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About the tour: The Gastronomic Heart of Italy
With its roots tracing back to Ancient Rome, Italian cuisine is an essential part of the fabric of Italian culture. Join us as we explore and discover both the culture and cuisine of the northern gastronomic heart of Italy. From the delights of Tuscany to the Emilia-Romagna region, there’s an incredible array of both exciting and tantalisingly tasty experiences to enjoy. Sample the delicious Parma and Prosciutto Ham before embarking on a discovery of the breathtaking city of Florence, enjoy a pizza-making experience and even a spot of wine tasting on this incredible culinary exploration.
Tour Includes
- 11 nights hotel with continental breakfast
- 9 evening meals and 1 light lunch
- Convenient local joining points
12 days from £1399 pp
We offer flexible payment options
Once you have booked your tour either online, or by telephone ( 01709 787 463 ), you have the flexibility of how you pay off the remainder of your balance. You can:
- Use our balance payment facility online to make and track your card payments. You can pay as much as you want up until your final due date or pay it all, the choice is yours.
- Send payments via online banking.
- Send payments via cheque.
- Call us and make a card payment, either a small amount or as lump sum until your final due date.
Our contact and online banking payment details will be on your confirmation invoice to remind you of your choices.
Tour Itinerary
Certain excursions are included in the price of your holiday. If you choose not to go on an included excursion, for whatever reason, no refunds will be made.
Yes, you will receive one with your Travel Documents, which are sent 7-10 days before departure.
We believe that our holidays may not be suitable for children under 8 years old (except for Disneyland Paris bookings) however, we will
consider individual requests on application. Customers aged 18 and under at the time of travel must be accompanied by an adult, parent or
guardian aged over 18 years old.
You can check weather averages here.
Day 1
Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then travel to northern France for an overnight stay.
Day 2
Continue to our hotel in the Milan area for an overnight stay.
- Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Cremona
Today, we spend time in the picturesque city of Cremona. Famous for its finely crafted violins, Cremona has a charming historic centre, where beautiful medieval and Renaissance buildings are clustered around the Piazza del Commune.
The Torrazzo is one of Europe’s tallest surviving, medieval brick towers that houses one of the world’s largest astronomical clocks.
Following time at leisure we continue to our hotel in Montecchio Emilia for a seven-night stay.
- Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Cremona
Included Highlights
- Cremona
Day 4 - Parma and Prosciutto Tasting
Spend the morning in the former royal city of Parma where, following an included sightseeing tour, you will have time at leisure to discover everything the city has to offer, including the French-inspired Palazzo Ducale, the wooden Teatro Farnese and the cathedral’s baptistery.
We continue with a drive to Langhirano, located at the heart of Parma Ham country, where we will learn all about the production of one of Italy’s most recognisable food products.
We will enjoy an included Prosciutto tasting for those wishing to sample the local delicacy.
- Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Parma
Included Highlights
- Parma with Guided Sightseeing
- Langhirano with Prosciutto Tasting
Day 5 - Florence
Today we will travel to the Renaissance city of Florence, where there will be time at leisure to explore the endless historic sights.
See the shops in and around the centuries-old Ponte Vecchio, or even have your portrait painted by one of the street artists who usually gather in the square next to the medieval Duomo (cathedral).
During our visit, we will include a walking tour of the central market, where your guide will take you through the delightful streets of Florence, pointing out the major sights.
We will also experience a pizza-making class at a local restaurant
- Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Florence
Included Highlights
- Pizza Making Class
- Florence Guided Walking Tour
- Florence
Day 6 - Bologna & Dozza with Wine Tasting
We begin the day in Bologna, home to one of the most exquisite and best-preserved historic districts in Europe, where we will enjoy a guided tour to introduce you to this beautiful city.
The grand squares and elegant landmarks such as the ‘degli Asinelli’ and ‘della Garisenda’ towers, plus the San Petronio Basilica and the Neptune Fountain, make it a delightful place to explore on foot, and our local guide's informative commentary will reveal many of the stories behind the buildings and personalities which have shaped the history of this magnificent city.
You will have time at leisure to explore before continuing to the medieval village of Dozza, known for its castle and archetypal decorated houses. This area is known for the production of Lambrusco, and we will end our day with a visit a winery to sample the wine.
- Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Bologna
Included Highlights
- Bologna Guided Tour
- Bologna
- Dozza with Lambrusco Wine Tasting
Day 7 - Free Time or Reggio Emilia
Spend the day at leisure, or join us for an optional half day visit to Reggio Emilia. Known as the 'Tricolour Town', it was here that the Italian flag was adopted for the first time in 1797.
