To truly experience a destination is to go beyond mere sightseeing. It means peeling back its layers — immersing yourself in culture, uncovering history, and catching a glimpse of local living. And when that destination boasts a cuisine as iconic as Italy’s, authentic culinary experiences are an inseparable part of the journey. From the ancient ruins of Rome to the sun-kissed Amalfi Coast to the rolling hills of Tuscany, every region offers time-honored recipes, local ingredients, and treasured specialties that reflect their traditions and stories.
That’s why culinary inclusions are a highlight of Collette’s small group Explorations tours in Italy and around the world. Designed to bring you closer to culture, these expertly planned tours are fueled by experiences that go beyond the surface to delve deeper into destinations. And with eight small group tours that explore Italy, there are plenty of ways to experience — and taste — this destination.
Taste the Local Flavors of Italy
On Collette’s small group tours, getting a taste of local flavors involves more than restaurant meals. It can mean participating in a hands-on cooking class where you learn how to make authentic dishes or embarking on a neighborhood food tour. It can mean visiting a picturesque winery to sample the local grapes, learning about the lemons used to make limoncello, or other authentic experiences tailored to the destinations on tour.
In the Romagna countryside on Best of Italy, join a hands-on cooking class dedicated to garganelli and strozzapreti pasta, two pasta shapes from the region.
On Italy’s Treasures: Art, Food & Wine of Italy, visit the hill town of San Gimignano, with its medieval towers and 13th-century walls. This is the picturesque setting for a taste of authentic Italian gelato from an award-winning parlor.
On Tuscan & Umbrian Countryside, visit the town of Montalcino, home of the celebrated Brunello red wine, and sample this world-famous vino as part of a musical, multi-sensory tasting experience.
These are only a sample of the culinary inclusions found on Collette’s small group tours. Each experience is woven into a broader journey filled with culture, history, hidden gems, and must-sees, crafting an engaging (and delicious) journey into Italy’s rich heritage.
Experience Italy With the Experts and Save
Experience Italy with a small group tour from the longest-running tour operator in the region. Regionally based tour designers craft itineraries, and knowledgeable Tour Managers and local guides bring destinations to life.
And with $50 off Collette’s Explorations tours, save on that small group journey to Italy — or another destination around the world. Contact your travel advisor to book or learn more.
