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Veneto and Slovenia 10 Day Dinner Party
October 5-15, 2021
Join us to for this easy-going exploration of the northeast corner of Italy into central Slovenia. You’ll sample sparkling and orange wines in the up-and-coming Brda region, nosh on truffles, olives and goat cheeses in the Istria region, visit a Slovenian castle with legends of a Slovenian Robin Hood, and explore a cave system that is fit for a Lord of the Rings film. Chill out, shop and people watch in coastal villages, the uber-cool capital of Ljubljana, and a slew of charming towns in Italy’s Friuli and Veneto regions. We’ll always be dining well, savoring regional specialty foods during long, chatty meals and do a deep dive into wines. This tour is perfect for anyone who prefers a slower pace, a smaller group and getting to know quiet spots that never see tourists.
Limited space is available, with a maximum group size of 12. Book now by emailing Andrew
Note: This tour is NOT led by Sarah, but by Andrew or one of our fantastic colleagues.
Day One
Overnight: Castelfranco, Italy
Welcome to the Veneto
Meet at 4pm in lobby of Hotel Albergo Roma for welcome drinks. Guided walking tour of Castelfranco followed by our first group dinner
Day Two Overnight: Castelfranco, Italy Treasures of Palladio Visit to medieval walled town of Cittadella where the imposing walls are 45 feet high and nearly 7 feet thick!. Tour of Vicenza including the beautiful and impressive Teatro Olimpico built by Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. After lunch visit to Villa Rotunda, also designed by Palladio. Some free time late afternoon/evening back in Castelfranco with option to bicycle in the countryside.
Day Three Overnight: Prosecco Region, Italy Grappa and Sparkling wines Visit to Bassano del Grappa for a tour and grappa tasting at a distillery. Free time for lunch and exploring. Country drive to agroturismo in the Prosecco wine region, near the enchanting hamlet of Cison di Valmarino, surrounded by woods and vineyards. Enjoy a happy hour with your guides to sip Prosecco and take in the views. Gourmet dinner included to sample regional dishes.
Day Four Overnight: Brda region, Slovenia Flavors of Friuli and Brda Visit Italian town of Cividale in the quiet region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia. Group lunch featuring Friuli’s best comfort food called frico, a cheese and potato fry up. Crossing the border into Slovenia’s top wine region (and perhaps most beautiful region too) of Goriska Brda, we take a tour and tasting at Slovenia’s best sparkling wine producer, Bjana, which also has the oldest cellar in the region at over 800 years old. Check into our hotel right across the street from the tiny, medieval-walled village of Smartno. Dinner on your own in Smartno.
Day Five Overnight: Brda region, Slovenia Cooking class and epic dinner Tour the trenches and bunkers of a WWI museum where fierce battles raged between Italy and Austro-Hungarian/German armies. Meet with local chef for a cooking class as we make our own lunch. Chill out late afternoon before a very special five-course group dinner that is paired with wines of Kabaj Winery, often listed on the Top 100 wineries in world by Wine & Spirits magazine.
Day Six Overnight: Izola, Slovenia Venetian towns and organic olive oil Depart Brda and head to Slovenia’s tiny coast line, a mere 29 miles long. Late morning tour of Piran, a scenic and charming Venetian town along the Adriatic Sea. Tour followed by a group lunch at an organic olive farm overlooking the sea and ancient salt flats. Check into hotel at Izola, a seaside town that was once an island before being connected to the mainland in 1825. Dinner on your own in Izola.
Day Seven
Overnight: Izola, Slovenia Exploring truffles and goat cheese in Croatia Head across the border into Croatia to explore to wonderful little hill towns. Visit to artists and artisan town of Groznjan with tastings of truffle with pasta and other local delicacies. Visit to iconic Motovun, the region’s highest standing hill town and birthplace of racing legend Mario Andretti. Special dinner/epic goat cheese feast at a farm far off the tourist grid with home cooked stews, sausages, tasty surprises and Croatia’s finest goat cheese. Return to hotel in Izola.
Day Eight Overnight: Ljubljana, Slovenia Caves, castles and dragons Tour of the Skocjan caves that feature the largest subterranean cavern in Europe and give off A Lord of the Rings type of atmosphere. Afternoon visit to Predjama castle. This 16th century castle clings to limestone cliffs and has a rich history, including folklore about the Slovenian Robin Hood who once lived there. Arrival into Ljubljana, Slovenia’s uber charming but small capital (only 270,000 inhabitants). Guided walking tour of old town core where you can get many ideas of what to seek out, explore and enjoy the following day.
Day Nine overnight: Ljubljana, Slovenia Charms of Ljubljana Full day at leisure in Ljubljana. Please talk with Andrew and Sarah for recommendations on what to visit and see, where to eat, drink, shop and people watch.
Day Ten overnight: Ljubljana, Slovenia Gorgeous Lake Bled Visit with local beekeeper to learn about importance of beekeeping in Slovenia with some sweet tastings. Lunch at a farmhouse where the proprietor makes her own strudel, herbal liqueurs and beer. Her family house has a traditional black kitchen where they still smoke meats and dry fruits. Afternoon boat ride out on gorgeous Lake Bled. Visit to the 1000 year-old Bled castle overlooking the lake. Farewell group dinner at castle.
Price: $3400 (Air not included). Single Supplement is $600. We welcome singles and can try to pair you with another single to room with, but the single supplement will be required if we can’t.
Tour price includes 10 nights’ accommodation, all breakfasts, 5 dinners, 4 lunches, wine tastings, cooking class and other sights listed in itinerary, transportation within the tour, tips and taxes. You can reserve with a non-refundable deposit of $600.
Tour begins at 4 pm in Castelfranco (Italy), 1 hour from Venice and Marco Polo Airport (VCE), 2.5 hours from Trieste Airport (TRS).
Tour ends in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Airport, Ljubljana (LJU). We can arrange transfers for an additional fee.
Book now by emailing Andrew.