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Susan and Martha go on a road trip to Romagna

8/7/2019

Missouri Travel agent Susan and her colleague Martha didn’t know just what would happen to them when they decided to explore unexplored Romagna this July!

Arriving at Bologna train station after a one hour journey by executive train from Rome - their guide and vehicle were awaiting them. Not the usual guide, though! Valere Tjolle is the boss of Best of Romagna, and, after a lifetime in the global travel industry, and 5 years in Romagna knows the area and the travel opportunities intimately. Not the usual vehicle, either! The girls were to travel in a bright blue BMW convertible. So great fun was on the cards for all.

First stop, naturally, the fab, award-winning Zuffa Organic Vineyard for the ladies’ first sensational wine and food tasting. Here they encountered Augusto (Zuffa) and his warm family, the vineyard and the scrumptious wines of the area that were chosen for at Italy’s World Fair in 2015. They also had their first of amazingly delicious fresh Romagna food including Squaquerone cheese and Capeletti pasta

Off to the hills then to stay in the beautiful, historic small town of Longiano. Marisa had her arms outstretched waiting to welcome them at her fabulous art deco country house - Casa Grilli, and they were soon happily lodged.

A light and delightful dinner was served in the Michelin-rated Dei Cantoni and the pair emerged clutching roses.

After a wonderful sleep, on Sunday, Susan (now dubbed Susanna by every Italian!) and Martha (now Marta!) were ready to explore. Off to Longiano’s historic theatre first (where they played their parts!) then to the unbelievable historic soaring 1500 year old castle. Then, naturally a spot of delicious local lunch.

All this before a trip over the hills to sleepy, stunningly beautiful Santarcangelo di Romagna and a visit to the wild art of the Mutoid Waste Company.

Time for a glass or two of wine and a little more local food at the picture-perfect Villa Venti organic, biodynamic vineyard. Here two perfect wines - one white Famoso “Serenaro” and one red Sangiovese “Primo Segno” were tasted. Delicious. As was the local flatbread hand made from Villa Venti wheat, the local “Savor” made from Villa Venti wine, nuts and fruits and the local cheeses and meats. Time for a sunset photo and a lovely night’s rest in the country.

After a superb breakfast buffet on Monday the girls were taken for a walk in one of the most picturesque ports on Earth. Cesenatico’s port canal was brought up to date by Leonardo da Vinci no less and he couldn’t have designed a more picture-perfect place.

Walking and sea air stimulates the appetite, luckily, as our pair were off to lunch somewhere really, specially Romagnolo. Valentina Valentini presides over an amazing establishment where pretty much everything comes from her surrounding family farm.

Great platters of warm breads, prosciuttos, cheeses, toasts were replaced by even greater platters of freshly made pastas - all before the main courses of chargrilled meats. Naturally great Valentini wines washed down this feast. Naturally it was followed by delicious desserts, digestivos and strong espresso coffees.

This feast was necessary to set up our girls for the life-changing experience ahead. A feast of 1700 year old art awaited them at some of the world’s most dramatic heritage sites - the mosaic-encrusted glory that is Empress Galla Placidia’s Roman imperial capital - Ravenna.

Time for the very best gelato ever before driving home to the country.

Hard work beckoned on Tuesday, we were all going to learn to cook Italian in one of Italy’s best cookery schools. So it was a good idea to relax in the morning in the sun before a lovely light lunch and a tour of the lovely city of Cesena and its amazing 13th century library.

Then off to cook under tutelage of Carla Brigliadori, one of Italy’s best known chef/sommeliers. Hard work but it was worth it! The girls made a full range of pastas - with only eggs, flour, rolling pin and knife (and a lot of effort!)

Their reward? A slap up 5 course fabulous dinner in Casa Artusi’s own stylish restaurant.

Wednesday dawned bright and beautiful - time for a trip to the seaside and a fish lunch. Where could be better than the amazing Roman ciry of Rimini set right on the Adriatic. A superb fresh fish lunch and a leisurely walk here before we returned to the hills and the glorious 4 Passeri (4 Sparrows). A fab historic house terraces and swimming pool with amazing panoramic views to the hilltop castles and the Adriatic sea. Susanna and Marta (now fully Italian!) were to stay here with mine host Stefano for the next three days.

On Thursday a mystery trip had been planned. All piled into the BMW very very early and took off for the coast. After a couple of hours the girls had arrived at Chioggia, an ancient little city built on islands in the lagoon. It was massive market day so it took a while to park the car and push through the crowds to the port. Then we were all in the ferry to the island of Pellestrina, a bus took us to the Lido where we boarded a vaporetto - destination Venice via the lagoon and the Grand Canal. Stunning.

We got off at Ca d’Oro (Gold Roof) and took a gondola (Susannna and Marta nearly decided to take the handsome gondolier with them as a souvenir!). Then over the Rialto Bridge into a little doorway and up high to a private viewing terrace for an exclusive view all over Venice. The fantastic visit was rounded off with an al fresco lunch by the canal, opposite one of Venice’s most painted sights in the exclusive Bienale restaurant. Bit of shopping naturally and back to our Romagna home on the hill

Romagna is mainly small perfect cities perched on hills and mountains and two of the most beautiful are San Marino (a tiny republic) and saintly San Leo. Both have enormous histories and stories and both are very different. San Marino = shopping and San Leo = serenity! After the spectacular drive to the very top of San Marino the girls enjoyed a beautiful lunch outside in the main square, a balcony overlooking the whole of Romagna. A Michelin starred restaurant no less. Then off to San Leo, just as magnificent with astonishing views before winding their way in the convertible back to their accommodation.

As a final evening event something very special had been laid on - a visit to the private Salvini Collection.

Roncofreddo, the little hilltop village by where the girls were staying, has a special part in WW2 history, where allied forces (including Americans, Canadians, British, Ghurkas and Indians) breached the German Gothic Line. The Salvini collection is the work of one man whose life work was to put together everything he could find - a vast collection of war memorabilia - now closed but specially opened for Susanna and Marta. They were awestruck. A fitting end to their tour.

On Friday we were off to Bologna and home. Sadly, because Romagna makes you sorrowful to leave.

But for two American lady travel agents their road trip had exceeded their wildest expectations, Susanna and Marta would go back to Missouri knowing that they would return to Romagna - now they'd crossed the Rubicon.

If you are a travel agent or a group organiser maybe you'd like to find out about Romaga too!
Details here:
http://www.totemtourism.com/agent-fam-visits.html

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Herding cats - 11 New York Ladies visit Romagna! A very different experience!

6/20/2019

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The story so far...

Last year 6 Ladies from New York State had visited Romagna with Vagabond Travel and Best of Romagna - they had a whale of a time. So this spring Saturday, another 11 ‘Vagabond Gals’ arrived in Bologna determined to surpass their friends' enjoyment levels.

Two were to arrive in Bologna from Rome, two from Paris and the remaining 7 from Milan. Quite a complicated pick up, but we were soon all together and on our way. After the short drive to the hills we were all checked into our country houses and ready for a rest before the night’s events.

Marisa owns and runs the fabulous Art Deco Casa Grilli in beautiful Longiano. Her primary aim is to put so much love into her hospitality that you can taste it! She had been working all day to prepare a special welcome party and at 6 on the dot the gals were there - ready to enjoy their evening. Naturally, stopping at nothing, Marisa had prepared an aperitif repast beyond compare. Trays and trays of delicious freshly-prepared snacks, bottles of wines and juices. Simply a feast before dinner!

The gals who were staying in the other country house had already been treated to lovely Filippo’s warm hospitality aided by his little son Diego, they were now regaled by the warmth, the hugs the food and wine of Marisa.

Time for dinner and another great welcome from Teresa and Susy at the Michelin-rated Dei Cantoni restaurant. Here a great spread of local food and wine had been prepared for our happy group of guests. Trays of antipasto included confections of delicious cheeses and prosciuttos, pastries and vegetables and naturally local flatbread - the daughter of the house, Sabrina had also baked delicious speciality breads. Naturally we all enjoyed two different freshly-made pastas before the main course - roasts! Sensational desserts and it was all over - a lovely evening walk back to our comfortable country beds.

On Sunday after sensational breakfasts, we were to explore our base - The historic hilltop town of Longiano. First a visit to the local theatre’s mask museum with its display of ‘Comedia del Arte’ statues - then a very different experience - the community museum. Here precious items from many homes in the town are displayed. The collection covers hundreds of years and its a true delight - from Vespa mopeds, pop music vinyl from the ‘50’s, film posters to ancient agricultural machinery - the lot.

Then we visited the town’s highest point. Not only is the new castle (built on an earlier one in the 13th century) the home for one the characters in Dante’s Inferno and full of history and tales, but it’s also the home to an amazing modern art collection.

Then we went to lunch - and our first wine tasting. Off to see Mauro, Manuela and Beatrice at the fabulous organic, biodynamic, boutique vineyard - Villa Venti. Now perched on another hill with outstanding panoranic views, we took the Villa Venti experience! Great food created by Manuela included perfectly aged local cheeses, delightful meats and sublime breads, made by Manuela from scratch - she even grew the wheat and ground it to flour. Of course the wines paired with our courses were sublime.

Now a little surprise. Roncofreddo is another ancient hill town a few kilometres from Villa Venti. Today was it’s big spring festival - the Pea Festival and we were off to enjoy the fun. What a pity it rained but at least we enjoyed amazing gelato!

Back to Longiano to dry out and get ready for dinner.

After our less-than-spring experience we needed some soul food and there’s nothing better than Passatelli in Brodo - an amazing confection of breadcrumbs, parmesan, lemon and nutmeg all in an amazingly rich broth. This was followed by our main course and dessert and washed down by great local wines. A great end to a wonderful day.

Already we’d eaten some amazing food and drunk superb wines. On Monday we were to get up close and personal with Romagna cuisine. Off to the legendary Casa Artusi to learn all about Italian food and to learn to cook it!

First a talk and a couple of demonstrations, then sleeves were rolled up, aprons were donned and we learned to create 7 fabulous pastas from just flour and eggs, a big rolling pin and a big knife. Naturally we were under the constant eye of head chef Carla and each pair of gals had the help of their own trained assistant.

Lots of fun followed by lots of success and certificates! Then to lunch.

First our own pasta with its paired wine - then a massive array of glorious local produce. Cheeses from parmesan to ricotta, prosciuttos, fruits and salads, breads and jams and sauces and naturally desserts. Wow!

Time for a walk and then to a surprise...

Cesena is s pretty, tranquil city nowadays, with a stunning main square alongsite its 13th century fort. It has one world heritage treasure - its library. The first public library in the world. Opened in 1454 this is a real stunner unbelievably atmospheric and with glorious laboriously-created hand-illustrated ancient books on display.

Next, another surprise specially arranged for our gals. Leonardo Lucchi has his studio in an historic building in Cesena’s centre. He is a well known Italian sculptor and our gals are going to meet him and have a personal tour look of his work. What a lovely afternoon!

Naturally a stop was made for gelato before we enjoyed a quiet (well not so quiet!) evening in Longiano.

Longiano’s theatre is famous throughout Italy. It’s beautiful, it’s small (just 200 seats), it’s historic, but above all it has amazing acoustics. So, often, superb shows start their run in Longiano. We’re here to have a private tour, enjoy the acoustics and get the photo opportunities!

Then we’re off to another fabulous show - to see our friends the Mutoids! A waste-disposal travelling collective that recycle their collected metal items (think cars, planes, trains) into amazing metal sculptures. Just then one of the Mutoids was standing as Environment Councillor on the local city council - neat! She won by the way!

Many photo opportunities later we leave for the hills and our first stop was the mountaintop Republic of San Marino. Walking, looking, sightseeing and big time shopping. The gals were nearly exhausted so a little tranquility was called for.

Hilltop, historic San Leo is one of the most beautiful towns in Italy and with its amazing views, ancient cathedral and lovely setting. - it has tranquillity in spades. Just exploring and taking in the atmosphere leaves us all happy and serene!

Time for an aperitivo! We went back to Santarcangelo’s main square, scene of all its festas, for a drink and a vast variety of freshly made snacks plus a great deal of fun.

