ITALY: Boutique Foodie & Textile Small Group Tour - 14 days

Destination:  ITALY: Lecca | Trani | Perugia | Florence | Panzano (Tuscany) | Venice

Tour Commences In:  Lecca

Tour Concludes in:  Venice

Number of Days:  14 days / 13 nights

Tour Style:  Luxury Boutique Tour

Accommodation:  Luxury & Boutique Hotels

Meals:  Breakfasts; 13: Lunch; 9 : Dinner; 11 :

Leaders: Australian Tour Host and professional textile & ceramic guide

Transportation:  Luxury private chauffeur driven air-conditioned vehicles & train

Tour Grading:  MODERATE: Suitable for travellers with an average level of fitness and mobility

• A specially curated itinerary for Boutique Tours

• Apulian jewels: Lecce, Otranto, Specchia, Galatina, Alberobello, Polignano a Mare and Trani

• Enjoy local life in Lecce

• Learn about the history of Trulli in Alberobello 

• Discover robust Masseria in Apulia:  historic, fortified farm estates painted brilliant white, scattered across the region 

• Discover some of the best artisans representing Italy’s craftsmanship of excellence: hand woven textiles , precious lace, ceramics and hand-blown glass 

• Discover the Lake Trasimeno villages and traditions

• Visit an Apulian winery, taste their great wines and have dinner with owners 

• Drive through the scenic Chiantigiana road and visit a boutique winery  

• Experience life in a small, untouched Chianti village

• Uncover hidden places in Venice and learn about the lifestyle of Venetian people

• Explore Perugia, Florence, Chianti region, Venice and Murano island

• Indulge in the delicious Apulian, Tuscan and Venetian cuisines 

Day 1:    Sunday: Arrive Bari or Brindisi airport:    (D)
Ciao e Benvenuto, hello and welcome to Italy, Upon your arrival in Bari (or Brindisi) airport you will be meet by our professional guide and driver and transferred by private luxury minibus to our hotel in the historical centre in Lecce.
Later, at a time suitable for all guests, we will rendezvous at the Hotel lobby to meet fellow travellers for a tour briefing before departing for our ‘Welcome Dinner’ a local restaurant.
Our Italy tour commences in the Salento area in Apulia, a land rich in history and tradition and renowned for its natural and architectural beauty, its hospitality, its magical atmosphere, it’s delicious regional food, its warm sun, its crystalline sea, and its dreamlike coast.
Salento was a land of conquest with the passing of the Greeks, the Byzantines and the Barbarian pirates, there each of those cultures left some signs, and it’s a part of the Magna Grecia, the Italy’s area that includes Puglia, Campania and Sicily where you can find the masterpieces of the Greek culture.
Lecce, also known as the "The Florence of the South," on the southeast tip of Italy's boot, far off the beaten track for most of Italy's art-loving visitors will stupefy you with the magnificence of the Leccese Baroque masterpieces.

Day 2:    Monday: Lecce & Galatina:    (B/L/D)
This morning we meet our guide in our hotel foyer for a guided walking tour that will end at the best pastry shop in town where you will taste homemade savory and sweet traditional products. It’s a must to try the local and typical dessert, “Pasticciotto leccese” (with custard and sour cherry).This afternoon we continue onto our private excursion to Galatina, just few km from Lecce and one of Puglia’s many hidden gems. We visit the historic centre and the Basilica of Santa Caterina, a rare example of gothic architecture in Salento and with its wonderful frescoes it tells the story of the man in relation to his love for God. On the way back to Lecce we visit an excellent winery based in a Masseria (typical farmhouse in southern Italy) for a tour, wine tasting and a light dinner. A perfect finish to the day.

