Trip Style
Original
Departures
Budget
Affordable
Max. Group Size
12
Pace
Leisurely
Guide Level
Fully Guided
Trip Code
ZMZB
Overview
Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Intrepid's 8 Day Italy Real Food Adventure. Italians are the masters of creating simple dishes that burst with flavour. Inspired by nonnas’ kitchens all over the country, this food is regional, seasonal and as fresh as possible. On this eight-day food-focused adventure through everybody’s favourite culinary hub, you’ll discover that pizza and pasta are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the diverse array of unforgettable street eats, meals and cicchetti from the postcard-perfect Venice to Rome, where medieval meets modern. Delight in local wine,...read more fresh produce, homemade dinners and seasonal favourites in San Gimignano, Tuscany and Bologna.
Itinerary
Buongiorno! Welcome to Italy. Your adventure starts in the iconic city of Venice. If you arrive early, take some time to get lost in the narrow cobblestone streets and spacious piazzas, crossing the tiny bridges to find shops, markets, galleries and churches. Stroll past St Mark’s Square, the Campanile and the Doges Palace. Cross the Rialto and admire the Bridge of Sighs. You’ll have a welcome meeting tonight at 6 pm. After, head out for a welcome aperitivo – the spritz and the bellini are local favourites. Venice's distinctive culinary heritage goes back to ancient times and features rich risottos, saline baccala (salted cod) and creamy polenta. If you're hungry, follow your leader to an atmospheric restaurant for your first introduction to Venetian flavours.
This morning, your local leader will treat you to a typical Venetian breakfast at a local café’. Enjoy an espresso or cappuccino with some local Venetian pastries like baci di dama, brutti ma buoni and bussola. Then, continue walking down the canals to watch farmers unload their produce from their boats, ready to be sold at Venice's famous Rialto markets. This tradition is more than 1000 years old. Next, you’ll swing past the fish market, where the day’s catch might come directly from the Venetian lagoon – the enclosed bay of the Adriatic Sea. Maybe have an aperitivo spritz here, then the afternoon is free for your own exploration. Tonight, discover the Venetian answer to tapas on a cicchetti crawl through the city's fabulous bacari (wine bars). Snacking is an important pastime in Venice, with many people stopping for cicchetti both before and after meals. (B/D)
Travel to Bologna by train this morning – this city's culinary claim to fame is significant, thanks to the ragu alla bolognese. Home of tagliatelle, mortadella and a range of other cured meats and salamis, Bologna, along with the surrounding Emilia Romagna region, is a foodie’s paradise. When you arrive, maybe wander past the beautiful old terracotta buildings and lively streets and acquaint yourself with the area. Later, you'll discover the real food of Bologna with a hands-on cooking class in the fine art of pasta-making. Feast on your handiwork over dinner with your host and your group, celebrating your new skill. (B/D)
Today you’ll discover the flavours of the renowned Emilia Romagna region. Visit a factory dedicated to producing one of Italy's most coveted culinary exports – Parmigiano Reggiano. Learn how this cheese is made, and then try it for yourself. Continue to the town of Modena and visit an acetaia – a house where the family produce fine-aged Modena balsamic vinegar in the attic. You'll see how the vinegar is aged in barrels made from different woods, learn why it’s never less than 12 years old and then see the difference between the factory-made vinegar and the real stuff with a tasting. Head to a trattoria for a delicious lunch of the best local produce and farm-fresh seasonal dishes. Wash it down with a glass of Lambrusco – the town's famed sparkling red. Stroll around the town and admire the Palazzo Ducale before returning to Bologna in the late afternoon. (B/L)
This morning, travel to the village of Pancole in the heart of Tuscany. The region is renowned for a cuisine that celebrates simplicity and the bounty of locally grown produce in hearty, rustic dishes. Pecorino cheese, farro (an ancient grain) and artisanal cured meats like lardo di colonnata are just some of the many local ingredients you can expect to indulge in during your stay. Your accommodation is a traditional Tuscan farmhouse near the enchanting village of San Gimignano. The farmhouse is surrounded by vineyards and olive trees that the family has been producing excellent wine and olive oil from by organic methods for over fifty years. Enjoy a guided walk through the vineyards and cellars of the estate, followed by a tasting of some signature Tuscan wines and olive oils. Dinner tonight will be seasonal favourites, made with ingredients freshly harvested from the farmhouse garden beds. This could include homemade pasta, salads, finocchiona salami, crostini toscani (chicken liver pate on lightly toasted bread) and seasonal vegetables. (B/D)
