Welcome to our 2022 and fourth fabulous visit to Italy. Following our three previous and very successful programs, we are gear-ing up, post pandemic, for 2022. We’ll be including most of the highlights from past trips and have added some exciting new ad-ditions. Again, we’ll experience car manufacturers, museums, designers and, of course, incredible food. Highlighted are ex-traordinary days, including the ‘motor city’ of Turin, a 2-day Monaco visit, the classic sports car centers of Bologna, Modena and Marinello and the lake district of Garda and Como. Sandwiched in between are visits to manufacturers and showrooms like Lamborghini, Ferrari, Ducati, Maserati and naturally, Alfa Romeo. We are including some outstanding visits to private collec-tions. The hotels and locations mirror the quality of this program. We’ll be repeating visit to a couple of superb wineries and en-joying some of the finest lunches and dinners Italy has to offer. The timing of the tour allows us to be on hand for the wine har-vests and celebrations of the regions. We have extended the program by two days. This allows us to include two great days in Monaco, which in turn allows for an almost complete tour circle with no backtracking.
SEPT 30 Arrival in Milan and transfer from Milan’s Malpensa airport to Turin and the NH Lingotto Hotel (4star -2 nights). Upon our arrival, we have the opportunity to go onto the roof of the Lingotto, which was originally the test track for Fiat. Also, the fine art display of the Agnelli Art Gallery is bound to impress. Dinner tonight is at our hotel.
OCT 01 A morning visit to the Museo dell ‘Automobile Carlo Biscaretti di Ruffia’, one of the finest auto museums in all Europe. It houses the largest collection of historic cars in Italy. One of our special evenings is at a magnificent winery south of Turin in the Alba region. The short ride takes us through beautiful countryside. As this tour prides itself on the great food of Italy, we can safely predict you are going to be amazed. The effort and presentation of our appetizers, meal and accompanying prize winning wines is consistent with the finest restaurants of Europe.
OCT 02 We depart for Monaco, for a two day tour addition. Staying at the new Novotel Hotel (4 star-2 nights) overlooking-Monaco’s famous harbor. This afternoon a gathering with Alfa Romeo Owners and the Alfa distributor for Monaco/Nice. This even-ing our dinner is in Roquebrune, overlooking Monaco. This famous restaurant has been our Monaco ‘go to’ for twenty years.
OCT 03 A completely free day in Monaco allowing the opportunity to visit the Castle, home to HSH Prince Albert. Along-side is the cathedral and grave of Princess Grace. Naturally the shops are a big draw. A great hour is to visit the Café de Paris, enjoy an afternoon break and watch the comings and goings of the Casino (brilliant car watching). Steve and Cindy will be on hand to make sure you get a full day in this magical Principality.
OCT 04 Today we head back into Italy for Bologna and the 16th century ‘Il Portico’ hotel (4 star – 2 nights). Our journey takes us through the heart of Italy via Genoa, and over the coast mountain range into the rich pastures of Emiglia Romagna. This afternoon we visit the Maserati collection, housed on a Parmigiana dairy farm, dubbed the Cheese Factory. Dinner tonight at the hotel.
OCT 05 This morning a very short journey to the Lamborghini factory, which includes a visit to the museum and a factory tour. Then it’s on to Maranello and a visit to the Ferrari Galleria. There are some excellent Ferrari related shops in the small town. We allow plenty of time for discovery and shopping before heading to Modena and the Enzo Ferrari Museum. Alongside Enzo’s house and office is an excellent display of Italian sports cars plus a biography video displayed on a massif screen. Dinner this even-ing is at a classic ‘real’ Italian ristorante.
OCT 06 Our day starts with a factory tour of the Ducati factory, proven to be one of our most popular visits. This afternoon is one of our highlights. Our all time most popular lunch venue is a small family ‘trattoria’ in the Emilia Romagna countryside, where we might be lucky to get a pasta making demonstration. You will long remember this visit. A few, short steps from lunch is the private home of Mario Righini, who over his lifetime has gathered the most amazing collection of Italian cars. The Alfa Romeos give mute testament to his preferred marque. Later this afternoon we depart Modena and head north to Lake Garda and the Grand Hotel Gardone (4star – 3 nights). Dinner this evening is lakeside.
OCT 07 Today we visit the wine regions of Soave and Valpolicella. Soave is a dry white Italian wine from the Veneto region principally around the city of Verona. We’ll visit a vineyard to check out this year’s harvest before moving a short distance to Valpolicella and the Alegrini vineyards. A gorgeous setting with a 16th century ‘palezzio’ and garden. One of our great ‘finds’, a few years ago, was this little corner of paradise. We’ll have an in depth wine tasting before a truly memorable lunch. Our return to our Gar-done hotel is by the Lake Garda Navigation Ferries. A forty five minute crossing gives us opportunity to sit and relax while viewing this magnificent lake. No dinner is planned for this evening, there are some great little cafes and pizza shops right outside the hotel.
OCT 08 Our second relaxing day. We have no visits planned. Gardone and our hotel are great for laying back, enjoying the sun and recharging the batteries. The village has all amenities such as hair dressers, massage parlors and shops. A few yards from the hotel is a beautiful public garden. The Lake Navigation System allows for very inexpensive ferry visits to other lake destinations. This evening we have a special dinner and cocktail gathering in the hotel ballroom and terrace and includes live entertainment.
OCT 9 We depart one lake for another. We are heading for Lake Como and en route a particularly special visit to Arese and the Alfa Romeo Museum. We have a guided tour of the museum planned with plenty of time afterwards to visit the shop and café. Our hotel the Barchetta Excelsior (4 star – 2 nights) is city center, lakeside. Dinner this evening at the hotel.
OCT 10 This morning we board the slow lake steamer and cruise up Lake Como to Bellagio, stopping along the lake at a num-ber of villages. Another one of our great lunches is at the lakeside La Punta, peacefully hidden away from the crowds. After plenty of time to enjoy Bellagio our return is by fast boat to Como, allowing you time to visit the shops and enjoy the bustling town center.
OCT 11 We leave Como this morning and heading for Milan. One of our recent discoveries is the Lambretta Museum. Still a parts and service department, the owner has turned this scooter museum into the finest in Europe. His knowledge and obvious delight in his collection is self evident. At lunch yet another great find by one of our Alfisti. An Alfa dealer who has collected, over the years all the cars produced by Alfa Romeo. Very much involved with the annual Mille Miglia the owner has put together quite a collection. We are excited to join the company, who are providing lunch in the museum. Late in the afternoon we continue out to the Villa Malpensa (4 star – 1 night) and we’ll enjoy our final dinner at the hotel with lots of fun and surprises.
OCT 12 Departure day. Our hotel is just 2km from Malpensa airport and we’ll shuttle individually for each flight required. This should allow you same day connections out of Malpensa to the States and have you home on the same day.
The program is inclusive of all transportation, accommodations, visits and touring. All breakfasts are include, lunches and dinners as in itinerary. Arrival and Departure airport is Milan’s Malpensa Airport. The tour price does not include air transportation to or from Italy. Along with Cindy Banzer, Steve Austin will accompany the tour and act as organizer and guide. *Ladies! There are no side tours planned for individuals. However, there are two or three days where one can easily split from the group and enjoy a relaxing day at the hotel, shopping . . whatever.
TOUR DATE: September 30 – October 12, 2022 13 days
TOUR PRICE: $5,430 per person based on two to a room Single Room Supplement $1,450
DEPOSIT: $2,000 per person (fully refundable up to April 1, 2022)
FINAL BALANCE DUE: May 1, 2022
