Citalia partners with Gennaro Contaldo to unveil the ultimate Italy itinerary for Autumn
- Citalia’s new self-guided tour is curated by famed Italian chef and TV personality Gennaro Contaldo and includes his tips and culinary recommendations
- 25-day multi-centre itinerary takes in Venice, Lake Garda, Verona, Florence, Rome, Sorrento and Sicily
- Citalia has created Ultimate Italy to celebrate its 90th birthday in 2019
Citalia, the specialist Italian tour operator, has launched Ultimate Italy, a new self-guided tour curated with Gennaro Contaldo to celebrate its 90th birthday. The comprehensive 25-day multi-centre itinerary showcases the very best of what the country has to offer and takes guests through Italy’s must-see destinations and famous landmarks, experiencing the country like a local with the help of Gennaro’s tips for lesser-known spots and of course his recommendations for restaurants and local specialities along the way.
Gennaro says: “What I love about Italy is its wonderful diversity. It’s one of those destinations where you can enjoy a completely different experience from region to region, and season to season.
“Whether it’s the sweeping Tuscan landscapes showing off their spectacular colours, foraging for exquisite truffles in the countryside, or those stunning sea views on the Amalfi Coast once the main crowds have gone, for me, – especially as a foodie – the country is at its best in the autumn.”
The journey begins in style with an overnight journey from London to Venice on the unforgettable Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express train. Gennaro’s tip for Venice is to look for washing lines: “as soon as I spot laundry hanging outside balconies, I know I’ve hit a local residential area and these are usually the best to stop for a drink and cicchetti.”
Travelers can then experience the very best that Italy has to offer, continuing by local train to Lake Garda, Verona, Florence, Rome and Sorrento.
After experiencing the stunning Amalfi Coast, Citalia suggests flying to Sicily, discovering Palermo and Taormina. Here Gennaro recommends trying cannoli Siciliani, fried pastry tubes filled with ricotta and candied fruit; cassata, a decorated sponge with ricotta and marzipan; and pani ca’ meusa, a panino filled with veal spleen, cacciocavallo cheese and a squeeze of lemon.
Citalia offers a new 25-day self-guided Ultimate Italy tour priced from £7,877 per person. Overnight travel from London on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train is included as well as four- and five-star B&B accommodation, internal rail travel, private resort transfers in Venice, Sorrento, Palermo and Taormina, a domestic flight from Sorrento to Palermo and a one-way return flight to the UK.
The price also includes the following private tours: Venice & its islands, Doge’s Palace, a walking tour of Venice, Siena & San Gimignano, wine tasting in Chianti, archaeological wonders of Rome, Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s, Pompeii & Herculaneum, Mount Etna and Panarea & Stromboli.
For further information visit: https://www.citalia.com/holidays/italy/tours/ultimate-italy.
