ITINERARY
May 12 Arrival in Milan and transfer from Milan’s Malpensa airport to the I Portici Hotel (4star). Reception and dinner at our hotel (3 nights).
May 13 This morning, we head to Maranello, the home of Ferrari. First a visit to the ‘Ferrari Galleria’, which has become an excellent exhibition.
There will be plenty of time to visit the many Ferrari and F1 shops. Lunch is on your own, but we can book tables for you at the ‘Cavalino’
or ‘Montana’ restaurants, or you can opt for a number of small trattorias or pizza bars. Mid afternoon, we head back toward Modena for
a visit to the unique Parmaggiana Cheese Factory, where strangely is housed the historic Maserati Collection. Our final visit today is in
Modena for the quite recently opened Enzo Museum. This evening, we dine at an Italian Ristorante close to our hotel.
May 14 This morning, we tour both the Ducati and the Lamborghini factories, a great double header. Our all time most popular lunch venue is a
small family restaurant in the Emilia Romagna countryside, where we might be lucky to get a pasta making demonstration. This
afternoon, we schedule a visit to the remarkable Righini Collection, one which has to be seen to be believed. This evening, is at your leisure
in Bologna.
May 15 Today, we make an early start for Brescia, and our first glimpse of the Mille Miglia. First, we visit the town center where all the cars are
registering and preparing for the afternoon ‘off’. At lunchtime, we head for the Mille Museum. All the cars journey from the center and
are staged here before the official start this afternoon. We’ll be able to watch the cars as they head out on the Mille course amid enthusiastic
support from the crowds lining the route. Later this afternoon, we head for Lake Garda and the Grand Hotel Gardone (4star - 3 nights).
Dinner this evening at our hotel on the lake.
May 16 Today is our first ‘catch your breath’ day. A late morning drive to Mantova for a visit to Italy’s early motor racing hero and Alfa Romeo
‘pilota’, Tazio Nuvolari, the Mantovan Flyer. His small museum and the attractive town center makes for a nice ‘low key’ day. This
evening, we dine at a lakeside family restaurant.
May 17 This morning, we head across Lake Garda to the eastern shore. Our first visit is to the Alegrini Vineyards. Set in an amazing medieval
‘palazio’ with beautiful surrounding hillsides, we will be tasting some of the finest wines of Italy. Following our wine tasting, we take a
short drive to the gorgeous setting of the Punta di San Vigilio, a famous restaurant where we’ll enjoy a late ‘al fresco’ lunch. With views
across the lake, and water lapping gently against the sides of the restaurant, this really denotes ‘idyllic’. We return to our hotel via a lake ferry.
May 18 We depart Lake Garda for Milan and, eventually, the lakeside Barchetta Excelsior Hotel (4star -2 nights) on Lake Como. We have a really
exciting day planned. This morning, we travel to Monza, home of Italian motor racing. The Mille Miglia cars will be arriving all throughout
the day. In the afternoon, we journey to Arese and the Alfa Romeo Museum. This recently reopened museum follows the history of Alfa
Romeo from inception to present day. This evening, following check in, we dine at our Lakeside hotel.
May 19 Our second chance to take a breath, a day on Lake Como. A ferry takes us from our base at Como to the lovely and popular village of
Bellagio. A beautifully located restaurant offers one of the finest lunches on all of Lake Como. There will be plenty of time to explore
the little hamlet of Bellagio. Be sure to take your camera and flat shoes, it’s hilly! The late afternoon and evening is at your leisure in
the very lively Como.
May 20 This morning, following breakfast, we visit a private, small exotic collection in Milan. Our recently discovered Lambretta Museum will
be our second visit, then we end up with a large Alfa Romeo collection. In the late afternoon, we depart for Turin and the NH Lingotto
Hotel (4star -2 nights). Upon our arrival, we have the opportunity to go onto the roof of the Lingotto, which was originally the test track
for FIAT. Also, the fine art display of the Agnelli Art Gallery is bound to impress. Dinner tonight is at our hotel.
May 21 A morning visit to the Museo dell ‘Automobile Carlo Biscaretti di Ruffia’, one of the finest auto museums in all Europe. It houses the
largest collection of historic cars in Italy. Our final dinner of the tour is at a magnificent winery south of Turin in the Alba region. As
this tour prides itself on the great food of Italy, we can safely predict you are going to be amazed. The effort and presentation of our meal
is consistent with the finest restaurants of Paris and Rome. Prepare yourself for some of the great wines of the region.
May 22 This morning, following breakfast we head back to Milan and Malpensa airport, concluding our 2019 tour.