Tonight we’d organised a special fish and veggie dinner in Longiano with great wine - delicious. But it was to be our last dinner in this pretty town because tomorrrow we were off to somewhere very special indeed.

Byebye Filippo, byebye Diego and Marisa. Special surprise today was a visit to two hand-printing studios producing fabulous materials with a combination of 400-year old block processes and modern artists.

Then we were off to Faenza the city that was so well known five hundred years ago. Why? Because of its wonderful porcelain - even known now as Faience-ware - simply every royal family had to have it. And, as we could see from Faenza’s streets and piazzas the porcelain’s global fame brought riches back home.

We were here also to enjoy a very special lunch created by a 2star Michelin chef from totally local ingredients at the enormous Casa Spadoni - set in an historic silk mill and filled with local culinary items and deli!

Amazing platters of starters, superb pastas, great wines, delicious barbequed roasts and delightful desserts regaled us, lucky we were off for a walk in the hills.

The Venetian settlement of Brisighella ia a very special place. Its position on a hill of gypsum has ensured its wealth over the centuries. The fact is that the gypsum provides a particular microclimate - absolutely perfect for growing olives. Naturally we tasted some of the best olive oil ever.

And then we went to Ravenna a massive world heritage city. 2000 years ago it was the Eastern port of Rome, 1600 years ago both the capital of Rome and of the Gothic empire. And still now ram-packed full of historic treasure. It’s very special.

Checked in at our boutique hotel our gals explored!

On Thursday we took a walk around the city and its lovely boutiques, pretty streets and cafes. A little light lunch before the main event - an in-depth experience with our personal guide, Cinzia, to see the amazing 1500-year old mosaics and the stunning basilicas.

After a rest and aperitivo, off to another Michelin restaurant - L’Acciugga for a top fish dinner!

After a glorious day of shopping and relaxing on Saturday were off to the big city.

First, though, a wine tasting and lunch stop at the organic Zuffa vineyard, where our warm welcome from Augusto, Valentina, Micaela and little Sylvia gave us all a great feeling about the hospitality to come!

The tour of the vineyard completed, we sat down to taste Augusto’s wines naturally accompanied by great food, delicious antipastas, amazing pastas and desserts were accompanied by no less than a dozen tastes of his memorable wines. Even the wines that were selected by the Italian government for Expo 2015. A totally delicious experience.

Then to the painted art city of Dozza for a stroll beside the art works and the magnificent castle before we made our way to Bologna and our pretty boutique hotel Il Guercino.

A walk around the great city of art, of food, of learning and of politics the next morning and, sadly, it was time to leave!

We'll be back!

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A happy little group of travel agents have fun exploring Romagna

6/20/2019

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This spring four US travel agents visited Romagna as part of Best of Romagna's FAM program, here is the story of their trip.

Bologna’s beautiful, but we’ll see it later and today our travel agent friends have something much more interesting to do!

Our hi tech couple from San Francisco Bay Amy and Jason and our lovely Virtuoso pair from South Carolina Antonia and Paul were in for a real Romagnolo experience!

First stop was Zuffa Organic Vineyard where we are welcomed by the whole family. Big hugs from Augusto, his partner Valentina, and his sister Michaela - shy smiles from little Sylvia. Ready to rock, we have a tour of the vineyard before our amazing lunch with 10 Zuffa paired wines. Warm company, wonderful cheeses, fresh made pastas, great hams and other delicacies plus amazing wines including Sangiovese and Albana the two classic Romagnolo wines.

Short drive to the beautiful hilltop castle-village of Longiano and our wonderful country house accommodation - here Fillipo, his partner Lisa, little Diego and their charming dog Otto say hello and make sure that our rooms with their amazing hill and valley views are just perfect.

Time to luxuriate in our lovely sights, sweet country air and a little luxury before dinner!

The Michelin rated Dei Cantoni restaurant is our ‘canteen’ for our stay in Longiano and our hosts Teresa and Danilo, plus daughter Sabrina and her baby Sebastiano are going to do everything they can to make each meal a wonderful experience!

Tonight it’s a light dinner - first great platters of inventive antipasta, then different made-that-day pastas, followed by roasts and, of course dolce. All accompanied by the appropriate wines.

And so to bed.

Bright and early on Sunday our guests were finding it difficult to tear themselves away from their breakfast delicacies freshly made by grandmother Ottavia. But more was in store!

First a visit to the exquisite Theatre Petrella - just 200 seats and the best acoustics in Italy make it an Italian starting point for many top shows. Naturally it was an opportunity for our guests to ‘Ham it Up’ in 18th century opulence. It was a really fun experience!

Now off to somewhere funnier! The local community museum. The old building is chock-full of memories - ancient Vespas, kid’s games from the ‘50’s farm machinery, hairdresser’s equipment, film posters of the ‘50’s and ‘60’s’ and much more retro treasures in an amazing indoor and outdoor treasure chest!

From wherever we’d been in the village, we’d always sighted the sensational 11th century castle soaring at the top of the hill. And now we were going inside. We walked through the tunnel made by hand in WW2 as a refuge for inhabitants and after a few uphill steps the castle and the castle keep were in front of us offering amazing views towards the sea . Built on an 8th century site, the castle as it is now was created for Gianciotto Malatesta (of the robber baron family) in 1290. It’s full of stories, both bloodthirsty and romantic! Plus it’s full of modern art - housing possibly the best collection in the region. Now the treasure chest of local poet Tito Balestra, it is a real art and history experience.

And now for a food and wine and beauty experience we drove down into the valley and up another hill to the fabulous Villa Venti vineyard. The setting is stunning - on the vineyard’s veranda we can see over the valley to the castle we’ve just left. Out came Mauro and his wife Manuela to welcome us, their daughter Beatrice will translate.

The vineyard is the family’s dream, she explains. From working in the rubber industry, Mauro learned all about wine, became a sommelier in a posh restaurant. Now all they needed was a vineyard not any old vineyard but one that was capable of being beautiful and organic. They found an old fruit farm on a hill with just the right soil that had had no fertilisers for over 10 years and they bought it, employed a top enologist, and created an organic, biodynamic vineyard to produce the very best local wines that truly tasted of their terroir. 5 years of hard work and no income later, they tasted the first fruits - sensational!

And that was the verdict of our guests too - sensational.

To go with the wines, Manuela had created a little lunch which was also redolent of their terroir - local cheeses and hams, flatbreads that she had made with the flour she’d created from their own wheat stuffed with herbs she’d picked from her own fields, jam that had been made with their own nuts, quinces, apples and wines. Sensational!

Finally we all went off to beautiful and historic Santarcangelo for a gelato and a trip to an amazing modern sculpture park made out of scrap.

Back to Longiano and yet another special meal. The broth was made that day to be rich and super delicious - it was filled with passatelli - a wonderful concoction of breadcrumbs, parmesan, nutmeg and lemon. Superb. And yet another selection of delicious desserts. Wine of course. And a lovely sleep, naturally!

We went off to the Adriatic sea on Monday. To a very special picturesque port - on that was designed by Leonardo da Vinci, in fact. What a beautiful stroll.

And then off to a very special, very typical, very large, lunch. The Agriturismo La Casina is on Valentini land and pretty much all of its produce is created here. Valentina Valentini is in charge and she knows what we want - great plates of local hams, local cheeses, local salads and local crostinis plus naturally local wines!

Followed by great bowls of different, freshly-made pastas, some made with eggs, some stuffed and all with superb sauces! Followed by meats and local vegetables - all roasted. All washed down with wonderful Valentini wines. Followed by cakes and delicious home made digestives - Limoncello and its friendst,

Then we happy group went off to Ravenna. Rome’s great Adriatic port from 12bc, its imperial capital from 402 and now the home to 1500 year old basilicas and mosaics - this beautiful city is a delight to explore. Cinzia loves to take us around and with her love for her city and her deep knowledge she is our ideal companion for stories and walks through Ravenna’s sensational past.

Finally we made a visit to where it all started -Classe - the port that Augustus built 2,000 years ago - now covered, but still with its amazing, light and mosaic-filled basilica, 1600 years old and still glorious.

Time for a delicious gelato before we return to Longiano for a light dinner and comfy bed.

Next morning we were off on a real excursion, a drive up the ancient via Popilia along the coast to the ancient port of Chioggia at the very edge of the Venice lagoon.

We were getting to Venice the best way seeing this amazing city gradually appear in the lagoon! And Chioggia is very beautiful too - a mini Venice - we could see the canals and the Venetian style buildings as we crossed the long bridge to the ancient city gate.

Walking through the bustling town was like a preview to Venice itself and we reached the port early to get the best (outdoor) seats on the ferry for the amazing journey across the lagoon to the tiny island of Pellestrina. Here we got the bus across stylish Venice Lido to its port.

Now the vaporetto took us across the strait and past all the iconic places including gardens and the Arsenale, past the Bridge of Sighs, the Doge’s Palace, St Marks Square and down the Grand Canal all the way past the Rialto. We got off at Ca d’Oro and tested our courage by taking a gondola across the Grand Canal to the Rialto itself. Now for our walk through Venice to our very special lunch.

A table has been laid for us on the terrace of the fabulous Biennale palace beside St Marks Square and on the busy Grand Canal. From here we have a splendid view of Santa Maria della Salute and all that’s happening! Naturally we enjoyed a superb seafood lunch before we got happily lost in Venice. Not too lost, though, to miss our boat back to the Lido and via the lagoon to Chioggia as the sun was setting. Back to Longiano tired but happy!

On Wednesday we checked out of our country house in Longiano and wished warm goodbyes to Fillipo and his family. We were off to the beautiful, friendly, ancient, foody city of Santarcangelo for a fun walk and a really superb lunch in one of its top restaurants.

Naturally we were given a little ‘amuse bouche’ followed by a box of delicious warm breads. What was to come? A selection of freshly made special pastas, a main course of super-fresh vegetables and delicious local meats and amazing desserts! A little walk on cobbled streets and we were off to swanky Milano Marittima.

The seaside resort part of the ancient salt city of Cervia was created along ‘Garden City’ lines in the 19th century by a group of rich Milanese families for their own exclusive holidays. Since then little has changed except that it’s got bigger, glitzier and swankier.

With its massive chandeliers, made especially in Venice, its great mirrored hallways and its air of comforting opulence and service, the Palace hotel is a real 5 star luxury establishment. The hotel is designed to provide each guest apartment with a balcony facing the sea and its own collection of luxury items including Venetian glass and exquisitely tiled floors. This was the seaside hotel for our lucky FAM guests.Time for a gelato!

Romagna is, above all else, great for history food and fun, so, on Thursday after an amazing breakfast, we went off to Rimini - capital of all three! First we visited the amazing new interpretation center showing how Rimini was built by the Romans as their first new city and how you can easily see 2000 year old Rimini today.

We were by the seaside so naturally we ate seafood for lunch in a great restaurant. Delicious seafood suchi, great seafood pastas and superb seafood kebabs!

After a delightful walk through Rimini from the triumphal arch that Augustus built via the site of the great amphitheatre to the bridge of Tiberius - we were off to the hills.

At the top of Mount Titano lies an unique country - the smallest republic in the world -the republic of San Marino. This castellated city built of stone has winding cobbled alleyways full of bustling boutiques - it’s a shopper’s delight! Of course as San Marino is a self-governing republic - independent since 257 AD it sets its own taxes so prices are great. And the views from its peaks are amazing and very photogenic.Now to somewhere much more serene. San Leo, founded at around the same time as San Marino, is one of the most beautiful towns in Italy. With its own ancient cathedral, lovely town square, tranquil pieve and amazing views, it is embued with a tranquillity rarely found anywhere nowadays.

Back to Milano Marittima, our fab hotel and a gelato, naturally!

Friday is our day dedicated to food and wine. After breakfast we enjoyed the short journey to Casa Artusi - the ‘Cathedral to Italian Cookery” it was here that the “Father of Italian Cookery” the great Pellegrino Artusi was born in 1820 and it is here that his foundation carries on his work.

Here, in the what’s known as the best cookery school in Italy, we are to learn to make and cook Italian and have lots of fun doing it!