Day 3:    Tuesday: Otranto & Hand-weaving workshop: (B,L)
Today we visit Otranto and participate in our first hand-weaving workshop of our tour. Driving south from Lecce marvel at centuries-old olive groves, rich red-colored fields and the many small Baroque villages so rich in art treasures.
Our first stop will be Otranto, also called "The Door to the Orient”. It is an ancient maritime city that sits on the eastern most point of Italy. Of Greek origin, it was an important embarkation point to the East during Roman rule. Otranto offers its visitors interesting sites like the Cathedral, considered the largest church in Apulia, it was finished and opened to prayer in 1088. There we see one of the best-preserved Christian-Byzantine floor mosaics in Italy. Otranto is also home to the Aragonese castle with its towers, bastions, and fortified walls. 
Following lunch in Otranto, we will reach the small village of Uggiano, where you will visit Le Costantine workshop. Le Costantine is much more than a workshop, it’s first of all a private Foundation, created in 1982, as an agricultural and artisanal educational centre and includes hospitality, weaving, biodynamics agriculture and the education for the local youths. The founder Ms Giulia Starace created Le Costantine as a source of charity and affection for the inhabitants of the village of Uggiano and for anybody else. She wanted that the young women interested in handmade activities had the possibility to develop their personality and inclinations, stimulating them to stay here, in the homeland, with serenity and dignity. The weaving studio called “Singing and Loving” creates unique precious textile products with ancient and wood looms that have four elements (called “licci”) using old-time techniques. The biodynamics agriculture wants to improve the fertility of the earth and the quality of the food, showing in a new way how the work of the man can be in balance with the nature. 
We later transfer back to Lecce. This evening is yours free to relax, dine and or shop.

Day 4:    Wednesday: Salento Villages, Weaving, Tombolo lace & ceramics:    (B/L/D) 
Another journey through the amazing Salento countryside awaits you today. Our first stop will be in the village of Tricase where you will visit a renowned ceramic workshop. The artisan/artist will be happy to share with you the history behind the traditional patterns and the techniques. You will be captivated by the creative skill in mixing ancient patterns with contemporary designs and coloursWe then visit a workshop that specializes in Tombolo lace and the founder creates true masterpieces. Amazing.
We continue onto the charming village of Specchia recognized as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, where we will have lunch.In the afternoon you will reach the village of a fabulous weaver. The quality and uniqueness of handicrafts are revealed by history spanning a century, from the slow and patient preparation of yarn for weaving. The fabrics are made with the Jacquard technique with a special machine which allow to create ornate designs on fabrics, weaving the threads warp and weft, moved and motivated by a sequence dictated by a perforated cardboard, as if it were a data read, which is decoded, in fact, the Jacquard machine.The yarns used to weave all creations are Perlè Egyptian Cotton and Linen yarn dyed in dantrene. This is the top in terms of non-toxic and resistance to discoloration, as natural fibers. For this reason, Giaquinto products are velvety and besides being very resistant, the colours of the yarns make them bright and shimmering sight.Transfer back to Lecce and dinner this evening is at a fabulous gourmet restaurant.

Day 5:    Thursday: Alberobello, Polignano a Mare & Trani:    (B/L/D)
Today we drive north from Lecce to the fairy-tale village of Alberobello. Alberobello is a picturesque architectural gem where nearly 1,000 trulli dwellings with their cobblestone streets are a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. We meet our private guide for a walking tour of the neighborhoods of Aia Piccola and Rione Monti where we see some of the oldest dwellings, still preserving the original features of this World Heritage Site. The ‘trulli’ are white dry-stone houses with conical roofs made of lapidary stones.After lunch in Alberobello we then drive to the picture-perfect village of Polignano a Mare. It rises out of a cliff face on the Adriatic Sea and is located on the coast between Bari and Brindisi.
In addition to its breathtaking views over the Adriatic, Polignano is also filled with charming, white-washed streets, enchanting old churches, and a beach with warm turquoise waters flanked on either side by cliffs. It features a lively, untouched historical centre characterized by many balconies with breathtaking sea views.Continue onto Trani where accommodation is at the 4 star hotel that is set in the 18th century Telesio Palazzo, overlooking the port of Trani and the white luminous Piazza Quercia. Trani is a lovely town, north of Bari, it became very important between the 11th and 13th centuries since its strategic position on the Adriatic coast made it an important departure point for the Crusades as well as a flourishing commercial centre, attracting many families from Italy's great Maritime Republics, with whom it maintained close diplomatic relationships. In the same period, Trani was also home to southern Italy's largest Jewish community, testament to whose presence is the impressive Scolanova synagogue. The old town centre is a charming medieval network of streets with plenty of fine architecture, arranged around the picturesque fishing port, flanked by numerous cafés and restaurants. From the port you will see the iconic cathedral, a fabulous example of Romanesque architecture whose creamy white limestone and lofty proportions emphasise its stunning location beside the deep blue of the Adriatic Sea. Dinner this evening is at the at the lovely hotel restaurant.

