Northern Italy Private Gourmet Grand Tour

This morning, your private driver will pick you up at your Milan hotel or the airport by private chauffeured Mercedes. Let the Italian Gourmet Grand Tour commence! You will head south into the Ancient Roman winemaking region of Piacenza, known for its sweet Malvasias and juicy Gutturnio (Barbera and Croatina grape-based) reds. Your first visit will be to one of Piacenza’s emblematic wineries, such as the beautiful Torre Fornello. You will have a private VIP tour of the estate and vineyards, in English, of course, and finish with a tasting of their best wines.

After a morning of wine tasting, you will undoubtedly be famished, and lunch is at a historic trattoria in a medieval village right at Rivalta Castle. Enjoy a variety of local dishes, such as the traditional Pisarei e Faso bread dumplings with borlotti beans, tomato sauce, and pancetta, paired with exceptional regional wines. After lunch, take a walk around the pretty little hamlet to get some fresh air.

In the afternoon, you will visit La Stoppa, an excellent historic wine estate. Elena Panteleoni and Giulio Armani have worked together since 1991, producing great natural wines. They use only indigenous yeasts, with long macerations on the grape skins, and no filtration. Their Trebbiolo wine was added to the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wine List.

And finally, you will head to Polesine Parmense, where you will be based for the next few nights. A historical fairy-tale castle awaits: Antica Corte Pallavicina. This unique castle, owned by the Pallavicino family, dates back to the 14th century and was converted into a working farm in the 17th century. Massimo (one of Italy’s top salumi producers, president of the Culatello di Zibello Consorzio, legendary chef, and a great-grandson of a farmer who cured hams for Giuseppe Verdi) and Luciano Spigaroli have tastefully restored the building to its ancient splendor. You have three excellent restaurants on-site for dinner tonight: a Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant, the traditional and elegant Cavallino Bianco, or the laid-back and easygoing Osteria del Maiale.

Today you will taste a little slice of heaven- Prosciutto di Parma and Culatello ham, the Crème de la Crème prosciutto of Italy. Head towards the Parma hills, visit an upmarket producer’s Prosciutto di Parma cellar, and finish with a full tasting of their Prosciutto and cured meats made from an ancient local breed of black pigs.

Lunch will be fun and elegant at Hostaria Da Ivan, with a focus on local specialties. Sample dishes include Tosone fritto avvolto in pancetta (young and melty cheese, a secondary product of famous Parmigiano Reggiano, wrapped in bacon), Tortelli intrecciati di erbetta e ricotta (wild herbs and ricotta cheese pocket pasta), and Mariola, con purea di patate e mostarda cremonese (cooked salami, with mashed potatoes and traditional spicy fruit preserve). Superb wines will be chosen for you from the encyclopedic wine list. You will fall head over heels for Barbara’s cuisine and theatrical Ivan!

After lunch, enjoy a digestive “passeggiata” in the park of the nearby Colorno Ducal palace. The first garden was created in 1480, commissioned by Count Roberto Sanseverino. Under Francesco Farnese, it became a mix of French and Italian-style gardens, which Duchess Marie Louise of Austria further modified into an English-style garden.

After a relaxing afternoon, return to your hotel and visit the atmospheric on-site Culatello cellars. Massimo Spigaroli is considered the “King of Culatello,” and celebrities such as Alain Ducasse, Massimo Bottura, and Prince Charles of Wales select and age their Culatello here. At the end of the tour, you will sample the full range of estate-produced salami, including differently aged Culatello, Parmigiano Reggiano, Risotto, and homemade cakes, all paired with Fortana red sparkling wine. The rest of the evening is yours to unwind at the gourmet relais.

This morning, you will travel about one hour east to the magnificent art town of Mantova. With your private guide, you will explore this aristocratic and graceful town. Here you will learn all about the Gonzagas, who transformed Mantua into a court of great splendor and a model of the Renaissance city.

Lunch is the highlight of the day: a 3-Michelin-starred tasting menu at the traditional Dal Pescatore. Founded in 1926 by Antonio Santini’s grandparents, it is still owned and run by the same family today. Enjoy refined, high-end cuisine, with recipes passed down over three generations. This will be a pleasant, nearly three-hour affair, so sit back, relax, and dig in!

On the way back to the relais, stop in the pretty city of Cremona for a gentle stroll. Cremona is a classical music lover’s dream, thanks to its rich musical history and traditions. Some of the earliest and most renowned luthiers were born and worked here, such as Giuseppe Guarneri and Antonio Stradivari.

Return to your hotel, and the evening is yours.

Early bird breakfast this morning! This morning, you will leave Polesine Parmense extra early to reach an authentic Parmigiano Reggiano producer by cheesemaking time (roughly 8:30 a.m.). There are dairies across Emilia-Romagna, and you will visit one in the Parma countryside, about 45 minutes from Polesine Parmense. The visit is very complete, and you will be an expert by the end of the cheese tour. You will see all the elements of Parmigiano production, from processing milk in vats, molding the curd, salting, and then aging the photogenic cheese wheels.

