Flavors of Northern Italy

June 17 - 25, 2023

Length: 9 days

Region(s): Europe

Activity Level: Activity indicator paw

Type: Land

Join intimate cooking classes with locals who share their families’ histories and favorite recipes.

Operated by Orbridge

Tour Highlights

With your small group (maximum 19 guests), enjoy seven nights accommodations at a historic country farmhouse amidst a wine and olive oil-producing estate.
Join intimate cooking classes with locals who share their families’ histories and favorite recipes.
Take in the area’s layered history, with visits to Verona’s 2,000-year-old Roman arena and the magnificent medieval Castelvecchio Bridge.
In the famed Valpolicella and Trentino wine regions, visit family-owned and -operated vineyards, meeting the esteemed vintners and discovering their unique varietals. Partake in exclusive tastings and presentations, and learn how wine-making traditions have been passed down through generations.
Admire the panoramic beauty at captivating Lago di Garda—Italy’s largest lake.
Delight in a cheese-making demonstration and tasting in the heart of Lessinia, home to a delicious variety of Italian cheeses.
See Palazzo Ducale di Mantova—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—which was the royal residence of the Gonzaga family from 1328 to 1707.
Meet a renowned winemaker who specializes in creating Amarone. Then retreat to a nearby restaurant for a polenta-making demonstration, featuring Amarone, and dinner.
Enjoy a special excursion near Modena for a tasting of aged balsamic vinegar during a convivial meal with the property’s owner and his family.
Relax during a boat tour around Lago d’Iseo, featuring mesmerizing clear water and stunning mountain scenery, followed by touring on land.
Explore the 16th-century cellars of Mosnel winery and learn how painstaking attention to detail produces wines of consummate elegance and complexity.

For all reservations made on or after October 1, 2022, cancellations received within 30 days of the date of reservation are refunded in full. Cancellations made 31 days after date of reservation but more than 90 days (195 days for Antarctica and Trans-Siberian Railway) are subject to a $350 per person administrative fee for main program cancellations and a $200 per person administrative fee for pre and/or post tour cancellations. Cancellations made 90 or fewer days prior to tour departure (195 or fewer days for Antarctica and Trans-Siberian Railway) will be assessed a cancellation fee based on date of cancellation. Full details and timelines, please refer to the Terms and Conditions PDF, located under Additional Resources.

* Cal lecturer’s participation cannot be guaranteed and is contingent upon a minimum number of paying travelers.

Activity Level 2

What to expect: These trips often travel by motor coach, ship, or train. Touring days may include full-day motor coach excursions or extended periods of standing and walking during city tours, museum visits, and/or outdoor activities. Travelers should be able to board transportation, walk over sometimes-uneven terrain, and climb a few flights of stairs, occasionally without handrails or assistance. Elevators are not always available. Outings last 2–4 hours most days.

Suitable for: Travelers who are able to comfortably walk two to four miles, or 4,600–6,900 steps, each day.