Friuli and Veneto Food & Wine Tour

Day 01: Venice Arrival | Welcome to Italy! Upon your arrival at Venice Airport, our local English speaking representative will be waiting to welcome you. You will be transferred first by private limo and then by private motor launch to your hotel in San Marco Area. The balance of this first day is at leisure. Overnight in Venice.

Day 02: Venice | This morning after breakfast meet in your Personal Guide at the Hotel lobby for an enchanting panoramic tour over the history of St. Mark’s square and its main monuments: You will visit the Cathedral of Venice, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s palace, fourteenth century building from where the ancient Venetian republic exerted the control over the city. Passing through the famous Bridge of Sighs you will reach the Prisons Palace. Proper attire is required while visiting the Basilica. For security reasons bags, back-packs, etc. cannot be taken into the Basilica. Lunch at leisure. In the afternoon meeting with our expert guide-sommelier for a ” Bacari tour “, she will introduce you the hidden Venice by this food & wine experience. The Bacari, the local down-to-earth version of wine bars, serve tapas like “cicheti”, traditionally washed down with a glass of wine, and Venetians stop to snack and socialize before and after meals. They are called “Bacari” in honour to Bacchus, the God of Wine…. We’ll drink wine and eat “cicheti”, cheese, seafood or cold cut appetizers freshly made during the day. Wandering from place to place we shall learn more about the people of the old Venice and the lifestyle of a community of pedestrians! Overnight in Venice.

Day 03: Venice – Euganean Hills Wine Tour – Verona | Breakfast at the Hotel. On route to your Hotel in Verona, travel through Padova province Euganean Hills. The day’s excursion starts with a visit to a typical cantina in the Veneto region. Arrive in the medieval town of Arqua Petrarca where, weather permitting, you will tour the vineyards with the owners. Learn about the area’s grape growing techniques from the vintners themselves and, after a short description of the winemaking process, enjoy a wine tasting in the wine bar in the center of Arqua Petrarca. Your wine tasting will be led by the vineyard owner along with your guide, who is a sommelier and cheese expert. Next, take a scenic drive to a local restaurant and enjoy a light lunch featuring traditional dishes and excellent wine. After lunch, visit another cantina with the owner, who will explain the local production technique before leading you through a second wine tasting with more of the famous regional varieties. Together with your guide, discuss the differences and similarities of the wines from these 2 respected local producers. Late afternoon transfer to your hotel in Verona.

Day 04: Verona | After breakfast at the Hotel, meet your driver in the lobby for a morning Private Guided Tour of Verona. Visit Verona main sights: the Arena (Roman amphitheater), Juliet’s house, Romeo’s house, the Roman bridge, the Roman theater, the Scala family tombs (considered one of the most representative example of Gothic architecture), Signori square, Erbe square, Castlevecchio, and much more. After the Tour return to your Hotel or decide to spend time in the historic centre for a Lunch and afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Verona.

Day 05: Verona at Leisure or *Optional Tour: Lake Garda Wine Tour | Breakfast at the Hotel. The southern part of the Lake is the birthplace of the Custoza white wine. Though not so well known abroad, the mild climate of the Lake, renders these wines very pleasant to drink. You will follow the wine road between the enchanting fishing villages of Lazise, Garda, Bardolino and the romantic Punta San Vigilio offering stunning views of the Lake. You will visit one of the most famous wine cellars, owned by the Zeni family. Here you will have the opportunity not only to taste all the wines of the Verona regions, but also to learn about the process of wine making in their interesting wine museum. The Lake Garda is also known for its olive oil, and a visit to the olive oil museum in Bardolino is part of the program. Late afternoon return to your Hotel in Verona.

Day 06: Verona – Palladian Villas – Treviso | Breakfast at the Hotel. This morning enjoy a Private Transfer to your Hotel in Treviso, on route visit Villa Pisani and Vicenza. At the beginning Villa Pisani counted 114 rooms (today 168), as homage to the 114th Doge of Venice, Alvise Pisani. The monumentality of the villa made it the perfect residence and location for meetings between monarchs, heads of state and government. In 1807 Villa Pisani became Napoleone Bonaparte’s property, while in 1814 the villa passed to the Austrian family of the Absburg, thus becoming the country mansion of the European aristocracy. Today belong to Italian State. After the visit, continue to Treviso. Overnight in Treviso.

Day 07: Treviso – Valdobbiadene – Conegliano – Prosecco – Treviso | Breakfast at the Hotel. Here meet you guide for a Guided Tour of Treviso, a true jewel of art enclosed by 16th century walls featuring exquisite palaces, waterways crossing the historic city centre, the enchanting Piazza dei Signori. After lunch at leisure, you will travel to Valdobbiadene, home of the world wide known Prosecco wine. In the small historic village of Conegliano, you will have a private visit at Cantine Carpena Malvolti winery: visit to the wine cellars, the fermentation barrels, wine tasting will follow. Then you will visit another award winning Winery, a stunning Palladian style masterpiece dating back to 1622 which now is the headquarter of the Wine Company, where we will visit the Villa, underground cellar, the historic gardens, a wine tasting of sparkling wines ( Prosecco ) will follow. Late afternoon return to Treviso. Overnight in Treviso.

Day 08: Treviso – Whites Wines of Friuli Collio area | Breakfast at the Hotel. Pick up in the morning at the Hotel lobby: you will travel by private car and English speaking driver to the Friuli region, home of superb wines. Your accommodation will be a country Relais in Cormons, in the heart of Collio area, surrounded by vineyards, featuring also a superb gourmet restaurant. Travelling through the rolling hills of the Collio area, you will visit two superb wineries and you will taste excellent wines. Then you will reach the country Relais, where you will stay in modern, bi-level wooden chalets, surrounded by oak trees and vineyards, where you will enjoy a complete relax, 100 meters far from you room you will find the restaurant and the main building where you will have your breakfast and dinner. Dinner at the Gourmet restaurant of the Relais. Overnight in Cormons.

Day 09: Cormons at Leisure or *Optional Tour: Cividale Wines and San Daniele Ham – Cormons | Breakfast at the Hotel. Today you will travel through the Friuli region, your first stop will be in San Daniele del Friuli surrounded by rolling hills, where you will have a walking tour in the charming medieval city centre, then you will visit a Prosciutto factory and will have a light lunch based on San Daniele ham and typical products. Then you will drive to the countryside around Udine, stop for a visit of the Roman village of Cividale del Friuli for the a flagship Winery tour. Here you will have a private guided visit of the wine cellar and a wine tasting. Late afternoon return to your Hotel. Overnight in Cormons.

Day 10: Cormons – Venice Airport | After breakfast at the hotel enjoy a Private Transfer from your Cormons Hotel to Venice Airport.

• 2 Nights Venice
• 3 Nights Verona
• 2 Nights Treviso
• 2 Nights Cormons
• Private Transportation by Mercedes E or V Class with English Speaking Driver
• Private Guided Tours with Professional Local Guides | Door to Door Service
• Entrances to Museums, Galleries, Archeological Parks and other Venues
• Breakfast at Hotels, All Food & Wine Tours/Enogastronomic and Most Lunches.
• 24/7 Assistance and Support from our Ground Operational Office in Italy