Dolce Vita Food Tour
This trip is a must for all Italian food lovers. Wine tasting in a private vineyard, hands-on pasta making class and a truffle hunt are just part of this 11-day culinary journey through northern Italy.
Italy is a food lover’s paradise. Many of Italy’s famous edible delights come from lesser-known regions that are largely unspoiled by tourism, giving us a great excuse to see these beautiful areas.
Along the way we’ll stop in Parma at a cheese farm to witness the production of Parmigiano-Reggiano, which has remained unchanged for eight centuries. Near Modena we’ll try the famous balsamic vinegar of this area– the real deal, not what you’ve been using. In Tuscany, known for its cultural riches, we’ll visit magnificent Florence and cozy Lucca, and drive through the enchanting landscape to visit a local vineyard and savor some of their fine Chianti. In beautiful Liguria, which hugs the country’s west coast, we’ll savor fresh local seafood and Italy’s finest pesto sauce while exploring the dramatic coastal villages of the Cinque Terre.
See, and taste, for yourself the surprising diversity of dishes with recipes that have been passed down for generations. In the beautiful and often overlooked region of Piemonte, noted for chocolate, hazelnuts and the prized white truffle, we’ll take part in a truffle hunt with a trifulau and his trusty dog who sniffs out these delicacies which are hidden underground. And to get a literal feel for the food quality this area is known for, we’ll partake in a hands-on pasta making lesson in the city with the world’s oldest university, Bologna, in the region where even Italians agree some the best pasta is made– Emilia-Romagna. Andiamo!
HIGHLIGHTS: Florence, Lucca, Cinque Terre, Parma, pasta lesson in Bologna, Parmigiano cheese tour and tasting, balsamic vinegar tour and tasting, wine tasting at beautiful vineyard in Tuscany, truffle hunt, Alba, Lake Orta
To sign up for a tour email info@andiamotours.com
or call 888-313-6380
Click on tabs below for tour dates, prices, and more details
BACK AGAIN THIS FALL!
Post-Tour Venice extension for the October Dolce Vita Tour
4 day/ 3 night fully escorted extension
in the enchanting city of Venice from October 13 – 16!
limited to 12 people – more details HERE
The Dolce Vita Food Tour includes:
• Accommodations in first-class hotels for 10 nights
• A private small coach bus with driver
• An experienced full-time guide throughout the tour
• 15 meals- All breakfasts, 4 dinners and one lunch at a family farmhouse
• Pasta making lesson in Bologna
• Wine tasting at a vineyard in Tuscany
• Truffle hunt and farmhouse lunch in Piemonte region
• Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese factory tour
• Balsamic vinegar tour and tasting
• Local licensed guides in Florence and Bologna
• All gratuities
Day 1 Welcome to Italia! Check into our historic hotel in the heart of Bologna, the hub of the Emilia Romagna region. You may rest after the flight or freshen up and start exploring this remarkable city. We’ll meet in the early evening for a brief orientation and then enjoy a welcome dinner together at a favorite restaurant. Sleep in Bologna 3 nights.
Day 2 La Grassa Meet our local guide for a walk through the markets and historic center of Bologna– whose nickname, La Grassa (“The Fat One”), refers to its delicious cuisine. We’ll learn about the local specialties, such as mortadella and prosciutto, which contribute to this region’s fame, and then join in a pasta-making lesson. Afterward there will be free time to explore this lovely city, home of the world’s oldest university.
Day 3 Parma This morning we’ll get an early start to witness the making of Parmigiano-Reggiano, the king of cheeses, produced exclusively in this region in precisely the same manner for over nine centuries. We’ll then visit Parma, another fabulous food town, in the afternoon. And to top off this day of culinary delights, we’ll stop near Modena, well known for its balsamic vinegar. Learn how this wonderful condiment is produced and then savor a taste of some authentic sweet aged balsamic.
