Gastronomic Italy 2012 

We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar for Paris. As we travel in Standard Premier Class, a light meal and drinks are served at our seats. After crossing the city by coach, we continue by TGV to Dijon. Our hotel for tonight is the 3-star Hotel Kyriad Dijon. We enjoy dinner together in the hotel this evening. (E,D)

We continue our journey from Dijon, travelling via Lausanne and through the spectacular Swiss countryside to Milan. We change trains in Milan and continue into Tuscany. Our destination is the beautiful city of Florence - the Renaissance capital of the world. We spend the next three nights at the Grand Hotel Cavour, located in the centre of Florence, within easy walking distance of the Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio. We begin our Gastronomic Italy tour by dining out in Florence this evening in a locally renowned restaurant enjoying Tuscan specialities for which the region is justly famous. (B,D)

This morning we enjoy a guided tour of the city's many treasures, including the fabulous Duomo with its iconic red-tiled dome, and the beautiful Ponte Vecchio - a 14th century bridge that is home to 43 jewellers' shops. Your afternoon is free to explore Florence at leisure. Tonight we dine out at the atmospheric Piazza del Vino, a restaurant which combines a delicious regional menu with a passion for wine - reflected in the extensive wine list and row upon row of wine bottles that line the restaurant's walls. An expert from one of the local vineyards talks us through the different wines we're tasting, with a different wine to accompany each of our five courses. (B,D)

Your day is free to explore Florence at leisure. Picturesque narrow streets and handsome squares, including the Piazza della Signoria - the people-watching centre of Florence - are only part of the city's charm; much of the beauty of the city is found indoors. One fifth of the world's Renaissance art is kept and displayed in Florence's museums, galleries, churches, monasteries and palaces; many in the Basilica Santa Croce, burial place of some of Italy's most celebrated icons including Galileo, Machiavelli and Michelangelo, and as many as 1,700 masterpieces in the world-famous Uffizi Gallery. (B)

We leave Florence this morning, travelling by coach through the picturesque Tuscan countryside towards Bologna. We stop en route at a local 'agriturismo' for a traditional rustic lunch, during which we have chance to try the farm's varied local produce in an appetizing tasting menu showcasing the best of the region. We continue by coach to Bologna, where we check in at the 4-star Grand Hotel Carlton, located close to the Parco Montagnola in the heart of the city. The bustling city of Bologna has an unspoilt historic centre, where charming narrow streets are filled with activity and lined with arched porticos and arcaded walkways, all clustered around two main squares, Piazza Maggiore and Piazza del Nettuno. The latter is also home to the striking Neptune's Fountain, a symbol of the city, decorated with magnificent bronze figures. The compact and intricate centre of Bologna, surrounded by the remains of its medieval walls, is perfect for exploring on foot. More than 20 defensive towers, built in the 12th and 13th centuries, are dotted around the city; some lean more than the famous Leaning Tower in Pisa. The two most famous towers in Bologna, the Asinelli and the Garisenda keep watch at the end of Via Rizzoli. The city is known in Italy as "La Dotta, La Rossa, La Grassa" - "Educated, Red, Fat". It is home to the oldest university in Europe, is famous for its red-tiled roofs and historically left-leaning politics, and is known for its love of fine food and cooking, in particular for creamy sauces and rich meat dishes. (B,L)

This morning we enjoy a guided walking tour of Bologna, taking in the city's many fascinating sights including the Duomo, the Basilica Santo Stefano (a complex that originally featured seven churches, although only four remain), and the Basilica di San Petronio which dominates Bologna's main central square, the Piazza Maggiore. This afternoon and all of Day 7 are free for you to continue exploring Bologna at leisure. Art lovers will enjoy the fantastic Pinacoteca Nazionale (National Art Gallery of Bologna), while those feeling energetic should take the chance to ascend the Torre degli Asinelli, which offers fantastic views across the red rooftops of the city centre. Alternatively, take a ride on the San Luca Express which connects the centre of Bologna with the Basilica San Luca, located in the quiet hills above Bologna. The toy train winds its way up the hillside alongside the world's longest continuous covered walkway, a portico that is over 2 miles long and has 666 individual archways. On Day 6 we enjoy a special dinner in a local restaurant. (Day 6-B,D; Day 7-B)

Today on our Gastronomic Italy tour we put on our aprons for a morning's cookery course under the expert tuition of local chefs. We learn to create traditional regional cuisine, including preparation of three of the most typical types of pasta, plus some classic sauces for which the area is renowned. For lunch we relax and enjoy our own creations, washed down with some delicious local wine. (B,L)

Today we travel to the quintessentially Italian city of Parma, a city bursting with art and culture and the home of Parma ham and Parmesan. We enjoy a guided tour of the city, including the octagonal towered baptistry, which was built from the pink marble of Verona. The baptistry sits in the corner of the cobbled Piazza del Duomo, on which stands Parma's cathedral. Following the tour you have chance to explore Parma further at your own pace. Wander through the narrow streets and twisting lanes to discover your own vignettes of city life. In the afternoon we take a tour of the Parmesan cheese factory - a highlight of any visit to Parma - learning about the production process and the finished cheeses, which weigh as much as 80 pounds each. We also visit a local Parma ham producer for a tour and tasting. This evening on our Gastronomic Italy tour we travel to a wine estate for a tasting, visiting the vineyards and the wine cellar, followed by a wonderful rustic three-course dinner. (B,D)

We leave Bologna this morning, travelling by train in First Class through the heart of Italy to Turin. Here we stay overnight at the 4-star Hotel ATA Concord. We dine in the hotel on our last evening together. (B,D)

Today we travel in First Class on the high-speed TGV to Paris, where we transfer by coach across the city. We continue to London by Eurostar, travelling in Standard Premier Class, with a light meal and drinks served on board. (B,E)

E=Eurostar Meal, B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
These meals, where shown are included in the price of your holiday