Nowadays, Reggio is famous for its gastronomy and quality of life. It is well known for producing Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and balsamic vinegar.
Enjoy free time exploring the medieval streets and perhaps taste the local specialities with lunch in one of the many cafés and restaurants.
- Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - Ferrara
Ferrara is a city that must be experienced. In every corner you will discover the character of a magnificent Renaissance capital.
The historic district, surrounded by a 9 kilometre-long city wall, can only be visited on foot or by bicycle. The historic city centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995.
In Ferrara, accompanied by a certified guide, we will visit the cathedral, the basilica and the medieval historic district.
- Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Ferrara
Included Highlights
- Ferrara Guided Tour
- Ferrara
Day 9 - Modena
Today we travel to the beautiful town of Modena, known for its wide arcaded streets, large squares, attractive cathedral and Ghirlandia Tower.
We include a sightseeing tour of the city before having time at leisure to explore.
This afternoon we continue to the town of Maranello, where we visit the world-famous Ferrari Museum.
We end the day with a visit to a local balsamic vinegar cellar to learn all about the traditional production techniques involved in the process to guarantee the quality of the vinegar, which like grappa, is based on grape must.
- Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Modena
Included Highlights
- Ferrari Museum - Maranello
- Modena Sightseeing Tour
- Modena
- Balsamic Vinegar Cellar
Day 10 - Mantua with Tortellini Tasting
Today we visit the medieval city of Mantua. Considered one of the main artistic and cultural hubs of northern Italy, it is renowned for both its delicious cuisine and its beautiful architectural splendour.
With a local guide, explore the beauty of the cathedral, Palazzo Ducale and other impressive buildings of the UNESCO listed historical centre.
This afternoon we continue to the idyllic hamlet of Valeggio sul Mincio, whose impressive 13th century castle is visible from miles away.
Famous for its tortellini, we will get the chance to taste this meat-filled pasta dish before continuing to the Vipiteno area where we have an overnight stay.
- Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Famous Valeggio sul Mincio Tortellini
Included Highlights
- Mantua with Guided Tour
- Valeggio sul Mincio with Tortellini Tasting
Day 11
To Belgium for an overnight stay.
- Included meals: Breakfast
Day 12
Return home.
- Included meals: Breakfast
Travel Insurance from £42.00 (12 days) (includes insurance premium tax, prices per person). Single Room Supplement from £279.00 (12 days).
The Gastronomic Heart of Italy 12 days from £1399pp
Book online OR call our friendly travel advisers on:
01709 787 463
Accommodation
If you prefer, then you can join the tour at the hotel. To do this, we will require a copy of your passport for identification purposes and you must advise us at the time of booking.
No reduction will be given if you should choose to do this.
All hotel rooms benefit from private bathroom facilities.
Some hotels have tea and coffee making facilities. Please check the tour pages for more
information or call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333.
Most hotels have a lift, please call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333 for more information.
Some hotels have ground floor rooms. Please email for information on individual hotels or call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333.
Your hotels will supply towels in your room.
We are unable to guarantee that the hotel will be able to meet your dietary requirements. We find that the majority of European countries do not generally cater for vegetarians and that the meal supplied may well be what everyone else is having minus the meat.
We will of course endeavour to arrange for a vegetarian meal at the hotel. We do however suggest that you advise us of your dietary requests at the time of booking and recommend that you speak to the receptionist on arrival with regard to your request.
You will stay for seven nights at the 4-star Hotel Conte Verde, located in Montecchio Emilia. Overnight stays in northern France, northern Italy and Belgium will be in city-style hotels.
Please Note: Due to demand, we may use other hotels of a similar standard. Your exact hotel details will be provided with your travel documents.
Travel Options
Departure times given for each region are approximate. Please check your travel documents to confirm the actual timings.
Front row seats can be reserved for £15pp (up to 6 days duration), £25pp (7 and 8 days duration), £30pp (9 to 11 days) or £35pp (12 days or more) on all European tours. This offer is only available for bookings of two or four persons on our Executive and Silver Service coaches and for one or two persons on our Luxuria coaches and is subject to availability. In addition to this, seats on the second row can be reserved for a supplement of £8pp (up to 6 days duration), £15pp (7 and 8 days duration), £18pp (9 to 11 days) or £22pp (12 days or more).
Guaranteed front or second row seats cannot be reserved on transfer journeys to/from the UK port. Occasionally, front and second row seats may be on a request only basis.
