9-Day Italy Food & Wine Tour: Tuscany, Umbria & Veneto

🇮🇹 In the Heart of the Divine Country Tour: 9 days Self Drive Tour "Itineraries of Taste Collection"

🌍 Overview

The In the Heart of the Divine Country Tour: 9 days Self Drive Tour "Itineraries of Taste Collection" invites you to discover Italy through its timeless cities, medieval villages, and world-famous wines and flavors. From Rome to Perugia, Siena, Florence, Bologna, and Venice, you will combine cultural highlights with tastings of typical products and DOCG wines. Stay in comfortable 4-star hotels with breakfast and enjoy selected meals, guided city tours, and authentic encounters with local food and wine traditions.

🧭 What to Expect

This 9-day itinerary is an easy, self drive journey through some of the most evocative regions of central and northern Italy, ideal for travelers who enjoy independence but appreciate curated experiences. You will follow a route from Rome to Umbria, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, and Veneto, with pre-arranged hotel stays, selected dinners, tastings, and guided city tours with local professionals.

Walk through the ancient streets of Rome, Perugia, Siena, Florence, Bologna, and Venice, then escape to the countryside to discover Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino, Castellina in Chianti, Monteriggioni, and San Gimignano. Along the way, you will visit wineries, farms, and the Perugina Chocolate House, savoring typical Roman dishes, Tuscan red wines like Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, and the white Vernaccia di San Gimignano. This is a journey made of flavors, landscapes, and history, carefully balanced between guided activities and free time for relaxation and shopping.

✨ Highlights

• 🍝 In the Heart of the Divine Country Tour: 9 days Self Drive Tour "Itineraries of Taste Collection" combining culture, gastronomy, and wine across Italy.
• 🏛️ Explore Rome with a guided tour of Ancient and Baroque Rome, including the Colosseum (ext.), Imperial Forums, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona.
• 🍫 Discover Perugia with its historic center and a visit to the Perugina Chocolate House, including tastings of iconic chocolate products.
• 🍷 Enjoy tastings of Nobile DOCG wine, Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico DOCG, and Vernaccia di San Gimignano in renowned Tuscan wineries.
• 🏰 Stroll through medieval gems like Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino, San Gimignano, Castellina in Chianti, and Monteriggioni.
• 🏙️ Experience the art cities of Siena, Florence, Bologna, and Venice with local professional guides and ample free time.
• 🍽️ Savor quality food with selected dinners, tastings of typical sweets, meats, cheeses, and Venetian “cicheti” in a traditional bacaro.

🗺️ Itinerary

• Day 1 – Arrival in Rome & Trastevere Dinner
  Arrival in Rome, check-in and accommodation in a 4-star hotel. Free time to start discovering the city at your own pace. In the evening, transfer to Trastevere for a dinner based on typical Roman dishes with live music. Return to the hotel and overnight.
• Day 2 – Guided Tour of Rome & Roman Sweets
  Breakfast at the hotel. Guided city tour starting from the Colosseum (exterior), exploring Ancient Rome with the Imperial Forums, the Capitol, and the Altare della Patria in Piazza Venezia. Continue with Baroque Rome, including Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona. Stop for a tasting of typical Roman sweets, then free time for lunch in a Roman trattoria, relaxation, and shopping. Return to the hotel, dinner (if included by operator) and overnight.
• Day 3 – Rome to Perugia & Perugina Chocolate House
  Breakfast and departure for Perugia. On arrival, check-in at the hotel and time for lunch (not included). In the afternoon, guided tour of the city from the Arch of Augustus (Etruscan Arch) to the historic center and Fontana Maggiore in Piazza IV Novembre. See Palazzo dei Priori, the Cathedral, Corso Vannucci, and Via Baglioni. Continue to the Historical Museum and Perugina Chocolate House for a factory visit starting from the museum and ending with tastings. Free time in the city, then dinner in a restaurant, return to the hotel and overnight.
• Day 4 – Montepulciano, Pienza & Montalcino, then Siena
  Breakfast at the hotel and departure to the medieval village of Montepulciano, home of the “Nobile DOCG wine.” Visit a winery, vineyards, and cellars with tasting. Continue to Pienza, the jewel of the Orcia Valley, with free time to visit the Cathedral of the Assumption and Palazzo Piccolomini. Then reach Montalcino, a medieval village renowned for “Brunello di Montalcino,” and visit a winery with cellar tour and tasting. Departure to Siena, arrival, check-in at the hotel, dinner and overnight.
• Day 5 – Siena & Chianti Hills
  Breakfast at the hotel and guided tour of Siena, starting from Piazza del Campo, seat of the Palio, with Palazzo Sansedoni and the Palazzo Pubblico. See the Torre del Mangia and walk among the historic “contrade.” Free time for lunch. In the afternoon, drive north through the Sienese hills between Castellina in Chianti and Monteriggioni, where “Chianti Classico DOCG” is produced. Stop in Castellina in Chianti to visit the historic center, then continue to Monteriggioni. Visit a winery among the vineyards to learn about the production stages and enjoy a wine tasting with a platter of meats and cheeses. Return to Siena, dinner (if included) and overnight.
• Day 6 – San Gimignano & Arrival in Florence
  Breakfast at the hotel and departure to the Val d’Elsa and San Gimignano. Free time to visit the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Transfer to a winery producing “Vernaccia di San Gimignano” for a visit to the vineyards and tasting with typical products. Depart for Florence with a stop for lunch along the way. Upon arrival in Florence, meet the local guide for a city visit from Piazza del Duomo, including the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, and Giotto’s Campanile, then continue to Piazza della Signoria, the Loggia dei Lanzi, the Fountain of Neptune, and Palazzo Vecchio. Check-in at the hotel, free time for dinner and overnight.
• Day 7 – Bologna & Arrival in Venice
  Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Bologna. Free time to visit the center from Piazza Maggiore to Piazza Ravegnana and the medieval towers, Torre degli Asinelli and Garisenda. Lunch in a restaurant to taste typical Bolognese dishes. Departure to Venice, arrival, check-in and free time in the historic center. Return to the hotel and overnight.
• Day 8 – Venice Guided Tour & Bacaro Experience
  Breakfast and meeting with the guide in Piazzale Roma. Guided visit of Venice from Ponte degli Scalzi to the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, then Piazza San Marco with the Basilica, Palazzo Ducale, and the Torre dei Mori. See the Bridge of Sighs and end in the Castello district. Free time for lunch (not included) and afternoon at leisure for relaxation or shopping. In the evening, meet in a Venetian bacaro, a typical tavern, to taste appetizing “cicheti” paired with excellent wine. Return to the hotel and overnight.
• Day 9 – Departure
  Breakfast at the hotel and free time depending on your schedule. End of services.

