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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 pasta-making experience and even a spot of wine tasting on this incredible culinary exploration.
12 days from £1,199 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:
Our contact and online banking payment details will be on your confirmation invoice to remind you of your choices.
Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then travel to northern France for an overnight stay.
Continue to our hotel in the Milan area for an overnight stay.
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 highlights
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 recognizable food products.
We will enjoy an included prosciutto tasting for those wishing to sample the local delicacy.
Included highlights
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 highlights
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 highlights
Spend the day at leisure, or join us on a visit to a family-run pasta-making business, where the owner and his wife will welcome you and show you around their surroundings, before we watch how the well-known pasta fresca is made by hand.
We will also visit a local wine cellar before enjoying a classical lunch where we can taste both the pasta and wine from our visit.
Optional highlights
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 you will visit the cathedral, the basilica and the medieval historic district with a certified guide.
Included highlights
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 highlights
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.
Explore the beauty of the cathedral, Palazzo Ducale and other impressive buildings of the UNESCO listed historical centre with a local guide.
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 highlights
To the northern France/Belgium area for an overnight stay.
Return home.
Book online OR call our friendly travel advisers on:
01709 787 463
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.
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. Overnights in northern Italy and France will be in city style hotels.
Front row seats can be reserved for £14pp (up to 6 days' duration), £22pp (7 & 8 days' duration) and £25pp (9 days' duration and over) on all European tours. This offer is only available for bookings of two or four persons on the front row and is subject to availability. In addition to this, seats on the second row can be reserved for £7pp (up to 6 days duration), £14pp (7 & 8 days duration) and £17pp (9 days duration and over). Guaranteed front/second row seats cannot be reserved on transfer journeys to/from the interchange. Children under 15 years cannot occupy a front row seat due to French Law. Central view seats are free.
Please note: On some coaches the legroom on front seats 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 for any reason and front/second row seats are not available on your new tour, you will be refunded the supplement. 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.
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.
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.
You can join your coach at your nearest joining point – we’ve hundreds to choose from throughout England, Scotland and Wales. To find your nearest pick up, search using your postcode below.
*Please note pickups are subject to availability.
Why not go the night before your tour for a relaxing start?
You can park for FREE for up to seven days at the Holiday Inn Ashford North and enjoy an overnight stay with English breakfast from just £39.50 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, 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.
On Single Traveller holidays and coach holidays of 7 days’ duration or more, you don’t even have to think about getting to your local joining point. If you live within 20 miles of one of our free joining points we’ll pick you up from your home and take you to meet your transfer vehicle, then return you back home at the end of your holiday. The cost is from £35 per booking each way for up to four people per booking.
If you live a little further afield, you can also take advantage of this convenient option for an additional charge – please enquire at the time of booking.
Travelled on this tour? You can submit your review to: feedback@leger.co.uk
To book this tour, just give our friendly team a call on 01709 787 463 or book online at www.leger.co.uk
