Arrive at Venice Airport. After clearing customs, meet your driver for a private transfer to your centrally located hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Explore your surroundings or just relax, and dinner will be on your own this evening.

(Accommodations, Venice)

Today is free to explore this fascinating city. Start at Piazza San Marco, Venice's most recognizable square. Nearby is St Mark's Basilica; a visually stunning cathedral, and arguably the city's top attraction. Take a tour of the Doges Palace and wander through the maze-like fortress that includes the secret rooms and even a prison. For art lovers, the interactive Leonardo Da Vinci Museum is worth a visit, as well as the Peggy Guggenheim Collection of 20th century art. Traipse across the Grand Canal on the iconic Rialto Bridge. Venice is also a great walking city with narrow streets and footbridges. Get lost (or at least away from the crowds) in some of their neighborhoods like the Jewish Ghetto, and Castello, where the locals dine and shop. Escape the mainland by taking the Vaporetto to Murano, known for their colorful hand-blown glass, and/or Murano; still famous for their handmade lace and their striking colorful houses. Both islands are a nice option for coffee, lunch, or the Venetian's drink of choice, the Aperol spritz.

At 5:30pm, you'll have a Private Gondola Ride with appetizers and prosecco. You can take the Vaporetto to San Toma (# 1 or 2), and then just a short walk from there. The Concierge at your hotel will be able to help you with directions to the station. Embarking from San Tom Gondola pier, your gondola starts from the pier on the Grand Canal and enters to discover the hidden wonders of this route. Along the Rio San Polo you can admire buildings and residential houses in different architectural styles. While on board you will get a tray with taste of cicchetti, typical Venetian canapes and a bottle of Prosecco to taste during the itinerary. Crossing the quiet inner canals, you will reach the Grand Canal again, contemplating typical Venetian palaces in Gothic and Renaissance styles as Palazzo Barbaro and Palazzo Corner Spinelli. Finally catch a glimpse of the famous Rialto Bridge at the end of the ride. This evening, enjoy dinner at the iconic Ristorante Carpaccio. Tucked away from the crowds of St Mark's Square, the perfect ambiance to end your stay in Venice.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Accommodations, Venice)

After a leisurely breakfast, you'll have a private transfer to the rail station for your short 90 minute train ride to Bologna. Upon arrival, meet your driver for a private transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free for exploring and dinner will be on your own this evening.

(Breakfast, Venice; Accommodations, Bologna)

After breakfast, an early start as you meet your guide for a Private Emilia Romagna's Food Excellencies Culinary Tour. Emilia Romagna is known in Italy as the Fat, the Rich, and the Wise. The Fat, because of the local delicious and rich dishes such as lasagna, tortellini, agnolotti to name just a few. The Rich, due to the many flourishing industries such as sports cars, agricultural machinery, ceramic tiles and bathroom accessories factories. The Wise because it boasts one of the oldest Universities in Europe. The tour will concentrate on the discovery of the traditional local food specialties. Your driving English speaking escort, who is passionate about good food, will take you to visit local producers of Lambrusco wine, Parmigiano cheese, and Balsamic vinegar. In each of these premises you will be led through the stages of preparation of these delicacies so that you will appreciate the skill and the time and the patience it takes to obtain an excellent product. Of course you will also taste each of these gems of the Italian food tradition. The tour will also include lunch with wine in one of the excellent local restaurants so that you can taste the delicious regional cuisine. The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore and dinner will be on your own this evening.

(Breakfast & Accommodations, Bologna)

After breakfast, meet your driver in the lobby for your private transfer to the rail station for the short 50 minute train journey to Florence. Upon arriving at Santa Maria Novella station, meet your driver for the private transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to explore your surroundings, and dinner will be on your own this evening.

