9-Nights Tailor Made Italy: A Foodie Adventure - Luxury Tailor Made Travel — CALL

Abercrombie & Kent: Tailor Made Italy: A Foodie Adventure

Day 1 Rome, Italy

Arrive in the “Eternal City” of Rome, where you are met by your Guardian Angel and privately transferred to your hotel.

Today, try your hand at the wonderful art of Italian pizza during a lesson led by an expert pizzaiolo (pizza chef) who puts on a marvelous display of skills and then guides you through the fun process of twirling your own pizza dough and hurling it into the air to oxygenate it. Don't be disheartened if you don't achieve perfection as this tradition — recognized by UNESCO as a traditional art form — takes years to master. When you’re ready, select your toppings and wait for your mouth-watering pizza to bake in the wood-fired oven. Then, enjoy the fruits of your labor for lunch. Afterward, go for a spin on the back of a Vespa and feel like one of the locals as you buzz around age-old cobblestone streets and alleyways. Discover some of the Eternal City’s most exceptional neighborhoods and locations, including some not accessible by vehicle. Along the way, stop for photos, learn the city’s wondrous history and converse with locals over a coffee, croissant or gelato, all the while taking in dazzling views of the city.

Explore Rome with your private guide and vehicle, traversing the ancient city’s labyrinth of narrow streets and wide-open piazzas. Listen as your guide explains the stories behind the fountains and monuments and describes the decoration, allegorical figures and animals sculpted in Rome’s famous marble sculptures. Visit the oval-shaped Piazza Navona and see the plan of its original purpose: as a Roman athletics track. Walk the piazza, which is today flanked by cafes and restaurants, and behold its famed centerpiece, Bernini's Quattro Fiumi fountain. Stroll to the nearby Pantheon, best preserved of all Roman monuments in the city and continue past the ministries of the Italian Government, across the Via del Corso to the iconic Trevi Fountain, where you may wish to cast in a coin. Finally, regard the elegant Piazza di Spagna, with the Spanish Steps rising to the Trinita dei Monti. A climb to the top of the steps (there is also an elevator) rewards with stunning views over the hills of Rome. Just before sunset, transfer across town to the lively Trastevere District for an unforgettable food and wine adventure tailored to your individual tastes. Get a sense of this once bohemian quarter of Rome, which still retains its arty edge, from a local's perspective. Cap off your day with visits to some of the city's best-loved food stores to chat with families who have worked hard to preserve Roman food traditions for generations.

Privately transfer to the Rome train station, where your pre-arranged train tickets await. After travelling independently to Florence, you are met by your local Guardian Angel and privately transferred to your hotel. Take some time to settle in before lunch and a wine tasting in a local enoteca near the Duomo. Continue on foot to a family-run bakery, where you taste authentic cantuccini (almond cookies). Return to your hotel to freshen up. This evening, join your Guardian Angel — an expert in local food customs — for an aperitivo (apéritif).

Set out on a full day’s exploration of Tuscany’s beautiful Chianti area, renowned for its glorious views, eminently drinkable wines and the simplicity of its mouth-watering cuisine. Begin in the picturesque medieval town of San Gimignano, viewing its 14 towers and enjoying time at leisure to explore on your own. You may wish to visit the Collegiata containing vivid 15th-century frescoes, the Palazzo del Popolo, now the municipal museum containing Renaissance paintings or the Church of Sant'Agostino. Later, make an exclusive visit to a local extra virgin olive oil producer. Tour the frantoio (olive press), where you discover how every drop of olive oil is successfully extracted from the fruit. Discuss factors that play a pivotal role in flavor; from whether traditional techniques of extraction are better than modern methods to the importance of the weather and heat during cultivation. Then, sample the delicious extra virgin olive oil yourself and learn how professionals judge oil quality. After lunch, sit back and enjoy a stunning drive through the Chianti countryside to the hilltop town of Castellina, whose noble origins date back to the 13th century. Bask in the lively atmosphere as you wander its charming streets. Throughout your day, savor the opportunity to sample exceptional wines in wonderful properties, before returning to your hotel.

Begin the day at a local food market, touring it alongside a local chef who accompanies you from your hotel. After learning about Italian produce and ingredients, proceed to a cooking school in the heart of Florence, where you take a private, hands-on Italian cooking class that is tailored to your interests and expertise. After sitting down to the meal you helped prepare, take an afternoon walking tour of the city’s lovely piazzas, churches and palaces. Pass the Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, its dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. Next, see the Galleria dell’Accademia, where you behold Michelangelo’s David. Admire medieval, stone Ponte Vecchio bridge and explore the neighborhood of Oltrano, set on the south side of the River Arno and full of small artisans’ workshops.

Depart Florence and head to the historic town of Bologna, affectionately known as La Grassa (the Fat One) for the hearty, filling dishes that originated here. Upon arrival, set out on a gourmet adventure to bustling markets, including the Quadrilatero, Mercato di Mezzo and Mercato delle Erbe. Pause at some of the city’s most beloved food stores and stalls to sample mortadella, ciccioli, salsiccia passita and chocolate. Then, watch a pasta-making demonstration and try your hand at making tortellini, with the opportunity to taste your creation. Continue to Modena, where you visit the Museo del Balsamico Tradizionale. Learn about the art of crafting balsamic vinegar; visit its acetaia (subject to availability); and sample the thick, savory product right from the source. Next, venture into the countryside outside Parma to settle into your amazing accommodation, set in a 14th-century castle.

Today, explore the exceptional amenities of your hotel, Antica Corte Pallavicina, a gastronomic destination in its own right, complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant. See its medieval meat-curing cellar and learn about prized culatello salami dating back to the 15th century, for which they have a dedicated museum on-site. Learn about the cooking traditions of Parma with one of the hotel’s expert chefs. Don’t miss the chance to dine here; A&K can secure a reservation in advance of your departure.

Early this morning, meet your driver and privately transfer to a cheese factory where Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese is produced for a cheese-making demonstration. Afterward, enjoy a delicious platter of food, which includes three types of Parmigiano Reggiano. Continue to the city of Parma and explore it with a private guide. Stroll around the piazza at the heart of the city and see the stunning 12th-century Duomo di Parma and its pink marble Baptistery, considered to be among the most important medieval monuments in the country. Then, enjoy time for lunch at your leisure before you are privately transferred back to your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to either the Bologna or Florence airport, where you are met and assisted by your Guardian Angel and board your international flight.