Enogastronomy: Italy is famous for food and wine and here you can experience all in just few days!
Verona is one of the most important art cities in Italy. Of course is famous for Romeo&Juliet and the Arena di Verona lyric festival but in the serrounding you can experience all the Italian taste: wine, tortellini, oil, rice! Here we suggest an enogastronomyc tour in the area. This tour can be as a selfdrive tour but can be also offer for groups.
DAY01: Verona
Pick up of your car at airport upon arrival. Visit of Verona with private guide: itinerary along the history of the city: St. Anastasia, Della Scala monuments, Piazza Erbe, Juliet’s House, Arena.Back to the hotel after dinner.
DAY02:Verona - Valpolicella- Verona Km 30
Buffet breakfast in the hotel. Drive to Valpolicella visiting San Floriano and San Giorgio Ingannapoltron the most beautiful romanic churches of the region; visit afterwards to a marvellous Villa/cellar: a monumental complex positioned in the middle of a green valley surrounded by wooded slopes and marvellous vineyards. The itinerary starts from the XVIII cent. Villa surrounded by 220ha wineyards, with its hall with frescoes and rooms which are the proof of its ancient past. Than the tour continues with a walking promenade in the park, along the beautiful little lake, to reach the old cellar. Here you will see the room where the grapes are withered to produce Amarone's wine, a little wine museum, the large cellars with its old barrels and the distillery. At the end of the tour ther will be a tasting of wine with a little gastronomic buffet. In the afternoon back to Verona.
DAY03: Verona – Garda Lake and oil tour Km 80
Buffet breakfast in the Hotel. Drive to Lazise where you will find impressive reminders of medieval splendours as well: the magnificent Scaliger castle and walls that still surround the historic center, now full of shops, restaurants and bars. Next to the small harbour is the Dogana Veneta from where for centuries the Republic of Venice controlled all commerce on Lake Garda. The story of oil-milling from its beginning as a rural activity to the dawning of the technological age, is the theme of the Oil Museum realized by the oil-mill in Cisano del Garda. The museum is a unique exhibition that shows how oil has been produced in rural society for over a thousand years. Of particular interest is the reconstruction of a XIXth century oil-mill which is still in working order, driven by the classical water wheel which turns the grindstone through a series of wooden cog-wheels. Prosecution to Sirmione, the most famous village of the area developped inside its castle. From Sirmione by private boat to the Garda island, which is now opened to the public where you will visit the gardens and the impressive Neo-gothic-venetian Villa. The visit lasts approximately two hours
Back to mainland and then to the hotel, overnight.
DAY04:Verona – Soave the white wine land- Verona km 60
Buffet breakfast in Hotel. Drive to Soave, founded on the last vestiges of Lessinia hills, enclosed within medieval city walls attached to the city’s ancient castle, later expanded by the Scaliger family and Venetians. The town probably owes its name to the Svevi or “Soavi” who, following the Longobards, developed the area. Next, follow the Strada del Soave, a picturesque local wine road. This route connects the main wine villages of three valleys, Mezzane, Illasi and Alpone. Stop for a taste of white wine in a local wine cellar. Back to Hotel.
DAY05: Rise tour -km 80
Buffet breakfast in the Hotel. The Veronese Plain covers a wide area, south of the city, characterized by large rice plantations, churches, historic buildings, and castles. It is an internationally recognized marshland oasis. One of the many possible discovery routes in the area begins in Isola della Scala, the most important center for Vialone Nano rice cultivation. A visit to a local riseria, or rice farm, educates the visitor on the seasonal cycle of this grain, the importance of local springs in its cultivation, and ancient and modern methods of working and husking the rice. All restaurants and several of the riseria in the area offer tasting menus, based on the local crop. For history lovers, the afternoon can be spent near the Church of the Bastia, Scaliger bridge, Bevilacqua Castle. Along the way, nature lovers can stop at the Palude del Brusà or Busatello marshlands, home to many bird species. Back to the hotel
DAY06: Borghetto and tortelini km 80
Buffet breakfast in hotel. Drive to Villafranca and stop for a coffee and taste sfogliatine, typical sweets. Continue to Valeggio, home of tortellini, visit the Castello (castle) where breathtaking views of the plain and the Mincio river at Borghetto. Stroll in this small medieval village with its magnificent view of the Visconteo bridge over the Mincio river and have lunch in one of the nice restaurants tasting “tortellini” In the afternoon visit the beautiful PARCO SIGURTA’ More than 30.000 plants are sculptured by nature and the expert hand on man. The gardens extend over 125 acres at the edge of the moraine hills that form the southern border of the Garda Lake, the park is now considered one of the most beatiful gardens in the world. Back to your hotel
DAY07: Departure
Services Included
- 7 days car rental
- 5 half day private guide (as per program)
- 6 nights hotel accomodation 4* bb
- private excursion to isola del Garda by private motorboat
- 2 wine tasting
- 1 lunch in rice area
- 1 lunch with tortellini
- entrance Parco Sigurtà
Lufthansa City Center