1DAY - VERONA
Private transfer with assistance from Verona airport to the Hotel.
Visit of Verona by private coach and guide: Verona historical centre, St. Anastasia, the Scaligeri Monuments, Piazza Erbe, Juliet’s House, Arena.
Overnight in hotel.
2 DAY – VERONA-VALPOLICELLA-VERONA
Buffet breakfast in the hotel.
Pick up in hotel with guide and transfer to San Floriano and San Giorgio Ingannapoltron the most beautiful romanic churches of the region; visit than 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. After the visit lunch in a good agritourism or back to the hotel.
3 DAY – VERONA – GARDA LAKE and OIL TOUR
Buffet breakfast in the Hotel.
The tour starts with the visit of 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. The exhibits, nearly all wooden, are now very rare , and represent the simple technique handed down from generation to generation of craftsmen with the occasional improvents made by enterprising individuals. There is the old lever-press which was a system already used by the ancient Egyptians , a rather rough-and-ready device which nevertheless demonstrated an abitlity to exploit phisical laws in an efficient manner and least but not less important the "mole", the grindstones for crushing the olives and turned by the farm animals. There are finally the screw-presses which represent a later development as well as the typical tools and equipment of the oil-mill. Of particular interest is the reconstruction of a nineteenth 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.
The tour continue 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. It offers a superb tour through italian, english gardens and two rooms of the impressive Neo-gothic-venetian Villa. The guests will be accompanied through the visit by the owner. Light refreshments will be served in the villa.The visit lasts approximately two hours
Back to hotel, overnight
4 DAY – VERONA – SOAVE the white wine land- VERONA
buffet breakfast in Hotel.
Visit the village of Soave, founded on the last vestiges of Lessinia, and enclosed within a medieval city wall 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 principal wine centers of three valleys, Mezzane, Illasi and Alpone. Stop for a taste of white wine in a local wine cellar.
5 DAY – COOKING CLASS
Buffet Breakfast.
In the morning meeting with the guide and transfer to a Villa few kilometres out of Verona. Cooking lesson to explain how pasta is made and it’s history. Lunch with the dishes prepared.
In the afternoon return to Verona and time at disposal for shopping.
6 DAY – RICE TOUR
Buffet breakfast in the Hotel
The Veronese Plain covers a wide area, south of the city, characterized by large rice plantations, churches, historic residences, 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, the Scaliger bridge, the Bevilacqua Castle.
Along the way, nature lovers can stop at the Palude del Brusŕ or Busatello marshlands, home to many bird species.
7 DAY – BORGHETTO and Tortellini
Buffet breakfast in hotel.
Half day itinerary with the possibility of lunch or dinner amongst the old Scaligeri castles on the borders of Lombard cities.
Other local speciality gastronomic products can also be tasted such as sfogliatine, typical sweets of Villafranca, the tortellini of Valeggio. Also tastings of typical Custoza wines from local wineries.
In Villafranca, at the end of the long Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the Castello Scaligero appears, of which only the perimeter walls remain. Here a stop to taste the exquisite sfogliatine is a must. It’s possible to visit the Nicolis Museum with its walk through exhibition on the evolution of the automobile, technology and mechanics
-Coast along the Serraglio, originally a Scaligeri fortification that originally started from the marshes of Grezzano, continued to Villafranca and Valeggio, and finished at Borghetto.
-At Valeggio, home of the tortellini, one can visit the Castello (castle) where stupendous views of the plain and the Mincio river at Borghetto can be enjoyed.
-Descending down towards Borghetto, it is almost obligatory to stroll in this small medieval village with its magnificent view of the Visconteo bridge over the Mincio river.
8 DAY – DEPARTURE