With the help of the school’s director, Susy and its head chef Carla, we spend some time learning the history of Artusi and his cooking principles - then it was up to us! No fear, Artusi had his helper Marietta - and we have ours too. After a demonstration by Carla we set to work creating a dozen different pastas from scratch - eggs and flour - helped by Elisa our own Marietta - and finally success! We all held up our offerings for inspection - Bravo! We are presented with our certificates and hugs.

And our reward? A sensational meal all created along Artusi principles even with the Artusi recipe numbers!

One superb soup, two different pastas, a superb rendering of seasonal vegetables and a selection of amazing desserts - all with their accompanying wines from top local vineyards.

Back to Milano Marittima and the obligatory gelato.

Sadly, on Friday it was time to leave our grand hotel and make our way back to Bologna, but there were yet many treats in store!

First, Jason got the full surprise birthday treatment (we’d all kept the secret!) - cake, candles, champagne the lot.

Then we were off to search for flamingoes in the nearby salines - and we found flocks of these stunning birds. All elegantly wading in vast picturesque expanses of shallow waters.

Now off to somewhere very special, the tiny hilltop gated town of Dozza with its castle - the home of the great Caterina Sforza in the 13th century - now the home to a the definitive collection of wines from all over Emilia Romagna. And Dozza has a very important event every two years - its very own Biennale. Prominent artists are invited to visit the little city and paint... on houses. This creates great art that everybody can enjoy - and we did.

There was another event the day that we enjoyed too - a great wedding which filled the center beautiful crowds, colour and fun!

Lovedup, we left for Bologna to check into our fun boutique hotel - Il Guercino.

Now for a walk in the city where another event awaited us - the start of Italy’s famous cycle race - the ‘Giro d’Italia’. How exciting.

So, even before we did our walking tour we got an idea about Bologna’s ability to put on a party! We saw the city’s church San Petronio (nearly the biggest in Italy) the massive buildings of the university (the oldest in the world) the food market (Italy’s finest) and finally a grand cafe where we enjoyed sublime cake and coffee.

Dinner (obviously a special one for Jason -Amy’s treat. And the next day sadly we leave Romagna but we'll all certainly be back!

If you are a travel agent or a group organiser maybe you'd like to find out about Romaga too!
Details here:
http://www.totemtourism.com/agent-fam-visits.html

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Your clients could enjoy a wonderful 9-day taste of the real Heart of Italy - Romagna in 2020: including visits to Venice, Florence, Bologna, Ravenna plus cooking class from just $1950

11/16/2018

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Experience the Best of Romagna scenery, food and wine, culture and warm hospitality, see glorious Ravenna, Venetian Cesenatico and beautiful Bologna - Italy's capital of food
PLUS… learn to cook Italian in a great cookery school
Take a local adventure by boat to “La Serenissima” Venice
And to glorious renaissance Florence by scenic train through the hills
Stay in a beautiful historic Italian country house with amazing views, sublime food and warm, kindly hospitality
Stay in a fabulous four star Adriatic Coast hotel
Stay in an atmospheric historic city center Bologna hotel
Land in Rome or Milan, we will arrange your travel to Bologna to begin your experience in the beautiful, legendary land, safely nestling between the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic sea
It's better than Tuscany, more deliciously authentic than Eataly, more experience than any cruise - and you can be a part of it!

Included Highlights:

1 night’s lovely city center accommodation in Bologna
4 nights accommodation with breakfasts in a lovely Italian Country house in the 'Ancient Valley of Cherries'
3 nights accommodation in a super 4 star hotel in a swish resort on the Adriatic
7 superb Dinners or lunches including wine or soft drinks in specially-selected restaurants.
3 fabulous vineyard wine tastings
Help to arrange travel from Rome or Milan
Guided travel from Bologna and throughout tour
Tastings of local breads, prosciuttos, salamis, cheeses and olive oils
Learn to cook Italian at Casa Artusi "The best cookery school in Italy"
Guided visits to foodie capital of Italy Bologna, World Heritage Ravenna, Venetian Cesenatico, and lovely Longiano.
PLUS: enjoy included visits "Like locals" Travel to Venice for a day like a local on a boat and travel to Florence for a day like a local through the hills on the little scenic train.

COST $1950.00 per person

Romagna is just as lovely as famous, expensive Tuscany, its near neighbor, and in our view the food and wine and scenery are all BETTER! Plus, of course, there are no tourist hordes in Romagna and prices are lower so your holiday $ goes much, much further and you get a more personal experience.

If you are looking for great local and authentic Italian food, wine, art, culture and hospitality - at a reasonable price, undiscovered, unspoiled Romagna is the place to be. Here people are pleased to open their doors for you and give you a truly heartfelt warm welcome!

Experience the best of the very best food and wine, art and culture. Above all revel in the immense and heartfelt hospitality of glorious Romagna – a beautiful, legendary land safely nestling between the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic sea and as yet unspoiled by tourism.

Our team of specially-selected local co-operators include not only professional hoteliers, but great restaurateurs, hands-on vineyard owners, master cheese makers, musicians, videographers, artists, thermal spa owners, even cookery teachers.

Together, we have created a special inclusive nine day program to offer you a taste of Romagna which incorporates accommodation, meals, wine, olive oil and specialty food tastings, daily programmes of activities and visits designed to enable you to enjoy Romagna at its sensational best from just $1950.

As ‘temporary citizens’ rather than detached tourists, Best of Romagna guests enjoy a treasure-chest of fascinating opportunities. You will be able to experience UNESCO World Heritage Byzantine Ravenna and Venetian Cesenatico, You will also be able to experience Romagna’s legacy of stunningly beautiful hills and valleys, medieval castles and some of its fabulous vistas.

And you'll experience amazing food and wine … cheeses like Squacquerone and Fossa, local wines such as Sangiovese DOC and Albana DOCG and olive oils, rare-breed prosciuttos, pickles, preserves and honeys…and fabulous fresh pasta made daily, of course. You will surely get passionate about these seasonal, fresh, treasured handcrafted products – and recipes you’ll certainly take with you and want to prepare at home.

Our 2020 Itinerary in the ‘Heart of Italy’ can be altered to your requirements:

Day 1 Saturday - Welcome to Romagna
Taste the wonderful wines of Romagna, visit a delightful city of art, enjoy a warm welcome

Travel by high speed comfortable train from Rome or Milan to Bologna where we'll be met and taken straight to the heart of Romagna.. First stop is a visit to the superb, internationally-rated organic Zuffa Vineyard to take a wine tasting in the open air, between vines. After this delightful visit, we will see the painted city of Dozza with its fabulous castle and wine heritage. Then, we'll take the short journey to the hilltop castle-town of Longiano for dinner and overnight at Alloggio San Girolamo, Quattro Passeri or Locanda della Luna (or a similar high grade country-house style accommodation) and enjoy the atmosphere and stunning views. Then another taste of great Romagnolo food and wine - a special welcome dinner at the Ristorante Dei Cantoni.

Day 2 Sunday – Enjoy the Tastes of Romagna
Tour beautiful Longiano, taste superb wines and local produce in a stunning biodynamic boutique vineyard, experience glorious mountaintop republic San Marino

After a relaxed home-cooked breakfast, we'll take a short tour of lovely Longiano, we’ll see the fabulous medieval castle with its extraordinary views, and enjoy the fabulous jewel-box theatre Petrella with its museum of masks. Next a fabulous wine and food tasting at the beautiful Villa Venti where we'll also taste some superb cheeses of Renato Brancaleoni.

In the afternoon we'll visit the amazing - mountaintop republic of San Marino. the oldest republic in the world is a fantastic UNESCO World Heritage site with stunning views, amazing castles and hundreds of boutiques!

Day 3 Monday - Mosaics and da Vinci's seaside
Walk in da Vinci's Cesenatico seaport, enjoy an enormous robust country lunch, tour 3 times capital World Heritage Ravenna with its 1500 year old basilicas and mosaics.

After breakfast we'll drive to Cesenatico for a lovely seaside walk - in Leonardo da Vinci's port canal no less! Then we’ll have a great country lunch at a glorious Agriturismo. This will be followed by a sensational visit of glorious Ravenna with Cinzia - this world heritage city, three times capital (of the Western Roman Empire, of Theodoric King of the Goths, and of the Byzantine Empire) is full of marvelous mosaics and stunning 1500 year old basilicas. Return to Longiano for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 Tuesday - Renaissance Day – Florence by scenic train
Sparkling experience through the mountains to Florence great walk in beauty, superb dinner in Faenza

Today we’ll start with a glorious scenic experience. We’ll leave very early and drive to Faenza to take the little train to the heart of Florence just like locals would. The train starts from Faenza and climbs up the hills, crossing little medieval towns such as Brisighella (famous for its superb olive oil), Marradi (famous or its ancient sweet chestnut trees, being of the highest quality), Borgo San Lorenzo (with its age-old vineyards and olive groves, thousand-year-old churches, ancient farmhouses and geometrically laid out vegetable gardens) and goes along wild landscapes with stunning forests, streams and rivers - the best experience you can get travelling to Florence.

In Florence, after this scenic journey, there will be the possibility to get a brunch or lunch at the foodie Central Market, a guided tour to the main monuments, and take a stroll through this beautiful city of art. A guided tour with a trained and registered local guide is included.

We’ll leave Florence in the early evening for our return journey to Faenza. A special dinner will be arranged at the fabulous new Spadoni restaurant – a homage to the best in Romagna food and drink and thence to Longiano for overnight.

Day 5 Wednesday - countryside... then seaside
Relax, enjoy and revitalise in Longiano's magical, beautiful valley, do a little light shopping and then move to the seaside for an enchanted sunset aperitivo and more

All the week, we have enjoyed truly natural, local, fresh food, wine and sights. Today is the day to take care of your whole body and mind - our special relaxation, shopping and wellbeing day. Subject to the weather, we’ll have a lovely walk and a picnic in Longiano's enchanted valley, then we'll have the opportunity to shop direct from artisan designers for the big brands for handbags, leather goods, art and home furnishings.

This evening we'll stay in a 4 or 5 star hotel such as the Hotel Aurelia the Hotel Derby Exclusive or the Hotel Le Palme on the Adriatic Riviera. Marvelous Milano Marittima is one of the world’s first garden cities combining luxuriant shady pine woods and a beautiful beach. Stylish, fashionable Milanese shopping, eating, drinking and dancing, plus the colourful port and marina of Cervia – the ancient salt port of the Adriatic.

Day 6 Thursday – La Serenissima – Venice Day
Our alternative tour to Venice - explore like a local - boat across the lagoon - see stunning Chioggia - fab seafood lunch on the Grand Canal

On our day excursion, we'll have the chance to experience this incredible place of history and romance. St Marks Square, Rialto Bridge, the Grand Canal, gondolas, shops and much much more - just like a local would.

We’ll leave very early and travel via the ancient via Popilia to the outskirts of Venice – and an extraordinary way to arrive in the city. We’ll start at the ancient seaport of Chioggia from where we’ll take the boat across the lagoon to the sweet little island of Pellestrina , and the island of Venice Lido.

From here we’ll make our glorious entrance by Vaporetto water bus across the main lagoon to the Grand Canal and past Venice’s main sights, churches, palaces, glorious colorful sights. At the Rialto Bridge we’ll commence our walking tour of discovery all the way to St Mark’s Square where a fish feast lunch is included with Adriatic specialties and a special optional gondola ride will be organized. Plenty of time explore in the afternoon after which we'll return to Milano Marittima for overnight.

Day 7 Friday - Cooking Day
A memorable day of food and wine and understanding

Ever wanted to learn to cook REAL Italian? Casa Artusi "The Best Cookery School in Italy" is the place. In this foundation created to honor Pellegrino Artusi, the father of Italian Cookery - you will learn to make at least seven different sorts of pasta (including local specialties). In the fully-equipped cookery school, each participant will have the services of an assistant and their own work-station. After this life-enhancing experience we will enjoy a superb lunch of local specialties – plus the pasta that we have created. At the end of the session, we’ll have presented to us, our hand-made Casa Artusi apron together with our certificate for concluding the cookery course.

