Veneto Friuli Gourmet Tour & The Romance of Como Lake

Veneto is a region full of charm, with countless natural and artistic attractions, as well as a wide range of unmissable sights and localities. Situated in Italy’s northeast, Veneto extends from the Dolomites to the Adriatic Sea, by way of an expansive range of hills and a valley furrowed by rivers, canals and the Po River Delta.

The typical scenery of Veneto’s coast is the Venetian lagoon, and, right in this very lagoon stands perhaps the most unique city in the entire world –  Venice, visited by millions of tourists every year. Yet all of the Veneto, a region with a thousand different faces, is the custodian of natural, artistic, and traditional treasures. Veneto expresses an extraordinary variety in its scenery: from the Dolomites, dipped in the crimson shades of the sunset, to the eastern shore of Lake Garda. One of its wonders is also Verona, part of the UNESCO heritage, a unique blend of the Renaissance, Medieval and Roman architectural styles. The city’s most famous monuments are Juliet’s romantic balcony, made famous by Shakespeare’s tragedy, and the arena, which becomes a spectacular outdoor opera house during the summer. And what to taste there? Lovers of good food can follow the many wine trails: from Bardolino to Pramaggiore, from Conegliano to the other areas that have become known for their wine production, stopping at the wineries to taste excellent wines and typical products, of course they will be part of our tour together!

Friuli (Friuli Venezia-Giulia) is situated in Italy’s northeast and borders Slovenia and Austria. Friuli overlooks the Adriatic Sea and is surrounded by high mountains, enclosing many different landscapes. The impressive Carso plateau is formed by windswept rocks, and soil erosion has created a series of caves, hollows and resurgences over time. The great variety of landscapes matches the rich and variegated cultural heritage that was determined by a complex history and by the confluence of different civilizations in this territory. For this reason, Friuli Venezia Giulia looks like a small universe with many different traditions: it is the “land of contrasts”. The cooking traditions of Friuli Venezia Giulia are influenced by the Slavic, central European and Venetian cultures. The cuisine relies on simple recipes and genuine ingredients: meat, dairy, sausages and legumes, used to create tasty specialities.

Lake Como is the most important of Lombardy’s lakes. Surrounded by mountains and skirted by what seems to be an unending chain of medieval churches, opulent villas and magnificent gardens, Lake Como offers visitors some of the most spectacular scenery in the whole of Italy.  In 1818 Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote to Thomas Love Peacock: “This lake exceeds anything I ever beheld in beauty, with the exception of the arbutus islands of Killarney. It is long and narrow, and has the appearance of a mighty river winding among the mountains and the forests“.

In the area surrounding Lake Como there are several farms which produce goods such as honey, olive oil, cheese, milk, eggs and salamis. Get ready for your fairytale gourmet?

✔ Accommodations for 11 nights in amazing boutique hotel, agriturismo or boutique old mansions
✔ Private driver transfers from/to Milan Malpensa Int. Airport
✔ Visit to Verona tour discovering its wonderful sights
✔ Lazise overlooking the romantic Lake Garda
✔ Asiago with a visit of a famous Asiago cheese farm and tasting
✔ San Daniele, with visit to an artisanal prosciutto Laboratory
✔ Udine, the city of the best Italian Grappa, with visit to an old Grappa Distillery and tasting
✔ Padova, with the famous Cappella degli Scrovegni
✔ Sirmione with the tour at the Grotte di Catullo
✔ Como with its grandiose cathedral and stunning views
✔ Bellagio with visit to Villa Carlotta’s botanical garden
✔ High class wine tasting in a Renaissance Castle tasting the famous Amarone della Valpolicella
✔ Spumante tasting in a renowned winery
✔ Adelia Grappa&chocolate boutique Laboratory tour
✔ Cooking class with traditional Paduan menu
✔ Boatride around Como Lake
✔ Entrance to sites as per itinerary; Daily gourmet breakfast, 10 lunches and 11 dinners (with Welcome and Farewell Dinners) and beverages included during the meals (1/2 lt of wine per person) one aperitif
✔ English-speaking Staff, Food&Wine Expert Guide and concierge services.

✖ Travel Insurance
✖ Airfare
✖ Lunch and dinner during the free time as well as extra beverage and food
✖ Tips and personal expenses
✖ Everything not mentioned in the package.

We suggest you to bring with you:

• A pair of walking/comfortable shoes
• A cardigan for the evening
• A rain jacket
• Sunscreen and hat