Please note: children under 15 years of age are not permitted to sit in the front seats of any coach.
On some coaches the legroom on front seats, central view seats and seats directly in front of the washroom may be slightly less than that available on other seats due to the presence of a modesty board in front.
If your tour is cancelled or merged for any reason and front or second row seats or central view seats or table seats are not available on your tour, you will be refunded any supplement paid. No other compensation will be payable.
Alternatively, we can take seating requests on your booking. However, requests are not guaranteed. All seat numbers are confirmed on travel documents approximately 7-10 days prior to departure.
Central View Seats are available to pre-book free of charge.
Table Seats are available to pre-book free of charge on our Luxuria coaches.
We guarantee that all passengers on the same booking will be seated together on the main tour coach.
Seats on the transfer coaches to and from the interchange are not allocated.
Hot and cold drinks are served on your main tour coach. Prices are approximately £1 or €1.25 Euro per drink. Prices will be confirmed by your driver.
Transfer coaches are routed approximately 2-3 weeks before departure. The route taken depends on where paassengers are booked to travel from on any particular date as to which route is taken. If you require further detailed information regarding the route to the port you can contact our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333 two weeks before you are due to travel.
With regard to the route taken by the main tour coach, this is determined by the driver.
All main tour coaches have on-board toilets. Transfer vehicles to and from the interchange may not have on-board toilets. When non-British coaches are
used on transfers and tours (air holidays only) an on-board toilet may not be available. However, comfort stops will be made during long journeys.
All coaches feature air-conditioning. Should the air-conditioning system break down for a period exceeding 12 hours,
compensation will be awarded up to a maximum of £10 per fare-paying passenger per tour.
All our coaches and transfer vehicles operate a 'no smoking on board policy'. The use of electronic cigarettes is strictly forbidden.
In the interest of fellow guests, do not take hot food or ice cream on board.
Customers own alcohol cannot be consumed on board our vehicles.
Depending on the location of your pickup point, you may be picked up by coach (not necessarily the on you are touring on), minibus, taxi, National Express or Megabus service. You may then be taken to another centralised pickup location or service station. We operate a passenger interchange at Stop 24 Services, where you will meet the tour coach you are holidaying on and then continue on with your outbound journey. Similarly, on the way home, you may also change transfer vehicles at another location, to take you to your final drop off point.
Your allowance is one medium sized suitcase per person, which
should weigh no more than 20kg when full. We
may refuse to carry larger or heavier cases.
Hand luggage should be stored in the overhead
racks aboard the coach. Nothing should be stored under your seat.
When it comes to getting you to your destination, Leger Holidays make it easy, with a selection of travel options for you to choose from.
Silver Service Features
- Sit back and relax in specially-designed, deluxe reclining seats, with leather headrests, footrests and more legroom than standard coaches.
- Enjoy the perfect temperature onboard with climate control.
- Relax and have a chat in the spacious rear lounge.
- Servery on board offering a range of refreshments.
- Porterage* at most hotels, so you really don’t have to lift a finger.
- Time flies with our onboard entertainment system.
- With free personal headphones you can tune into the music channel, listen to the radio or watch DVDs.
- Onboard toilet
Silver Service Seating Plan
Silver Service Virtual Tour
Find your nearest joining point
We have hundreds of coach joining points throughout England, Scotland and Wales. To find your nearest joining point, search using your postcode below.
*Please note joining points are subject to availability.
Travel Extras
Why not go the night before your tour for a relaxing start?
You can park for FREE for up to nine days at the Holiday Inn Ashford North and enjoy an overnight stay with English breakfast from just £41.50 per person (Based on 2 sharing a twin/double room on a B&B basis, subject to availability. Single supplements and terms and conditions apply.) We’ll then collect you from the hotel on the day of departure and return you there at the end of your holiday.
To book this package, please call the hotel on 01233 713333, select option 1, quoting ‘Leger Holidays’ and your booking reference. If your holiday is longer than seven days you can pay for additional days’ parking. Ask one of our friendly reservations team for more details when you book your holiday
On most holidays if you’d prefer to join your tour coach at Stop 24 services, you can park your car in the car park which is accredited by the Park Mark safer parking scheme and is monitored 24 hours a day by CCTV. Payment for the parking is made on arrival using the self-service machines. Excludes holidays to Ireland and the U.K. and tours travelling via Brittany Ferries.
Customer Reviews
To book this tour, just give our friendly team a call on 01709 787 463 or book online at www.leger.co.uk