We’ll then travel up to the lovely wine-village of Bertinoro and visit the historic vineyard of at Fattoria Paradiso - the most historic vineyard in Romagna. Dinner and overnight in Longiano.
Here we’ll tour the fabulous hillside estate, the medieval merchant’s house and the vineyard, after we’ll enjoy some local cheese, local olive oils and bread, plus of course we’ll taste over six of Fattoria Paradiso’s superb wines including those created for various Popes and presidents.

Without any doubt, this will be the highlight of your trip! Return to Milano Marittima for overnight.

Day 8 Saturday - we're off to big beautiful Bologna
Taste exquisite food and tour Bologna, the 'Rich', the 'Red' the 'Learned'

After a leisurely breakfast in our hotel, we'll drive along the historic via Emilia to Bologna. Here our eyes will feast on the best of this rich, fabulous city including the Piazza Maggiore, the, Podestà Palace, Neptune’s Fountain, King Enzo’s Palace. We’ll admire the enormous Basilica of Saint Petronio. We’ll see Bologna’s gothic Merchants’ Palace, the Seven Churches complex of Saint Steven’s Basilica, and meet Asinelli and Garisenda, Bologna’s famous leaning Towers.

But, of course, Bologna is world famous for its FOOD! a food city so this evening we’ll take a tour of the massive, colourful food district. It’s not for nothing that Bologna is known as ‘Fat City’ It is the food capital of Italy (and therefore the world?!) The ancient Mercato di Mezzo and the food shops, café’s and restaurants around it, all in the medieval quarter, are astonishing homes to intoxicating taste, scent and aroma which pervades the whole area and heightens appetites.

One of Italy's richest cities, Bologna is famous for its 3,000 year history, its world's oldest university, its miles of covered arcades and lovely squares, fabulous art and architecture - but above all, its FOOD and FUN. We’ll stay overnight in a specially-selected 3 or 4 star city-center hotel such as the family-run Touring Hotel with its warm atmosphere, lovely breakfast and sensational rooftop terrace with panoramic view of Bologna.

Day 9 Sunday - return to Rome or Milan and home
Homeward bound - or why not stay another day or two - even a week?

PLEASE NOTE: THIS TOUR IS ONLY BOOKABLE THROUGH PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL AGENTS WHO HAVE VISITED ROMAGNA AND CAN ADVISE YOU PROPERLY - LIST HERE

PRICE PER PERSON: $1950.00
Deposit required $200 per person to reserve arrangement. Balance payable 10 weeks prior to arrival.
Cancellation terms: Initial deposit only up to 8 weeks prior to departure. 80% from 8 weeks prior to departure. PRICES BASED A PRIVATE GROUP MINIMUM 6 SIX PASSENGERS
SUPPLEMENT FOR MINIMUM FOUR PASSENGERS - $500 PER PERSON
SUPPLEMENT FOR MINIMUM TWO PASSENGERS - $1000 PER PERSON
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT $400

MAXIMUM PASSENGERS PER GROUP 15 FIFTEEN.

Departure dates from Rome, Milan and Bologna 2020:
March 7,14,21,28
April 4,11,18,25
May 2,9,16,23,30
June 6,13,20,27
July 4,11,18
September 5,12,19,26
October 3,10,17,24,31
November 7,14,21,28
December 5

OUR SHORT VIDEOS OF INTERVIEWS WITH PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL AGENTS TELLING US
WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT ROMAGNA:

Just click to view unbiased opinions about real experiences and see a little more about Romagna:
video about Longiano, video about wine tastings, video about Ravenna and Cesenatico and video about Casa Artusi and Fattoria Paradiso

About the Best of Romagna - read our story HERE

Romagna away from the coast is a very un-touristy place. Unlike its near neighbors Tuscany and the Veneto, in Romagna foreign (particularly English-speaking) visitors are unusual. Here you will be treated as a guest - not a tourist!

So that you may enjoy your visit to the full, we run your experience not as a package tour but more like a group of friends having an adventure on a visit to a new and very special place. In this way we believe you will have a glorious, very different and natural experience. The fact is that Romagna’s wonderful hinterland has not become jaded by mass tourism – and we aim to keep it that way,

Everybody you will meet here is passionate about their homeland, its beauty and its enormous larder of local, seasonal food and wine. Everybody you will meet here is enormously proud of their history, culture and above all their diligent and heartfelt hospitality.

We sincerely believe that you will find treasure here in Romagna - treasure that can only come from open hearts with the willingness to share an unbelievably enormous heritage.

By the time you leave our aim is to help you, like us and all our other guests, to be passionate about Romagna and count the days ‘til you return!

Want to know more contact us:
M: +44 7710 173005 Skype: valeretjolle Whatsapp: +44 7710 173005
E: welcome@bestofromagna.com W: http://www.bestofromagna.com F: http://www.facebook.com/bestofromagna

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Italian country house party in the Romagna hills 8 days from $950

8/24/2018

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Come in the springtime when the blossom is coming out, the fireflies are twinkling and the sweet scent of Jasmine suffuses the evening air or in the fall when the harvest is in, the trees are a kaleidoscope of color and the festivities break out

Stay in a fabulous Italian Country House. Enjoy high speed travel from Rome or Milan, included top estate wine tastings and exclusive lunches/dinners and excursions

PLUS an opportunity to visit Venice and Florence

8 days from just $950 per person

Enjoy small group excursions
Fabulous Italian posh chic country house
Warm hearted hospitality and service

All prices include:

Return high speed train trip from Rome or Milan to Bologna with reserved seat
Day tour from Bologna to the lovely Romagna hills by luxury minibus including fab lunch, top wine tasting and visit to Art city Dozza
7 nights accommodation in twin/double room with local Italian breakfast buffet in your friendly beautiful Italian country house
7 superb Italian lunches or dinners
Delicious local tasting excursion with sightseeing, wine tasting, olive oil tasting and lunch in the beautiful Romagna Hills
Afternoon shopping excursion for fashion and homestyle - shoes, bags, clothes & fabrics at artisan workshops and boutiques including supper and visit to San Marino

Plus fabulous optional experiences:

Full day to ´La Serenissima’ Venice including walking tour of city
Cookery class at the ‘Best cookery school in Italy’ including wine tasting at historic vineyard
Day excursion to world heritage Ravenna - probably the best place in the world to see magnificent 6th century basilicas and glorious mosaics
Full day over the scenic Apennine mountains to Florence including walking tour of city

Where we’ll stay...
Our Italian country houses:

Alloggio San Girolamo - Filippo Ricci is ‘Mine Host’ at the stunningly beautiful Alloggio. Enter the gates, pass through the country house and you’ll be greeted by Filippo and the unbelievably sensational view of Paradise – you’ll certainly fall in love with the family, the stylish rooms, the incredible breakfasts and the stunning views MORE INFORMATION HERE

Locanda della Luna – The Turchi family – now in their 17th generation – have been making great olive oil and dispensing heartwarming hospitality for over four hundred years. Their country house is both charming and stylish and the rooms very comfortable, breakfasts are totally delicious, views are stunning and there is a swimming pool. MORE INFORMATION HERE

Quattro Passeri – this lovely ancient country house is set in gardens with a superb swimming pool and quite amazing views over the hills of the Savio Valley. It is just the place to get away from it! Superb rooms, a lovely lounge and dining room, delicious breakfasts. MORE INFORMATION HERE

Casa dei Grilli is a 1920’s millionaire’s residence, an Art Deco country house with a lovely breakfast room, terraces full of flowers and stunning views over the valley. The rooms are delightful and the bedroom and beds superb. Delicious breakfasts!
Superb and kindly service MORE INFORMATION HERE

Staying in lovely Italian country house:

COST:
10+ people Per person in twin/double - $950
4+ people Per person in twin/double - $1500
3+people Per person in twin/double - $1750
2+ people Per person in twin/double $2000
Single room supplement $300
1 person Per person in single - $3500

2019 Dates ex Rome/Milan/Bologna 7,14,21,28 April; 5,12,19,26 May; 2,9,16,23,30 June; 1,8,15,22,29 September; 6,13, 20, 27 October; 1,8,15,22,29 November

Find out more from your travel agent details of participating US professional travel agents HERE

SEE WHAT PROFESSIONAL USA TRAVEL AGENTS, WHO'VE BEEN THERE, SEEN IT, DONE IT THINK ABOUT BEST OF ROMAGNA

Paula Ramo of A Better Way to Travel Indianapolis

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Italy’s glamorous Adriatic Riviera 8 luxurious days from $950

8/24/2018

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Italy’s glamorous Adriatic Riviera

Come for a taste of the authentic Dolce Vita - the style and authentic Italian ambiance of a perfect resort, where café, beach and restaurant society are real art forms.

Stay in a fabulous 4 or 5 star luxury hotel in a stylish Adriatic resort. Enjoy high speed travel from Rome or Milan, included top estate wine tastings and exclusive lunches/dinners and excursions

PLUS an opportunity to visit Venice and Florence
8 days from $950 per person

Your choice of fabulous stylish seaside resorts:

Stay in Marvelous Milano Marittima – one of the world’s first garden cities combining luxuriant shady pine woods and a beautiful beach. Stylish, fashionable Milanese shopping, eating, drinking and dancing. Plus the colourful port and marina of Cervia – the ancient salt port of the Adriatic. FURTHER INFORMATION HERE

Stay in glorious Rimini with its sensational beach and promenade, amazing nightlife, superb restaurants bars, cafes and gelaterias to suit each and every taste – an Italian party destination of the very first rank.

Stay in charming Cesenatico with its perfect port designed by Leonardo da Vinci for the Borgias. Enjoy port life with its colourful cafes, restaurants, bars, gelaterias and shops and Cesenatico’s lovely beach.

PRICES INCLUDE:
Small group excursions
Luxury boutique 4 & 5 star hotels
Personal service
All prices include:

Return high speed train trip from Rome or Milan to Bologna with reserved seat
Day tour from Bologna to the Adriatic Sea by luxury minibus including top winetasting
7 nights accommodation in twin/double room with Italian local breakfast buffet in chosen luxury hotel
Day of castles and sightseeing, winetasting, olive oil tasting and food in the beautiful Romagna Hills
Shopping day afternoon excursion for fashion and homestyle - shoes, bags, clothes & fabrics at artisan workshops and boutiques including supper and visit to San Marino

Plus fabulous optional experiences:

Day excursion to world heritage Ravenna - probably the best place in the world to see magnificent 6th century basilicas and glorious mosaics
Cookery class at the 'Best cookery school in Italy' including wine tasting at historic vineyard
Full day to 'La Serenissima' Venice including walking tour of city
Full day over the scenic Apennine mountains to Florence including walking tour of city

2019 Dates ex Rome/Milan/Bologna Spring: 7,14,21,28 April; 5,12,19,26 May; 2,9,16,23,30 June;
Fall: 1,8,15,22,29 September; 6,13 October

Fabulous 4**** star hotels:

Derby Exclusive: Smart family-run designer green-awarded 4 star hotel in central Milano Marittima close to the beach. The hotel has stylish design features and a spectacular restaurant with glorious food including a superb breakfast buffet. Swimming pool. FURTHER INFORMATION HERE

Le Palme is a fabulous modern 4 star plus boutique hotel just by the beach in Milano Marittima. Guests enjoy exclusive Premier Resort benefits including pools, restaurants and bars, wellness center with ‘Body & Soul Spa and beach club. FURTHER INFORMATION HERE

Sensational 5***** star hotels:

The Grand Rimini is simply a 5 star legend. This Art Deco jewel was the favourite place for legendary film director Federico Fellini and emblem of the Dolce Vita– the service and style is legendary too. Right by the beach in its own beautiful park, a stay at the Grand is a truly memorable and beautiful experience. FURTHER INFORMATION HERE

The Grand da Vinci Cesenatico is maybe the perfect 5 star hotel. In the perfect resort of Cesenatico with its fishing harbor and iconic da Vinci designed port and practically on the beach the service, hospitality and food is impeccable. Dolce Vita Spa and private beach, naturally. FURTHER INFORMATION HERE

The Wardorf Milano Marittima is a stunning ultra-modern 5 star designer hotel with stunning views and a substantial art collection – all right on the beach and with a choice of swimming pools and a fabulous restaurant. FURTHER INFORMATION HERE

COSTS:

4 star hotels:
Milano Marittima - Derby Exclusive, Le Palme or similar
Group 10+ people Per person in twin/double - $950
Group 4+ people Per person in twin/double - $1500
Group 3+ people Per person in twin/double - $1750
Group 2+ people Per person in twin/double $2000
Single room supplement $600
1 person Per person in single room $3500

5 star hotels: Supplement on above 4 star prices: $400 per person
Rimini - Grand Hotel or similar
Cesenatico - Da Vinci Grand or similar
Milano Marittima - Wardorf or similar

Find out more from your travel agent details of participating US professional travel agents HERE

See what professional USA Travel agents who've been there, seen it, done it, think about Best of Romagna

Paula Ramo principal of A Better Way to Travel Indianapolis Indiana

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Your invitation to hidden Italy - for a sneak preview of an amazing 2019 travel opportunity

7/6/2018

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FAM participants will enjoy an unspoiled secret corner of Italian paradise - festivals, food, wine, fairytale castles, fun cooking course– AND a preview of a ground breaking unbelievable value 2019 program .

