Italy on a Plate

Welcome to beautiful Italy, a diverse country with something for everyone! Ancient ruins lie next to modern buildings, and cobblestone alleyways next to busy streets. Home of pizza, pasta, olive oil and wine, Italy is known as a food lover's paradise and fashion lovers from all over the world travel for the latest clothing, shoes and handbag designs. We begin our tour in the capital city of Rome, one of the most famous cities in the world. This evening meet your fellow travellers and Tour Director for a welcome drink at the hotel.

Chianciano Terme is a charming Tuscan town, sitting on the border between Val d'Orcia and Val di Chiana. Known for its historic city centre and thermal baths, rich in minerals with therapeutic properties, this town serves as a great base for exploring the splendours of Tuscany. Before travelling to Chianciano Terme, we explore the iconic sights of Rome during a walking tour. Highlights include Piazza Venezia, Panteon, Piazza Navona, Fontana di Trevi and admiring the ancient structure of the world-famous Colosseum.

Later this afternoon we'll arrive at our accommodation, an agriturismo, just outside the town centre. An agriturismo is essentially a farm-stay, traditionally owned and operated by the farmer, and is a great way to immerse in the culture of the region and get a true local experience. You may wish to walk to the medieval town of Chianciano with our Tour Leader for an aperitivo at a local bar. Enjoy a group welcome dinner tonight made up of organic, locally produced dishes. (B/D)

We explore Tuscany Valley today, first walking through the many olive tree fields, vineyards and farms, then visiting an olive oil mill. Olive oil is basically a culture in Italy and was first produced in the country as early as 800 BC. While it originated in Greece, the quality of the Italian olive oil quickly overtook that of the Greeks, and it has remained so throughout the centuries. At the mill we will learn about the cold press process used to produce olive oil, and how to taste the difference between the many varieties.

Next, we stop at Carpineto Winery, to taste traditional wines. Here we will gain an understanding of the wine process and enjoy lunch with local delicatessen. Spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring more of the spectacular surrounds, before a group dinner back at our agriturismo. Today's walk is approximately 9.6 kilometres (B/L/D)

Montepulciano is a medieval hilltop town, renowned for its vino nobile red wine. With narrow, cobblestone streets, a beautiful gothic clock tower and a bustling main piazza, surrounded by sprawling vineyards and farms, it's a picture-perfect Tuscan town. While here, we'll enjoy a walking tour through the narrow streets, many of which only allow for foot-traffic, and take in the impressive ancient architecture.

Special Experience: Visit a wine maker and underground cantina for a tasting and lunch at the historic winery. Contucci is a family run winery and one of the oldest in the region, located on the main square. Built in 1300, the winery has been in the family for over 1,000 years. We will tour the underground cellar, learn about the history and legacy all while sampling the delicious local wines.

Back at street level, we enjoy some free time to explore before returning to the argiturismo for dinner. (B/L/D)

Val d'Orcia is part of the agricultural hinterland of Siena. The sweeping landscapes dotted with dwellings and hilltop villages have inspired many famous artists and have led it to be recognised on the UNESCO World Heritage list. We'll transfer to Pienza, known as one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany. Once a tiny village, it was transformed by Pope Pius II in the 1400s when he decided he wanted to turn his home village into an ideal Renaissance town. Many of the buildings in the town's historic centre were developed in this time and haven't been changed since.

Along the way we will stop at the medieval village of Montichiello, one of Tuscany's many hidden gems. This small village, home to a population of approximately 200 people, is brimming with history, with many of the main walls and towers seen today dating back some 850 years! We'll walk part of the Via Francigena, a famous ancient pilgrimage route, from Pienza to Bagno Vignoni. Some of the landscapes may look familiar as scenes from the movie Gladiator were filmed here.

