Iconic Italy with Vine Bar's Justina Latura
Cinque Terre, Bologna, Tuscany
May 1-10, 2027
Starting at: $7,600/person
There's a reason we call it Iconic - our first-ever tour was this passeggiata to Cinque Terre, Emilia Romagna & Tuscany, and it remains our most popular! And for 2027 it will have the added bonus of our guest host, sommelier Justina Latura of Lancaster, PA's Vine Bar!
Iconic Italy is a curated journey through the country’s most unforgettable landscapes - from dramatic seaside cliffs to medieval city streets and the rolling hills of Tuscany. It’s the perfect blend of coast, culture, and countryside, designed for travelers who want the classics… but in a way that feels personal, immersive, and beautifully paced.
From the postcard-perfect shores of Cinque Terre to the rich culinary heart of Bologna (known as the “food capital of Italy”), and onward into the jaw-dropping landscapes of Tuscany, we’ll explore Italy in the way we do best: unhurried, off-the-beaten path, and with the help of locals that will make every visit more meaningful.
Experience Italy the Curata Travel way: full of heart, rich in flavor, and meant to be shared. Keep reading for more tour details, pricing, and specific Trip Notes for this particular tour. Feel free to contact us with any questions!
Meet Justina Latura
Justina Latura is the Partner and Founder of Vine Bar, Lancaster’s sommelier-led wine bar and tasting room. She holds the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines and is dedicated to helping others discover wines that speak of land, tradition, and the hands that made them.
Through Vine Bar, a proudly woman-owned business, she curates and shares the work of artisanal producers who farm sustainably and craft wines with soul. Now in its third year, the shop blends education and hospitality to connect the community with small-producer wines and the stories behind them.
Itinerary
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.
Pricing and other details
- Double occupancy: $7600/person
- Single supplement: $1800
Deposit of $3500/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.
Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure, or installments can be made at any time up until that due date.
*The Best Price Guaranteed rate is the lowest price that will be offered for this tour. Once the Early Bird deadline has passed, pricing and promotions may change at any time. Any future discounts or special offers apply to new bookings only. We are unable to provide retroactive discounts or price adjustments for existing reservations.
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.
- Pre-tour virtual meetings and planning materials.
Not included:
- Airfare
- Gratuity for driver and Curata Travel 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 international flights. Flights are not included in the tour cost. One group transfer will be provided based on the times below. Any additional private transfers would be at your own cost.
You will be picked up at the Pisa airport on May 1 at 1:00p.m., then dropped off at the Florence airport on May 10 by 10a.m.
We strongly recommend waiting to book non-refundable flights until your tour has been officially confirmed (at least 90 days prior to departure). While tour cancellations are uncommon, they can happen if minimum enrollment isn’t met.
If you prefer to book flights earlier, we recommend choosing refundable tickets or travel insurance that covers trip cancellation.
To ensure a high-quality, fully supported experience for all participants, our tours require a minimum number of confirmed guests before departure. Most of our tours operate with ~20 travelers; however, we must confirm a minimum of 12 guests before a tour is guaranteed to depart.
We typically make a final decision at least 90 days before departure. If the minimum number is not met by that date, we will notify all registrants and offer options including:
✔ transferring to a future departure date
✔ applying deposit toward another tour
✔ a full refund
Important: We strongly recommend that you do not purchase non-refundable flights until your tour departure is confirmed.
Our tours are designed for curious, engaged travelers who enjoy being out and about each day. While we don’t run “athletic” trips, our itineraries are active and require a good level of everyday mobility and stamina.
Most days include extended sightseeing, walking through historic centers, standing during guided visits, and getting on and off our touring vehicle multiple times.
You’ll likely enjoy this tour if the statements below feel comfortable and realistic for you:
✅ I can stand for up to an hour at a time
Guided visits at museums, historic sites, wineries, markets, and food producers often involve periods of standing. Seating is not always available.
✅ I can comfortably walk several miles over the course of a day
Daily sightseeing can add up to 8,000–12,000 steps. Walks are typically broken up throughout the day, but may include:
- Uneven cobblestones
- Hills or gradual inclines
- Rural paths at farms, vineyards, or countryside estates
You don’t need to be fast — but you should feel comfortable walking at a relaxed, steady pace with the group.
✅ I can get on and off a motorcoach without assistance
Our tours use comfortable touring vehicles, but they do require stepping up and down multiple times per day. Step heights vary by vehicle and location, and lifts are not available.
✅ I can manage stairs
Many historic buildings, small hotels, wineries, and family-run establishments do not have elevators, or may have only a few steps here and there. Even in hotels with elevators, some areas may still require stairs.
✅ I can handle my own luggage when needed
While assistance is often available, porterage is not guaranteed at every property. Guests should be able to:
- Roll or carry luggage short distances
We strongly recommend packing light and using manageable luggage.
✅ I have the stamina for a full, multi-day itinerary
Our tours are immersive and full of experiences from morning into the evening. Travel days, hotel changes, and full sightseeing schedules can be tiring — in a good way! Guests should feel comfortable keeping up with a busy but rewarding pace.
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. Cinque Terre & Tuscany are 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!