After 5 years of hard work we’re ready and our 2019 program will be unveiled this Labor Day – September 3rd 2018 - and you’ll have a chance to inspect it yourself this fall. Here is a look at what it will offer:

GROUPS & FITs - Special arrangements for individuals and groups
GORGEOUS ACCOMMODATION: Authentic stylish Italian country house accommodation and 5star luxury boutique and grand hotels
SPECIAL INTEREST: Culinary experiences, seaside experiences, mountain arrangements, music, theater and food festivals
CULTURE & HISTORY: Cultural visits to Italy's amazing unknown art cities - Ravenna, Faenza, Rimini, Bologna, Cesena and more
SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES: Designer shopping trips to artisan workshops where they make exquisite fashions for posh Italian brands
FAB WEDDINGS: Truly romantic classical Italian vineyard weddings
PRICES FROM $950 for 7 nights

Prices are from as low as $950 including return train from Rome or Milan, 7 nights lovely accommodation, 2 wonderful wine tastings in picturesque organic vineyards, orientation excursion, designer shopping excursion, two Michelin-grade dinners with wine/soft drinks.

SEEING IS BELIEVING – FIND OUT YOURSELF - COME ON A FAM/INSPECTION TRIP:
Romagna destination FAM inspection experiences are now open for applications from travel agents, operators, and group organizers. You could join for an wonderful experience.

The 6-day (5 night) FAM/Inspection trips to Romagna "Food: Wine: Castles: Culture" will cost a nominal $795 per person (participants and spouses subject to space) There will be up to 100% post-FAM refund depending on your marketing results.

Just get yourself to Bologna and we’ll look after you from there! Departures from Bologna this fall are: 28 September/ 5,12,19,26 October / 2,9,16 November 2018

Participating agents will...See and experience fabulous 2019 offers for their clients PLUS: Join in a great joyous FESTA Take part in an early morning foodie & culture tour in Bologna; Meet the people that make little Romagna one of the world's greatest opportunities for travel agents; Learn to cook a local speciality in "Italy's Best Cookery School"; Taste the region's great olive oils in a 500-year old olive grove; Try some of Italy's best wines in the extraordinarily beautiful surroundings of two superb organic vineyards; Taste delicious local prosciuttos, salamis, breads, cheeses and more; Experience the glistening 1500-year old basilicas and mosaics in ravishing Ravenna; Visit the fabulous mountaintop UNESCO World Heritage Republic of San Marino; Walk in Leonardo da Vinci's port - Cesenatico; See stunning fairytale hilltop castles and extraordinary views throughout Romagna; Visit Romagna's lovely art-cities and villages. See what an exceptional opportunity this is for you and your clients.

Further information: http://www.totemtourism.com/agent-fam-visits.html

Read about the experiences that US travel agents had on 2018 Spring FAM trips HERE: http://www.totemtourism.com/news/travel-agents-discover-a-paradise-beyond-tourism-in-italy-something-really-special-which-warmed-their-hearts

Email expressions of interest as soon as possible to valere@bestofromagna.com
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE PLEASE!

MORE ABOUT ROMAGNA:
Romagna has one of the most astonishing unknown, unspoiled treasure chests of heritage, culture, superb mountain and sea sights. food, wine and hospitality in the world.

The World Heritage city of Ravenna itself, world famous for its mosaics, was three times capital of the Roman Empire and has no less than 8 UNESCO sites all around 1500 years old.

Within the borders of Romagna there is the ancient ceramic art city of Faenza, the historic salt-city seaside resort of Cervia, the delightful olive-oil hillside town of Brisighella, the lovely Venetian-influenced resort and fishing port of Cesenatico (surveyed by Leonardo da Vinci) and historic hillside vineyards including in wine-centres such as Bertinoro.

Major art cities include Roman Rimini (now also a glitzy resort) serene Cesena (where there is the oldest library in the world), Forli with incredibly eclectic architecture from the middle ages to Mussolini's brutalist Art Deco, festival-city Santarcangelo, and the Sforza city of Imola where Leonardo da Vinci worked for the Borgias.

The world's oldest republic - San Marino, at the top of mount Titano - towers over the area - this extraordinary world heritage site, and fiercely independent state is walkable history.

Romagna has an incredible legacy of atmospheric medieval hill and mountaintop castles, and citadels - it is said over 300 - built by the Montefeltro, Sforza, Este and the Malatesta families - and by various Popes.

Romagna is arguably also the birthplace of Italian cuisine. It has arguably the best cookery school in Italy as part of an unique foundation started by a Romagnolo man - Pellegrino Artusi . Artusi is known to Italians all over the world as the father of Italian cookery.

Download a free copy of Best of Romagna magazine HERE

We're all looking forward to greeting you in Romagna. You will be more than impressed!

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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT A wonderful taste of the real ‘Heart of Italy’ at Harvest time from $1500

5/10/2018

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SPECIAL DEPARTURE 28 SEPTEMBER EX BOLOGNA
IN ASSOCIATION WITH BREVARD TRAVEL and Anita Scannell

Delicious food, glorious wine, warm, hearty hospitality and fairytale sights in undiscovered, un-touristy, hassle-free Romagna.

9 day holiday- from just $1500

Experience the Best of Romagna scenery, food and wine, culture and warm hospitality, see glorious Ravenna, Venetian Cesenatico lovely Santarcangelo take a scenic train trip through the hills to Florence.
Plus… on option: learn to cook Italian in a great cookery school and take an adventure to “La Serenissima” Venice.

Land at in Rome or Milan or Venice, we can arrange your travel to Bologna to begin your experience in the beautiful, legendary land safely nestling between the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic sea.

Included Highlights

A day to RENAISSANCE FLORENCE by scenic train
Exploring BOLOGNA
Fabulous Harvest Festival in ancient SANTARCANGELO DI ROMAGNA
Back in time with miraculous mosaics in BYZANTINE RAVENNA
Stroll the cobbled streets of UNESCO republic SAN MARINO
Learn to cook Italian in a TOP COOKERY CLASS (Optional extra)
Taste: VINEYARD WINE TASTINGS/OLIVE OIL/SUPERB LOCAL FOODS
Warm friendly ITALIAN COUNTRY HOUSE – YOUR HOME FOR A WEEK
Comfortable personal travel in a SMALL GROUP
Every meal a delicious culinary experience GREAT MEALS WITH WINE

Price includes:

1 night’s lovely city center accommodation in Bologna
7 nights accommodation with breakfasts in a lovely Italian Country house
7 superb Dinners or lunches including wine or soft drinks in specially-selected restaurants
2 fabulous vineyard wine tastings
Tastings of local breads, prosciuttos, salamis, cheeses and olive oils
Guided visits to Foodie capital of Italy Bologna, World Heritage Ravenna, Venetian Cesenatico, ancient Santarcangelo and lovely Longiano.
Hosted by knowledgeable, lovely locals throughout
Small group comfortable vehicle transport throughout
All designed as a natural life-enhancing experience.
Plus: 'Introduction to the Best of Romagna' Pre-tour information, Welcome pack
On option: Full day cookery course in "Italy's best cookery school" including historic vineyard and wine tasting - and visit to Venice

COST $1500.00 per person (single room supplement $300)

Romagna is just as lovely as famous, expensive Tuscany, its near neighbour, and in our view the food and wine and scenery are all BETTER! Plus, of course, there are no tourist hordes in Romagna and prices are lower so your holiday $ goes much, much further and you get a more personal experience.

If you are looking for great local and authentic Italian food, wine, art, culture and hospitality - at a reasonable price, undiscovered, unspoiled Romagna is the place to be. Here people are pleased to open their doors for you and give you a truly heartfelt warm welcome!

Experience the best of the very best food and wine, art and culture. Above all revel in the immense and heartfelt hospitality of glorious Romagna – a beautiful, legendary land safely nestling between the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic sea and as yet unspoiled by tourism.

Our team of specially-selected local co-operators include not only professional hoteliers, but great restaurateurs, hands-on vineyard owners, master cheese makers, musicians, videographers, artists, thermal spa owners, even cookery teachers.

Together, we have created a special inclusive 9 day program to offer you a taste of Romagna which incorporates accommodation, meals, wine, olive oil and specialty food tastings, daily programmes of activities and visits designed to enable you to enjoy Romagna at its sensational best from just $1500.

As ‘temporary citizens’ rather than detached tourists, Best of Romagna guests enjoy a treasure-chest of fascinating opportunities. You will be able to experience UNESCO World Heritage Byzantine Ravenna and Venetian Cesenatico, You will also be able to experience Romagna’s legacy of stunningly beautiful hills and valleys, medieval castles and some of its fabulous vistas.

And you'll experience amazing food and wine … cheeses like Squacquerone and Fossa, local wines such as Sangiovese DOC and Albana DOCG and olive oils, rare-breed prosciuttos, pickles, preserves and honeys…and fabulous fresh pasta made daily, of course. You will surely get passionate about these seasonal, fresh, treasured handcrafted products – and recipes you’ll certainly take with you and want to prepare at home.

Our Harvest-time Itinerary in the ‘Heart of Italy’

Day 1 Friday 28 September – Welcome to Bologna
Arrival Bologna . Depending on arrival time there will be an opportunity for an early evening walking tour of this colorful medieval city. One of Italy's richest cities, Bologna is famous for its 3,000 year history, its world's oldest university, its miles of covered arcades and lovely squares, fabulous art and architecture - but above all, its FOOD and FUN.

We’ll stay overnight in a specially-selected 3 or 4 star city-center hotel such as the family-run Touring Hotel with its warm atmosphere, lovely breakfast and sensational rooftop terrace with panoramic view of Bologna. If time allows why not make a visit to Bologna’s new attraction: FICO – The Food Megapark

Day 2 Saturday 29 September - Welcome to the Feast
Bologna is a food city that awakes early so we’ll start the day with a breakfast-time tour and avoid the crowds of day trippers! It’s not for nothing that Bologna is known as ‘Fat City’ It is the food capital of Italy (and therefore the world?!) The ancient Mercato di Mezzo and the food shops, café’s and restaurants around it, all in the medieval quarter, are astonishing homes to intoxicating taste, scent and aroma which pervades the whole area and heightens appetites. Naturally our full-on guided visit will include many tastes!

Next our eyes will feast on the best of this rich, fabulous city including the Piazza Maggiore, the, Podestà Palace, Neptune’s Fountain, King Enzo’s Palace. We’ll admire the enormous Basilica of Saint Petronio. We’ll see Bologna’s gothic Merchants’ Palace, the Seven Churches complex of Saint Steven’s Basilica, and meet Asinelli and Garisenda, Bologna’s famous leaning Towers. After a very full morning, around midday we'll leave Bologna towards the country on the historic Via Emilia to Romagna.

First stop is a visit to the superb, internationally-rated organic Zuffa Vineyard and take a wine tasting in the open air, between vines. After this delightful visit, we will see the painted city of Dozza with its fabulous castle and wine heritage. Then, we'll take the short journey to the hilltop castle-town of Longiano for dinner and overnight at Alloggio San Girolamo (or a similar high grade country-house style accommodation) and enjoy the atmosphere and stunning views. Then another taste of great Romagnolo food and wine - a special welcome dinner at the Ristorante Dei Cantoni.

