Iconic Italy
Cinque Terre, Bologna, Tuscany
May 16-25, 2025
Price: $6,500/person
Our first-ever tour was this "La Passeggiata" to Northern Italy, covering Cinque Terre, Emilia Romagna & Tuscany, and it remains our most popular. So much so that we've re-named it "Iconic Italy" because that's what we believe it is!
Embark on an unforgettable culinary journey through Italy's most enchanting regions, starting in the vibrant villages of Cinque Terre where fresh seafood, Ligurian pesto, and breathtaking coastal vistas await, then onto the historic streets of Bologna, a gastronomic haven offering delectable pasta dishes, cured meats, and local wines, and finally, immerse yourself in the rustic charm of Panzano in Chianti, surrounded by rolling vineyards and olive groves, indulging in Tuscan flavors and savoring Chianti wine.
Living like a local is what this experience is all about! We won’t just eat good food (and a LOT of it!) - we will meet the artisans who produce it and get a deep understanding of the traditions that drive this amazing food culture. You will be experiencing all of the culinary "classics" of Italy while learning how they all go hand-in-hand.
Keep scrolling for more tour details, pricing, and specific Trip Notes for this particular tour. Feel free to contact us with any questions!
Itinerary
Our 10 days will be filled with excursions along the seaside of the Cinque Terre, exploring the culinary depths of the Emilia Romagna region, and finishing off with four nights in the famous Tuscany region.
Cinque Terre (3 nights) - A picturesque and colorful coastal area comprised of five charming villages nestled among rugged cliffs, known for its stunning views, hiking trails, and vibrant Ligurian culture.
Bologna (3 nights) - Located in the heart of the Emilia Romagna region, Bologna renowned for its well-preserved medieval architecture, rich cultural heritage, and as a culinary hub famous for its traditional Italian cuisine.
Panzano in Chianti (3 nights) - A quaint Tuscan village with an idyllic location in the heart of the Chianti wine region, offering panoramic vineyard views and a relaxed atmosphere.
Tour Highlights
A private sunset cruise to enjoy the five towns from the water! Enjoy an apericena as the sun sets over the Cinque Terre.
See how Parmigiano-Reggiano, the "king of cheeses," is made, from milk to the final aging process.
Live your best Tuscan life, sipping Chianti and enjoying antipasti in a castle overlooking the rolling Tuscan hills.
Visit the famous 8th generation butcher shop of Dario Cecchini, the Butcher of Panzano, and we'll enjoy a "meat feast" of a dinner in his restaurant!
Visit an olive oil producer to learn how this famous product is made, followed by a professional olive oil tasting and light lunch with delicious pairings.
Double occupancy: $6,500/person
Single supplement: $800
Deposit of $2,000/person is due upon booking to reserve your spot, along with a signed & completed registration form. Booking is not considered confirmed until deposit has been received.
Payments can be made by check (made out to Curata Travel) and mailed to: Curata Travel, 245 N. Main Street, Spring Grove, PA 17362.
Credit cards are accepted with a 3.6% fee.
Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure.
Pricing includes:
- Nine nights of hotel accommodations (3 nights in Monterosso al Mare, 3 nights in Bologna, 3 nights in Panzano in Chianti)
- All planned excursions & classes, including visits to artisanal producers and a hands-on cooking class.
- Meals included: daily breakfasts at our accommodations and most lunches & dinners. We curate each menu to focus on traditional regional specialties, accompanied by local wines.
- Experienced tour leaders and local guides
- Private motorcoach transportation throughout the tour
- Airport transfers on specified arrival/departure days/times. We include one group transfer for your arrival and departure at specified times. Any additional transfer will be at your own cost.
Not included:
- Airfare
- Gratuity for driver and tour leaders, at your discretion
- Any spending during free time, personal purchases, extraneous hotel charges (minibar, laundry service, etc.) and any alcoholic beverages not included with meals.
Each member of the tour will be responsible for booking their own flight into Pisa (PSA) & out of Florence (FLR). Flights are not included in the tour cost.
You will be picked up at the Pisa airport on May 16 at 12:00p.m., then dropped off at the Florence airport on May 25 by 9a.m.
One group transfer will be provided, any additional private transfers would be at your own cost.
*Please note: Pisa and Florence are small airports with somewhat limited flight arrivals & departures and likely no direct flights. You may find multiple connections or long layovers in the available flight itineraries. We strongly recommend looking into flight costs (try Google Flights) and trip insurance before booking your spot or see our tips for booking flights! These are important factors to consider as you budget for the trip.
A few items of note for some of the destinations and the trip as a whole to help set expectations and better prepare you for the trip. Some of the expectations are outlined in our Traveler Guidebook and the Terms & Conditions form that you will use to register (see specifically the Traveler Code and Traveler Expectations sections), but to reiterate some as they specifically relate to this Tuscany itinerary.
Cuisine - Our food tours focus heavily on the culinary specialities of each region and town we visit. So when we arrange a lunch/dinner or culinary experience, we are working with those restaurants to plan menus in advance that highlight the seasonal produce, and dishes that reflect the region we’re in. Tuscan cuisine, for example, emphasizes fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients, focusing on fruits, vegetables, legumes, cheeses, and pasta. You can expect cured meats & cheeses, beef dishes (we are visiting a butcher, after all!) and plentiful red wine in the land of Chianti, while our time on the coast in the Cinque Terre will feature seafood!
We will be collecting some of this information at a later date from you, but if there are food allergies we need to be aware of, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate them. If there are entire categories of food that you just don’t eat (and are not willing to try), this might not be the tour for you!
Terrain: As you'll find throughout Italy, walkways are often made up of cobblestones and limestone paving. Tuscany is known for its hills, so good walking shoes, being sure on your feet, and staying alert are all key to getting around!
Excursions: You should be comfortable getting in & out of a bus without assistance. There is one boat excursion, so you should be able to get on & off a small boat with minimal assistance. With all of our excursions, you are not forced to participate if something like this is not your ’thing.’ You always have the option to stay behind and enjoy some free time on your own (please note, as mentioned in the Terms & Conditions, there is no compensation or refund for any portion of the tour or excursion you do not participate in).
Tour Highlights
Here are some highlights you won't want to miss!
