Italy -Tuscany & Emilia-Romagna

Arrive at Milan airport, where your Travel representative will escort you to your hotel in Parma, your home for the next several days. Take time to unpack or explore your new surroundings before tonight’s convivial Welcome Reception and Dinner.

The day begins with a discovery of wonderful Parma! See the eye-catching Parma Cathedral, the Teatro Regio di Parma, the Palazzo della Pilotta and the Piazza Garibaldi, surrounded by stately buildings. You may also walk around the campus of the University of Parma. Then get ready for a fun, hands-on pasta cooking class. After, dig into your creations over a tasty lunch.

After breakfast, head out to visit a cheese farm in the country. During an intimate behind-the-scenes tour of the factory, learn how expert cheese makers use centuries-old methods to turn milk, salt and rennet into sensational parmesan cheese. After lunch, step back in time along the medieval streets of Vigoleno, one of Italy’s most compelling villages, and visit the pretty hamlet of Castell’Arquato. Tonight, join an expert to learn more about the Emilia-Romagna region.

This morning, choose between 1) an enriching tour of the Ferrari Museum in Maranello or 2) a fun walking tour of the town of Reggio Emilia. Later, venture out to Modena with your group to learn about the maturation, refinement and aging process of Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena. Savor a tasting of this sweet yet savory syrup.

Following breakfast, begin your journey to Cortona. En route, stop to discover the wonders of Bologna, including the city’s UNESCO-listed porticoes, covered arched arcades. A walking tour showcases the Piazza Maggiore, Bologna University, the old town and beyond. Continue to Cortona and check in to your hotel.

Begin the day with a walking tour of Cortona. Admire the town’s artistic and historical treasures and notice the exceptional Etruscan features. See the Piazza della Repubblica and the nearby 13th-century town hall. Next, visit the Museum of the Etruscan Academy, home to archaeological finds and important Etruscan, Greek, Roman and Egyptian works of art, mosaics and collections of engraved gems. Later, an expert shares insight into modern Italy.

Today’s highlights includes a walking tour of Orvieto and a visit to a family-run olive mill. Begin in Orvieto, where we’ll stroll along the cobblestone streets and admire the Gothic-Romanesque Duomo and 14th-century Pozzo di San Patrizio. Then head into the country for a guided tour of an olive mill. You will also have the opportunity to taste the freshly prepared oils.

Travel through the patchwork of burgeoning hill country of the Val d’Orcia. Let your senses succumb to the region’s provocative beauty! During today’s outing, enjoy a tantalizing culinary experience at a family-owned winery in the Brunello di Montalcino region. Tour the winery and sample satisfying vintages and tasty local cheeses. Celebrate your getaway during a Farewell Reception and Dinner tonight.