Day 3 Sunday 30 September – Enjoy the Tastes of Romagna
After a relaxed home-cooked breakfast, we'll take a short tour of lovely Longiano, seeing the fabulous medieval castle with its extraordinary views and great modern art collection, then enjoying the fabulous jewel-box theatre Petrella with its museum of masks. After, we'll cross the valley to the stunning Villa Venti where we'll taste the unique Mora Romagnola prosciuttos and salamis, plus the sensational cheeses of Renato Brancaleoni . With these delicacies we'll savor the superb organic wines Mauro and his family create in this wonderful vineyard.

Now it’s off to the fabulous festa. Santarcangelo di Romagna is a beautiful hilltop town with a massive Malatesta castle and a colourful history. The town loves its festivals no more so than the 1,000-year old ‘Bird Festival’ a massive harvest festival which takes over the whole town at the end of September. It is a real colourful delight. We’ll spend our afternoon enjoying it all.

Back to Longiano for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 Monday 1 October- Mosaics and da Vinci's Seaside Day
After breakfast we'll visit Cesenatico for a stroll in its delightful Venetian-style port, designed by Leonardo da Vinci for his patron Cesare Borgia. We'll take a fabulous lunch at La Casina followed by a visit (including entrances) to glorious Ravenna with Cinzia . This world heritage city, three times capital (of the Western Roman Empire, of Theodoric King of the Goths, and of the Byzantine Empire) is full of marvelous mosaics and stunning 1500 year old basilicas Return to Longiano for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 Tuesday 2 October - Renaissance Day – Florence by scenic train
Today we’ll start with a glorious scenic experience. We’ll leave very early and drive to Faenza to take the little train to the heart of Florence. The train starts from Faenza and climbs up the hills, crossing little medieval towns such as Brisighella (famous for its superb olive oil), Marradi (famous or its ancient sweet chestnut trees, being of the highest quality), Borgo San Lorenzo (with its age-old vineyards and olive groves, thousand-year-old churches, ancient farmhouses and geometrically laid out vegetable gardens) and goes along wild landscapes with stunning forests, streams and rivers - the best experience you can get travelling to Florence.

In the birthplace of the Medicis and the Renaissance, after this scenic journey, there will be the possibility to get a brunch or lunch at the foodie Central Market and take a stroll through this beautiful city of art. We’ll have time to see the Pitti Palace, the Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizzi, the Ponte Vecchio, the lovely Boboli Gardens, and the panoramic Belvedere amongst much, much more.

We’ll leave Florence in the early evening for our return journey to Faenza. A special dinner will be arranged at the fabulous new Spadoni restaurant – a homage to the best in Romagna food and drink and thence to Longiano for overnight.

Day 6 Wednesday 3 October– Well Being Day
All the week, we have enjoyed truly natural, local, fresh food, wine and sights. Today is the day to take care of your whole body and mind - our special relaxation and wellness day. Subject to availability, our own preferences, and, of course the weather, we’ll have the option to take an extra experience (surcharge) to follow a guided walk in the glorious hills, take a mountain bike or horse ride, take a yoga class in a stunning location, join in an olive or grape harvest OR take an afternoon tour to visit an artisan ceramicist in the lovely historic art and ceramic city of Faenza and a drive in Faenza’s gypsum hills to the ancient olive oil, wine and honey hilltown of Brisighella.
Dinner and overnight in Longiano.

Day 7 Thursday 4 October – La Serenissima – Venice (or rest) Day*
On our (optional extra*) day excursion, we'll have the chance to experience this incredible place of history and romance. St Marks Square, Rialto Bridge, the Grand Canal, gondolas, shops and much much more.
We’ll leave very early and travel via the ancient via Popilia to the outskirts of Venice – and an extraordinary way to arrive in the city. We’ll start at the ancient seaport of Chioggia from where we’ll take the boat across the lagoon to the island of Pellestrina , here we’ll take a coach across the island and another boat to the island of Venice Lido .

From here we’ll make our glorious entrance by Vaporetto water bus across the main lagoon to the Grand Canal and past Venice’s main sights, churches, palaces, glorious colorful sights. At the Rialto Bridge we’ll commence our walking tour of discovery all the way to St Mark’s Square where a fish feast lunch is included with Adriatic specialties and a special optional gondola ride will be organized. Plenty of time explore in the afternoon after which we'll return to Longiano for overnight.

Day 8 Friday 5 October- Authentic Italian Cooking Day**
Either rest and relax in lovely Longiano or… Depart after breakfast for a really special (optional extra) full day event!

Ever wanted to learn to cook REAL Italian? Casa Artusi "The Best Cookery School in Italy" is the place. In this foundation created to honor Pellegrino Artusi, the father of Italian Cookery - you will learn to make at least seven different sorts of pasta (including local specialties). In the fully-equipped cookery school, each participant will have the services of an assistant and their own work-station. After this life-enhancing experience we will enjoy a superb lunch of local specialties – plus the pasta that we have created. At the end of the session, we’ll have presented to us, our hand-made Casa Artusi apron together with our certificate for concluding the cookery course.

We’ll then travel up to the lovely wine-village of Bertinoro and visit the historic vineyard of at Fattoria Paradiso - the most historic vineyard in Romagna. Dinner and overnight in Longiano.

Here we’ll tour the fabulous hillside estate, the medieval merchant’s house and the vineyard, after we’ll enjoy some local cheese, local olive oils and bread, plus of course we’ll taste over six of Fattoria Paradiso’s superb wines including those created for various Popes and presidents.

Without any doubt, this will be the highlight of your trip! Return to Longiano for dinner and overnight.

Day 9 Saturday 6 October - Homeward Bound or?
Return to Bologna OR why not stay a little longer in Paradise?

*Venice day excursion includes: Guide/tour manager, return transportation to Chioggia, boat and coach transport around Venice Lagoon to Venice Lido, vaporetto water boat journey along the Grand Canal, lunch in Venice, short walking tour of Venice, Venice pack. Cost $200 per person if booked and paid prior to arrival Excursion operates subject to minimum numbers.
** Cooking day excursion includes: Transportation, guide/tour manager, hands-on cookery class learning to create at least seven different sorts of pasta from scratch – all with a great chef and personal assistance, lunch of local specialties plus the pasta made on the course, hand made Casa Artusi apron to take home, personal certificate, visit to Bertinoro and tour of Fattoria Paradiso vineyard, wine tasting of at least 5 wines. Cost $200 per person if booked and paid prior to arrival. Excursion operates subject to minimum numbers.

Departure date from Bologna 2018: Friday 28 September

For further information and bookings contact:
Anita Scannell

Please note: Deposit required $200 per person to reserve arrangement. Balance payable 10 weeks prior to arrival. Cancellation terms: Initial deposit only up to 8 weeks prior to departure. 90% from 8 weeks prior to departure. Important: ALL GROUP QUOTES ARE MADE ON THE BASIS OF A MINIMUM 10 PASSENGERS - REVISIONS TO PRICES UP TO 50% WILL BE EFFECTED IF GROUPS FALL BELOW THIS FIGURE.

About the Best of Romagna - read our story HERE

IMPORTANT NOTE: Romagna away from the coast is a very un-touristy place. Unlike its near neighbors Tuscany and the Veneto, in Romagna foreign (particularly English-speaking) visitors are unusual. Here you will be treated as a guest - not a tourist!

So that you may enjoy your visit to the full, we run your experience not as a package tour but more like a group of friends having an adventure on a visit to a new and very special place. In this way we believe you will have a glorious, very different and natural experience. The fact is that Romagna’s wonderful hinterland has not become jaded by mass tourism – and we aim to keep it that way,

Everybody you will meet here is passionate about their homeland, its beauty and its enormous larder of local, seasonal food and wine. Everybody you will meet here is enormously proud of their history, culture and above all their diligent and heartfelt hospitality.

We sincerely believe that you will find treasure here in Romagna - treasure that can only come from open hearts with the willingness to share an unbelievably enormous heritage.

By the time you leave our aim is to help you, like us and all f our other guests to be passionate about Romagna and count the days ‘til you return!

W: http://www.bestofromagna.com
F: http://www.facebook.com/bestofromagna

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Travel agents discover a paradise beyond tourism in Italy - something really special which warmed their hearts

5/10/2018

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Bologna is brilliant - it’s full of amazing food and wine, lovely buildings, rich sculptures, dozens of kilometres of atmospheric collonades and, by the time we leave - herds and herds of tourists!

To miss the crowds we’ve taken an early morning tour to see the yummy glisteningly fresh food in the market; the sensational St Petronius gothic cathedral; the ancient seven church complex; the towers, the shops and the food (again!).

By now the city is filling up and although it’s been a fab experience, we’re tired and a bit jaded and ready to leave.

Just an hour later we are warmly greeted by the whole young family at Zuffa vineyard - including Valentina and her beautiful 6 month old daughter Sylvia. The mood and our energy levels change immediately. Now we are in Romagna with real friends and the magic truly begins.

We walk around the vineyard with Augusto Zuffa, whose delicious health-giving wines have been attested to by the Italian government - they showcased them at EXPO2015. Now we have a big appetite for lunch and we are certainly not disappointed! First an enormous platter of antipasta delicacies is brought to the table with a big smile by Augusto’s sister Michela. And this is just the start, it’s followed by two types of delicious pastas hand made that morning, then a totally delicious semi-freddo dessert, yummy!

Naturally as this is a great vineyard there are wines to accompany the many delicacies. Twelve of them! The delicious organic wines include three sorts of sparkling wines, three dry whites, three rich reds and even dessert wines. Naturally we taste Augusto’s amazing Sangiovese honored at the expo and the ambrosia-like Albana late harvest loved by the Empress Galla Placidia.

It’s time for a walk and no better place than the close by lovely old hilltop walled city of Dozza with its massive castle created by Caterina Sforza over 600 years ago. Dozza has another attribute - every two years it is used as artist’s canvasses as invited painters turn up from all over Italy to paint murals on its house’s walls. It’s a fabulous art walk for everybody before we drive on to the next welcome.

In an hour or so we arrive at the Alloggio San Girolamo - a 18th century country house with an amazing view. Here Filippo welcomes us in perfect English and introduces us to the main man - his 2 year old son Diego, followed by Otto the dog two miscellaneous friendly cats and thence to the supremely comfortable bedrooms. A good sleep is on the way but not just yet! Time for an aperitif on the terrace before a stroll up to Longiano’s castle and the Dei Cantoni restaurant.

Food and wine again? Yes, naturally, but just a light welcome dinner tonight!

Danilo and Teresa who run the restaurant greet us with their daughter Sabrina. They are proud of their reputation as a Michelin awarded establishment and have put on a light but delicious dinner. It includes lots of tasty finger-food, tarts made with soft cheeses, piquant warm salads with mushrooms and fresh vegetables, their famous warm Piedina flatbreads, a few grilled meats and plenty of their own wines. Naturally we enjoy an array of delicate desserts. Home to bed for sweet dreams scented with country herbs.

You have to get up early to make the most of Ottavia’s breakfast. Philippo’s mum makes all the cakes from a fruity applecake to a delicious chocolate cake made of ground almonds to a superb marscapone cheesecake. She also makes a mean yoghurt. Everything is organic. Naturally there are eggs and fruit and the rest plus great coffee and tea. Time for a walk.

Well, more precisely a tour of Longiano. We start with the tiny ornate jewel box theatre. With just 400 seats, it’s big enough to fulfil the village’s needs and the unique raising floor is used to make the theatre into a dance hall cum local festival venue. Now its known as one of the best in Italy for acoustics and many big tours start here. When the Jazz Club is held seats get taken out and are replaced by tables and chairs.

We find out that Longiano has many claims to fame including once as a pilgrimage site with over seventeen churches. Now it’s just a lovely place to live with a sensational castle cum modern art center which we’ll visit later.

But first something quite special - the museum of the territory. More precisely the housing place for attics full of local people’s treasures since 1945. Can you imagine? Farm machinery, Vespas and Lambrettas, pictures and films, household items, games, old furniture - everything! It’s difficult to drag ourselves away but the soaring historic medieval castle beckons. Beautiful castle, magnificent artworks astonishing views. Time for wine.

