Informativa AP n. 106/2012

ANTONIO’S GRANDTOUR 2016
Regions – Places – Cities
Emilia Romagna – Toscana
Campania – Puglia – Calabria - Sicilia
Dates
10 May – 29 May 2016
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
La Bella Italia Ltd – Miriam Vender – Personal Assistent to Antonio Cacace
04 5669303 ext. 4– miriam@labellaitalia.co.nz
PROGRAMMA
Emilia Romagna & Toscana
May – Tuesday 10 - Tuesday 17
The Grand Tour 2016 starts on a Tuesday late afternoon in Bologna, the land of the Fresh Pasta Ravioli and
Pappardelle and that has given the name to the worldwide known Pasta alla Bolognese. Meeting point will be
the hotel where we will be staying while we are in this area. (Hotel Corona d’Oro).
Welcoming dinner and relaxing together before tour starts.
The first day of the Tour will start with discovering some of the unique products of this city: La Mortadella
and homemade Pasta. A special class will be given for both products, to discover their history and their
traditions and of course a tasting will never be missed.
While we are in this area, a day will be dedicated to visit and discover the Chianti region.
This is perhaps one of the most beautiful areas of Italy, characteristic for its beautiful labndscape of rolling
hills covered by vineyards and woods, scattered with wine cellars that hide centuries of art in making wines.
We will also visit hidden mediaeval villages, like Greve and Castellina, with pearls of Romanic-gothic
architectures.
This is also the land of the Chianina steak, from an Italian breed unique to this area. It is the largest and one of
the oldest cattle breeds in the world. Of course we will have the chance to taste this delicious meat.
Faenza and Modena can’t be missed. The former for its production of ceramics and the Commonwealth
Cemetery, the latter for its production of one of the best Balsamic Vinegar in the world and, in Modena, we
will also visit the Galleria Ferrari, through the history of one of the most prestigious Italian families, headed by
Enzo Ferrari, a racing driver who then became the founder and director of the Ferrari cars production.
It is time to leave Bologna and to go to another remarkable Italian city: Parma, rich of fine and unique Italian
products, the Prosciutto di Parma, the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, the Culatello and many more, but also
birthplace of renown musicians, like Verdi and Toscanini and mother place of one of the most prestigious
Opera season in Italy, the Verdiana. A visit to the city of Parma is a must: so we will visit the beautiful and
charming Piazza Duomo with the Cathedral and the Baptistery, the Saint John Church or La Steccata Church.
While we are in this area, we will visit the city of Cremona that still holds one of the oldest traditions in
making violins. We will visit an atelier of a violin maker’s workshop and have a demonstration of
Stradivarious violins.
We will stay three nights in Parma (Hotel Mercure Stendhal) and enjoy music, wonderful products and
fine art.
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CAMPANIA 17-21/05
May - Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21
We now leave the North of Italy heading to the South, and the trip that links these far points is again a
possibility to experience Italy through the Frecciarossa: a high speed train that will get you straight to Naples
from Bologna (lunch on the train is provided!). You are now in the land of the sun, where products,
agriculture, landscape and people are shaped by the sun and its warmth.
Starting from Naples Museum, let Antonio guide you through the alleys of his hometown region capital… but
there’s a lot more this region has to offer! The archeological site of Pompei, the extraordinary landscapes of
Sorrento and Amalfi Coast are definitely worth a visit. A day Tour on a little boat will capture the beauty of the
coastline around Positano seen from the sea.
Yet more focus will be for sure on Antonio’s hometown itself: Massa Lubrense. We will be staying at La
Primavera Hotel, the family Hotel of Antonio and will meet Antonio’s mum and family. The nature has given
this wonderful land lemons, oil, tomatoes and mozzarella, and breathless sunny corners: it will be love at first
sight! All over the place, feeling overwhelmed by Antonio’s passion for his family and his native place you will
get involved in cultural activities, boat rides, rediscovering the love for simple things in life and old traditions.
Leaving Campania region, on our way to Puglia we will stop halfway in Basilicata, for a short stay in the
incredibly beautiful Matera to enjoy of amazing views and landscapes.
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PUGLIA 21-24/05
May - Saturday 21 – Tuesday 24
On a weekend starts our trip in the sunny Puglia: these 4 days will be entirely dedicated to the pursuit of
traditions among UNESCO protected areas, thousand-year old trees and typical handmade produce.
It all begins with the World Heritage Site of Castel del Monte and the visit of the famous wineries in Torre
Vento before heading to the stunning ‘White city’ of Ostuni.
In Valle d'Itria we will attend the production and tasting of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and get involved having a
Gourmet dinner in the old and fascinating Masseria Frantolio in the countryside of Ostuni.
Talking about UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Alberobello is worth a visit. The capital of Trulli, offers an
interesting Museum of Wine Cellars with a production process and tasting of the best ones.
