The primary means of transportation on this trip is by train. Trains are comfortable and all have toilets but can be quite busy. You'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the train, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find this information in the 'Packing' section of the Essential Trip Information.

    Don’t let the heat keep you from exploring the world! Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s essential to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

Reviews of this operator

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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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