10-Days Italy Pizza & Pasta

Ciao, Connect with your U.Guide and group – and let the Pizza feast begin

Buongiorno e Benvenuto to Milan where we kick off our northern journey of the boot-shaped wonderland, Italy! Get ready for a passionate love affair with food, wine, larger than life local characters, and stunning architecture set in equally stunning landscapes.

Your Italian escapade starts in Milan, the fashion capital of the world, where even the pigeons strut their stuff on the side walks. Meet your U.Guide and fellow explorers to answer any burning questions.

After our introductions, we hit the cobbled streets around the Piazza del Duomo in search of a local pizzeria, because why wait until tomorrow when you can have pizza now? Luigi, if you’re listening, step aside, because us U. Travellers take our pizza very seriously! 🇮🇹 🍝🍷 🍕 😄 🕺

Included activities: Meet & Greet with your U.Guide and fellow travellers.  Evening tour of Milan central with a vino in the cobbled Piazza del Duomo
Accomodation: Twins and triples in Milan hotel

Village life on the Ligurian Coast

Get ready to kick off this adventure in style! Our first stop? The oh-so-pretty coastal town of Riomaggiore! Riomaggiore is like that charming friend who always knows how to strike a pose for Instagram. It’s part of the famous Cinque Terre, where five interconnected villages of colourful buildings stack up amongst the rocky cliffs like lego, separated by steep narrow lanes crammed with bars full of wonderful seafood goodies, specialty pastries, and… oh, it might be a good time to mention the thick black hot scrumptious syrup the Italians called cafe.

Framed by dramatic seaside vistas, this is a  memorable way to dive into your Italian dream tour! We’ll stroll along the cliff tops, poke our heads into local shops and explore the historical centre cut into the rocks, immersing ourselves in the laid-back coastal vibes.

As day turns into night, we’re in for a real treat. We’ll snag a bottle of vino, and maybe even some local bruschetta, and watch the sun do a graceful swan dive into the Ligurian Sea from the Riomaggiore harbour. It’s an Insta-moment you won’t want to miss to capture the village’s unique charm. So, get ready for some mesmerising sights, both in your camera and on your plate!

Included activities: Hiking the historical villages of Cinque Terra

Accomodation: Twins and triples at a Riomaggiore hotel

We are being amazing people in a beautiful city

Rise and shine! The talented Mr. Ripley is bidding adieu to Riomaggiore (the movie was filmed here in case the reference didn’t quite ring a bell) and leading us southward to the grand Italian capital. But not without a planned pit stop mid-journey, to check out the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Prepare yourselves for an iconic and absolute must-do tourist action: that must have photo of you truly attempting to hold up the tower!!

We roll into the ‘Eternal City’, with its spectacular architecture this afternoon.. After checking into our cool inner city hostel, we’ll embark on a culinary adventure in a private cooking class. Get ready to unravel the secrets of crafting outstanding fettuccine and that devilishly moreish Italian dessert – tiramisu with a localRoman chef.

After whipping up both meals, it’s time to kick back, relax, savour the company, and sip on a glass of local red wine while your pasta is lovingly drenched in a sauce of your choosing. Then, your meal culminates with a sweet finale – your homemade tiramisu, all of this happening in the cozy home of our incredible local Italian hosts! So get ready for a day of travel that’s as delicious as it is enthralling, all in the name of becoming honorary Italian chefs! 😄👩‍🍳🇮🇹 🍝🍰🍷 🏛️

Included activities: Visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italian cooking class
Accomodation: Triple and quad share in a funky Roman hostel

A lesson in incredible history

Rome wasn’t built in a day, but hey, we’ll give it our best shot to see it all in one day! So, lace up those sneakers, stash that spare charger (you’ll need it), and brace yourself for a day of epic exploration in this time-traveling city. Rome, the city that’ll leave you breathless, with its bustling urban vibe and more monuments than you can shake a gladiator’s sword at, not to mention a gazillion churches, jaw-dropping fountains, and a mind-blowing archaeological heritage! 🏰

From the Colosseum to the Vatican, from the Trevi Fountain to cozy local trattorias – today is all about larger-than-life experiences and getting lost in the sea of culture.

