Itinerary
- Day 1
Venice
You'll arrive at Venice airport and head to your hotel in the city center. After settling in at your own pace, the group meets up at 6 PM to get acquainted. From there, you'll walk through the backstreets to check out traditional bacari bars, trying cicchetti and Prosecco alongside your fellow travelers.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner at Bacaro with cicchetti tasting and local Prosecco)
Included Activities
- Welcome dinner at traditional Bacaro with cicchetti tasting and Prosecco
- Introduction to local Venetian bar culture
Landmarks/POIs Venice - Day 2
Venice
Start the day with breakfast, then a local guide takes you on a 2-hour walk hitting the Rialto Bridge, St. Mark's Square, and quieter spots only locals know. After a 30-minute gondola ride through the canals, grab lunch on your own. Later you'll join a Spritz & Knit session with Venetian women, learning about their community work while you knit together. The evening's yours to explore.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Snack (Spritz and knitting session)
Included Activities
- 2-hour private guided walking tour of Venice
- 30-minute gondola ride through canals
- Spritz & Knit experience with local knitters
Landmarks/POIs Rialto Bridge St. Mark's Square - Day 3
Lagoon Islands
Following breakfast, take the public boat to Murano and Burano. You'll watch artisans shape glass in Murano, then head to Burano to see the lace-makers and colorful houses. Cross to a special vineyard property with medieval walls and a 14th-century bell tower. Once back in Venice, the afternoon and evening are free.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to glass blowing laboratory in Murano
- Visit to lace-making workshops in Burano
- Visit to medieval estate with 14th-century belfry in vineyard
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting and lunch at the medieval estate (additional payment)
- Venetian mask-making workshop
Landmarks/POIs Murano Burano - Day 4
Venice to Verona
After breakfast you'll check out and train to Verona. Your driver and guide meet you for a 2-hour tour covering Juliet's balcony, the Roman arena, medieval walls, and the busy market at Piazza delle Erbe. Lunch is on your own. This afternoon, transfer to your farmhouse in the Verona hills, settle in, then join a pasta cooking class with Prosecco on the terrace overlooking the city. Dinner follows with local wines.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with locally-produced wine following pasta cooking class)
Included Activities
- 2-hour guided tour of Verona including Juliet's Balcony, Roman Arena, and Piazza delle Erbe
- Hands-on pasta cooking class with wine
- Dinner featuring dishes prepared during cooking class
Landmarks/POIs Juliet's Balcony Roman Arena of Verona Piazza delle Erbe - Day 5
Lessinia Mountains
After breakfast, drive about 30 minutes to the Lessinia mountains. At a local producer, taste cured meats and cheeses following ancient Benedetti family recipes. You'll have a light lunch in an aging cellar with 5 types of cured meat, 5 cheeses, Grana Padano, and Valpolicella. Next, visit Cristina's farm with alpacas and sheep, tour her craft workshop, then participate in a 2-hour wool-dyeing class. Return for dinner at leisure.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Light lunch in aging cellar: 5 cured meats, 5 cheeses, Beef Carne Salà with Grana Padano DOP cheese, extra virgin olive oil, accompanied by Valpolicella wine)
Included Activities
- Gastronomy experience with artisanal cured meats and cheese tasting
- Visit to alpaca and Brogna sheep breeding farm
- Wool dyeing demonstration and 2-hour workshop using natural pigments
Landmarks/POIs Lessinia Mountains - Day 6
Lake Garda - Sirmione
Following breakfast, drive to Lake Garda and meet your guide at Sirmione. A 25-minute boat tour circles the peninsula, passing Maria Callas's villa, thermal spas, and ancient Roman ruins. You'll see the sulphur spring and go under the castle drawbridge. Later, have fish lunch in Desenzano, then return to Verona. Stop at a yarn shop for browsing, then finish with a Sip'n Knit session at the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Fish lunch in a restaurant in Desenzano), Snack (Drinks and snacks during Sip'n Knit session)
Included Activities
- 2-hour guided tour of Sirmione
- 25-minute boat tour around Sirmione Peninsula
- Sip'n Knit session with drinks and snacks at hotel
Landmarks/POIs Scaligero Castle Grotte di Catullo Sirmione Peninsula Maria Callas Villa - Day 7
Valpolicella
After breakfast, drive to Valpolicella and visit a historic villa where Sara shows you the frescoed rooms, park, vineyard, and cellars. Wine tastings feature Amarone. You'll then tour another villa with an Italian garden, admiring the geometric designs and tasting wine in a 17th-century courtyard. The afternoon's free to relax. Tonight, celebrate with a farewell dinner at an intimate gourmet restaurant near Verona.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Snack (Wine tastings including Amarone at historical villa), Snack (Glass of wine and tasting in XVII-century courtyard), Dinner (Farewell dinner at intimate gourmet restaurant)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of historical villa with frescoed halls, park, vineyard, and cellars
- Wine tastings including Amarone
- Guided tour of Italian garden at second villa
- Wine tasting in XVII-century courtyard
- Farewell dinner at gourmet restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Valpolicella - Day 8
Verona to Venice
After breakfast, check out and arrange your private transfer to Venice airport. You'll say goodbye to your new friends and head home from your Italian adventure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