After this fascinating tour and tasting, you have a fun visit in-store at the Galleria Ferrari in Maranello, an actual museum dedicated to Ferrari (this is the birthplace of this mythical car!). Learn all about the “prancing horse” and visit the museum, which is quite large. You can see over 40 real models, such as Formula 1 race cars, from many different decades. For Ferrari-philes, you can have a tour of the Ferrari factory, and the Fiorano track, experience a Pit-Stop, and Scuderia Ferrari driving simulators, and take an onboard picture!

Next, you will head into the wealthy little town of Modena to visit the 11th-century UNESCO-preserved Duomo and relax over an aperitif of bubbly or vino bianco outside, if the weather permits.

Lunch today is at one of Modena’s most historic delicatessens, dating to 1605! Through a narrow doorway, from the deli shop, you will discover a nearly secret back room with only four tables. This family-run restaurant offers a unique experience with traditional mama-style cooking.

After lunch, you will probably want to enjoy a short little digestive walk! Before heading to Bologna, you will visit a beautiful “Acetaia,” a real “Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP” cellar. Here you will learn about the interesting history and production of this liquid gold and taste a few aged DOP Balsamic vinegars, including Collezione della Nonna. This is from the century-old battery, which belonged to great-grandmother Maria. This is a treat!

This evening, you will arrive in beautiful Bologna, one of Italy’s most fantastic cities, with a real bohemian atmosphere. You will love the array of charming restaurants and wine bars. Enjoy a free evening on your own with our dining suggestions.

Enjoy a later start today, and around 11 a.m., you will have your very own pasta-making class right in Bologna. Learn how to make pasta, such as the famed local specialty, Tagliatelle al ragù (an ancient Bolognese recipe). Other local specialties include Crescentine (round bread from the Apennine Mountains), Lasagne al ragù, Tortellini in Brodo, Tortelloni al Burro, Cotolette Alla Bolognese (Veal Cutlets), and, for desserts, Torta di Riso (stunning homemade rice cake) and Raviole stuffed with “Mostarda” (a kind of jam made with quince, pears, sultanas, almonds, dried prunes)

After a private cooking class, sit down and enjoy the results of your efforts!

After some free time, you will enjoy a private guided walking tour of Bologna with a local art guide to take in some of the highlights, such as the Two Towers, the Piazza Maggiore, and Piazza del Nettuno, the Jewish Ghetto, and the fascinating 16th-century Anatomical theater of the ancient university (your guide will have a lot of anecdotes during this visit!). The evening is yours to enjoy the wonderful osterie of Bologna, many of which feature live jazz music.

Today, you have a fantastic lunch and exquisite mosaics in store for you! After a free morning in Bologna to get in some last-minute gourmet shopping or sightseeing, you will dip south towards Imola, home to one of the region’s best and most refined restaurants, San Domenico. This is a gourmet gem, and you will indulge in a superb tasting menu.

Carry on to the sleepy town of Ravenna, where you will be taken aback by the breathtaking 6th and 7th-century mosaics, all with your private art guide. These are some of the most gorgeous mosaics in the world. Located close to the Adriatic Coast, Ravenna is a town with a whole lot of history! The Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus built a port here, underscoring Ravenna’s strategic importance, and later the city became one of the main hubs of Byzantine culture in Italy. You will learn all about the town’s history and visit some major highlights such as the mosaics of 5th-century Galla Placidia (daughter of Emperor Theodosius), the Saint Francesco Basilica with Dante’s Tomb, the Basilica of San Vitale (with some of the best early Christian art in Italy), and more.

In the evening, after an interesting tour of Ravenna, you will return to your hotel, and the evening is yours to explore Bologna on your own. It’s a fantastic city for a stroll; it is small and easy to navigate, with endless churches, palaces, and charming squares to discover.

Today, you will head to Venice, but first, discover the beautiful city of Ferrara with your private art guide. The Dukes of Este built this enchanting, walled town. Known as the “Bicycle City” for having one of the highest numbers of cyclists in Europe, Ferrara is so lovely, unspoiled, and off the beaten track. You will enjoy a walking tour this morning and take in the best of Ferrara from the Castello Estense to the magical Via Delle Volte.

After a refreshing morning walk, you will head to Rubano, close to Padua. Here, a 3 Michelin-starred lunch awaits! This exciting restaurant is a complete contrast to the traditional cuisine you’ve had until now. Chef Massimiliano Alajmo is a real innovator, and the dishes served at this restaurant are continually evolving. You will enjoy a complete tasting menu featuring dishes such as Mixed leaf soup with bean mozzarella, Mandarin and wasabi root Risotto with fish crudo, brodo granita, olive oil galletta, juniper gelato, and balsamic vinegar.

Carry on to Venice (although you can stop en route in Padua if you’d like to break up the journey with a coffee and a few photos).

