Compare Italy Real Food Adventure by Intrepid Travel vs Venice and the Gems of Northern Italy by Titan Travel

Day 1 Venice

Buongiorno! Welcome to Italy. Your adventure starts in the iconic city of Venice. If you arrive early, take some time to get lost in the narrow cobblestone streets and spacious piazzas, crossing the tiny bridges to find shops, markets, galleries and churches. Stroll past St Mark’s Square, the Campanile and the Doges Palace. Cross the Rialto and admire the Bridge of Sighs. You’ll have a welcome meeting tonight at 6 pm. After, head out for a welcome aperitivo – the spritz and the bellini are local favourites. Venice's distinctive culinary heritage goes back to ancient times and features rich risottos, saline baccala (salted cod) and creamy polenta. If you're hungry, follow your leader to an atmospheric restaurant for your first introduction to Venetian flavours.

Day 2 Venice

It's an early start today. Walk down to the canals and watch farmers unload their produce from canal boats, ready to be sold at Venice's famous Rialto markets. This tradition is more than 1000 years old. Next, you’ll swing past the fish market, where the day’s catch might come directly from the Venetian lagoon – the enclosed bay of the Adriatic Sea. Finish with an Italian cafe alongside the market. You'll also be treated to a specialty dessert of the region – tiramisu. The afternoon is free for your own exploration. In the evening, discover the Venetian answer to tapas on a cicchetti crawl through the city's fabulous bacari (wine bars). Snacking is an important pastime in Venice, with many people stopping for cicchetti both before and after meals.

Day 3 Bologna

Travel to Bologna by train this morning – this city's culinary claim to fame is significant, thanks to the ragu alla bolognese. Home of tagliatelle, mortadella and a range of other cured meats and salamis, Bologna, along with the surrounding Emilia Romagna region, is a foodie’s paradise. When you arrive, maybe wander past the beautiful old terracotta buildings and lively streets and acquaint yourself with the area. Later, you'll discover the real food of Bologna with a hands-on cooking class in the fine art of pasta-making. Feast on your handiwork over dinner with your host and your group, celebrating your new skill.

Day 4 Bologna / Modena

Today you’ll discover the flavours of the renowned Emilia Romagna region. Visit a factory dedicated to producing one of Italy's most coveted culinary exports – Parmigiano Reggiano. Learn how this cheese is made, and then try it for yourself. Continue to the town of Modena and visit an acetaia – a house where the family produce fine-aged Modena balsamic vinegar in the attic. You'll see how the vinegar is aged in barrels made from different woods, learn why it’s never less than 12 years old and then see the difference between the factory-made vinegar and the real stuff with a tasting. Head to a trattoria for a delicious lunch of the best local produce and farm-fresh seasonal dishes. Wash it down with a glass of Lambrusco – the town's famed sparkling red. Stroll around the town and admire the Palazzo Ducale before returning to Bologna in the late afternoon.

Day 5 San Gimignano

This morning, travel to the village of Pancole in the heart of Tuscany. The region is renowned for a cuisine that celebrates simplicity and the bounty of locally grown produce in hearty, rustic dishes. Pecorino cheese, farro (an ancient grain) and artisanal cured meats like lardo di colonnata are just some of the many local ingredients you can expect to indulge in during your stay. Your accommodation is a traditional Tuscan farmhouse near the enchanting village of San Gimignano. The farmhouse is surrounded by vineyards and olive trees that the family has been producing excellent wine and olive oil from by organic methods for over fifty years. Enjoy a guided walk through the vineyards and cellars of the estate, followed by a tasting of some signature Tuscan wines and olive oils. Dinner tonight will be seasonal favourites, made with ingredients freshly harvested from the farmhouse garden beds. This could include homemade pasta, salads, finocchiona salami, crostini toscani (chicken liver pate on lightly toasted bread) and seasonal vegetables.