On our journey we will enjoy a picnic lunch with local produce. Arriving in the village of Bagno Vignoni, we'll have time to relax in the town's famous hot springs and explore the village centre, before returning to our agriturismo. Today's walk is approximately 14.3 kilometres (B/L/D)

Sit back and enjoy the beautiful Tuscan countryside as we make our way to Siena this morning. We'll arrive at the grand entrance, Porta Romana, a medieval gate built hundreds of years ago where we will begin our walking tour to the famous Piazza del Campo. Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful main squares in Italy and the world, Piazza del Campo features a unique shell shape, gothic architecture and a bell tower. Twice a year, the square hosts an annual horse race, Il Palio, whose beginnings can be traced to Mediaeval times.

We will have some free time here to wander at your own pace. You may wish to walk the 400 steps to the bell tower and be rewarded with stunning views over the city and surrounding countryside. We'll then stop at the historic Piazza Mercato for some free time to have lunch before continuing our walking tour to the majestic Duomo (cathedral). Constructed over the 13th and 14th centuries, the Duomo has breathtaking interior as well as its iconic exterior. Next we walk to the other side of the city to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Basilica of Saint Francis.

We'll return to our agriturismo in the evening. Today's walk is approximately 2.6 kilometres (B/D)

Enjoy a day at leisure to bask in the serenity of this beautiful location. Why not take some time to explore your beautiful surrounds on foot, strolling through vineyards and charming towns?

Special Experience: Participate in a hands-on cooking class, learning how to make a traditional, homemade Tuscan meal and enjoy our creations for dinner. (B/D)

It's time to say goodbye to Chianciano Terme today as we travel to San Lazzaro, a beautiful coastal town on Italy's Amalfi coast. One of the lesser-known towns in the region, it is certainly no less stunning. Set upon a cliff, San Lazzaro offers impeccable views of the rugged coast and rich blue sea.

On our way to San Lazzaro, we visit the ancient city of Pompeii, where a local guide will meet us for a tour of the famous ruins. The prosperous Roman city of Pompeii lay buried for hundreds of years after the eruption of the Vesuvius volcano in the year 79AD and is one of the most significant examples of Roman civilisation. The volcanic material that covered Pompeii kept the city largely intact, including both the exteriors and interiors of many buildings.

We'll have some free time to wander around and marvel at the ruins before continuing along the Amalfi coast to the region of Agerola where we will spend the next five nights. Tonight, we'll visit a local family farm and enjoy a lovely homemade dinner with produce from the harvest. (B/D)

Bomerano is another scenic town of the Amalfi coast. The town's fresh sea breezes, combined with its alpine-like streets and the surrounding snow-capped Lattari mountains, have earned its nickname of ‘Little Switzerland'. Here we'll visit a local cheese maker, renowned for their Fior di Latte, Cacio Cavallo and spicy Provolone del Monaco. We'll see the cheeses at the different stages of production and enjoy a taste test.

Special Experience: At a local family farm learn about the Mozzarella cheese process, made from their own cows and with organic milk.

Special Experience: Visit a local farmer and watch on as he prepares traditional antipasto and homemade Italian barbeque for dinner.

Today's walk is approximately 6.9 kilometres (B/L/D)

This morning we'll take the San Lazzaro castle walk, where we see two castles and spectacular views of the Amalfi Coast. Afterwards we'll visit a local family, well-known for producing arguably the best organic gelato ever. We will learn the techniques as we sample some of the mouth-watering flavours. We can work off the gelato on an optional walk through the Fiord of Furore. After some down time at the hotel, we'll make our way to a nearby family-run pizzeria. Special Experience: Learn the secrets of artisanal, wood-oven pizza during a cooking masterclass teaching us how to make pizza the authentic way from scratch. (B/L/D)

Refined Ravello, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site and popular tourist destination. It contrasts to many of the other towns of Amalfi – instead of being built on the cliffs and coast, it is set high above on a hilltop. Villa Rufolo in the historic centre is an impressive 13th century building with beautifully manicured gardens, and a highlight of the trip. We'll take a tour through the town and then enjoy some free time to explore before lunch.