A guide will then bring us to the International Festival of Valle d'Itria city, Martina Franca and to one of the
most beautiful towns in Italy, Cisternino (Itria Valley).
Following the Italian traditions, a cooking class is a must! Don’t forget this is the land of Orecchiette Pasta,
thus a lesson about will be held in Masseria in the morning, leaving room for a guided visit to Castellana Caves
in the afternoon.
And here, in Puglia, we will have the possibility of walking, touching and admiring some of the oldest olives
trees in the world.
Most of our activities and meals will be delighted by traditional music and dance, typical of Puglia culture and
folklore. The archeological city of Egnazia, set in a beautiful natural setting, it is one of the most interesting
and ancient sites in Puglia. Mentioned by authors such as Plinio, Strabone, Oazio, the city had great
importance in the ancient world for its geographical position; thanks to the presence of the port and the Via
Traiana, it was an active center of trade and commerce. The history of ancient GNATHIA unfolded over many
centuries. The city, only partially excavated, preserved
vestiges dating back to the Roman period. Considerable
remains of Via Traiana, the Civil Basilica with the
classroom of ‘Tre Grazie’, the Sacello of Eastern gods,
the amphitheater, the hole.
We will have time to enjoy a panoramic terrace with
sea view while eating fish in Polignano a Mare, the
amazing town that competes to be declared a UNESCO
site.
But as we know, all good things come to an end: our farewell in Puglia will be held after the visit at the
picturesque
village
of
Monopoli
and
its
beautiful
Cathedral.
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CALABRIA 24-25/05
May - Tuesday 24 – Wednesday 25
Just an overnight stay for us in this southern Italian region. Yet we will have the chance to visit some of the
most beautiful areas surrounding us and taste the local delicacies. We will stop and stay at the Hotel Tropis in
Tropea, situated on a reef and here will have also a wine tasting. While in Calabria we will visit CapoVaticano
area and Scilla, a small town on the lovely scenery of the ‘Costa viola’. We will leave feeling that we got a
taste also of this region. Departure for Sicily
SICILIA 25-29/05
May - Wednesday 25 – Sunday 29
An old saying tells: “when you arrive in Sicily you cry twice: when you arrive, and when you leave!”
The base chosen for this awesome experience will be in Noto, at the foot of the Iblean Mountains. We will be
staying at the hotel san Giorno Palace. Base location will give us the possibility to easily reach cities like Noto,
cradle of Sicilian Baroque, Modica, famous for its decoration, Siracusa that has host the most beautiful and
greatest Greek colony in Sicily. In the Neapolis Archaeological Park we will be able to admire the Greek
Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the ‘Latomie del Paradiso’ and the Ear of Dionysius, heading then to the
absolutely magic island of Ortigia, with the magnificent cathedral and the famous Arethusa Fountain.
Tasting, classes, folklore, discoveries of small fishing villages and of traditions marked by the influence of
Arabic and Greek dominations: this is what our visit in Sicily will be about…. But then, with Antoni and once
you are in Italy, you never know what else the trip will reserve for you.
Sunday 29th of May – Goodbye Italy
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The Tour does not include airfare.
We highly recommend Agota Watt of Business World Travel, Wellington. Agota has helped many of our
clients with pre and post tour travel through Italy and Europe. For flights, cruises, train travel or
accommodation Agota is the expert!
Email - awatt@bwt.co.nz
Phone - 04 470 6044
Approximate cost of the Tour:
$10900.00 per person per couple
$11990.00 per person in single room
Cost may vary, depending on exchange rate and final details.
The Tour includes
Transport
All the transports related with the Tour, except for the pickup prior Tour is not included. However we can
organize pick up at extra cost.
Transports inside the Tour are made mainly by bus, except the day that transfer will be made on Freccia Rossa
train. This will be a unique experience of Italy fastest and most modern rail transport.
Buses are modern, clean and very comfortable
Accommodation
19 nights’ accommodation in 4 stars Hotels. Hotels are comfortable, clean, modern and rustic at the same
time
19 breakfasts – 14 lunches/visits with tastings – 15 dinners. Exact number of lunches and dinners will be
confirmed with confirmation of final price. Lunches and dinners are always based on traditional Italian recipes
and they give a possibility to taste and discover some of the finest and most authentic products and
ingredients of Italy. Not always wine will be included in the meal.
Night prior commencement of Tour in Bologna can be booked, through us if required, in the same Hotel of the
Tour. This will be at extra cost.
All visits and experiences included in the Tour
There is usually 1 activity at extra cost which is to dine in a 3 star Michelin restaurants, one of the finest Italian
Restaurants located on the Amalfi Coast – Don Alfonso. Cost of this, usually, per person, Euro 130.00
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