Signature Series: 11-Day Italy Exclusive Foodie Tour with Matt Preston & Gary Mehigan

Awake to your first full day in Rome, sure to be a fantasy of fine dining and street food. After a light breakfast, prepare to see the city in a fashion few others are afforded – by golf cart! Skip the traffic jams and crowded buses as you zip through narrow streets around hidden corners, stopping to catch the capital’s most sought-after street food.

Signature Highlight: Rome street food tour by golf cart

Beat the bustle of Rome’s tourist hot spots and discover quiet delights in the city’s most quintessential neighbourhoods and markets. Your expert local guide and driver will navigate the cobblestone maze, sharing stories and insider knowledge as you go. Sample crispy, molten suppli (Rome’s famous mozzarella-stuffed fried rice balls), the delicate crunch of carciofi alla giudia (Roman-Jewish fried artichokes), impossibly creamy buffalo mozzarella, and hearty panini with porchetta. Matt and Gary will join you at one of these stops to share in the city’s culinary delights.

Along the route, you’ll pause at the iconic Colosseum to take in the magnificence of this 2,000-year-old amphitheatre before continuing the day’s adventure. The tastings throughout serve as your lunch, allowing you to graze like a local and experience Rome’s food culture in its most authentic form.

Return to your hotel briefly before embarking on an afternoon tour to some of Rome’s most celebrated landmarks. Following your guide, discover the layers of history that make this city so extraordinary – from ancient Roman ruins to Renaissance masterpieces, baroque fountains and charming piazzas where locals gather for their passeggiata (evening stroll). Each stop reveals another chapter in Rome’s 3,000-years-long story, bringing all that history to life in front of your eyes.

This afternoon, perhaps set out on a guided walking tour through the heart of the Eternal City, tracing the splendour of Baroque architecture and art. The route includes several of Rome’s greatest icons, including the magnificent Trevi Fountain, the Column of Marcus Aurelius, the Palazzo di Montecitorio (designed by Bernini), the Pantheon, Palazzo Madama – home to the Italian Senate – and the lively Piazza Navona.

The evening is yours to explore once more. Try your own passeggiata through the romantic streets of Trastevere, claim a table at a neighbourhood trattoria, or enjoy a gelato while people-watching along the River Tiber.

Those who have booked a Superior Upgrade will be treated to an exceptional dining experience tonight with dinner at the three-Michelin-starred La Pergola. This is undoubtedly one of Rome’s greatest restaurants and Matt and Gary have given it their golden tick of approval. Acclaimed head chef Heinz Beck has been reimagining traditional Italian and Mediterranean flavours in new and exciting ways here for more than 30 years, leading the way in the city’s rich fine-dining scene.

Take a seat in this stylish setting with exceptional city views from the high-floor restaurant and savour a 10-course menu of culinary masterpieces including some of its most iconic dishes. Among Beck’s most-loved plates are lamb on the Via Appia Antica (a creative course representing the historic Appian Way) and fagotelli La Pergola, his signature carbonara-inspired stuffed pasta.

Enjoy a leisurely final morning in Rome. Relish a sleep-in as the city wakes up or head to a local cafe for one more sip of this city’s simmering energy.

After lunch, board your private coach for the journey north to Tuscany. Rome’s urban sprawl gives way to endless countryside – you can almost taste the tannins as vineyards come into view. This is Tuscany, where every vista is a Renaissance painting come to life.

Signature Accommodation: Torre a Cona

Arrive at a grand estate of Torre a Cona, where you’ll find 30 elegant rooms in a magnificent 18th-century villa set among 500 acres of vineyards and olive groves. This luxury boutique wine estate, owned by the founding family of Martini & Rossi, is a true postcard-worthy icon nestled in Tuscany’s rolling hills. Rooms are characterised by 18th-century features and decorations, painted in soft colours that recall the Tuscan countryside, with furnishings of fine fabrics chosen by the countess.

Check-in and take a moment to absorb your surroundings – the scent of lavender and rosemary in the gardens, the gentle rustle of olive trees and the spectacular vineyard views. This estate, steeped in history and beauty, will be your home for the next four nights.

