Enjoy breakfast at the hotel prior to our journey to nearby Bolzano, the gateway to the Dolomites.  An old commercial city with both Latin and German aspects, Bolzano still preserves many valuable monuments such as the Piazza delle Erbe, where the vegetable and produce market is held daily. This characteristic square is flanked by lovely examples of Bolzano’s bourgeois homes.  In the center of the city stands the main cathedral, built between the 12th and 14th centuries in the Gothic style.  Next door is the Dominican Church, which houses some of Giotto’s most interesting frescoes. Today’s program to Bolzano will culminate in a guided visit to the South Tyrol Museum of Archeology where we have a chance to see the recently discovered ‘iceman’, a mummy dating back from 5000 year ago.

We will have ample time to enjoy late lunch on our own and perhaps a leisurely stroll before departing on a breathtaking ride through the scenic Val d’Ultimo, where we will experience the Dolomites at their best. Late afternoon return to Merano for dinner on our own and overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel, travel to the Calvalese region to visit a local cheese producer to learn more about and sample the cheeses from this region. Continue on to a working farm to learn about daily farm life. Here, we will speak with the local farmers and learn about the struggle to keep a balance between traditional methods and modernization.  

Enjoy a rustic luncheon at the farm, featuring dishes prepared with locally produced ingredients before returning to Merano for a delightful afternoon at leisure. We have the opportunity to trek along the famous ‘Passeggiata Tappeiner’, a two and half mile walk through breathing and scenic vistas, replete with a wide assortment of flora. This evening, enjoy dinner on your own.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before participating in today’s ‘hands-on’ cooking lesson where we will learn to make traditional dishes such as ‘canerdli’ or dumpling, along with delicious apple strudel.

After our cooking lesson, we enjoy the fruits of our labor as we partake in a tasting buffet of your dishes, along with some others as prepared by our instructor. In the early afternoon, return to Merano for a guided visit to the botanical gardens at the Trauttmansdorff’s Castle where we will see a wide variety exotic flowers. This evening enjoy dinner on our own.

After breakfast at the hotel, depart on today’s full day excursion to the quintessential city of Bressanone.
Enjoy a guided tour through the narrow medieval alleys which are clustered around the main cathedral whose 12th century cloisters are lavishly decorated with stunning frescoes painted during the 15th century. Continue on to the Palazzo Vescovile for a visit to the fascinating Diocesan Museum, well-known for its collection of medieval artifacts and the tiny Museo dei Presepi with its locally carved wooden crèche figures.

Later in the afternoon, journey through the scenic hills of the Trentino to reach tonight’s special destination where we will partake in a memorable dinner at one of the area’s historical castles. Late evening return to Merano for overnight

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel prior to traveling to Milan. After checking-in at our hotel, we will have ample time to freshen up prior to this afternoon’s guided tour of Milan, including a visit to the immense Gothic Cathedral which dominates Piazza del Duomo and a stroll through the famous Victor Emmanuel Gallery. The tour concludes with a special private after-hours visit to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie to admire Leonardo da Vinci’s recently restored ‘Last Supper’. This evening, we will enjoy a gala farewell dinner at one of Milan’s trendy gourmet restaurants.

Early morning departure to Milan’s Malpensa Airport to board connecting flight home or extend your stay in Italy.