✅ What’s Included

• Accommodation in 4-star hotels with breakfast throughout the tour.
• Selected dinners as indicated by the operator (including Trastevere dinner and other meals where specified).
• Guided city tours with local professional guides in Rome, Perugia, Siena, Florence, Bologna (self-visit time), and Venice.
• Visit to the Historical Museum and Perugina Chocolate House with tastings.
• Winery visits in Montepulciano, Montalcino, Chianti area, and San Gimignano with wine tastings.
• Tastings of typical products such as meats, cheeses, sweets, and Venetian “cicheti.”
• Evening experience in a traditional Venetian bacaro with wine and “cicheti.”
• Carefully planned self drive itinerary connecting Rome, Perugia, Siena, Florence, Bologna, and Venice.

❌ Exclusions

• Transport and vehicle rental for the self drive portion (not specified as included).
• Lunches where indicated as not included.
• Dinners marked as “ni” (not included) by the operator.
• Entrance tickets to monuments and museums not expressly mentioned as included.
• Personal expenses, shopping, and any extras not specified in the program.
• City taxes, if applicable, to be paid directly at the hotels (not specified but commonly required in Italy).
• Travel insurance and international or domestic transport to the starting point in Rome.

ℹ️ Important Information

• Tour format: This is a self drive itinerary, so guests are responsible for their own transportation between destinations unless otherwise arranged. The route connects Rome, Perugia, Siena, Florence, Bologna, and Venice, with countryside detours.
• Difficulty: Classified as EASY, suitable for travelers comfortable with walking in historic centers and gentle hills, and managing their own driving and luggage.
• Meeting points: City tours and experiences typically start from central locations such as hotel lobbies or main squares (for example Piazzale Roma in Venice), the exact meeting details are not specified and will be provided by the operator.
• Meals: Breakfast is included daily, with some dinners, wine tastings, and product tastings included. Several lunches and some dinners are not included, leaving free time for personal choices.
• Weather & clothing: Expect varied weather as you travel from central to northern Italy, comfortable walking shoes and layered clothing are recommended, although specific dress codes are not stated.
• Accessibility: The tour involves walking over cobblestones, in medieval villages and historic centers; accessibility details are not specified and should be checked directly with the operator if needed.
• Age & restrictions: There are no explicit age limits mentioned; however, wine tastings are intended for adults of legal drinking age according to Italian law.
• Changes & cancellations: Policies regarding changes, delays, or cancellations are not detailed in the description and should be confirmed with the operator at the time of booking.

🚗 Savor Italy’s Soul, One City and Vineyard at a Time

A road trip of flavors, history, and unforgettable views.

Follow the In the Heart of the Divine Country Tour: 9 days Self Drive Tour "Itineraries of Taste Collection" from Rome to Venice and let Italy’s great cities, medieval hills, and legendary wines tell their story. With curated tastings, 4-star comfort, and expert-guided city visits, this itinerary is ideal for travelers who want the freedom of a self drive journey with the reassurance of a thoughtfully planned route.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions, FAQ

1. How is the self drive aspect of the tour organized?
   The itinerary is designed as a self drive journey, which means you are responsible for your own transportation between cities and villages. The route and experiences are pre-planned, with hotel stays, guided tours, and tastings arranged for you, but the vehicle itself is not specified as included.
2. What makes the In the Heart of the Divine Country Tour: 9 days Self Drive Tour "Itineraries of Taste Collection" special?
   This tour combines Italy’s major art cities with carefully selected food and wine experiences, from Roman trattorias to Tuscan wineries and Venetian bacari. It is a curated blend of cultural visits, local guides, and tastings of typical products and DOCG wines, all within an easy, self drive format.
3. Are all meals included during the 9 days?
   No, not all meals are included. Breakfast is provided daily and some dinners, lunches, and tastings are included, while several lunches and some dinners are indicated as “ni” (not included), giving you flexibility to explore local cuisine on your own.
4. What kind of tastings and winery visits are part of the tour?
   The tour includes winery visits in Montepulciano, Montalcino, the Chianti area, and San Gimignano, with tastings of wines such as Nobile DOCG, Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico DOCG, and Vernaccia di San Gimignano. You will also enjoy tastings of typical products like meats, cheeses, Roman sweets, Perugina chocolate, and Venetian “cicheti.”
5. Is this itinerary suitable for travelers who prefer an easy pace?
   Yes, the tour is described as EASY, combining guided city walks and countryside visits with plenty of free time for relaxation and shopping. The In the Heart of the Divine Country Tour: 9 days Self Drive Tour "Itineraries of Taste Collection" is ideal for travelers who like a comfortable rhythm, with structured highlights and personal time.