Signature Highlight: Dinner at The Osteria di Torre a Cona

As evening approaches, join Matt and Gary for dinner at The Osteria di Torre a Cona, a relaxing space tucked into the estate’s lemon house.

The Osteria embodies a new dining concept that reflects the property’s philosophy: simple elegance, modernity and a deep connection to nature. The menu draws inspiration from Tuscan tradition, showcasing locally sourced ingredients in a fashion that speaks to guests of all preferences. Each course is designed to enhance the natural flavours of the highest-quality seasonal ingredients – aromatic herbs from the garden, vegetables from nearby farms, and the estate’s own olive oil. This is dinner as it should be: unhurried, genuine and unforgettable.

Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours

Wake to the gentle sounds of the Tuscan countryside before enjoying a leisurely breakfast at the estate, including fresh pastries, local honey and strong Italian coffee while surveying the vineyards.

Signature Highlight: Lunch at the legendary Dario’s butcher shop

After a short drive to the charming hilltop town of Panzano, meet Dario Cecchini, the world’s most famous butcher and an eighth-generation master of his craft who has elevated butchery to an art form. Step into his acclaimed Antica Macelleria Cecchini butcher shop, where meat hangs from the ceiling, Dante’s verses are recited with passion, and opera blares from speakers as Dario holds court behind the counter. This is more than a butcher shop – it’s theatre, philosophy and poetry all wrapped up in one unforgettable experience shared with Matt and Gary, who have enjoyed it firsthand before and couldn’t wait for another round.

Watch as the butcher works his magic, perhaps sharing a story, a joke or a passionate speech about the nobility of his craft. Then, settle in at one of the unique onsite dining rooms for a lunch that embodies his beliefs. The fixed-price menu showcases lesser-known cuts prepared through braising, boiling and grilling – techniques that reveal the full potential of every part of the animal. “We believe in good food, good prices and good company,” Dario says, and lunch is served family-style, with diners eating according to their appetite. The restaurant also offers a satisfying vegetarian menu, ensuring no one misses out on the magic of Dario’s butcher shop.

Travel Time: Driving – approx. one hour

Tour Scheduling: Please note that Day 4, 5 and 6 itineraries may be swapped to accommodate smaller group sizes for the Tuscan cooking class and the choice of Optional Experiences on Day 5. All groups will experience the cooking class, an Optional Experience and lunch at Dario’s.

Today is yours to craft exactly as you wish. Choose from a carefully curated selection of included experiences that showcase Tuscany’s wonders. Whether you’re drawn to art and history, wine and gastronomy or slowly soaking in the atmosphere, there’s an option to match your mood.

You can set out for an in-depth discovery of awe-inspiring Florence, or explore the historic heart of Siena (available on base tour package only). It’s a difficult choice, but however you decide to spend your day, Torre a Cona awaits for another rejuvenating stay.

Travel time:

• Florence: Driving – approx. one hour
• Siena: Driving – approx. three hours

Tour Scheduling: Please note that Day 4, 5 and 6 itineraries may be swapped to accommodate smaller group sizes for the Tuscan cooking class and the choice of Optional Experiences on Day 5. All groups will experience the cooking class, an Optional Experience and lunch at Dario’s.

After a light breakfast, expect the unexpected. A trip to the butcher usually wouldn’t surprise you with a delightful lunch of premium cuts and produce, but this is no ordinary butcher.

Signature Highlight: Tuscan Cooking Class

This morning, enter Torre a Cona’s beautiful kitchen for a hands-on cooking class celebrating the heart and soul of Tuscan cuisine, with Matt and Gary moving between the groups to help bring your MasterChef dreams to life. Learn to craft fresh pasta from scratch, rolling silky sheets of dough, shaping delicate ravioli and mastering the art of pappardelle. Work with seasonal ingredients plucked straight from the estate’s gardens and discover the secrets behind long-time Tuscan classics.

Matt and Gary will be right there with you as you learn from local experts and appreciate why Tuscan cooking has captivated the world. Sit down together to enjoy the morning’s efforts, paired with Torre a Cona’s exceptional wines, in what will surely be one of the most memorable meals so far.