Day 4 Tuscany and Winery Visit As we depart Bologna, we’ll wind our way south and through the hills of Tuscany in our private coach to a lovely vineyard surrounded by scenic views. We will be given a tour of the estate, where we’ll hear about the production of this region’s famous Chianti and take part in a private wine tasting . Then it’s a short drive to our Tuscan village hotel, where we spend the next 2 nights.
Day 5 Firenze We’ll start the day with a walking tour of the beautiful Tuscan city of Florence– birthplace of the Renaissance – including a fun stop in the large Mercato Centrale, or central market. In the afternoon, feel free to explore the city, climb Brunelleschi’s dome or indulge in some of Italy’s finest gelato.
Day 6 Lucca and Liguria Today we head toward the coast, to the region of Liguria. This is the land of focaccia and pesto alla Genovese, Italy’s finest. It’s also home to the Cinque Terre, five tiny villages overlooking the sea. On our way we will stop for lunch at the lovely little city of Lucca, and take a stroll along its intact Renaissance era walls. We’ll reach our destination of Levanto and take in a pesto-making demonstration. Sleep in Levanto 2 nights.
Day 7 Cinque Terre We’ll take off for the rugged coastal towns of the Cinque Terre, which are a 5-minute train ride away. Connected by trails, trains, and boats, the terraced vineyards and colorful homes clinging to the cliffs make this day a picture postcard outing.
Day 8 Barolo and Alba Today we’ll move on to our next region, tranquil Piemonte, a beautiful and often overlooked corner of Italy. Home to the international Slow Food movement, this area is known primarily for its excellent wines, truffles, hazelnuts, and chocolate. We’ll head straight to the hills to try some of the fine wine produced in this area. Then it’s off to the wonderful town of Alba, and our centrally located hotel. Sleep in Alba 2 nights.
Day 9 Farmhouse Lunch Since it’s truffle season we’ll spend the morning with a local trifulau, a truffle hunter who will show us, with the aid of his talented dog, how to find the highly prized white truffles of this region. We will then enjoy a wonderful farm-to-table lunch prepared by his family in their farmhouse.
Day 10 Lake Orta We’ll then head north to enchanting Lake Orta, where we’ll stroll the cobblestone streets of this hidden gem of the lake region and take a boat out to Isola San Giulio. Tonight, we’ll celebrate our marvelous trip with a farewell group dinner.
Day 11 A La Prossima After breakfast, we’ll say arrivederci and head for Malpensa– Milan’s closest airport– which is 60-90 minutes away by taxi or bus– and our flight home.
Oct 3-13, 2025
11 Days/ 10 Nights- Small Group (10 to 16 people)
- All Excursions Included
- Gratuities Included
Prices are per person, double occupancy. Single supplement: $695.
This is a land-only package. You can make your own flight arrangements and use frequent flyer miles if you have them. Does not include: transfer from and to airport, airfare, city taxes, or any other personal travel expenses. When you sign up for one of our tours we will send out information including tips on booking a flight, obtaining travel insurance, and packing for your trip. Our aim is to to prepare you in advance so that you can travel with confidence.
And if this is your first visit to Italy we would highly recommend that you consider arriving a day or two early. Early arrival is a great idea for getting over jet lag in time for your tour.
Reservations are accepted and confirmed upon receipt of trip deposit of $400 per traveler, payable by check in U.S Dollars, money order, cashiers check, along with a completed and signed registration form. The balance of the tour price is due 60 days before departure. Payments not received within 60 days of travel will be considered notification of cancellation by default. Your deposit is partially refundable up to 120 days before the tour departure date. We recommend travel cancellation and interruption insurance for this purpose. There is no refund for unused portions of a tour once it has commenced. Should a trip be cancelled, payments will be fully refunded.We strongly recommend that you purchase travel and health insurance to provide yourself protection from unanticipated medical and travel emergencies.
To sign up for a tour email info@andiamotours.com or call 888-313-6380
Would you like a trip just for your group? Andiamo!
Pick a tour itinerary and dates that work best for you. We’ll work with you to make sure you have the trip of a lifetime with your own family or group of friends! Call toll-free: 888-313-6380
TOUR DATES for 2025
Dolce Vita Food Tour
October 3 – 13