PUGLIA& MATERA
Travel down to the heel of the boot of Italy, to the whitewashed villages of the south to some of the most hidden spots in Puglia for the most local experiences. Visit the glowing hilltop town of Ostuni, have a bread stamp hand craved for you by a local artisan, cook in a trullo in Alberobello, and fall in love with the seaside life at Polignano a Mare and Monopoli with a glass of rose or primativo in hand.
Culinary specialties include olive oil from the oldest and most ancient olive trees in Italy, pane di Matera, shellfish, orrecchiete, (pasta shaped like little ears), hand stretched mozzarella, and the smokey cappocollo from the town of Martina Franca.
GIRL'S GETAWAY TUSCANY
Spend a week in the charming Tuscan village of Cortona, learning to cook the traditional dishes of this medieval land in some of the most breathtaking settings.
Cook with plenty of farm fresh, bright and organic ingredients. We'll roll out pasta, nonna-style and cook with cheese farmers. We'll day trip to the hilltop villages of Montepulciano and Orvieto, shop at the local market, learn about wine and olive oil from a sommelier. Spend the evenings in the piazza chatting with the locals while sipping Sangiovese or a spritz. If your dream trip to Italy is anything like the movie "Under The Tuscan Sun", this is the trip for you.
HOLIDAY
WORKSHOP IN TUSCANY
Tuscany is magical this time of year, as it comes alive with twinkling lights and Christmas markets for the holidays. Immerse yourself in an old fashioned Italian Christmas.
Spend 5 nights in the medieval walled village of Cortona, and learn to cook with us in a Tuscan farmhouse. Take part in hands on cooking classes, including making cheese in the hills of the Val d'Orcia with a farmer and baking Italian Christmas cookies on your last day to take home on the plane.
There will be plenty of time for Christmas shopping with excursions to the surrounding villages to visit their Christmas markets.
PIEMONTE &
VAL D'AOSTA
Northwestern Italy is home to world class vineyards, truffles, castles, and some of the best views of the Italian Alps. Grab a glass and get cozy.
Spend 4 nights in the vine covered hills of Piemonte at Villa D'Amelia, then we move closer to the Alps for 4 nights in Val d’Aosta, at the majestic Bellevue Hotel & Spa.
Excursions to medieval castles and fortresses, wineries, and local artisans’ workshops tucked away high in the mountain villages. Being so close to the French and Swiss borders, expect the local cuisine to blur the lines of France, Switzerland and Italy. Think polenta, rich cheeses, juniper and mountain herbs, warm raclette, prosciutto, and pastas with a foreign flare.
LUCCA
&
LIGURIA
This itinerary takes you into the charming villages of the Italian Riviera and the wilds of Northern Tuscany.
We start with 3 nights in the colorful seaside village of Camogli where pastel colored houses line this sandy stretch of the Mediterranean Sea. (It feels like the South of France and Italy had a baby) Camogli is a seafood lover's dream with oysters, mussels, whole roasted fish, shrimp, and langostine on every menu. Crisp white wines, delicate Ligurian olive oil, lemons, pesto and focaccia to die for too.
We'll move south to Lucca, the medieval walled city for 4 nights and explore its historic center and the villages in the Garfagnana. Walk across the "devil's bridge", eat in Colonnata near the marble quarries, and try the ancient dishes of Podenzana which haven't changed in centuries. Listen to live opera in Puccini's birthplace and get your hands dirty at a cooking classes focusing on cuisine of the mountains.
CHRISTMAS
MARKETS OF THE NORTH & VENICE
A winter combination of mountains and sea, we'll spend 4 nights in Bolzano and 3 nights in Venice.
The northern villages of Sud Tyrol are truly magical. Twinkling lights, rich hot chocolate, and heartwarming comfort food, this is Christmas in in Italy with a touch of Swiss and German flair.
Have fun searching for the perfect handcrafted gifts for your loved ones in the glowing Christmas market of Bolzano, learn to bake holiday specialties of the region, and learn about beer, cheese, and charcuterie.
Venice at Christmas time is serene and beautiful. Attend an opera, take a Venetian mask making class, learn to make the nest risotto, and visit a top winery on a tiny island. If you're looking to shop high end, there are world class stores around every corner.
EASTER IN ABRUZZO
Venture down roads less traveled in this still very untouched region of Southern Italy; Where shepherds wander through the hills with their flocks, and folklore and legends abound. Savor the local cuisine... porchetta, warm sheep's milk ricotta, chocolate and chili peppers, and the unbelievable "maccheroni alla mugnaia", the longest single strand pasta in Italy.
Spend 5 nights in Sulmona and 2 nights way up in
Santo Stefano di Sessanio, and ancient village untouched by time.