Day 6 San Gimignano

This morning, walk along a portion of the Via Francigena – the major pilgrimage route to Rome during the Middle Ages. Explore the medieval walled town of San Gimignano – a UNESCO World Heritage Site often called the Town of Fine Towers due to the preservation of several impressive torre (tower houses) within its walls. Stop past an award-winning gelateria, where intriguing flavours like gorgonzola cheese and walnuts await your tastebuds. Spend the rest of your time exploring the walking paths around the farm or, weather permitting, relaxing by the pool, enjoying beautiful views of the Tuscan countryside.

Day 7 Rome

Today, jump on a train to Rome – Italy’s capital famed for its deliciously fresh food and scattered ancient ruins. When you arrive, take a leader-led orientation walk through the historical city centre, past the Spanish Steps, Trevi fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Venezia, Roman Forum, and Colosseum. After taking in all the big (and small) highlights of this magical city, you’ll head to a local’s home for a special homecooked, plant-based dinner experience. Swap stories with your host and sit down for a feast of seasonal dishes, which could include local favourites like cacio e pepe, saltimbocca, artichokes or porchetta. After, maybe head to a local bar and cheers to a trip well-travelled over a glass of local wine.

Day 8 Rome

With no activities planned after breakfast, your food adventure comes to an end today. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent.

Day 1 UK - Milan
Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your flight to Milan. Meet your Uniworld representative on arrival and transfer to the Starhotels Rosa Grand Milan or similar (5T) for two nights.

Day 2 Milan
Milan is a mecca for Italian fashionistas, famous for its innovative design and stylish flair. Venture inside the city’s Gothic cathedral, as well as Europe’s oldest shopping arcade. The highlight today is pure genius - Da Vinci’s revolutionary The Last Supper mural.

Day 3 Milan - Verona - Venice
En route to Venice, you’ll stop in the literary hometown of Shakespeare’s famously star-crossed teen lovers to see the sights and the famous balcony. Later, enjoy lunch at a historic wine estate owned by descendants of Dante, the great Italian poet who penned The Inferno. Once in magical Venice, board River Countess (5T) where you’ll begin your exploration of the ‘Queen of the Adriatic’.

Day 4 Venice
If ever there was a city that could be described as ‘bewitching’, Venice is it. An expert guide will show you iconic sites as well as quiet lanes and secret spots. Also on deck today: a scenic cruise around the Venetian Lagoon and an extremely rare after-hours visit to St Mark’s Basilica. A special Captain’s welcome reception and dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Day 5 Chioggia
Join a local expert for a stroll around this picturesque fishing village, a popular place for artists, or take a bike ride along the beaches lining the lagoon. The seaside air and sweeping views are simply spectacular. Please note: The Italian Maritime Authorities require that the ship is only manned by crew during the Adriatic Sea passage.

Day 6 Polesella (Bologna or Ferrara)
If you have an appetite for pasta, head to Bologna today - the heart of Italian culinary traditions - to learn how to make (and eat) your own lunch. Or indulge your appetite for art with an excursion to Ferrara, an ancient centre for the arts that once rivalled Medici Florence.

Day 7 Taglio di Po - Chioggia
Chioggia is such a delight that we’ll return there today to experience something completely different. You can visit the village’s bustling once-a-week market or for something really unique, hop aboard a small boat to go mussel harvesting with local fishermen out in the lagoon. Please note: The Italian Maritime Authorities require that the ship is only manned by crew during the Adriatic Sea passage.

Day 8 Venice Islands (Burano, Mazzorbo and Torcello)
Venice is an island surrounded by hundreds of smaller islands, three of which you’ll visit today - Burano, famous for its lace-makers and houses painted in eye-popping colours; Mazzorbo, where you’ll taste a historic golden-hued wine; and Torcello, home to beautiful Byzantine mosaics.

Day 9 Venice
If you love food, you’ll love today’s walking tour to the famous fish and produce market next to the Rialto Bridge. Or, join an art historian for a highlights tour of the Accademia gallery. A special Captain’s farewell reception and dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Day 10 Venice - UK
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Upon arrival your Titan vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.