Day 6:    Friday: Trani – Perugia:    (B/L/D)
Today you have a quite long trip. (about 6 hours, 511km from Trani to Perugia ) We drive through Italy to Umbria, “the green heart of Italy”, this region offers scenery of gentle rolling hills covered in vineyards, medieval towns and untouched hamlets. Its beautiful. 
On the way to Perugia we will stop and visit a very special weaving mill that has been the synonymous of Italian style in home linen and interior decoration, thanks to the masterly harmony among quality, nature, tradition, culture and art.  The weaving mill aims at handing down and developing the traditions of the handicraft and of the art of weaving that, since the past centuries, have found one of their best expressions in this area.Later we continue our drive to Perugia with our hotel in the historic city centre. Dinner this evening is at a restaurant that is within walking distance from our hotel.

Day 7:    Saturday: Perugia: (B/L)
Meet our guide at the hotel this morning for a walking tour through the historic centre. Perugia, the capital of Umbria was founded by the Etruscans in the VII century B.C. The untouched historical centre is one of the largest and interesting in Italy. From the ancient Etruscan remains to the Middle-Ages, from Renaissance to Baroque, every period produced absolute masterpieces. This beautiful town will surprise and charm you with unexpected sites and views. 
Lunch is in a fabulous restaurant in the historic centre. In the afternoon we will visit a hand weaving workshop located just outside the city walls. This workshop is of historic importance for Perugia as it has been producing patterned fabrics reminiscent of great Medieval and Renaissance Textile tradition in Umbria. Inspired by the women's tradition of producing the necessary materials at home and textiles for the household, the workshop/school is dedicated to the production of high-quality artistic textiles for the home.
Ever since, the passion for the art of hand-weaving on antique wooden looms has been passed on from mother to daughter with each generation, personalizing the production according to her particular vocation and professional studies. We later return to our hotel and dinner on is on your own.

Day 8:    Sunday:  Perugia – Florence:    (B/L/D)
Today we drive to Tuoro, a lovely village on the shores of Lake Trasimeno. In Tuoro we visit the wonderful Lace Museum. The Museum displays a vast assortment of handmade lacework executed in the School of Embroidery instituted in the first years of the 20th century by the Marchioness Elena Guglielmi with the aim of economically emancipating the women of the island. In the school the daughters of the fishermen, residents of the Lake Trasimeno island learned the delicate work of producing crochet lace—so called Irish lace—that was then sold in Perugia and Rome, also to the Royal Family, thanks to the Guglielmis' acquaintances. Half a century later, the precious qualities of lace manufacturing and the growing demand for lace led some women to start a real and true entrepreneurial working activity by re-opening the old school of lacework, which has now gained international recognition.
We continue our drive through scenic Tuscany to Florence.  Light lunch is at the Cafè on the rooftop terrace of the hotel which offers one of the best views of Florence. In the afternoon we will meet our guide at the hotel for a walking tour through the historic centre.
We visit the Old Bridge, Signoria square, Santa Croce square and Accademia Gallery that keeps Michelangelo masterpieces. If time permits, we will visit a famous monks’ pharmacy, famous not only producing herbal remedies but beautiful natural perfumes. Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, one of the oldest pharmacies in the world. Dinner this evening is at a gourmet restaurant walking distance from the hotel. 