We’ll explore from the crack of dawn until the stars come out, and then we’ll seek refuge in a local restaurant to devour a truly Italian pizza and wash it down with a brewski. Just remember, Rome wasn’t conquered in a day either, so get ready for an unforgettable whirlwind of history, art, and a fair share of gelato-induced happiness! 🇮🇹🍕🎨 🍦😂 😅

Included activities: Guided Rome walking tour
Accomodation: Triple and quad share funky Roman hostel

From Roman Empire to Renaissance Revolution

Alright folks, we’re not exactly rising with the roosters today. We’re talking mid-morning exit here, as we bid arrivederci to the Italian capital of flare and set our sights northward to Florence, the powerhouse city of medieval Europe and ground zero for the Renaissance.

We’ll make our grand entrance early in the afternoon, leaving you plenty of time to tame your unruly backpacks and perhaps apply that much-needed splash of cologne or perfume (don’t worry, we won’t judge). Then, it’s time to hit the streets and explore Florence on foot.

Picture this: the old town of Florence is a bit like a charming maze of cobblestone streets that wind their way around famous spots like the Uffizi Gallery, the iconic Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo (you can’t miss it), and Piazzale Michelangelo (bring your camera and your best smize).

And for all you shopaholics out there, Florence is basically a retail therapy paradise, especially if you’re in the market for a leather jacket or bag. The leather markets here are some of the best in the world. So, get ready to stroll, shop, and soak in the city’s art, history, and seriously fashionable vibes! 🛍️🎨🇮🇹😂 📸

Included activities: Florence guided tour by your U.Guide
Accommodation: Superior triple rooms in boutique hostel

Sunbaked villages and epic wine covered hillsides – under the Tuscan sun

When in Florence, you can’t just stick to the city streets, you’ve got to conquer those magnificent Tuscan hills like a boss! Under that Tuscan sun is some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes anywhere in the world.

We kick off the day at the crack of dawn because, you know, the early bird catches the worm, or in this case, the best grapes! Our mission? To uncover not one, but two totally rad wineries nestled in the jaw-dropping Chianti Hills on this half-day excursion.

Aside from being surrounded by the kind of pure Tuscan beauty that’ll make you want to break into song, we’re going to meet some of the coolest local winemakers who’ll spill the beans on their grapey secrets. We’ll amble through vineyards that are basically the definition of ‘Instagrammable’, and let’s not forget the best part – we get to taste some of the most delicious local wines and dine on mouthwatering, local produce. It’s a day spent deep in the heart of Italian wine and food, and that’s amore! 🍇🍷

We’ll roll back into Florence by mid-afternoon, where you’ll have the rest of the day to revisit all your favourite spots at your own leisurely pace. So whether it’s a rematch with David at the Galleria dell’Accademia, another flirty wink at the Ponte Vecchio, or maybe just maybe you have convinced yourself to look at that leather bag once more, you’ve got the time to make your Florentine fantasies come true! 🏛️ 🍇🍷🌿 😂🇮🇹

Included activities: Tuscan wine and food exploration
Accommodation: Accommodation: Superior triple rooms in boutique hostel

Onward to ‘la Serenissima’

Ladies and gentlemen, as we gear up for our later train to the jaw-dropping wonderland of Venice today, let me tell you, the morning is all yours for a blockbuster brunch and some last-minute shopping to bring back the quirkiest souvenirs for family and friends.

The journey to Venice is like something out of a travel magazine, and trust me, you want that window seat – the views of Tuscany and Emilia Romagna race by like picture perfect postcards!Venice, unlike any other place on Earth, is everything you could possibly dream up and then some!

