PUGLIA and southern italy - Truly Trulli
September 15-24, 2018
Truly Trulli beautiful
Back to my favourite region of Italy. 10 days of exploring this vast and beautiful region. Fly into Bari, where I will pick you up the airport and whisk you to Villa Cappelli near Terlizzi, our home base while we explore the "Stiletto heel of Italy's Boot" Our hosts at Villa Cappelli, Paul and Stephen are among the most amazingly generous and fun people I have ever met.
We shop for pristine fresh seafood in Bisceglie and cook it back at the villa; visit great wineries like Tormaresca and sample the regions varietals: Primitivo, Aglianico, Nero D'avola; unsurpassed dining with Italy's best olive oil, cacciacavallo cheese, fresh mozzarella, and a luscious and healthy balance of grains, seafood and hand harvested delicacies. Explore Grotto Castellana, Polignano a Mare, Alberobello, world UNESCO site Castel Del Monte and more. We visit Matera, home of the Sassi and another World Unesco Heritage site for a day and over night there in a cave hotel! Then south to the Salento for four days: Lecce - the Florence of the south, Gallipoli and Porto di Selvaggio for unsurpassed swimming in the Ionian Sea, and a graffiti art tour of Grottaglie - traversing this delightful area while we stay at an exclusive luxury masseria at Castello Monaci. (Fly in and out of Bari, Puglia)
Maximum 8 people (10 days, $4995) * Currency fluctuations need to be taken into account before final dispensation
Truly Trulli beautiful
Back to my favourite region of Italy. 10 days of exploring this vast and beautiful region. Fly into Bari, where I will pick you up the airport and whisk you to Villa Cappelli near Terlizzi, our home base while we explore the "Stiletto heel of Italy's Boot" Our hosts at Villa Cappelli, Paul and Stephen are among the most amazingly generous and fun people I have ever met.
We shop for pristine fresh seafood in Bisceglie and cook it back at the villa; visit great wineries like Tormaresca and sample the regions varietals: Primitivo, Aglianico, Nero D'avola; unsurpassed dining with Italy's best olive oil, cacciacavallo cheese, fresh mozzarella, and a luscious and healthy balance of grains, seafood and hand harvested delicacies. Explore Grotto Castellana, Polignano a Mare, Alberobello, world UNESCO site Castel Del Monte and more. We visit Matera, home of the Sassi and another World Unesco Heritage site for a day and over night there in a cave hotel! Then south to the Salento for four days: Lecce - the Florence of the south, Gallipoli and Porto di Selvaggio for unsurpassed swimming in the Ionian Sea, and a graffiti art tour of Grottaglie - traversing this delightful area while we stay at an exclusive luxury masseria at Castello Monaci. (Fly in and out of Bari, Puglia)
Maximum 8 people (10 days, $4995) * Currency fluctuations need to be taken into account before final dispensation
TUSCANY AND UMBRIA - THE HEART AND SOUL OF ITALY
June 1-11, 2019
Join us for our first return to Tuscany and Umbria in five years. Lucca, Pisa and Florence. In Umbria the glorious medieval city of Perugia, Assisi. and tasting some of the finest wines in the world. This is the heart and soul of Italy. Come see it through Chef Michael Howell's eyes and lens as we explore the culinary and cultural history of the center of Italy.
We begin by staying in a luxury villa for five nights just outside of Lucca, one of the grandest and most walkable cities in Italy. We take day trips to Pisa and Florence where you enjoy the knowledge of a local guide to show you the sites. At night we sup at the villa under the culinary direction of Chef Michael.
We also take a unique adventure to Carrera and see the marble mines and lunch in the historical hamlet of Collonata where we eat Lardo di Collonata. We'll hit the Devils Bridge, and take in some regional wineries.
Then its off to Umbria, but not without a stop in Cortona, made famous by the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. We'll then make our way to our villa overlooking stunning Lago Trasimeno for four nights. We visit Perugia for a day, and visit Assisi - home of St Francis and a glorious walk through this historically relevant city. One day we will hop back over to Tuscany to visit Siena. We'll enjoy a lazy day at the villa as well.
On our last day, we drive to Rome for one evening, but enroute stop at one of the most unique places in Italy, Civita Di Bagnoregio for a lunch of Bruschetta baked over an open fire in a cave restaurant!
