Join Sourdough Master Baker Shannon Peckford on a delicious journey through Italy, where every bite tells a story.
Italians are true masters of turning simple, fresh ingredients into meals that linger in your memory—and on this eight-day culinary adventure, you’ll experience just how rich and varied Italian cuisine can be. From the picturesque canals of Venice to the timeless charm of Rome, you'll savour more than just pizza and pasta (though there will be plenty of that too!).
Along the way, enjoy street food in vibrant markets, sip local wines, and sample handmade dishes in the heart of Tuscany. Discover regional flavours in San Gimignano, Bologna, and beyond—with a local guide and Shannon by your side to help bring it all to life. Think seasonal specialties, warm hospitality, and unforgettable moments around the table.
This is Italy through its food—authentic, abundant, and best when shared.
Sept 8 – 15, 2026
$4,750 CAD per person, based on double occupancy
Single supplement option available at $999 CAD per person. Hold your space with a $600 CAD non-refundable deposit.
Not included: personal expenses, airfare and taxes, airport transfers, meals not specified, gratuities, and travel insurance.
Your Package Includes:
- 7 Nights of Accommodation (5 nights hotel, 2 nights farmstay)
- All Transportation including a Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle, Train, Metro, and Bus
- 7 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 4 Dinners
- Venice - Welcome Aperitivo, Cicchetti tour, Venetian Breakfast and Market Tour, and Traghetto Ride
- Bologna - Pasta class
- Modena - Acetaia Visit, Trattoria lunch, and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory visit
- Agriturismo - Tour with wine and olive oil tasting
- San Gimignano - Orientation walk, Gelateria visit, and walk a section of the Via Francigena
- Rome - Orientation walk and Home-cooked dinner
Important Notes:
The primary means of transportation on this trip is by train. The trains are comfortable and all have toilets but can be quite busy. You'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the train, so make sure you can manage it - on your own.
The cuisine of Italy includes a lot of meat and seafood. For vegetarians and vegans, we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip.
To Book This Tour, Contact:
Shari Lukens
778-401-3303
shari@nichetravel.ca
CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW
Itinerary
Venice
Buongiorno! Welcome to Italy. Your adventure starts in the iconic city of Venice. If you arrive early, take some time to get lost in the narrow cobblestone streets and spacious piazzas, crossing the tiny bridges to find shops, markets, galleries and churches. Stroll past St Mark’s Square, the Campanile and the Doges Palace. Cross the Rialto and admire the Bridge of Sighs. You’ll have a welcome meeting tonight at 6pm. After, head out for a welcome aperitivo – the spritz and the bellini are local favourites. Venice's distinctive culinary heritage goes back to ancient times and features rich risottos, saline baccala (salted cod) and creamy polenta. If you're hungry, follow your leader to an atmospheric restaurant for your first introduction to Venetian flavours.
Venice
This morning, your local leader will treat you to a typical Venetian breakfast at a local café’. Enjoy an espresso or cappuccino with some local Venetian pastries like baci di dama, brutti ma buoni and bussola. Then, continue walking down the canals to watch farmers unload their produce from their boats, ready to be sold at Venice's famous Rialto markets. This tradition is more than 1000 years old. Next, you’ll swing past the fish market, where the day’s catch might come directly from the Venetian lagoon – the enclosed bay of the Adriatic Sea. Maybe have an aperitivo spritz here, then the afternoon is free for your own exploration. Tonight, discover the Venetian answer to tapas on a cicchetti crawl through the city's fabulous bacari (wine bars). Snacking is an important pastime in Venice, with many people stopping for cicchetti both before and after meals.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Bologna
Travel to Bologna by train this morning – this city's culinary claim to fame is significant, thanks to the ragu alla bolognese. Home of tagliatelle, mortadella and a range of other cured meats and salamis, Bologna, along with the surrounding Emilia Romagna region, is a foodie’s paradise. When you arrive, maybe wander past the beautiful old terracotta buildings and lively streets and acquaint yourself with the area. Later, you'll discover the real food of Bologna with a hands-on cooking class in the fine art of pasta-making. Feast on your handiwork over dinner with your host and your group, celebrating your new skill.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Bologna/Modena
Today you’ll discover the flavours of the renowned Emilia Romagna region. Visit a factory dedicated to producing one of Italy's most coveted culinary exports – Parmigiano Reggiano. Learn how this cheese is made, and then try it for yourself. Continue to the town of Modena and visit an acetaia – a house where the family produce fine-aged Modena balsamic vinegar in the attic. You'll see how the vinegar is aged in barrels made from different woods, learn why it’s never less than 12 years old and then see the difference between the factory-made vinegar and the real stuff with a tasting. Head to a trattoria for a delicious lunch of the best local produce and farm-fresh seasonal dishes. Wash it down with a glass of Lambrusco – the town's famed sparkling red. Stroll around the town and admire the Palazzo Ducale before returning to Bologna in the late afternoon.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
San Gimignano
This morning, travel to the village of Pancole in the heart of Tuscany. The region is renowned for a cuisine that celebrates simplicity and the bounty of locally grown produce in hearty, rustic dishes. Pecorino cheese, farro (an ancient grain) and artisanal cured meats like lardo di colonnata are just some of the many local ingredients you can expect to indulge in during your stay. Your accommodation is a traditional Tuscan farmhouse near the enchanting village of San Gimignano. The farmhouse is surrounded by vineyards and olive trees that the family has been producing excellent wine and olive oil from by organic methods for over fifty years. Enjoy a guided walk through the vineyards and cellars of the estate, followed by a tasting of some signature Tuscan wines and olive oils. Dinner tonight will be seasonal favourites, made with ingredients freshly harvested from the farmhouse garden beds. This could include homemade pasta, salads, finocchiona salami, crostini toscani (chicken liver pate on lightly toasted bread) and seasonal vegetables.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
San Gimignano
This morning, walk along a portion of the Via Francigena – the major pilgrimage route to Rome during the Middle Ages. Explore the medieval walled town of San Gimignano – a UNESCO World Heritage site often called the Town of Fine Towers due to the preservation of several impressive torre (tower houses) within its walls. Stop past an award-winning gelateria, where intriguing flavours like gorgonzola cheese and walnuts await your tastebuds. Spend the rest of your time exploring the walking paths around the farm or relaxing by the pool, enjoying beautiful views of the Tuscan countryside.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Rome
Today, jump on a train to Rome – Italy’s capital famed for its deliciously fresh food and scattered ancient ruins. When you arrive, take a leader-led orientation walk through the historical city centre, past the Spanish Steps, Trevi fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Venezia, Roman Forum, and Colosseum. After taking in all the big (and small) highlights of this magical city, you’ll head to a local’s home for a special homecooked, plant-based dinner experience. Swap stories with your host and sit down for a feast of seasonal dishes, After, maybe head to a local bar and cheers to a trip well-travelled over a glass of local wine.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Rome
Your Italy food adventure comes to an end after breakfast today. Head to the airport for your onward flight, or extend your stay in Rome to explore more of this vibrant city.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor.