Tonight, as soon as we drop our bags, we’ll navigate the labyrinth of narrow streets to find a truly local restaurant away from the tourist traps that’s as cozy as your grandma’s house, but with seafood to die for. Expect an Aperol Spritz🍹 to magically appear in your hand as you soak in the enchanting ambiance along one of those iconic canals.

It’s Venice, where we learn about chasing the shadow of the church tower (un’ombra di vino) and sink headfirst into this surreal, watery wonderland of love! 😮 🚤🍹🦐 🚆🏞️📸 💫😂🍽️🎉 👜

Included activities: Guided Venetian evening tour
Accommodation: Twin and triple hotel rooms on Grand Canal

Blowing glass, canals and living like a local in Venice

Wakey-wakey, team! Today, you’re going all out – and by “all out,” we mean you’re going to walk, ferry, and gondola our way through the city of water, spending most of our time on the main island (had you realised we are on an island?) before we make a fashionably late Italian entrance to Murano.

As for sights, we’re not just ticking boxes, we’re basically emptying the entire checklist! We’ve got the Basilica San Marco, the Doges Palace (no actual doges, just fancy old dudes), the Canal Grande (you’ll feel like you’re in a Bond movie), the Ponti di Rialto, the Mercati di Rialto, and the Laguna di Venezia. Plus, we’ll throw in a few bonus surprises because, well, we are locals! And if, by some miracle, we still have legs that haven’t mutinied on us after lunch, we’re catching a ferry to Murano to witness the mind-boggling Venetian tradition of glass blowing at an artisan’s workshop. Expect the heat to be turned up, both literally and figuratively!

But wait, there’s more! Once we’re back on the main island, we’re going out with a bang – a sunset extravaganza over at Lido. After that, it’s a very local experience – a ‘giro di baccari’ back to our digs. What’s that? Think of it like a bar/food crawl – stopping at the local bars and cafes for a little finger food and an optional spritz, we wind our way through a maze of canals and streets nibbling like mice on the cheese trail. “I’m so full, but I can’t stop eating, it’s so nice!” 🍹🥂🎉🇮🇹😂 🔥

Included activities: Guided Venetian walking tour, glass blowing at an artisan workshop, giro di baccari
Optional activities: Gondola ride
Accommodation: Twin and triple hotel rooms

The show’s not over until Juliet waves goodbye

Just because it’s the last day doesn’t mean we’re tuning out. After a sightseeing marathon yesterday that’d make even Usain Bolt break a sweat, we’re hitting the road (or tracks, rather) and making our way back to Milan mid-morning. But hold on to your gondolas, because we’re not leaving the train without a little pit stop in the incredible historical city of Verona! 🚂

Verona is home to the largest coliseum outside of Rome, and you guessed it, THE balcony that was made famous in Shakespears’ Romeo and Juilet. After exploring the stunning walled city of Verona, we’re back on the train, zooming through the rolling hills of the industrial north until we hit Milan late afternoon. 🏛️🍝🇮🇹

Its our last night of this epic Pizza & Pasta trip so lets hit town and celebrate in style!

Included activities: Verona walking tour
Accomodation: Twins and triples in a Milan hotel

Arrivederci e buon viaggio

And, then just like that, ten-days have gone and unfortunately for those leaving us today it’s ‘arrivederci!’ Until we meet again, as they say Italian. And what a wonderful Italian trip it has been too. We have seen loads of old stuff, we tasted great wines, bad liquors, and interesting pizzas, we’ve laughed, your U. Guide has cried, but we all agree – we lurve Italy! 🌍✌️

But, for those continuing north with us into the Swiss Alps, there is time to sleep in, smash the Insta feed with all your wonderful Italian photos, phone home (yeah… nah) and if you’ve been too busy piling in the pasta, time to catch on on your washing. As this afternoon your next adventure begins! 📸🍝🎉