Upon arrival in Venice, you will say goodbye to your driver for a few days and board your private water taxi to your hotel, a luxury Palazzo right on the Grand Canal. Check into your hotel and enjoy the rest of the late afternoon and evening at your leisure, with our many dining and sightseeing suggestions.

This morning, enjoy a leisurely start and a free day in Bella Venezia until the afternoon, with our suggestions. If this is your first time in Venice, you will want to tour the Grand Canal (either quickly by Vaporetto or with a private motor launch for a more exclusive experience) and see all the stunning palaces along the water. Check out the picturesque market under the Rialto Bridge, get lost in the narrow cobblestoned laneways, and have a coffee on the outdoor terrace at Caffè Florian in Saint Mark’s Square. And there is only one place to have a Bellini aperitif- at the elegant Harry’s Bar, where it was invented. Lunch is on your own with our suggestions.

In the late afternoon, our art guide will meet you at your hotel, and you will embark on a fun two-hour walking tour, full of anecdotes and legends, from Marco Polo to Casanova.

The evening is yours to enjoy on your own; we recommend a private gondola at sunset!

From Venice today, you will head west to the Valpolicella wine region, home to the one and only Amarone. The wine region is nestled in a cozy valley just east of Lake Garda and north of the beautiful city of Verona. You will visit a top winery such as Zymè and, after a private tour of the estate, indulge in a hedonistic tasting of wines ranging from Valpolicella to Amarone Riserva.

Lunch is up next at a traditional and warm trattoria in wine country. This will be a special treat, and apart from the fine wines selected for your meal, you will finish off with a digestive Grappa.

From Valpolicella, you will head into Verona. Your private art guide will take you on a short but interesting walking tour of Verona to show you the “Best of” from the marvelous Roman amphitheater (where the opera festival is held each summer) to the numerous pretty piazzas.

After the tour, head to your hotel, a beautiful Relais & Châteaux property set in a vineyard. The evening is yours, and we highly suggest the hotel’s gourmet restaurant.

Today you will taste the “Champagne of Italy”! Franciacorta is an ultra-high-end wine region producing traditional-method sparkling wines, and you will see for yourself how fantastic they are. The vineyards and wineries are sprinkled around the tiny Lake Iseo near the town of Brescia, and you will visit an excellent producer such as Ca’ del Bosco or Berlucchi.

Enjoy a morning of wine tasting, then follow with lunch right on the sparkling waters of Lake Iseo. The food here is just fabulous, and you’ll try the flagship dish, Risotto al Franciacorta.

After lunch, enjoy a walk around the lake before heading back to your hotel. There is a great spa here, and you will have the rest of the day at leisure to take in spa treatments. The evening is yours to enjoy on your own, and we will give you suggestions for wine bars and top restaurants.

Today you are headed for the magnificent Lake Como, and en route, you will stop for a short walking tour of beautiful Bergamo, one of Italy’s least-known art cities. Your day begins as your private driver escorts you to Bergamo, known as the Medieval and Renaissance Citadel. The new part of Bergamo below is modern, but the historic “Città Alta” (“high city”) is utterly delightful with beautiful squares, palaces, and romantic fountains. You will enjoy a short walking tour with your own private art guide, visiting the most beautiful palaces, churches, and squares. Enjoy an aperitif here and taste wines from just outside Bergamo, such as Valcalepio or Colleoni DOC.

Carry on to a lovely family-run wine estate. In the restored farmhouse, you will taste a local menu featuring Pork shank with polenta, Montevecchia Caprini goat cheeses, and “Laciadei,” traditional apple fritters, all paired with Terre Lariane wines.

The next port of call is Lake Como! One of the most beautiful places on earth, you will marvel at the dramatic scenery and charming lakeside villages. Your base for these last few nights is a luxury hotel right in Bellagio, a historic and beautiful town located in the middle of Lake Como (the lake is shaped like an upside-down “Y”), across the waters from pretty Tremezzo. Check into your luxurious lakefront hotel and enjoy the rest of the day for shopping, walking, and sightseeing. Dinner is on your own in Bellagio, with our suggestions.

After a free morning, you will love the relaxing private cruise we have arranged today, taking in panoramic views of the mountains hovering over the lake, all from your boat. Remember to bring the camera!

You will make a few stops, for example, to the immaculate gardens at Villa Carlotta, Villa del Balbianello, and Villa Monastero. Today’s lunch is a gourmet extravaganza at a Michelin-starred Il Sereno Al Lago with great lake views. Enjoy a superb food-and-wine pairing in the glorious setting. This is the good life!

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy Bellagio. Enjoy a nice walk down to Punta Spartivento, where you will have amazing views, and enjoy an aperitif at a charming wine bar to kick-start the evening. The rest of the evening is yours in Bellagio.

Alas, your Gourmet Grand Tour has come to an end. This morning at your preferred time, your driver will transfer you to Milan for your outbound flight or to your hotel if you are staying on another evening. We hope you have enjoyed the mix of beautiful towns and villages, wine tasting, gourmet dining, and fantastic scenery featured on this tour. Until the next time, arrivederci!