How We Spend 9 Days in Italy
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This is how we spend 9 days in Italy on our Heart of Italy Food Tour! We visit 3 distinct regions with different cuisines, histories, and experiences. Our Heart of Italy trip is great for travelers who want to experience the local side of Italy by eating homemade meals and visiting places not accessible to the public AND seeing the iconic sites that make each destination famous and unique.
Day 1 - 3: Amalfi Coast
When we visit the Amalfi Coast we hop around a few of the towns to visit our friends all along the coast. Normally, we dine at the marina in Sorrento, visit the hilltops of Positano, take the ferry to Capri, and wander the lemon groves of Sant’Agnello. To get to the Amalfi Coast, we recommend our travelers fly into the Naples Airport and enjoy the drive along the beautiful, curving Amalfi coastline past Mt. Vesuvius.
We start our trip in Sorrento with a walking tour through cobblestone streets to get to know the lay of the land, dine on fresh seafood dishes, and enjoy the night scene with locals (without the tourists who visit during the day).
On the second day, we ferry to Capri, walk around the towns of the island, and slip off the narrow walkways into the private home of our friends, Domenico & Maria, where we get a flavor for being a local in Capri instead of swimming with the sea of visitors.
On our last day in the Campania region, we take a short drive to Sant’Agnello to walk through the lemon groves and learn more about the local limoncello liqueur. We sample a tart and tasty pick-me-up before heading to our next stop to visit a family-owned farm for lunch.
At dinner, we get to know the coastal life by dining on a beautiful hillside home in Positano with our friends, Marika and Emanuele. They make us some of their favorite dishes like gnocchi alla sorrentina, fresh figs, eggplant parmesan, and cantucci, just to name a few. Our ‘garden dinner’ features vegetables and fruits picked straight from their terraced garden. We lend a hand in the kitchen, then gather together around her back porch table to watch the sunset over the Tyrrhenian Sea while savoring the bounteous assortment of homemade dishes.
On our last night on the Amalfi Coast, our travelers have the night free to explore on their own. Kathryn or Annie, your tour hosts, will provide you with personal recommendations based on your interests.
Day 4 - 6: Tuscany
Next, we journey north towards Naples, the birthplace of pizza, where we get our hands dirty in the kitchen by learning to make pizza from scratch and all the tips and tricks that come with perfecting Neapolitan-style pizza.
We take a scenic journey via fast train (the most efficient mode of transportation) to Florence, the heart of the Renaissance. Our friend and guide, Gaia, takes us on a private walking introduction tour of Florence and the historic center. Along the way, we stop for small bites at some of Gaia’s favorite local Florentine eateries, which makes for a local, laidback, and tasty welcome to Florence.
Pro tip: There is no such thing as too many walking tours when you’re in Florence. On our second walking tour, we stroll through one of the neighborhoods on the ‘other’ side of the Arno River. We visit a variety of eateries and local artisans and taste our way through as we learn about the craftsmanship that abounds in this artistic town.
Travelers have the afternoon free to explore before we meet up with our friend, Gloria, who welcomes us for dinner in her apartment overlooking the Duomo. We help prepare some of her favorite Florentine dishes (if she’ll let us) then gather to eat and talk about her life in Florence.
On our last day in Florence, we venture to Pistoia, famous for its plant nurseries and flower markets, and home of our dear friend, Chef Alain. We’ll spend the day on an Italian market food tour with Alain, collecting local products from purveyors to use in our homemade pasta cooking class.
After the market, we head back to Chef Alain’s restaurant where we enjoy an in-depth lesson on pasta while sipping on Chianti. At lunch, we enjoy the fruits of our labor, including a Tuscan-style pork filet. And you never know what other seasonal specialties will pop up on our menu depending on what the market has to offer that day.
Day 7 - 9: Emilia-Romagna
We move north into the region of Emilia-Romagna, known as the land of famous Italian foods & luxury car brands. Depart Florence and head to a countryside vineyard for a wine tasting and lunch pairing. After a leisurely lunch, we slow down our pace as we arrive at a picturesque countryside resort with just 7 rooms. At this boutique property, we learn from the Michelin Star chef how they harvest from their garden to prepare for their onsite restaurant. Enjoy a casual dinner with the chef before retiring for the evening.
The next day begins with an early-morning, behind-the-scenes tour of a Parmigiano-Reggiano factory, learning everything there is to know about the precision that goes into making an 84-lb wheel of cheese. We will also visit an Acetaia to get an inside look at the traditional process, history, and importance of “balsamic vinegar” to local families. We taste samples throughout the experience, and then enjoy a traditional lunch together. From here, we return to the hotel, take time to freshen up, and prepare to be dazzled at our farewell dinner prepared by the chef in their Michelin Star restaurant.
Our departure day begins with an optional group breakfast at the resort before saying farewell. We coordinate a private driver and transfer to the airport in Bologna (BLQ) or Florence (FLR) or the train station in either city on behalf of our travelers.
By the end of the trip, you’re leaving with a full stomach, new friends, and a deeper connection to Italian culture and way of life. As one of our signature trips, travelers can’t believe the experiences they have traveling in TTLT style. See what they’ve said about our trips.
If this itinerary is of interest to you, there are two ways to experience this trip!
Join us on our small group trip in 2023 or 2024.
Organize this trip itinerary for your own private group trip. Perfect for multi-generation families or a group of friends. You can enjoy this signature itinerary and have it catered to your group size and the dates that work best for your schedule.
No matter where you travel, we always recommend purchasing travel protection to safeguard against sudden changes or cancellations. If you don’t already have a preferred vendor, you can check out ours - Travel Insured - which offers a “Cancel for Any Reason” policy.
