Welcome to Rome! Start your Italian culinary adventure with a twilight tour of the city, taking in the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and other iconic sites. A lavish dinner then awaits you at a much loved family-run restaurant, set in a sprawling 16th century Palazzo famous for its extensive and beautifully presented wine cellar. Saluti! 

Today you will discover the secrets of authentic Italian food with the help of a distinguished local chef. Explore the bohemian Trastevere district and its famous food market, before enjoying a lively cooking class and intimate lunch in your hostess’s apartment. Carbonara, saltimbocca and other regional specialties are sure to be on the menu. In the afternoon, we’ll explore Palatine Hill, Europe’s largest archaeological area, and home to the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. As you stroll amongst these historic heavyweights, hear fascinating anecdotes about everyday life in ancient Rome, from extraordinary public spectacles designed to entertain the masses, to ancient Roman gastronomy and its surprising culinary recipes. 

Your last day in Rome will be spent exploring the smallest country in the world - Vatican City. In St. Peter’s Square, you will do your best Da Vinci Code impression as we search for the symbols hiding throughout the monumental complex, before heading to St. Peter’s Basilica. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a pizza cooking class and lunch in the Sant’Angelo district, discovering an enchanting neighborhood famous for its fish markets along the Tiber river. This evening is yours to relax, wander, and enjoy dinner at your leisure.

Take a short scenic drive through the Chianti Hills to a magnificent vineyard estate, where you will enjoy a private tour and learn all about Chianti wine, before a series of tastings and a sumptuous lunch overlooking the rolling Tuscan countryside.

In the afternoon, you will explore the impossibly picturesque medieval town of San Gimignano, famous for its medieval art and tower-dotted skyline. It’s also a foodie mecca, known for its saffron, golden ham, pecorino cheese and Vernaccia di San Gimignano white wine. After a busy day sampling the delights of Tuscany, enjoy a relaxing dinner amongst the sumptuous surroundings of your charming agriturismo accommodations.

Head to Florence today, the glittering capital of Tuscany. Explore the city on foot as your expert guide regales you with the myriad of myths, mysteries, and supernatural legends that haunt the city. Then meet a friendly local family at the bustling San Lorenzo Market for a hands on cooking class. After lunch, time travel through the Roman, Medieval and Renaissance eras with a guided visit to the Palazzo Vecchio, the former seat of the Florentine government. Discover this spectacular palace’s secret rooms, the alchemy laboratory, rooftop galleries and paintings by Michelangelo, Giorgio Vasari and Donatello. 

Italy is the world’s second biggest producer of olive oil, and today you will taste some of Italy’s finest oils at a historic farm that has been in the same family for 3 generations. After a delicious Tuscan lunch at the farm, you will return to Florence for a guided tour of the most famous landmark in Florence. The magnificent Santa Maria del Fiore, an elaborate basilica with a colossal dome that dominates the Florentine skyline, was erected in the 13th century.  In the evening, you will head across the River Arno to Oltarno, Florence’s coolest neighborhood, for an exclusive dinner in a private home. Enjoy a delicious meal with the owner, cooked using the family’s homegrown fruit and vegetables. 

Take the high-speed train from Florence to Venice, the one-of-a-kind capital of a once powerful empire in the Adriatic Sea. You will start with a tour of this dreamy city, beginning at the Rialto Bridge. For lunch, we will visit a cicchetti bar to sample the traditional small plates that Venice is famous for. In the afternoon you will wander around one of the world’s most famous squares, the grandiose Piazza San Marco, and enjoy a tour of the Doge's Palace. After that, you will experience the legendary hospitality of Caffè Florian as we uncover the secrets of Venetian coffee culture and sample some exquisite pastries. Your evening is then free for further exploration of this fairytale city.

Your first stop today is the Cannaregio district or “Jewish Ghetto.” Meander through the labyrinthine streets, as you hear about the Hebrew community in Venice over the centuries. Next up is the enchanting San Polo neighborhood. Your Venetian hostess will guide you through the local fish market, and after selecting some of the finest local ingredients, you will enjoy a cooking class and lunch with your host at her private residence. Afterwards, you will have some free time to relax or take in more spectacular sites. Your final group dinner of the trip will take place at a historical restaurant renowned for its delicate Venetian seafood. A spectacular farewell awaits, as you sip a Bellini cocktail in a rooftop bar overlooking the Grand Canal, a site that’s sure to stir your emotions. 

Your Italian adventure ends today, you can arrange to leave anytime after breakfast (and after your final cappuccino). If you are planning to stay in Italy a little longer, don’t forget to check out the Atlas Obscura Guide to Italy for tips on what else to do in this beautiful country.