Hidden Italy: Villages, Vineyards & Living Traditions
Introduction
All of our journeys can be completely personalized and curated with our commitment to sustainable tourism.
Journey Overview
Hidden Italy reveals a side of the country where traditions are still woven into daily life and where the character of each region is shaped by its landscape, its craft, and the rhythms of local communities. This journey explores places where regional identity remains visible in markets, workshops, vineyards, and village squares.
The experience begins in Umbria’s hill towns and the Valnerina, a valley where forested mountains, stone villages clinging to hillsides, and agricultural traditions have defined life for generations. Here, the connection between land and table remains clear, from small farms and local producers to the kitchens that preserve the region’s food culture.
In Chianti, vineyards and olive groves unfold across hills that have long supported a network of family estates and historic villages. The landscape itself tells the story of Tuscany’s agricultural heritage, where wine and olive oil production continue to shape daily life as much as the region’s identity.
Emilia-Romagna brings a deeper understanding of Italy’s culinary traditions. In Bologna, historic markets and trattorias reveal the foundations behind dishes that have come to define Italian cuisine around the world. Nearby Cremona introduces another dimension of cultural heritage through its centuries-old violin-making tradition. The legacy of Antonio Stradivari remains central to the city, where artisans continue to craft string instruments using techniques refined over generations.
The journey concludes in the Veneto. Verona’s Roman arena stands as one of Italy’s most remarkable surviving amphitheaters, still anchoring the life of the city nearly two thousand years after it was built. A short distance away, the elegant hill town of Asolo offers a quieter final chapter, its streets and hillside views reflecting the enduring charm of northern Italy’s small historic towns.
Together these regions reveal an Italy often overlooked, one defined not by crowds or monuments alone, but by living traditions, local knowledge, and the centuries-old relationship between people and place.
Highlights
Wander the medieval streets of Bevagna, one of Umbria's most atmospheric hill towns, where quiet piazzas and Roman foundations anchor daily life much as they have for centuries.
Trace the landscapes of the Valnerina, a dramatic Umbrian valley of forested mountains and stone villages where agricultural traditions continue to shape life and cuisine.
Step inside family-run estates in Chianti, tasting Chianti Classico wines and olive oils while hearing directly from producers whose vineyards define the Tuscan countryside.
Encounter contemporary art in the forest at the Chianti Sculpture Park, an unexpected and striking collection where large-scale sculpture is integrated into the woodland landscape.
Navigate the legendary food markets of Bologna, widely considered Italy’s culinary capital, where historic stalls and specialty shops reveal the foundations of regional cuisine.
Roll fresh pasta during a hands-on cooking session in Bologna, guided by local experts and rooted in the techniques that define Emilia-Romagna’s kitchen traditions.
Enter the world of Stradivari in Cremona, where master luthiers continue the centuries-old craft that produced the most celebrated violins ever made.
Stand inside the Roman arena of Verona, a remarkably preserved amphitheater that has anchored the city’s life for nearly two thousand years.
Witness Giotto’s revolutionary fresco cycle in Padua’s Scrovegni Chapel, a defining moment in the history of Western art.
Conclude in the elegant hill town of Asolo, where arcaded streets, hillside views, and a long artistic heritage provide a fitting finale to Hidden Italy.
Dates & Rates
Price From:
$
24, 295
Departure Time:
Duration:
Guests:
Sustainable Contribution
Community Impact:
This journey positively affects the local communities visited.
Cultural Engagement:
Experiences on this journey provide authentic cultural interaction and connection
Social Impact:
Evolved Experiences are incorporated into this journey as a means of building our global community.
ARE YOU READY
TO TRAVEL WITH A PURPOSE?
“The evolved traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.”
Please Note: If the journey above does not fit your needs, we would be happy to help you compose one that perfectly fits your lifestyle.