After days of exploration and discovery, this afternoon offers a change of pace. This is a chance to stop, breathe and unwind in one of Italy’s most beautiful settings. The rest of the day is entirely yours to enjoy as you please. If you’re feeling energised, consider booking one of Torre a Cona’s exclusive optional experiences (surcharges apply):

Wine tastings and estate tours: Journey through centuries of family history and winemaking tradition with expert guides. Learn about the estate’s historic cellars and the legendary Vinsantaia – where Tuscany’s legendary dessert wine, vin santo, aged for years in oak barrels.

Horseback riding: From decanting to cantering, this is a dream for many and reality for few. Exploring the Tuscan countryside on horseback is a unique way to become acquainted with the estate’s undulating scenery, offering an enchanting experience available from beginners up.

Hike the estate: Explore Tuscany’s beauty on foot with experienced environmental guides who know the territory’s geology, flora, fauna, history and local traditions. Routes are available for all levels, from leisurely strolls to more challenging hikes.

Spa and massage treatments: Indulge in a rejuvenating massage with natural essential oils in Torre a Cona’s tranquil spa setting. Let a professional masseuse melt away tension as soft music serenades and you lose yourself in this quiet corner of paradise.

Alternatively, enjoy a quieter day of down time, perhaps with a good book and a stroll through the olive groves. In the evening, settle in with a glass of Chianti (at own expense) and watch the hills turn to gold. This is dolce far niente – the sweetness of doing nothing – at its finest.

Those with a Superior Upgrade will gather for a wine tasting and dinner at Rinuccio 1180, a stylish rooftop restaurant with sensational views of the Tuscan countryside.

Tour Scheduling: Please note that Day 4, 5 and 6 itineraries may be swapped to accommodate smaller group sizes for the Tuscan cooking class and the choice of Optional Experiences on Day 5. All groups will experience the cooking class, an Optional Experience and lunch at Dario’s.

After breakfast, Tuscany will sail into the rear-view mirror as your coach races towards Maranello. Today brings together two of Italy’s most celebrated passions; artisanal food and legendary automotive engineering.

Delight in a visit to a traditional cheese farm, where you’ll witness skilled cheesemakers carrying out the 900-year-old craft of making parmigiano reggiano. Watch as enormous copper cauldrons bubble with fresh milk, transforming into curds that will be hand-moulded, brined and aged for at least 12 months in temperature-controlled ageing rooms. Sample parmigiano reggiano of various ages – from the younger, creamier wheels to the deeply complex, crystalline varieties. Learn to identify the subtle flavour notes and understand why this cheese, made from just milk, salt and rennet, is considered one of the world’s finest. It’s a masterclass in patience, precision and respect for tradition.

Continue to Maranello, the home of the Prancing Horse, where Ferrari has been raising automotive legends since 1947. Work up an appetite at the Ferrari Museum, delving into a world of speed, passion and Italian engineering. Admire iconic models that have defined motorsport and discover the stories behind Ferrari’s greatest triumphs in interactive exhibits, simulators and cabinets of enduring memorabilia.

Signature Highlight: Lunch at Ristorante Cavallino

Just across the street, join Matt and Gary for lunch at Ristorante Cavallino, an establishment that has fed Ferrari’s drive for success since 1950. Originally the factory’s staff canteen, it has been transformed into a dining destination for friends, drivers and distinguished guests. These historic rooms have witnessed celebrations and commiserations, hosting an extraordinary range of memorable events where Enzo Ferrari’s trailblazing vision came to life.

The restaurant underwent a stunning renovation in 2021 and the space now pays homage to traditional Italian trattorias while incorporating Ferrari’s racing heritage through memorabilia, vintage photographs and thoughtful design details.

Soak in the unique atmosphere with Matt and Gary as you settle into seats surrounded by mounted engines, then dive into the menu together, including an unmissable tortellini dish, and Mòdna – a classic sachertorte reimagined with sour cherries. Crafted by one of Italy’s greatest chefs, Massimo Bottura, each dish showcases Emilia-Romagna’s finest ingredients, from the now-familiar parmigiano reggiano to aceto balsamico vinegar. Carefully curated paired wines will be included for guests with Superior Upgrades.

