Tour Details
DEPARTURE INFORMATION
Venice & Mira
We will greet you in Venice and escort you to the charming town of Mira. Join us for a cocktail party and Welcome Dinner.
Rimini
A morning drive takes us to Rimini, stopping along the way in lovely Ravenna, ‘Mosaic City.’ You’ll create a mosaic piece of your own in one of the city’s mosaic workshops.
From Rimini, we will take an excursion to tiny San Marino. We’ll take a guided walking tour through Borgo Maggiore and a cable car ride to the sovereign nation’s capital, also called San Marino. After lunch, we’ll depart for Urbino, birthplace of the celebrated painter Raphael before returning to Rimini.
Rimini, Ferrara & Bologna
This morning in Rimini, join us for an exclusive private lecture exploring the brilliant films of Rimini native, director Federico Fellini. This afternoon, we depart for Ferrara, the setting for the Oscarwinning film The Garden of the Finzi- Contini’s by director Vittorio De Sica. We continue to Bologna for a brief walking tour. At dinner this evening, we will be guests for a family dinner in a private Bologna home.
Our morning drive will transport us to what some might call automotive heaven – the Ferrari Factory Museum in Maranello and the world-class Modena Race Track. After a morning filled with dreams of winning race cars, you’ll find yourself behind the wheel of a real Ferrari where you’ll test your skills and wits on the exhilarating Autodromo di Modena track!
A robust (and well-earned) Italian lunch is a prelude to our next stop, the Atelier of the amazing Pagani Automobili Factory.
Modena, Parma & Cremona
We will begin our visit at the Teatro Comunale Luciano Pavarotti in Modena. A private student recital, a conversation with one of Pavarotti’s colleagues, and a gracious reception highlight our visit.
In Parma, we’ll indulge in the world famous Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (parmesan), as well as excellent cold meats, such as Prosciutto di Parma, culatello, salame, and spalla – accompanied by the region's sparkling Lambrusco wines.
After feasting on local delicacies, we will go to the charming town of Cremona, where the families of Amati, Stradivari, and Guarneri created the most prestigious stringed instruments of all time. We are treated to a violin recital by a local maestro.
Portofino
On our way to Portofino this morning, we stop at Busseto, the home of Giuseppe Verdi, one of the world’s greatest opera composers.
A full-day excursion takes us to the cliffside villages of the Cinque Terre. We’ll explore each of these enchanting villages, and be rewarded with a tasting of the famous Sciacchetra wine, a sweet wine produced only in and identified with the Cinque Terre. In the late afternoon, we’ll return to Portofino to enjoy an evening by the sparkling sea.
On our final day here, you may choose either of two engaging options — a beautiful guided walking tour of Genoa or an authentic local cooking class hosted by a dean of Ligurian chefs, in her own kitchen.
Tonight, we will enjoy a Farewell Dinner.
Genoa & Home
This morning, you will travel to the airport in Genoa for your return flight home or on to your next destination.
Hotel Villa Franceschi, Mira
Villa Franceschi epitomizes all of the essential stylistic and historical characteristics of the villas around Brenta – a seventeenth century villa with a stone balcony and gable facing the waterway. Nestled between the barn and the old boathouse, the suites and rooms at Villa Franceschi present an extremely charming atmosphere. Offering marble fireplaces, ceilings with exposed wooden beams and terracotta floors, the rooms evoke a typically Venetian feel. This Venetian workmanship is embellished by rich curtains and silk fabrics produced by the best craftsmen of Venice. A trip to Villa Franceschi is one saturated with tradition, where you can spend an unforgettable stay away from the drudgery of daily routine.
Grand Hotel Rimini, Rimini
Set in the heart of a breathtaking park overlooking the Adriatic Sea, the Grand Hotel Rimini is universally considered to be the most prestigious hotel of the Riviera. The location, décor, and lavish atmosphere distinguish the Grand Hotel as an ideal destination for an exclusive holiday. The hotel’s long-established passion for quality and hospitality makes it an ideal place for peace and relaxation.
Grand Hotel Majestic, Bologna
Built in 1870, the Grand Hotel Majestic is a stunning example of renewed Belle Époque architecture with an enchanting view of the Borromeo Gulf. The hotel is known for its distinguished architecture and its refined environment - the elegance of the rooms, the spacious adorned halls, and the spectacular terrace all harken back to when the hotel was frequented by renowned nobility and artists. Today, the hotel continues to offer all of the comforts and services of a modern high-class hotel with touches of the charming past.
Park Hotel Pacchiosi, Parma
Immersed in a beautiful park of 10,000 sqm in the oldest district of Parma, the Park Hotel Pacchiosi is the ideal place to live the city, in total privacy and relaxation. The historic building that houses the hotel dates back to early 20th century. It was in fact the "Reale Clinica Chirurgica", designed by Eng. Enrico Bovio. The entrance, elegant and marked by a monumental scale, is spacious and bright, with ceilings up to 15 meters. The Park Hotel Pacchiosi is the most luxurious hotel in Parma, and has 59 rooms furnished in neo-Renaissance style, with Carrara marble floors and handcrafted furniture made specifically for the hotel.
Belmond Hotel Splendido, Portofino
Set overlooking the picture-perfect harbor of Portofino, with its luxury yachts bobbing at anchor, Belmond Hotel Splendido is one of Italy’s most glamorous retreats. A stay here embraces all that is best about the Ligurian Riviera: warm days by the pool, celebrated cuisine, and magical views of the turquoise Mediterranean. The Belmond Splendido Hotel encapsulates the Belmond experience, delivering you right to the heart of the vibrant local scene. A 2015 Travel+Leisure World's Best Hotel