Thursday, Sept 28

After breakfast go on 4th mushroom foray. Lunch in a local trattoria or agriturismo. In the afternoon visit an Asiago cheese factory (the cheese in this area which goes by the same name as the town is actually better known than the town itself). Sample some of the excellent cheeses made here. Dinner oyo.

Friday, Sept 29

After breakfast go on 5th mushroom foray. Lunch in a local trattoria or agriturismo. Afternoon activity to be decided.

Bassano del Grappa (4 nights)

Saturday, Sept 30

Transfer to new hotel. 6th mushroom foray en route. Lunch in local trattoria or agriturismo. Arrive to new venue in time to admire Bassano del Grappa that sits with all its charm on the banks of the River Brenta that winds its way from Alpine foothills. Spanning the river is Palladio's postcard perfect 1569 covered bridge. As fragile as the wooden structure seems, it is cleverly engineered to withstand the rush of spring meltwaters. Dinner oyo.

Sunday, Oct 1

After breakfast go on 7th mushroom foray. Have lunch in a local trattoria or agriturismo. Learn about four centuries of Bassano's fiery distillation at the interactive Grappa museum, and get the chance to tour a distillery and enjoy a grappa tasting at an esteemed producer. Dinner oyo.

Monday, Oct 2

After breakfast go on 8th mushroom foray. Have lunch in a local trattoria or agriturismo. In the afternoon visit the Museo Civico, beautifully housed around the cloisters of the San Francesco convent that houses an extensive archaeological collection alongside 500 paintings, including masterpieces from local artist Jacopo Bassano. Dinner oyo.

Tuesday, Oct 3

Tuesday, Oct 3

After breakfast visit Padua, its museums and churches hold their own in Italy's artistic big league. The city is home to a prestigious university (founded in 1222) that hosted Galileo, Copernicus and Dante. Walking through the colonnaded, old town center is like a time-travel experience. Padua's inviting squares are perfect for lingering over an aperitivo. Visit the 13th century Basilica of St Anthony, an impressive Romanesque/Gothic church with Byzantine-style domes and the glorious Scrovegni Chapel with Giotto's beautifully preserved early-14th century fresco cycle. After lunch have some free time to explore the town further before returning to Bassano. Dinner oyo.

Verona (3 nights)

Wednesday, Oct 4

After breakfast transfer to new hotel in Verona stopping in Vicenza en route. Visit Vicenza with its extraordinary collection of Palladian buildings, that marry sophistication and simplicity, classicism and innovation. Vicenza is more than just elegant porticoes and balustrades it's also a dynamic city with a modern vibe. Visit the extraordinary Teatro Olimpico a Renaissance marvel made to resemble a Roman amphitheatre, its stage a city view with streets built in steep perspective that seem to extend in the far away distance. Have lunch in town then stop to see The Rotunda, Palladio's most admired creation, inspiring imitations across Europe and the USA including Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Arrive in Verona in the late afternoon/early evening. Dinner oyo.
 

Thursday, Oct 5

After breakfast go on the first tour of this extraordinary city, home to Romeo and Juliet. See the pink-tinged marble 1st century AD Roman Arena, Piazza delle Erbe with its buzzing cafés and sumptuous buildings, Piazza dei Signori, Verona's beautiful open-air salon ringed by a series of elegant Renaissance palazzi, the 13th century St Anastasia Gothic church, with its exquisitely decorated vaulted ceiling, and the ornate Gothic funerary monuments of the Della Scala family. Lunch oyo and free afternoon. Have farewell dinner in a nice restaurant in the center of town.

Friday, Oct 6

After breakfast continue to explore Verona, the Romanesque Palazzo della Ragione, home to Verona's jewel-box Gallery of Modern Art, the Castelvecchio fortress and bridge, Ponte Pietra, the ancient Roman bridge, the 1st century BC Roman theater cunningly built into a hillside, and the sculpted Giusti gardens, considered a masterpiece of Renaissance landscaping graced with manicured boxwood hedges and soaring cypresses, walk to the top of the belvedere to get a wonderful view of this romantic city. Have lunch in town during our explorations. Dinner oyo.

Saturday, Oct 7

After breakfast departure from Verona-Villafranca international airport at an hour to be established once everyone’s flight schedules are in. We recommend you book a flight that departs around noon (11am – 1pm). We will only offer a limited amount of transfers to airport therefore if you remain within our suggested time slot you can avoid having to wait at the airport for a long time if your flight departs very late or having to reach hotel by your own means if your flight departs very early.