Food & Wines of Italy

Itinerary

2 Nights Rome
3 Nights Tuscany
2 Nights Florence

✈ UK – Rome (2 nights): Your Italian adventure begins in Rome, where we’ll meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for the next two nights. While Rome is famed for its awe-inspiring sights including the Colosseum, Pantheon, Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps, its food scene is equally unmissable.  Start your culinary journey in Trastevere, where cobbled streets are lined with traditional trattorias serving up favourites such as carbonara and cacio e pepe. In Testaccio, a former working-class district turned foodie haven, you’ll find no-frills osterias that are loved by locals (a sign of a great restaurant!).  For more refined and elegant dining, Prati is the place to be.  Or for something creative, go to Pigneto, which boasts a growing foodie scene with imaginative restaurants and bars.  Stroll through Campo de’ Fiori market stalls and grab a porchetta sandwich or a slice of pizza bianca. And in the evening, sip wine at a tucked-away bar or dine al fresco in a buzzing piazza and watch the world go by. On your final morning in Rome, you’ll collect your hire car.

🚗 Rome – Tuscany (3 Nights): With a car now at your disposal, you’ll set off on the scenic drive through the Italian countryside towards Tuscany, where you’ll stay for the next three nights. Tuscany is a feast for the senses, with rolling hills, hilltop villages, olive groves, and of course, world-class vineyards to explore. In Greve, you can tour and taste wines at estates such as the medieval Castello di Verrazzano. Further south, Montalcino is renowned for its Brunello wines, with celebrated estates like Castello Banfi offering tastings and vineyard lunches. Nearby Montepulciano is home to the elegant Vino Nobile, and top producers such as Poliziano offer excellent tours and tastings. Another must-visit is the town of San Gimignano, famous for its medieval towers and its crisp, refreshing Vernaccia white wine. For something quieter and less visited, the town of Figline Valdarno offers local charm and a more off-the-beaten-track experience.

🚗 Tuscany – Florence (2 Nights): After three days of vineyard-hopping, it’s time to head to Florence, Tuscany’s capital and a dream destination for foodies.  You’ll stay here for two nights, either dropping the car off on arrival or keeping it handy for a few final countryside jaunts. Florence’s wonders include the Uffizi Gallery, Michelangelo’s David, the Duomo – and of course, its iconic food.  The Mercato Centrale is a great place to start. It’s a lively food market where locals shop for fresh produce and tourists can graze through delights such as truffle crostini, handmade tortelli, wood-fired pizzas, and even lampredotto – the city’s street food sandwich made with slow-cooked tripe. When evening falls, explore the atmospheric streets of Oltrarno. This quieter, artisan district is home to traditional trattorias serving bistecca alla fiorentina, a thick-cut T-bone steak best enjoyed rare and paired with a Chianti.   Whatever you do, don’t leave without trying Florence’s gelato. Look for the signs of quality: muted colours, metal tins, and queues of locals.

✈ Florence – UK: Time to make your way to the airport for your flight back to the UK.