On the other side of the valley Mauro, his wife Manuela and their daughter Beatrice have been preparing for us! When we arrive in their biodynamic, organic vineyard with amazing views of the castle Mauro gives us a tour of his pride and joy - the vineyard the family together created from scratch. Mauro’s enthusiasm shines through his enthusiastic English so daughter Beatrice and our own Tamara (from another vineyard family) translate.

Now to Manuela’s pride and joy - her kitchen. Here she has created something very special for us to eat with the family’s wines. To start she has made Piadina with Squaquerone and Savor. Her Piadina flatbread has been made with her own special wheat, hand ground. Her Squaquerone fresh cream cheese has come this morning from a local farm but her Savor has taken her much longer to create - for days Manuela works with quarts of the vineyard’s grape must, stirring in apples, quinces, walnuts, figs, almonds and many other delicious fruits of the vineyard boiling it all down to make a sensational condiment - just right for Squaquerone.

With this we drink a very special dry white wine - Serenara created from the forgotten local grape - Famoso.

This morning Manuela has been in the property’s fields choosing and picking great bunches of the best wild herbs for her purpose. They are perfect and truly health-giving, never having seen chemicals - she reduces them down to be an amazingly tasty filling for a Piadina sandwich, which is on a platter with other delicacies. We try Mora Romagnolo local rare breed prosciutto, ditto salami, and a range of cheeses from Renato Brancaleoni the cheese affinateur just down the beautiful road. Renato has provided a tasty pit-aged cheese, a sharp local cheese aged in raspberry and a great goat’s cheese.

With this we drink a sensational Primo Segno - the family’s great Sangiovese wine with four Sangiovese type of grapes in it. Awe-inspiring.

Of course we can’t go without tasting Manuela’s light airy and eggy Ciambella cake with our espresso.

Another little walk is called for, so off we drive over the pretty hills to Santarcangelo di Romagna, a lovely country city with its own cathedral and a massive history.

Since pre Etruscan times Santarcangelo has graced the summit of Mount Jovis a rabbit-warren of catacombs now used for storing wine - very apt for a Slow Food city that dotes on great cooking, eating and drinking. And its cobbled streets and terraces provide a lovely relaxing stroll all the way to the gelateria. One can imagine how good this is - just think almond gelato with a thick layer of velvety pistacchio cream. And that’s only one flavour of the dozens of flavours on offer.

Culture shock is the order for the rest of the afternoon - compliments of the Mutoid Waste Company. On the banks of the Marecchia river the Mutoids have set up their camp. Complete with sculptures made out of cars and planes Mutonia is sensational.

Danilo and lovely efficient Susanna are waiting for us for a bigger dinner tonight at Dei Cantoni. We start with just a few bruschetta with lovely tasty toppings mushrooms tomatoes anchovies. Then we try an important local pasta - Passatelli. This very local delicacy is made of breadcrumbs mixed with parmesan nutmeg and lemon bound with an egg and then squeezed in strips into a wonderful rich broth. Adorable! The main course is a selection of roast and stuffed guinea fowl, pork and rabbit with a freshly picked salad and roast potatoes. Naturally there is a selection of desserts with coffee - and we have enjoyed the house Sangiovese throughout.

And so to bed.

After the usual superb breakfast created by Ottavia and the enjoyment of being in a warm active family setting we’re off to see a really ancient activity.

Pascucci moved into their new premises in 1826 and carried on their ancient craft of coloring and printing adorable textiles by hand just like they always have. The best designers and artists vye with each other to create the ultimate in hand-printed materials. We were lucky to see the whole process at work. Whimsical designs abound - this is the ultimate in soft furnishing!

To prepare ourselves for the two big events of the day we take a walk along the fishing port. Not your usual fishing port but one assayed by Leonardo da Vinci no less. With its Venetian architecture, ancient ships and sails and mirror-glass harbour Cesenatico is resplendant. The duo of Cesare (Borgia) and Leonardo have come up with a masterpiece again.

And a masterpiece of a different kind is our lunch. We are eating at La Casina agriturismo restaurant where Valentina Valentini greets us. All the surrounding land is owned by the Valentini family and it is these fertile acres that provide our enormous lunch.

First a great platter is brought to the table - wonderful cuts of different dried meats from their own herds, delicious bruschettas and sublime cheeses - all Valentini produce.

Naturally by now the table is laden with Valentini produced wines.

And then three types of their own hand created pastas were brought to the table - Tagliatelli with their own special meat sauce, Capelletti stuffed with cream cheese and covered with thyme and crispy prosciutto and Strozzapreti with spinach and a nutty vegetable sauce. Yummy!

We make a good impression on the pastas but there is more to come. The main course is the family speciality - their own perfectly grilled meats, a massive plate of them with sensationally delicious roast potatoes and an array of grilled vegetables.

Nearly over... just a selection of desserts to come followed by coffee and the family-produced ‘Digestivos’ Limoncello, Liquirizia and Banane!

It’s time for a walk so we’re off to meet Cinzia in Ravenna. Cinzia’s speciality is time-travelling and no sooner have we joined her in Theodoric’s imperial complex than she’s taken us back over 1500 years. We see staggeringly old but new-looking mosaics in the basilica of Sant Apolinare Nuovo. Then in the equally old Saint Francis complex we see more stunning mosaics and meet Dante the father of Italian literature in a more modern era (his bones were buried here in 1321).

Back in time again as we visit the church built to emulate Istanbul’s Aghia Sofia - this is imperial Rome’s San Vitale basilica built by Emperor Justinian in his western capital - Ravenna. It is truly sensational - particularly the amazingly lifelike mosaics.

Now for the place that inspired great human beings from Carl Jung to Lord Byron to Gianni Versacce - the unbelievably tear-jerkingly beautiful mausoleum of Empress Galla Placidia. It even inspired Cole Porter to write Night and Day.

It’s not possible to describe the mosaics here or their effect. It is simply momentous. No wonder it is a world heritage treasure.

Time for a gelato before we make our way back to our Italian country house and Filippo, Lisa and the family.

Our last day was a hard work with plenty of laughs and hugs day. We visited the home town foundation of the father of Italian cooking Pellegrino Artusi.

Here a former convent with a stunning chapel have been made into a real cathedral to good food and drink. And it is here that we are to learn to make pasta from its basic raw materials - flour and eggs. To assist us we have a very big rolling pin, a knife and a Mariette (a local mother well-versed in pasta making and trained by Artusi).

In the end we are all successes - we’ve made 17 different types of pasta each and have got a certificate to prove it. Plus we’ve had a massive amount of fun and we’ve learnt a new skill.

But how to celebrate? Why not a double celebration? First a lunch in Casa Artusi’s celebrated restaurant, followed by a wine tasting at another wonderful vineyard.

The lunch started with a red cabbage soup of a glorious red, followed by a duo of delicious pastas, followed by a plate of the most beautifully cooked local seasonal vegetables. All, of course paired with great wines from a local vineyard and followed by astonishing desserts.

And our second treat - a great winetasting in the beautiful historic vineyard where our lunch wines came from. Fattoria Paradiso was created around a medieval gentleman’s estate and is truly beautiful -all a vineyard should be. We take a walk among the peacocks, a visit to the fabulous wine collection in the cellar and then taste a dozen wines. The wines are very very good. Here wines are created for presidents, popes and movie stars. Notable clients include Danny Kaye, Ronald Reagan and Pope John - and, of course, us!

Naturally we have a celebratory dinner and the next day after a lovely sleep - we say our goodbyes - particularly to Diego and Otto!

Many thanks to our lovely travel agents who joined us on days of exploration - we ran three small trips this spring with a maximum of four travel agents on each. So thanks to Nancy Moody and Melanie Loomis, Carolyn Penny and Dixie McCoulsky; Lesa and Darryl Whited and Verena and Ken Wilson; Dale Strong, Joanne and Michael Shaw.

Did we all enjoy amazing sights and scenes and meals? Yes!
Did we all see many groups of tourists? No! Did we stand in line? No
Did we all have an experience that was kindly and warm hearted? Yes!
Would we all do it all again? DEFINITELY!

You could come on a FAM trip like this too! Find out more HERE

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FOLLOW THE CHRISTMAS STAR for traditional festive fun, food and wine in Romagna and Florence

4/20/2018

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Book with these professional US travel agents that have been there, seen it, tasted it LOVED IT! CLICK HERE TO SEE WHERE THEY ARE AND HOW YOU CAN CONNECT WITH THEM

Checking it out!

Make 2018 a truly, truly magical Festive Season – in the Heart of Italy!
PUT CHRISTMAS BACK INTO CHRISTMAS - FOLLOW THE CHRISTMAS STAR TO ROMAGNA

Experience Romagna’s Advent - a massive, glorious, joyous festive feast
9 day holiday from just $2,500
Starts Bologna 30 November; 7 and 14 December 2018

All along the Romagna coast, and up in the hills, historic townships vie with each other to create the most outstanding traditional (and non-traditional) Nativity scenes and Christmas Markets. It’s a Christmas experience of a lifetime.

Duty-free mountain top shopping, wonderful Christmas entertainment and nativity scenes everywhere make a heart-warming festive feast to see, to hear, to taste, to savour and to save!

Land at in Rome or Milan or Venice, we can arrange your travel to Bologna to begin your experience in the beautiful, legendary land safely nestling between the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic sea

Included Highlights

Real Christmas food & wine, culture and wellbeing holiday in undiscovered, untouristy, hassle-free Romagna.
A day to Christmassy RENAISSANCE FLORENCE by scenic train
Exploring Christmassy BOLOGNA
Fabulous Christmas Festival in ancient UNESCO republic SAN MARINO
Back in time with miraculous mosaics in BYZANTINE RAVENNA
Learn to cook Christmas Italian in a TOP COOKERY CLASS
Taste: VINEYARD WINE TASTINGS/OLIVE OIL/SUPERB LOCAL FOODS
Warm friendly ITALIAN COUNTRY HOUSE – YOUR HOME FOR A WEEK
Comfortable personal travel in a SMALL GROUP
Every meal a delicious festive culinary experience GREAT MEALS WITH WINE
The 12 Tastes of Christmas and more!

Price Includes:

1 night lovely city center hotel Bologna
7 nights accommodation with breakfasts in a lovely Italian Country house
7 superb festive dinners or lunches with wine/soft drinks
3 fabulous vineyard wine tastings
Tastings of local breads, prosciuttos, salamis, cheeses and olive oils
Top cookery class with festive specialties
Visits to Florence, Bologna, San Marino, Ravenna, Rimini, Santarcangelo
Amazing authentic local Christmas markets and artisan outlet shopping
Hosted by knowledgeable, lovely locals throughout

All designed as a natural life-enhancing festive experience.
Plus: 'Introduction to the Best of Romagna' Pre-tour information, Welcome pack
JUST $2,500 per person (single room supplement $500)

And... on the top of Mount Titano, soaring above the Adriatic coast, are the ramparts of an unique World Heritage Site - the tiny, atmospheric Republic of San Marino. And a truly amazing array of Christmas treats.

Called "The Christmas of Marvels" - San Marino creates possibly the most magical Christmastime event in the world. Naturally there is an ice-skating rink; naturally Santa Claus sets up his village (with lots of Elf helpers) to help lots of kiddies - of all ages - make Christmas delicacies and wrap presents; naturally there is a beautiful Nativity scene, naturally there are traditional carol concerts in the atmospheric churches, naturally there is a vast array of duty-free and branded outlet shopping in the pretty boutiques; naturally there are Christmas shops with a vast array of Christmas goods from decorations to cuckoo clocks to electronic Santas - everything… and naturally there is a fabulous local Christmas Market.

Christmas music, Christmas lights, stalls selling hot Christmas drinks and sweet Christmas confections, plus the aromas and sounds of Christmastime everywhere... And when guests are happily tired of soaking up Christmas and shopping up bargains and return to the plain, there are yet more traditional treats in store.

