Gran Tour d’Italia: Bologna, Toscana, Costiera e Roma

Welcome to Italy! Upon arrival at Bologna airport, your personal concierge greets you at arrivals and coordinates your private transfer to Art Hotel dei Commercianti. After settling in with guaranteed early check-in, meet your private English-speaking guide in the late afternoon for a walking tour of Bologna’s medieval heart. Wander beneath the city’s iconic porticoes, marvel at the Two Towers standing guard over the skyline, and explore Piazza Maggiore surrounded by the Gothic Basilica of San Petronio and Palazzo d’Accursio. Discover the Quadrilatero’s bustling markets and the prestigious University of Bologna, Europe’s oldest, as your guide brings centuries of history to life.

Depart early for a full-day private tour through Emilia-Romagna’s legendary “Food Valley.” Visit three iconic producers to discover the secrets behind Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, watching master cheesemakers cook, separate, and salt the curds before aging wheels for up to 24 months. Continue to a Parma Ham facility to witness the traditional curing process from salting rooms to aging cellars, where the master “nose” selects only the finest for the twin crown branding. Complete your gastronomic journey at a balsamic vinegar producer, touring the vineyards and tasting aged balsamico from antique barrels. All tastings included.

Board a high-speed train to Florence, where your private driver awaits. Keep luggage in the van while meeting your guide in Piazza della Repubblica for a walking tour of Renaissance masterpieces. Visit Santa Croce Basilica (tickets included), photograph the majestic Duomo, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Baptistery’s golden doors. Stroll across Ponte Vecchio’s goldsmith shops and through Piazza della Signoria, dominated by Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery. After the tour, transfer to your private villa in Panzano, Chianti. Evening welcome with a private chef dinner featuring Tuscan specialties with local wines.

Depart mid-day for San Gimignano, the UNESCO “city of towers.” Explore at your own pace this perfectly preserved medieval village, famous for saffron, Vernaccia wine, and 13th-century stone towers piercing the skyline. Continue to Siena for a private 2-hour guided tour of this Gothic jewel. Walk the fan-shaped Piazza del Campo, home to the legendary Palio horse race, admire the soaring Torre del Mangia, and visit the striped marble Duomo. Your guide reveals centuries of Sienese rivalry and tradition before free time for an early dinner in a typical trattoria.

Full-day excursion to Florence with priority access to two legendary museums. At the Accademia, stand before Michelangelo’s towering David, carved from a single Carrara marble block when the artist was only in his twenties. Continue to the Uffizi Gallery for a guided journey through Renaissance genius: Giotto’s revolutionary techniques, Botticelli’s ethereal Primavera and Birth of Venus, and Leonardo’s blend of science and art. Return to your villa for a private cooking class, learning to prepare traditional Tuscan dishes including handmade ravioli and wood-oven bread. Enjoy your creations for dinner with Chianti Classico.