(Breakfast, Bologna; Accommodations, Florence)

After breakfast, get ready for an in-depth visit into the heart of Tuscany to experience two excellencies of this lovely region. Your English speaking driving escort will take you to Greve, considered to be the heart of the Chianti Region. This small town is also the home of the famous Falorni Butchery belonging to a local family specialized in some of the top local delicacies such as pecorino cheese, salame, prosciutto and other local excellencies. After some time at your disposal in Greve, your escort will take you to Corzano and Paterno farmhouse. The Farm covers 345 acres and is dedicated to the production of the finest quality wines, olive oil and pecorino (yew's milk cheese). After the visit of the cellars and cheese factory you will enjoy a light lunch based on wine and cheese tasting (3 wines + 4 cheeses, Tuscan bread, jam and honey), two types of extra virgin olive oil and freshly home-made dessert. The tour will then continue with a final stop at Badia a Passignano, a historic abbey dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel. Returning to your hotel, dinner will be on your own this evening.

(Breakfast, Lunch & Accommodations, Florence)

After breakfast, the day is at your leisure to explore. For art lovers, "must" stops include the Academia and Uffizi Gallery. To avoid disappointment (and long lines) it is a good idea to make reservations with Avanti before departing the US. Two churches worth a visit are the Duomo and Ognissanti, the final resting place of Botticelli. For magnificent views, cross the Arno River to Pitti Palace. Piazza Santo Sprito, in the center of the artisan quarter is not to be missed and a good choice for lunch. If shopping is on your agenda, stop at the Mercato Centrale, especially for leather goods like jackets, shoes and gloves. The renowned Ponte Vecchio connects the Uffizi to Pitti Palace and also provides great photo opportunities. And don't forget to rub the snout of "Il Porcellino" for good luck, the wild boar statue in front of Mercato Nuovo. Dinner this evening will be at Restaurant Buca Mario. Serving traditional Tuscan fare; it's conveniently located between the rail station and the Arno River.

After a leisurely breakfast, meet your driver in the lobby for a private transfer to the rail station. After a pleasant 90 minute train ride, arrive in Rome. Your private driver awaits you for the transfer to your centrally located hotel. After checking in, relax or explore the Eternal City. You'll have an unlimited number of attractions to choose including the Colosseum. Vatican City, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, and the Forum. Or just wander down fashionable Via Veneto. Dinner will be on your own this evening.

After breakfast, enjoy a cooking class at Gianni and Cesare's Studio which is located alongside the Tiber River in the historical center. Roll up your sleeves and get ready to get your hands dirty with some flour! You'll learn how to mix egg and flour to make the perfect dough for home-made pasta. Your next lesson will be to cook an antipasto, plus 2 different types of pasta from scratch (an egg-based dough and a water and semolina dough) along with a unique perfectly-paired sauce for each pasta. We'll end our lesson by creating a delicious dessert. And now the best part; You'll enjoy the fruits of your labor, accompanied by local wines, starting with a bubbly prosecco, and a white and red wine to compliment the meal. After lunch, you may want to stroll through some of Rome's interesting neighborhoods before returning to your hotel.

Today is free for independent sightseeing. Where to begin? In no particular order, Vatican City, which includes St Peters Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, The Roman Colosseum, site of the gladiator games, and the Roman Forum, a series of structures when Rome's power was at its zenith. To avoid disappointment if these are on your agenda, best to make reservations with Avanti in advance (skip the line). If the weather is nice, the sprawling gardens of Villa Borghese are worth a stroll. And of course the extremely popular landmarks; the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. Walk along the fashionable and trendy Via Veneto, replete with Italy's famous designer boutiques. Make sure you stop at a cafe for a coffee and gelato, but save room for dinner this evening at Il Piccolo Mondo.

Il Piccolo Mondo is the ideal setting for a sophisticated and yet relaxing dinner. Back in the day, many stars of the dolce vita and entertainment chose this restaurant to eat and as a rendezvous place. Among them were Brigitte Bardot, Ronald Reagan, and Clint Eastwood. Enjoy a three-course meal at a historical restaurant where seasonal products, organic and farm-to-table, high quality ingredients are used to create a memorable meal. After dining, the return to your hotel is on your own.

After breakfast, meet your driver in the lobby for your transfer to Fiumicino Airport and your return flight home, fondly reminiscing of your culinary experiences.