Here in Romagna you'll see the Holy Family up on hilltops, inside castle cloisters, on beaches and in harbours - made of simply every material you can imagine - and often animated, both acted and mechanical. Here in Romagna Christmas is not Christmas without a Nativity Scene and pretty much every Nativity Scene has its own little Christmas Market, where you can buy Christmas presents and stock up on Christmas delicacies, decorations and other delights!

So, in the historic Leonardo da Vinci - designed sea harbour of Cesenatico, you'll see ancient ships with Nativity Scenes on each; in the historic Pope's salt-port of Cervia, you'll see harbour-side and beachside Nativity Scenes; in the hilltop vine-coated wine and olive oil townships of Bertinoro, Brisighella and Longiano you have hilltop and castle court Nativity Scenes. And in the important cities such as Cesena and Forli, Rimini and Ravenna you'll see massive acted Nativities in the historic centers.

For a wall-to-wall total immersion traditional, authentic Christmas feast - Romagna has got it all!

Why not enjoy it to the full and treat yourself to a warm Italian festive event of a lifetime...

CHECKING IT OUT

Book with these professional US travel agents that have been there, seen it, tasted it LOVED IT! CLICK HERE TO SEE WHERE THEY ARE AND HOW YOU CAN CONNECT WITH THEM

Day 1 Friday - Chrismassy, Foodie, Bologna
Chill out, rest, relax and enjoy fabulous Bologna
Arrival Christmassy Bologna . Depending on arrival time there will be an opportunity for an early evening walking tour of the lights in this colorful medieval city. One of Italy's richest cities, Bologna is famous for its 3,000 year history, its world's oldest university, its miles of covered arcades and lovely squares, fabulous art and architecture - but above all, its FOOD and FUN. We’ll stay overnight in a specially-selected 3 or 4 star city-center hotel such as the family-run Touring Hotel with its warm atmosphere, lovely breakfast and sensational rooftop terrace with panoramic view of Bologna. If time allows why not make a visit to Bologna’s new attraction: FICO – The Food Megapark

Day 2 Saturday - Welcome to the Christmas Feast
Taste exquisite food and tour Bologna, taste great wine in a super organic vineyard, see the 'Painted City', stay in your country house, eat welcome dinner in a superb Michelin restaurant

Bologna is a food city that awakes early so we’ll start the day with a breakfast-time tour and avoid the crowds of day trippers! It’s not for nothing that Bologna is known as ‘Fat City’ It is the food capital of Italy (and therefore the world?!) The ancient Mercato di Mezzo and the food shops, café’s and restaurants around it, all in the medieval quarter, are astonishing homes to intoxicating taste, scent and aroma which pervades the whole area and heightens appetites. Naturally our full-on guided visit will include many tastes!

Next our eyes will feast on the best of this rich, fabulous city including the Piazza Maggiore, the, Podestà Palace, Neptune’s Fountain, King Enzo’s Palace. We’ll admire the enormous Basilica of Saint Petronio. We’ll see Bologna’s gothic Merchants’ Palace, the Seven Churches complex of Saint Steven’s Basilica, and meet Asinelli and Garisenda, Bologna’s famous leaning Towers. After a very full morning, around midday we'll leave Bologna towards the country on the historic Via Emilia to Romagna.

First stop is a visit to the superb, internationally-rated organic Zuffa Vineyard and take a wine tasting in the open air, between vines. After this delightful visit, we will see the painted city of Dozza with its fabulous castle and wine heritage. Then, we'll take the short journey to the hilltop castle-town of Longiano for dinner and overnight at Alloggio San Girolamo (or a similar high grade country-house style accommodation) and enjoy the atmosphere and stunning views. Then another taste of great Romagnolo food and wine - a special festive welcome dinner at the Ristorante Dei Cantoni.

Day 3 Sunday - Enjoying the Christmas Tastes of Romagna
Tour beautiful, Nativity-strewn Longiano, taste superb wines and local produce in a stunning biodynamic boutique vineyard, experience glorious mountaintop Christmas Republic!

After a relaxed home-cooked breakfast, we'll take a short tour of lovely Longiano, to put us in the Christmas spirit we’ll tour the amazing nativity scenes seeing the fabulous medieval castle with its extraordinary views, then enjoying the fabulous jewel-box theatre Petrella with its museum of masks. Next a fabulous wine and food tasting at the beautiful Villa Venti where we'll also taste some superb cheeses of Renato Brancaleoni..

Off then to San Marino for a truly fabulous Christmas celebration - The "Christmas of Marvels" - San Marino creates possibly the most magical Christmastime event in the world. Naturally there is an ice-skating rink; naturally Santa Claus sets up his village (with lots of Elf helpers) to help lots of kiddies - of all ages - make Christmas delicacies and wrap presents; naturally there is a beautiful Nativity scene, naturally there are traditional carol concerts in the atmospheric churches, naturally there is a vast array of duty-free and branded outlet shopping in the pretty boutiques; naturally there are Christmas shops with a vast array of Christmas goods from decorations to cuckoo clocks to electronic Santas - everything… and naturally there is a fabulous local Christmas Market.
Return to Longiano late at night.

Day 4 Monday - Mosaics and da Vinci's seaside
Walk in da Vinci's Cesenatico seaport all set up for Christmas, enjoy an enormous robust country lunch, tour 3 times capital World Heritage Ravenna with its 1500 year old basilicas and mosaics.

After breakfast we'll visit glorious Ravenna with Cinzia . . All dressed up in its Christmas best - this world heritage city, three times capital (of the Western Roman Empire, of Theodoric King of the Goths, and of the Byzantine Empire) is full of marvelous mosaics and stunning 1500 year old basilicas. Then we’ll have a great country Christmas lunch at a glorious Agriturismo. After we’re off to Christmas by the sea - Cesenatico for a stroll in its delightful Venetian-style port, designed by Leonardo da Vinci for his patron Cesare Borgia. With its amazing lights all over the port – Christmas in Cesenatico is something really, really memorable.

Day 5 Tuesday – 11 December Cooking Day – learn to cook Italian Christmas
Learn to cook Italian Christmas in the 'Best Cookery School in Italy' enjoy superb wines in an ancient vineyard taste olive oil in a 500 year old Olive Grove

Depart after breakfast for a really special event! Ever wanted to learn to cook REAL Italian Christmas? Casa Artusi "The Best Cookery School in Italy" is the place. In this foundation created to honor Pellegrino Artusi, the father of Italian Cookery - you will learn to make at least seven different sorts of pasta (including local specialties). In the fully-equipped cookery school, each participant will have the services of an assistant and their own work-station. After this life-enhancing experience we will enjoy a superb lunch of local Christmas specialties – plus the pasta that we have created. At the end of the session, we’ll have presented to us, our hand-made Casa Artusi apron together with our certificate for concluding the cookery course. Without any doubt, this will be the highlight of our trip!

After lunch, we’ll visit the close-by historic vineyard – Fattoria Paradiso – in an even more historic setting vineyard hillside Bertinoro.

On our way back to Longiano we'll visit the 500 year old Olive Grove at Locanda della Luna and enjoy a taste of olives and olive oil presented by the 17th generation of the owning Turchi family. Return to Longiano for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 Wednesday - Romagna’s historic Christmas settings
See a great Roman 'New City' and one of Italy's most beautiful squares - all done up for Christmas. Enjoy another superb dinner.

The morning is free to relax and enjoy our surroundings. In the afternoon, we’ll take a tour to see two fabulous art cities with their historic Christmasses on the via Emilia. We’ll visit Roman Rimini, built in classical Roman style 2,000 years ago – and with an enormous Christmas market, we’ll enjoy serene Cesena with its 600 year old library and lovely square and castle with its lovely lights and Christmas specialties.
Dinner and overnight in Longiano.

Day 7 Thursday - Florence’s Renaissance Christmas
Enjoy fab Florence, a spectacular train ride and an extraordinarily good dinner.

Today we’ll start with a glorious scenic experience. We’ll leave very early and drive to Faenza to take the little train to the heart of Florence. Starting from Faenza the little train climbs up the hills, crossing little medieval towns such as Brisighella (famous for its superb olive oil), Marradi (famous or its ancient sweet chestnut trees, being of the highest quality), Borgo San Lorenzo (with its age-old vineyards and olive groves, thousand-year-old churches, ancient farmhouses and geometrically laid out vegetable gardens) and goes along wild landscapes with stunning forests, streams and rivers - the best experience you can get travelling to Florence.

Christmas in the glittering capital of Tuscany is a real experience. Amazing lights, markets, food and wine – superb aromas are everywhere. In the birthplace of the Medicis and the Renaissance, after this scenic journey, there will be the possibility to get a brunch or lunch at the Christmas decorated foodie Central Market and take a stroll through this beautiful city of art. We’ll have time to see the Pitti Palace, the Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizzi, the Ponte Vecchio, the lovely Boboli Gardens, and the panoramic Belvedere all in their Christmas best, amongst much, much more.

We’ll leave Florence in the early evening for our return journey to Faenza. A special festive dinner will be arranged at the fabulous new Spadoni restaurant – a homage to the best in Romagna food and drink and thence to Longiano for overnight.

Day 8 Friday - Shopping, Hills and Castles,
Christmas shopping for some truly amazing artisan presents that will amaze and delight your friends and family. And a truly wonderful dinner-with-a-view.

First stop today is the ancient artisan print works of Pascucci where they still create Christmas designs, make wooden blocks and their traditional dyes, and have printed wonderful materials since 1826. Here we'll take a tour of the works and have an opportunity to purchase at outlet prices. Then we’re off to the hills visiting fairytale Sant Agata Feltria and stunning San Leo with its fortress and cathedral. Tonight we’ll take a superb festive dinner with a scenic view in Verucchio at the Rocca restaurant then return to Longiano for a restful overnight.

Day 9 Saturday - Homeward Bound or?
Return to Bologna OR why not stay a little longer in Paradise?

COST PER PERSON $2500 (SEE WHAT'S INCLUDED ABOVE)
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT $500

Book with these professional US travel agents that have been there, seen it, tasted it LOVED IT! CLICK HERE TO SEE WHERE THEY ARE AND HOW YOU CAN CONNECT WITH THEM

See a little more about Romagna with our video about Longiano, our video about wine tastings, our video about Ravenna and Cesenatico and our video about Casa Artusi and Fattoria Paradiso

Want to know more contact us:
M: +44 7710 173005 Skype: valeretjolle Whatsapp: +44 7710 173005
E: welcome@bestofromagna.com W: http://www.bestofromagna.com F: http://www.facebook.com/bestofromagna

Please note: Deposit required $200 per person to reserve arrangement. Balance payable 10 weeks prior to arrival. Cancellation terms: Initial deposit only up to 8 weeks prior to departure. 90% from 8 weeks prior to departure. Important: ALL GROUP QUOTES ARE MADE ON THE BASIS OF A MINIMUM 10 PASSENGERS - REVISIONS TO PRICES UP TO 50% WILL BE EFFECTED IF GROUPS FALL BELOW THIS FIGURE.
Departures of the above itinerary are available on November 30th, December 7th, December 14th

About the Best of Romagna - read our story HERE

Book with a professional USA travel agent who has been to Romagna seen it, checked it out and will help you get the very best experience HERE

NOTE: Romagna away from the coast is a very un-touristy place. Unlike its near neighbors Tuscany and the Veneto, in Romagna foreign (particularly English-speaking) visitors are unusual. Here you will be treated as a guest - not a tourist!

So that you may enjoy your visit to the full, we run your experience not as a package tour but more like a group of friends having an adventure on a visit to a new and very special place. In this way we believe you will have a glorious, very different and natural experience. The fact is that Romagna’s wonderful hinterland has not become jaded by mass tourism – and we aim to keep it that way,

Everybody you will meet here is passionate about their homeland, its beauty and its enormous larder of local, seasonal food and wine. Everybody you will meet here is enormously proud of their history, culture and above all their diligent and heartfelt hospitality.

We sincerely believe that you will find treasure here in Romagna - treasure that can only come from open hearts with the willingness to share an unbelievably enormous heritage.

By the time you leave our aim is to help you, like us and all f our other guests to be passionate about Romagna and count the days ‘til you return!

W: http://www.bestofromagna.com
F: http://www.facebook.com/bestofromagna

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