Heart of Italy
Nine days in three regions spent with the people who feed, grow, make, and love Italy.
“How special to be invited into the home of someone who truly loves to entertain but also who loves her culture and the food that embodies that. I loved hearing her stories and watching her in the kitchen......it truly reminded me of cooking with my grandmothers when I was younger. Gloria is such a special lady, I'm so honored to have met and dined with her.” - Sarah F.
→ Emilia-Romagna
Imagine yourself…
rolling pasta with a local chef, making mozzarella for lunch, sipping fresh limoncello in a family-owned lemon grove, and dining in a secret garden right off the main paths of Sorrento.
From the fields and the factories, all the way to the table.
Most food tours start at the plate. We start where the food does and follow it the whole way. Italy isn't one kind of meal, so we don't build one kind of trip. Here's what that range looks like:
The fields
Lemon groves in Sorrento.
The makers
Inside a family-run acetaia where balsamic ages for decades.
The hands
Market visits and cooking with Chef Alain.
The history
Walking tour around Florence.
The table
Dinner party at Gloria's, a stone's throw from the Duomo.
Friends You Haven't Met Yet
Our dining experiences focus on eating fresh, seasonal, and local, guided by our friends who will share their stories as they invite you into their homes and kitchens. Our personal relationships in Italy with local chefs, guides and families open doors to experiences most travelers never have.
Marika & Family - Sorrento
Dinner high on the hillside above the Amalfi Coast with vegetables Marika pulled from her own garden that afternoon.
Gaia - Florence
Gaia walks us through the Florence she actually lives in — the fascinating history, yes, but also the everyday charm of a city most people rush through in a single afternoon.
Gloria - Florence
Gloria cooks her favorite Florentine dishes in her apartment with the Duomo framed in the window.
Caterina - Emilia-Romagna
Leads us on a full-day tour learning about parmigiano-reggiano, baslamico, and traditional Modenese dishes such as tortellini.
Be fully present. We’ve handled everything else.
✓ 4-5* Boutique Accommodations
✓ Airport meet and greet with private transfers
✓All ground transportation
✓ All meals listed in the itinerary
✓ Wine tastings and select alcoholic beverages with most meals
✓ All activities, experiences, tours, and sightseeing
✓ All taxes and tips for all drivers, guides, restaurants, and more
✓ 24/7 Tour Host
Exclusions: mandatory travel insurance, international airfare, hotel incidentals, and premium alcoholic beverages.
Just 6 – 12 travelers — small enough to fit inside a family kitchen.
"The best parts were the personal touches…"
"the guides, eating in people’s homes or in private settings."
"It would be impossible to schedule this on your own."
"The relationships that TTLT built with local hosts are clearly the true shining star."
"The experiences are truly one-of-a-kind, and allow you to really see a place in ways that ordinary travel and tourism wouldn't take you."
Heart of Italy
Benvenuto in Italia
A private driver whisks you from Naples past Mt. Vesuvius to Sorrento. After a private tour of the city, we meander to a tucked-away garden for dinner with Pia, fourth generation of a family of Sorrento gardeners.
Limoncello, mozzarella & homemade pizza
Walk the lemon groves and learn to make limoncello, then see fresh mozzarella made at a family farm. Roll up your sleeves and make pizza for lucnh. After some free time, dinner at a farm-to-table restaurant run by a Michelin-star chef.
Water, waves, and a hillside lunch
A morning spent on a private boat cruising the coast. Then up the Positano hills to preapre gnocchi at Marika's home, with vegetables picked from her own garden. The evening is yours.
Into the Renaissance
We take the train to Florence and feast on bistecca fiorentina, then meet our friend Gaia for a relaxed walking tour through the city’s fascinating past and everyday charm. Light dinner and wine tasting at a local wine bar.
The other side of the Arno
We wander the neighborhood across the river, tasting small bites from small restaurants and visiting a local artisan. Free afternoon to explore or visit a museum. At dinner, Gloria cooks her favorite Florentine dishes in her one-of-a-kind apartment overlooking the Duomo.
Market tour & cooking class
We gather ingredients from the local market with our dear friend Alain, then head to a villa outside of the city. An in-depth pasta lesson over wine, a Tuscan feast, and Alain’s tiramisu. The evevning is yours.
Wine tasting & dinner with Francesca
A leisurely drive to the countryside, stopping for wine tasting and picnic lunch at a local vineyard. We settle into our final hotel, then drive to Francesca’s to dine on traditional Modenese dishes.
Cheese wheels & aged balsamic
A behind-the-scenes Parmigiano-Reggiano tour, then an inside look at a family acetaia where balsamic ages for decades. A farewell dinner of multi-course tasting celebrates the flavors of the region.
Arrivederci
An optional group breakfast at the resort before we say our goodbyes, with a private transfer arranged to your departure airport or train station.
Our itinerary is always evolving as we coordinate with our friends in Italy around their schedules. Consider it a vivid preview of what travel with us feels like.
Let's start with a conversation.
There's no commitment in asking. Whether you're wondering about the group dynamic, the activity level, or exactly what happens on day 7 — we're here. We'll reply within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked
-
Travelers should be comfortable engaging in activities like walking tours (lasting up to 4 hours), walking over uneven terrain like cobblestone streets, climbing stairs, and standing for extended periods.
This tour is appropriate for those who are comfortable with some longer and moderately active tour days.
If you have any specific questions you’d like to discuss with the tour host, contact us!
-
There are only 6 - 12 travelers on this group trip. With fewer travelers, we can explore unique, off-the-beaten-path spaces that larger groups can't access, such as family-owned kitchens, bustling markets, and private homes.
This small size also fosters meaningful connections - whether it’s sharing stories over a meal with a local host or bonding with fellow travelers, our trips feel more personal.
-
The $9,950 per person price (double occupancy) includes 4–5 star boutique accommodations, airport meet-and-greet with private transfers, all ground transportation, all meals listed in the itinerary, wine tastings and select alcoholic beverages with most meals, all activities and tours, and all taxes and tips for drivers, guides, and restaurants. A 24/7 tour host travels with the group the entire trip.
Not included: mandatory travel insurance, international airfare, hotel incidentals, and premium alcoholic beverages.