Continue your journey to Bologna, one of Italy’s most gastronomically important cities. Check into your hotel and enjoy a relaxed evening at your leisure. Make the most of your free time with a walk through the world’s longest and most famous porticoed streets, discover a traditional osteria for dinner, or simply relax and reflect on a day that perfectly captured the essence of Italy.

Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours

After breakfast, lace up your walking shoes for a tantalising journey through Bologna – a city so devoted to food that Italians affectionately call it ‘La Grassa’ (The Fat One). This is the birthplace of tortellini, tagliatelle al ragu, mortadella and countless other culinary treasures that define Italian cuisine.

Set off with your expert local guide through the historic city centre, where medieval towers rise above endless porticoed streets and the aroma of fresh pasta drifts from family-run trattorias. Your progressive tasting tour serves as lunch, taking you to carefully selected stops that showcase the city’s gastronomic soul.

Taste mortadella – Bologna’s silky-smooth, pistachio-studded pork sausage – and sample tortellini in brodo, those tiny stuffed pasta parcels floating in golden capon broth that Bolognese grandmothers have hand-shaped for centuries. Taste true tagliatelle al ragu, where meat is slowly braised for hours until it melts into a rich, velvety sauce that clings to fresh egg pasta.

Between bites, your guide will reveal Bologna’s hidden corners – the ancient canals that once powered the city’s silk industry, the towers built by feuding noble families, and the oldest university in the Western world, founded in 1088.

Return to your hotel with the afternoon free to explore at your own pace. Perhaps climb the Asinelli Tower for sweeping views over Bologna’s terracotta rooftops, browse the stalls at Mercato di Mezzo, or find a cafe under the porticoes and watch Bolognese life unfold.

Signature Highlight: Dinner at Trattoria da Me

As early evening sets the terracotta alight, join Matt and Gary for dinner at Trattoria da Me, a beloved institution whose history began in 1937. Back then, siblings Nina and Danio arrived from the countryside to open a tavern where locals could taste Trebbiano and Bardolino wines alongside simple pleasures like tagliatelle and fried eggs. Nearly 90 years later, this Michelin Guide-listed trattoria remains faithful to that founding spirit of honest Bolognese cooking.

Every day, the sfogline (pasta makers) pour love and devotion into piles of fresh eggs and soft wheat flour, creating sheets of dough by wooden rolling pin. Watch through the window as skilled hands maintain techniques passed down through generations.

Settle into a quirky, wooden chair at quirky, wooden tables and prepare for a night of Bolognese classics. Examples include handmade tortellini with slow-cooked ragu, or a perfectly grilled cotoletta (breaded cutlets). Each dish embodies the restaurant’s commitment to showcasing traditional cuisine, ensuring you’ll savour a truly authentic Italian meal. Superior Upgrade guests can also curate premium wine pairings throughout the meal.

Today’s scenic route takes you through a region that puts Italian food on a pedestal for the world to enjoy. Emilia-Romagna is arguably Italy’s greatest food valley, home to cherished ingredients you can taste at their source today alongside Matt and Gary.

Signature Highlight: Prosciutto tasting with Matt & Gary

Your first stop takes you deep into the hills south of Parma, where the magic of prosciutto begins. Visit a traditional prosciutto producer where pork leg, sea salt, time and plenty of passion are the only ingredients used to create what many consider among the finest prosciutto in the world. Walk through cellars built according to traditional architectural models, with large windows that welcome the mild Marino sea wind.

Before your very own tasting, learn how salting masters still salt each haunch by hand, and watch the traditional ‘needle sampling’ method – where a horse shank bone is inserted into the meat and immediately smelled for aroma and quality.

Matt and Gary have tried and tested the salty delights here before and will gratefully join the group for a tasting of prosciutto at various stages of maturation as you all experience the tender indulgence and specific flavour that comes from slow maturation.

