Join me on an exclusive Italian adventure, limited to just 24 travelers. After leading more than 30 tours throughout Italy, this remains one of my favorites because it lets you experience the country at a relaxed pace instead of rushing from city to city.
Together we’ll stay in exceptional hotels—including my favorite in all of Italy during a four-night stay in the heart of Tuscany—and visit breathtaking destinations like Lake Maggiore, Portofino, the Carrara marble quarries, Florence, and Venice.
We’ll enjoy authentic Italian cuisine, regional wines, a hands-on cooking class with my friend Giada, and unforgettable local experiences. During our free time, I’ll happily share my favorite restaurants, hidden gems, and insider recommendations that most visitors never discover.
My goal is simple: for you to experience Italy the way I do—with incredible food, wonderful people, unforgettable scenery, and memories that will last a lifetime.
I can’t wait to share this journey with you!
— Chuck Cinelli
Owner, Coco’s Italian Market & Restaurant
Highlights:
Stresa & Lake Maggiore • Italian Riviera • Lake Orta • Portofino • Carrara Marble Quarry Off-Road Excursion • Tuscan Countryside • Hands-On Tuscan Cooking Class • San Gimignano • Florence • Traditional Balsamic Vinegar Tasting • Venice
Dates: September 14–25, 2027
12-Day Package Includes: Roundtrip Airfare • 19 Meals
With Air:
Double $7,999 • Single $9,599 • Triple $7,899
Land Only:
Double $6,299 • Single $7,899 • Triple $6,199
Day 1 – Overnight Flight
Welcome to Italy! After we land, we’ll take a scenic drive to our hotel and freshen up. It’s hard to not get excited for what awaits us, Italy’s most remarkable landscapes and towns, full of grape vines, olive trees, and seaside views.
Day 2 – Stresa – Dinner
Begin on the arresting shores of Lake Maggiore, beside the sweeping coastal views. This is the opulent Italy of the Gilded Age with massive displays of luxury. This evening, we board a boat to cruise to Isola dei Pescatori, the most picturesque of the Borromean Islands, for our welcome to Italy dinner. What a great way to get our tour started! Local cuisine and wine on this beautiful island set against the backdrop of Stresa and the Alps.
Day 3 – Stresa – Breakfast & Lunch
In an ancient village nestled in the mountains, a local family welcomes us to sample their very own artisanal cheeses, paired with the region’s best wines. The remainder of the day in Stresa is at your leisure. Together we explore the piazzas, flower-lined cobblestone streets, and lakeside promenades. You’ll enjoy your breathtaking surroundings during an optional cruise to Isola Bella, known as the “beautiful island.” Here an expert will guide us into the Borromeo Palace, a lakeside Baroque beauty adorned with an exotic garden. Before the day draws to a close we visit a family-run wine shop and enjoy a cocktail party with delicious antipasto and breads.
Day 4 – Stresa, Orta & Italian Riviera – Breakfast & Lunch
Experience picture-perfect views from one of the most beautiful areas of northern Italy. Orta is known as the “Hidden Gem” of the Italian Lakes District. A boat will guide us to Isola di San Giulio, heavily influenced by the historical Benedictine Monastery. After exploring the fascinating history on the island, we will journey south to the Italian Riviera and discover its boundless beauty along the unspoiled Liguria coast.
Day 5 – Portofino – Breakfast & Dinner
We’ll enjoy a relaxed morning in the beautiful seaside town of Chiavari, one of those places tourists often miss but Italians absolutely love. If you’re like me, you may want to wander along the waterfront with a cappuccino or simply stroll beneath the charming covered walkways while browsing the local shops.
Today we have lunch at a local restaurant famous for its incredible cheese-filled focaccia. Before we eat, the chef will demonstrate a few of the traditional techniques that have made this Ligurian specialty so famous.
Then we’re off to one of the most beautiful places in all of Italy—Portofino. This picturesque harbor town is every bit as gorgeous as you’ve imagined, with colorful buildings, luxury yachts, and postcard-perfect views around every corner. I’ll point out a few of my favorite places before giving you time to explore at your own pace. Shop the boutiques, enjoy a gelato by the harbor, or simply relax with a glass of wine while soaking in the incredible scenery.
Since our hotel is right on the ocean, grab a chair, your favorite beverage, and spend the afternoon relaxing by the sea. For dinner, we’ll be on our own, so be sure to ask me for my favorite local restaurant recommendations. Fresh seafood and authentic Ligurian pesto are specialties you won’t want to miss.
Day 6 – Carrara Marble Quarry & Tuscany – Breakfast & Lunch
Veer off the beaten path to visit one of Italy’s great natural wonders: the Carrara marble quarries. During our off-road drive in the Apuane Mountains, you’ll follow the roads the cavatori carved into the mountains while extracting the precious stone. Over the centuries, Carrara marble was used by artists such as Michelangelo to carve his Pietà in Rome’s St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as his legendary Statue of David. Together we will enjoy some free time to explore Carrara’s old town before continuing through the rolling hills of Tuscany, ending the day in a historic Tuscan villa for a rejuvenating four-night stay.