This morning, walk along a portion of the Via Francigena – the major pilgrimage route to Rome during the Middle Ages. Explore the medieval walled town of San Gimignano – a UNESCO World Heritage site often called the Town of Fine Towers due to the preservation of several impressive torre (tower houses) within its walls. Stop past an award-winning gelateria, where intriguing flavours like gorgonzola cheese and walnuts await your tastebuds. Spend the rest of your time exploring the walking paths around the farm or relaxing by the pool, enjoying beautiful views of the Tuscan countryside. (B)
Today, jump on a train to Rome – Italy’s capital famed for its deliciously fresh food and scattered ancient ruins. When you arrive, take a leader-led orientation walk through the historical city centre, past the Spanish Steps, Trevi fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Venezia, Roman Forum, and Colosseum. After taking in all the big (and small) highlights of this magical city, you’ll head to a local’s home for a special homecooked, plant-based dinner experience. Swap stories with your host and sit down for a feast of seasonal dishes, After, maybe head to a local bar and cheers to a trip well-travelled over a glass of local wine. (B/D)
With no activities planned after breakfast, your food adventure comes to an end today. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- Stay in a traditional Tuscan farmhouse near San Gimignano, surrounded by vineyards and olive trees. Tour the grounds, indulging in tastings of their local wines and rich organic olive oil.
- Take a cooking class and watch a demonstration of how Bologna pasta is made, right in the heart of its culinary namesake, before sitting down to enjoy the fruits (or pasta sheets) of your labour.
- Swap stories with a Roman local as you feast on home-cooked seasonal dishes for dinner right in their home.
- See Italy’s iconic sights, like the canals of Venice, the romantic streets of Rome and the UNESCO World Heritage Site in San Gimignano.
- Find foodie bliss with a food tour that lets you taste all the regional highlights like gelato, cicchetti, pasta, vinegar, cheese, seasonal fruit and vegetables and organic meats.
- Hotel (5 nights)
- Farmstay (2 nights)
- 7 Breakfasts included
- 1 Lunches included
- 4 Dinners included
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
- Intrepid regularly update their itineraries throughout the year based on feedback and local conditions. Therefore the itinerary you see now may differ from when you booked. Global Journeys will provide you with detailed trip notes at the time of quoting, along with a finalised itinerary and trip notes before your trip departs.
Brochure
Intrepid Europe & Middle East (2024-25)
We know this is your European trip of a lifetime, and we’re committed to making it unforgettable. Our itineraries strike the perfect balance between the structured and the spontaneous, with a focus on experiences only made possible when you’re travelling with a local leader. You want freedom and flexibility as well as the highlights – that’s why we...more craft tours that give you both.
Availability
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Cancel up to 56 days before departure and your deposit becomes a credit for future travel.
Guaranteed Departures
Your Intrepid trip is guaranteed to depart as soon as one full paying traveler is booked!
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26 Sep 2025
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03 Oct 2025
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03 Oct 2025
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22 Sep 2026
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22 Sep 2026
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29 Sep 2026
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14 Sep 2027
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21 Sep 2027
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21 Sep 2027
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28 Sep 2027
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26 Sep 2025
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03 Oct 2025
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03 Oct 2025
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10 Oct 2025
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15 Sep 2026
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22 Sep 2026
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22 Sep 2026
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29 Sep 2026
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14 Sep 2027
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21 Sep 2027
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21 Sep 2027
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Note
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Intrepid. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Intrepid. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Intrepid. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Intrepid. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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