Signature Highlight: Parma foodie walking tour

Continue to the elegant city of Parma for a progressive tasting journey, including a special stop home to the best prosciutto they’ve ever tasted. This isn’t your typical tourist trail; these are the addresses locals keep close and food lovers toil to find.

Stop at a legendary salumeria for some of Matt and Gary’s favourite prosciutto and pancetta, and watch as the store’s experts slice impossibly thin ribbons of aged ham. Sample culatello, the prized ‘king’s cut’ from the heart of the ham, alongside mortadella, coppa and other cured treasures.

Your culinary crawl continues with four carefully curated stops: a historic pasticceria for traditional cake, a neighbourhood panino shop where simple sandwiches delight, a pasta spot showcasing the region’s signature shapes, and finally, a gelateria serving the flavours of an Italian summer.

Board the coach for the final leg of your journey to Milan, Italy’s fashion and design capital. As you travel through the Lombardy plains, reflect on the extraordinary flavours of Emilia-Romagna and the culinary secrets you’ve been privy to today.

Arrive in Milan in the late afternoon and check-in to Milano Verticale | UNA Esperienze. The evening is yours to explore a city unlike other Italian capitals. The hotel’s Porta Nuova district is a joy to explore, with its pedestrianised piazzas of aperitivo bars and design-forward restaurants. If you’re hungry for more Milanese moments, the cobblestone streets of Brera are just a 20-minute walk away for an evening spritz or late-night gallery visit.

Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours

Your final full day in Italy begins with a journey illuminating Milan’s fascinating duality – a city where ancient Roman ruins stand alongside cutting-edge architecture, and centuries-old traditions meet modern innovation.

Set off with your expert local guide to discover the city’s magnificent highlights. Stand in awe before the Duomo di Milano, one of the world’s largest Gothic cathedrals, its forest of marble spires and 3,400 statues reaching toward the sky. Step inside to witness light filtering through stained glass windows that have been illuminating the faithful since the 14th century.

Continue through the opulent Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest active shopping arcade, where luxury boutiques nestle beneath a soaring glass dome and intricate mosaic floors. Learn the quirky Milanese tradition of spinning three times on the bull’s testicles in the floor mosaic for good luck – a ritual that has polished the brass to a mirror shine over decades.

Signature Highlight: Milanese foodie walking tour

Take a delicious turn as you explore Milan’s artisan food traditions on a walking tour, with Matt and Gary joining you to enjoy one of the delicious stops together. Stop at Cova Montenapoleon, an historic bakery specialising in panettone, and sample a slice of this impossibly light, fragrant bread.

Discover other regional specialties including creamy risotto alla milanese, the city’s signature saffron-infused rice dish, and cotoletta alla milanese, the breaded veal cutlet that has been feeding Milanese since the Middle Ages. Your guide will reveal the stories behind many beloved dishes and point you toward the city’s finest addresses for Milanese cuisine as you experience it all like a true local.

Return to your hotel with the afternoon free for final explorations or relaxation. Perhaps revisit a neighbourhood that captured your heart or hunt for last-minute treasures in Milan’s design boutiques.

Signature Highlight: Farewell dinner at Michelin-starred Ristorante Cracco in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

A special experience awaits tonight as you sit down for an unforgettable farewell dinner with Matt and Gary at the exclusive Ristorante Cracco, nestled in the beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

The Michelin-starred restaurant, owned by Italian celebrity chef Carlo Cracco, plates up contemporary Italian dishes which combine traditional flavours with innovative techniques and creative presentations.

Prepare to tuck into a meal showcasing Italian fine dining at its best, celebrating much of what you’ve seen over the past 10 days. The extensive tasting menu provides a broad spectrum of specialty delights, from chargrilled legumes with romesco sauce and rabbit saddle with orange blossom and curry, to pigeon with rose essence and summer truffle with sea salt, date, samphire and pistachio.

When dessert arrives and the final wine is poured, take a moment to absorb the laughter, the clinking glasses and the contentment of a special meal and trip well spent.

Buon appetito, and grazie mille for an unforgettable Italian adventure.

Farewell your fellow travellers as your Italian itinerary comes to an end. After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP) for your onward journey.

Travel time: Driving – approx. 45 minutes