Day 7 – Tuscany & San Gimignano – Breakfast & Lunch
This morning we journey into the heart of the Chianti countryside, where a family-owned villa welcomes us. After a tour of the house and grounds, you’ll engage in a hands-on cooking lesson with my good friend Giada. Break bread during an authentic Tuscan lunch and toast to your host with local Chianti wine. Later, take in Tuscany’s landscape en route to San Gimignano. Nicknamed the Manhattan of the Middle Ages, San Gimignano’s 14 towers soar distinctively over the landscape. We’ll also visit my friend Sergio Dondoli, an award-winning gelato maker. I can’t wait for you to taste his amazing gelato — my treat!
Day 8 – Florence – Breakfast & Dinner
Welcome to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance and the beloved home and museum of the Medici family, housing works by Galileo, Botticelli, and da Vinci. Set out on a walking tour of Florence’s treasures and monuments, highlighting the Piazza del Duomo and the famous Gates of Paradise on the Baptistery. You’ll also wander past the Palazzo Vecchio, the Signoria, and Santa Croce squares. The remainder of the day is yours to explore. Perhaps visit the Uffizi or the Academy Gallery, where Michelangelo’s David is kept. Florence also has wonderful shopping, cafés, and restaurants.
Day 9 – Villa Lecchi or Optional Truffle Hunting – Breakfast & Dinner
Today is all about slowing down and enjoying the Italian lifestyle. Sleep in, linger over one of the best breakfast buffets in Italy, then relax with a cappuccino or a glass of Chianti while taking in the breathtaking views from Villa Lecchi. Wander the grounds, stroll through the Tuscan countryside, or simply enjoy doing nothing at all, the Italians even have a phrase for it: dolce far niente, “the sweetness of doing nothing.” This afternoon, you may choose to join one of my favorite optional experiences: a truffle hunt with my friends and their amazing truffle dogs, followed by an unforgettable truffle dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 10 – Bologna & Venice – Breakfast & Lunch
Have a hearty breakfast because today we’ll head north into Italy’s famous Emilia-Romagna region, often called Italy’s “Food Valley.” We’ll visit a family-owned producer of traditional balsamic vinegar, where you’ll discover why authentic balsamic is aged for years, and sometimes decades. After a light lunch featuring these incredible flavors, we’ll continue on to one of my favorite cities in the world: Venice.
Venice is unlike anywhere else on earth. Once we get settled into our hotel, I’ll help you get your bearings and share my favorite restaurants, cafés, wine bars, and hidden spots that most visitors never find.
Day 11 – Venice – Breakfast & Dinner
Spend the day in Venezia, the floating city home to lavish art collections, wonders of architecture, and marbled palaces towering over gondola-laden canals. Travel by boat to Murano for an expert glass-blowing demonstration, a renowned tradition on the island. Journey back to St. Mark’s Square, Venice’s iconic main square. A local guide takes you on a tour of its incredible sites, including the Bridge of Sighs, the Bell Tower, and St. Mark’s Basilica. Then we say arrivederci to Italy at a savory farewell dinner.
Day 12 – Venice – Breakfast
At breakfast in the morning, I’m sure you’ll exchange contact information with your new friends, but I have a feeling this won’t be goodbye. Many of the people who travel with me end up traveling together again. It’s just the beginning of beautiful memories shared and new friendships.
Featured Hotels
Two of my favorite hotels in all of Italy are in this tour. Actually, they are all fabulous. Go online and check them out for yourself. Days 2–3: Zacchera Hotels, Lake Maggiore Days 4–5: Grand Hotel Torre Fara, Chiavari Days 6–9: Hotel Villa Lecchi, Tuscany Days 10–11: Ca’ dei Conti Hotel, Venice
Optional Pre & Post-Tour Extensions
Make your Italian vacation even more memorable by arriving early or extending your stay after the tour. Enjoy extra time to relax, explore at your own pace, and discover two of Italy’s most beautiful destinations.
Pre-Tour: Lake Maggiore
Arrive one day early and spend the night on the shores of beautiful Lake Maggiore at the elegant Zacchera Hotels. It’s the perfect opportunity to rest after your flight, adjust to the time difference, and begin your Italian adventure feeling refreshed.
Post-Tour: Venice
End your journey with an unforgettable 2-night stay in Venice, Italy’s enchanting “Queen of the Adriatic.” Explore the city’s iconic canals and historic landmarks with a local guide before enjoying a full day to wander charming alleyways, visit St. Mark’s Square, ride a gondola or vaporetto, browse artisan shops, and savor authentic Venetian cuisine at your leisure.
Lake Maggiore Pre-Night: From $470 per room
Venice Post-Night: From $480 per room
2-Night Venice Extension: From $899 per person
Includes 2 breakfasts, guided walking tour of Venice, double accommodations, and free time to explore one of Italy’s most romantic cities.
Italy Food Wine and Art Tour Experience
Come on an exclusive adventure with me, limited to just 24 travelers. I host tours across Italy throughout the year, and this Italy food wine and art tour is one of my favorites.
This journey brings out the romantic side of Italy. Every day is designed to engage your senses. You’ll see breathtaking landscapes, hear the rhythm of local life, and taste unforgettable dishes.