Finally we make our way and check into our Rome hotel for one night. We celebrate our trip with a farewell dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Pizzeria Emma. Departures the next morning
Fly into Pisa and out of Rome (or into Rome and take train to Pisa)
Maximum 8 guests
$5800 pp (CDN $) D/O $1000 Single supplement ALL-INCLUSIVE Land (airfare not included)
June 1-11, 2019
Join us for our first return to Tuscany and Umbria in five years. Lucca, Pisa and Florence. In Umbria the glorious medieval city of Perugia, Assisi. and tasting some of the finest wines in the world. This is the heart and soul of Italy. Come see it through Chef Michael Howell's eyes and lens as we explore the culinary and cultural history of the center of Italy.
We begin by staying in a luxury villa for five nights just outside of Lucca, one of the grandest and most walkable cities in Italy. We take day trips to Pisa and Florence where you enjoy the knowledge of a local guide to show you the sites. At night we sup at the villa under the culinary direction of Chef Michael.
We also take a unique adventure to Carrera and see the marble mines and lunch in the historical hamlet of Collonata where we eat Lardo di Collonata. We'll hit the Devils Bridge, and take in some regional wineries.
Then its off to Umbria, but not without a stop in Cortona, made famous by the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. We'll then make our way to our villa overlooking stunning Lago Trasimeno for four nights. We visit Perugia for a day, and visit Assisi - home of St Francis and a glorious walk through this historically relevant city. One day we will hop back over to Tuscany to visit Siena. We'll enjoy a lazy day at the villa as well.
On our last day, we drive to Rome for one evening, but enroute stop at one of the most unique places in Italy, Civita Di Bagnoregio for a lunch of Bruschetta baked over an open fire in a cave restaurant!
Finally we make our way and check into our Rome hotel for one night. We celebrate our trip with a farewell dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Pizzeria Emma. Departures the next morning
Fly into Pisa and out of Rome (or into Rome and take train to Pisa)
Maximum 8 guests
$5800 pp (CDN $) D/O $1000 Single supplement ALL-INCLUSIVE Land (airfare not included)
SICILY - ISLAND OF ENCHANTMENT
September 11-21, 2019
Mighty Mount Etna dominates the skyline of Sicily, the crossroads of the Mediterranean. Join me for a 10 day exploration of the cuisine, culture and history of Sicily. The wines of the Mt Etna slopes. Couscous. Bottarga. Palermo. Siracusa. Ancient artifacts, stunning beaches, unsurpassed Baroque architecture. The bounty of the Mediterranean Sea.
We start in Palermo, visting this gritty and ancient city for two nights. Then its off to the royal cathedral at Monreale and then the west coast for two days to visit Erice, the famous salt flats of Mozia, Trapani and Marsala. Then south for one night to enjoy a visit to the monumental Valley of the Temples at Agrigento where you have a private guide, then to the south eastern region where we take up residence near Noto and a lovely villa in the country side. We spend five nights here. We take in Syracuse, Marzamemi, Ragusa and taste wines at the humble but spectacular Zisola. We visit a friend of Michaels for breakfast in Acireale and take a drive over the moonscape that is Etna. This is a world apart, and worthy of every minute.
(Fly into Palermo and out of Catania)
Maximum 8 people (10 days/nights pp/do CDN$5500) Single Supplement $750
September 11-21, 2019
Mighty Mount Etna dominates the skyline of Sicily, the crossroads of the Mediterranean. Join me for a 10 day exploration of the cuisine, culture and history of Sicily. The wines of the Mt Etna slopes. Couscous. Bottarga. Palermo. Siracusa. Ancient artifacts, stunning beaches, unsurpassed Baroque architecture. The bounty of the Mediterranean Sea.
We start in Palermo, visting this gritty and ancient city for two nights. Then its off to the royal cathedral at Monreale and then the west coast for two days to visit Erice, the famous salt flats of Mozia, Trapani and Marsala. Then south for one night to enjoy a visit to the monumental Valley of the Temples at Agrigento where you have a private guide, then to the south eastern region where we take up residence near Noto and a lovely villa in the country side. We spend five nights here. We take in Syracuse, Marzamemi, Ragusa and taste wines at the humble but spectacular Zisola. We visit a friend of Michaels for breakfast in Acireale and take a drive over the moonscape that is Etna. This is a world apart, and worthy of every minute.
(Fly into Palermo and out of Catania)
Maximum 8 people (10 days/nights pp/do CDN$5500) Single Supplement $750