After our break we will walk down to the town of Amalfi, following along the river and seeing many waterfalls and old paper mills along the way. Spend the rest of the day at leisure in this iconic town, departing after some free time for dinner. Today's walk is approximately 6.3 kilometres (B)

Not far from San Lazzaro is the town of Praiano where you'll find Marina di Praia, one of the Amalfi Coast's iconic beaches. Unlike most of the other beaches in the area, lined with umbrellas, the pebbly beach is filled with boats and fishing nets which gives an insight into what life is like for the local fishermen.

Enjoy some time at leisure here to swim in the sea and explore the village. We'll make our way to Marina di Praia where we will have free time for swimming or to simply to sit back and enjoy the sun in this breathtaking location. You may wish to have lunch at a family seafood restaurant alongside the beach or spend the afternoon at leisure. We'll return to San Lazzaro this evening where we will have dinner at a local Agriturismo Zi Carmine. (B/D)

We venture south to Galdo today, an idyllic Italian hamlet in the Salerno province. This charming location only has about 150 residents. En route we stop at a famous organic buffalo mozzarella farm. Here we'll explore the estate, learn about the process and production of this iconic Italian cheese and have some free time for lunch.

We'll also see the ancient ruins of Paestum, home to three of the world's best preserved ancient Greek temples. Originally named Poseidonia after the Greek god of the sea, it was founded in the 6th century BC but fell to the Romans in 273 BC. Today we'll explore the ruins and visit the museum to gain insight into what this city was once was like. Later this afternoon we visit a local artisanal family of wine makers, Agriturismo Corbella where we'll enjoy tastings and dinner.

Special Experience: At Agriturismo Corbella, hear about the Mediterranean diet from an ambassador and indulge in fresh local produce for dinner. (B/D)

This morning we'll embark on a walking journey to Acciaroli beach, visiting the ancient villages of Pollica and Canicchio along the way. Arriving at the beach, spend the afternoon at leisure before we head back to our hotel. Tonight we'll visit Agriturismo Al Sentiero for a cooking demonstration and dinner. Today's walk is approximately 11 kilometres (B/D)

Cilento National Park is one of Italy's lesser known gems. A UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, the park covers over 1,800 square kilometres and is home to stunning natural landscapes, quaint fishing villages, small seaports, rolling hills, ancient churches, dark caves and much more. Our tour today begins in the village of San Severino which was founded between the 10th and 11th century. The original settlement was built on the top of a hill but later abandoned due to the construction of a railway. We'll have the chance to explore this ancient ghost town, learning about its history while also taking in the panoramic views of the park and river below.

Special Experience: Enjoy a buffet lunch, lovingly homemade by local families at a village bar in San Severino.

Optional Excursion: Blue Grotto Boat Tour – Further explore the coast on a boat tour to see the striking caves. The Blue Grotto named due to the bright blue colour of the water, displays different shades throughout the day depending on the intensity of the light that enters the channel. Much like the famous grotto with the same name in Capri, Grotta Azzura has fewer crowds and allows for more time to take in the breathtaking turquoise panorama (weather permitting).1hr 30mins to 2hr 30mins – from Euro 25pp (minimum 4 people) (B/L/D)

This morning we transfer to the town of Santa Maria di Castellabate, located right on the sea in the north of the Cilento nature reserve. We'll stroll through this charming, medieval town with our tour guide, before having some free time to explore. Make sure to check out the seafront promenade where some of the historic buildings are just metres from the sea.

Special Experience: Enjoy a picturesque, seaside picnic indulging in delicious local cuisine while taking in the impressive views. (B/L/D)

Today we'll make our way back to Rome, the final destination of our trip. Filled with historic icons, picturesque streets, and bustling piazzas, it's easy to see how the locals have been enjoying la dolce vita here since 753 BC. Along the way we stop for a quick break in the city of Naples, one of Italy's most unlikely masterpieces. Here we visit Galleria Umberto, a beautiful public shopping gallery. After some free time to shop and an aperitivo lunch, we continue to Rome.

This evening we indulge in a group farewell dinner at a local restaurant – a great way to reminisce on our adventures over the last few weeks. (B/L/D)

Today marks the end of our Italian adventure. We hope you leave with fantastic memories! (B)