Day 9:    Monday: Florence - Tuscany:    (B/D)
Today you will discover two Florentine jewels; some of the best kept secrets of this fascinating city. You will first visit the antique Florentine weavers in Florence historic centre. Where they have been weaving silks for over 300 years. As in the past, it weaves made-to-measure fabrics on antique looms following Florentine tradition. as one of the last remaining workshops for silk manufacturing in the world. It’s a hand-operated and semi-mechanical looms weave dreams, embellished by a wondrous warper designed by Leonardo Da Vinci. This Mill is the home of magnificence, where the work of man respects priceless tenets, giving elegance and sophistication to those passionate about beauty. In Florence, the art of silk weaving found its natural home and flourished in the 14th century bringing prestige to the city and wealth to its merchants. The silk woven in Florence reached its peak during the heir of the Medici to welcome the Grand Duke Cosimo to Florence with the story that tells us that the streets were draped with “precious tapestries”.From the Renaissance age onwards, silk was the source of wealth for many noble Florentine families, including della Gherardesca, Pucci, Bartolozzi, Corsini and Agresti, who decided to establish a single workshop that would regroup all their looms and fabrics. In the middle of the fifties, thanks to the acquisition by Marquis Emilio Pucci and the other founding families of the shareholding majority, a takeover which enabled the company to manufacture textiles to furnish stately homes of Italian and international nobility. The famous silk mill went on to decorate and restore the most beautiful and prestigious homes and museums throughout Europe: from the Tribune of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence to the curtains of Palazzo Madama in Rome and the furnishings of the Kremlin Palace in Moscow.
Time at leisure for lunch. After lunch we visit a weaving mill immersed in the lush green of the Florentine hills. Here they specialise in silks with gold and silver thread continuing to manufacture priceless silk velvets and brocades just as they did, always by hand, on the same ancient Jacquard looms, and always with the same aim: to keep the art of weaving precious fabrics alive. 
We continue our drive south in to Tuscany to our charming 3 star hotel, located in the centre of Panzano in Chianti and overlooking the most beautiful Chianti landscape. (the Conca d'Oro) Dinner will be in a local trattoria, walking distance from your hotel.

Day 10:   Tuesday: Tuscany; Chianti area, Villages and Wines:    (B/L/D)
Pick up from your hotel in Panzano  for a full day excursion through the Chianti area , we will drive the two main roads of the Chianti : Chiantigiana road and the Chianti Classico road. Our first stop will be in Strada in Chianti where today the weekly market takes place and you will  get a full immersion in the Tuscan experience, you will find food , home-grown vegetables and fruits , household products, handcrafts, flowers, vegetables, clothes  and much more. Time at leisure to explore the stands of the market .  Then driving through verdant rolling hills and vineyards we will reach Castellina in Chianti where we will visit a flagship, organic winery wine tasting and a lunch.In the afternoon we will  visit the most enchanting and untouched villages : the hamlet of Montefioralle where time seems to have stopped and Greve in Chianti .Transfer back to Panzano in Chianti  and  dinner in a local Trattoria .

Day 11:    Wednesday : Siena & San Gimignano:    (B)
Today we visit maybe the two most iconic cities in Tuscany, Siena and San Gimignano.We drive south to Siena where we meet our Professional guide. We visit the magnificent Duomo di Siena Cathedral and the Baptistery, the Campo Square, the Corso (the main street that crosses the historic centre) and the Torre del Mangia. Our guide would also be happy to introduce you to the Palio, you could visit the “Contrada” seats and the Palio Museum. Time at leisure for lunch on your own.We continue our drive onto fabulous San Gimignano, the amazingly well preserved medieval town known as the “city of the fair towers” with its fourteen soaring towers (of the seventy-six original) that dominate the skyline.  

Day 12:   Thursday: Tuscany – Venice: (B/Tastings)
Early this morning we depart for Florence to board the high speed train to Venice (about 2 hours and 15 minutes Travel Time).Upon our arrival at the Venice train station we will be met by our guide who will lead us to our water taxi for a private transfer to our Hotel.  
There’s time at leisure for lunch on your own.This afternoon we meet our tour guide in our hotel foyer and we embark on our walking tour to discover Venice and its history. We begin with a visit to St. Mark’s Piazza and its main sights: the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica and the Rialto bridge. The Doge’s Palace was the political heart of the Republic, but it was also the home of the Doge and the seat of political justice. During the visit, we will also cross the Bridge of Sighs to visit the Palace Prisons. The Basilica, constructed in Oriental style and guarding the relics of St Mark, will astound you with the magnificence of its golden mosaics. Then our guide introduce us to the hidden Venice with a food & wine experience: The Bacari, the local down-to-earth version of a wine bar that serve tapas like “cicheti”, traditionally washed down with a glass of wine and Venetians stop to snack and socialize before and after meals. They are called “Bacari” in honour to Bacchus, the God of Wine. We will savour a wonderful selection of “cicheti“, cheese, seafood or cold cut appetizers freshly made during the day. We’ll wander from place to place and learn more about the lifestyle of Venetian people before returning to your hotel.

Day 13:   Friday:  Venice:    (B/L/D )
This morning we again meet our guide at the hotel and we walk to a famous venetian families weaving centre where they continue the ancient and refined tradition of weaving on hand operated 18th century looms on which their descendants created beautiful and precious fabrics over the decades.  Walking through the historical centre of Venice with our guide we will discover small hidden gems along the way.
Following a light lunch at a café we transfer by private boat to Murano island and a tour of the Murano glass factory that produces masterpieces sold world wide.
Later we transfer back to our hotel by private boat. Our dinner special farewell dinner this evening is where you can taste authentic Venetian cuisine. 

Day 14:    Saturday: Depart Venice:   (B)
Our small group tour concludes after breakfast and for most guests today it is time to say farewell to acquaintances, new-found friends and Italy.

At your leisure before transferring to the airport for your onward or homebound journey.

Our Guide is available to transfer you to the airport or train station.

Depending on your departure itinerary, you may have time for some last-minute sightseeing and shopping. We are able to organise our private guide to accompany you.

Some guests may wish to stay another day or more in this amazing city; please don’t hesitate to contact Boutique Tours and Travel for further travel arrangements. 

• Especially curated itinerary for Boutique Small Group Tours

• Exclusive and private airport arrival transfers for all guests. (Departures can be arranged)

• 4 & 3 star modern & boutique hotel accommodation.

• Luxury private air-conditioned vehicles and other modes of transport as per the itinerary

• 1st class train tickets from Florence to Venice  

• Meals as per Itinerary: "B" Breakfast", “L” for Lunch and "D" for Dinner. 

• Visit to wineries and wine tastings on day 2 and 10

• Concierge services throughout the tour

• Private services of bilingual professional guides & driver for tours included in the itinerary

• Admission fees to most tourist sites as per the itinerary

• Guided visits as per program :in Lecce, Galatina, Otranto, Specchia, Alberobello, Polignano, Perugia, Florence, Venice and Murano

• Reservation and Tickets for Accademia Gallery in Florence, St Mark’s Bacilica and Doge’s Palace Venice 

• All porterage, some tipping and gratuities. 

• An exclusive information travel package.

• Bottled water whilst touring in vehicle.

Not Included:

• International airfares

• Arrival & Departure Taxes, levies or other charges

• Passport & Visa Fees

• City Taxes for hotels if required

• Personal Travel Insurance

• Excess baggage charges

• Cost of any ‘luggage delivery’. – via FedEx or postal services

• Late check-out at hotels

• Porterage and gratuities on your arrival at airport and hotel and in free time

• Extra gratuities to tour guides and drivers and others.

• Meals and Alcoholic beverages not included in the itinerary

• Expenditure of personal nature

• Optional activities not included in tour