La Dolce Vita Classic Car Journey to the Motor Valley of the Emilia Romagna and Tuscany
May 29 - June 6, 2025
Bologna, The Motor Valley of Modena,
Tuscany including the Chianti and Montalcino Wine Country
$14,924 per couple.
This is a small-group luxury tour is designed and priced for 3 couples,
led by our Tuscan Team Tour Director
Click here to see our beautiful driving tour video.
May 29 - June 6, 2025
Bologna, The Motor Valley of Modena,
Tuscany including the Chianti and Montalcino Wine Country
$14,924 per couple.
This is a small-group luxury tour is designed and priced for 3 couples,
led by our Tuscan Team Tour Director
Click here to see our beautiful driving tour video.
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Please join Che Bella's Tuscan Team for this wonderful adventure through Italy, or contact us to help you create your own independent travel experience in Italy with our Concierge Travel Services.
Suggested time to travel: May - October |
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Emilia Romagna
• 4 nights Bologna Tuscany • 2 nights at our Chianti Villa • 2 nights in our Montalcino Villa Post-Tour suggestion: • Florence • Rome |
DAY 1: THURS, MAY 29. ARRIVE BOLOGNA |
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Bienvenuti a Bologna!
Rooms are usually available after 2 pm, so your Tour Director will give you a walking orientation to the city and direct you to some great lunch choices.
The afternoon is yours to explore as everyone gets settled. We’ll then get together for passagiatta, or the evening walk.
Included Welcome Dinner.
Overnight in Bologna, 4 nights with included breakfast
Rooms are usually available after 2 pm, so your Tour Director will give you a walking orientation to the city and direct you to some great lunch choices.
The afternoon is yours to explore as everyone gets settled. We’ll then get together for passagiatta, or the evening walk.
Included Welcome Dinner.
Overnight in Bologna, 4 nights with included breakfast
DAY 2: FRI, MAY 30. THE MOTOR VALLEY - PART UN0 - AND A LITTLE BALSAMIC |
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You will begin your morning with a drive from Bologna TO Sant ’Agata, the home town of Lamborghini to tour The Official Lamborghini Museum and Store. Displayed are the cars they have made Lamborghini history from the sixties to today, including 350 GT (In 1963), Diablo, Miura (In 1966), Countach (In 1973), Espada, F1 Single-Seaters, Gallardo, Murciélago, Sesto Elemento, Reventón, Huracán and Aventador. You will finish your day at the Lamborghini Factory, one of the most advanced Manufacturing facilities in the world.
Included Balsamic tour, tasting and lunch.
After lunch, you will head to the Pagani Museum. This is where they produce the fastest car in the world, The Huayra. You will learn about the company’s founder, Horacio Pagani, with a tour of the Pagani Laboratory to see how the Zonda and Huayra are assembled.
This evening you are on your own to enjoy Bologna.
Overnight in Bologna
Included Balsamic tour, tasting and lunch.
After lunch, you will head to the Pagani Museum. This is where they produce the fastest car in the world, The Huayra. You will learn about the company’s founder, Horacio Pagani, with a tour of the Pagani Laboratory to see how the Zonda and Huayra are assembled.
This evening you are on your own to enjoy Bologna.
Overnight in Bologna
DAY 3: SAT, MAY 31. BOLOGNA MARKET TOUR AND COOKING LESSON |
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If Italy is food and food is Italy, Bologna in the Emilia-Romana is it’s culinary capitol. Striking medieval architecture, one of the oldest universities in the world -- and mama mia -- the food! Bologna has been nicknamed “La Grassa” or “The Fat.” The region is home to the most famous cured pork meats of Italy: prosciuttos, sausages, salamis and mortadella are raised from pigs raised freely on the slopes of the Apeninnes. The most renowned aged cheese on the planet, Parmigiano-Reggiano, is also found here. The Bolognese enjoy every variation of egg noodle; raviolis and tortellini are stuffed with pumpkin, chestnut, and roasted meats, served with rich sauces and ragu. Gifts of the orchards and gardens include rich asparagus, cherries, onions, chestnuts ... all accompanied by the local dry, slightly sparkling Lambrusco wine. Buonissimo!
Market Tour and Cooking Lesson. In Bologna, the making of fresh pasta — more than a dozen varieties of it — is approached with precision, almost a kind of reverence. This one-day cooking class combines a morning market visit followed by a hands-on cooking class. You’ll stroll the market and learn about the local fare, including tastings, and enjoy the electric atmosphere of the market streets, teaming with beautiful displays of fresh produce, cheeses and meats. You’re then on to the kitchen to get cooking, where you will prepare a full menu from antipasto to dessert.
Tonight is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Bologna is a city that comes alive at night, with its quiet streets on the outskirts leading to lively piazzas. Throughout the historic center, street lights illuminate every nook and cranny with glowing shades of orange and gold, and cast intriguing shadows that stir the imagination. Walk around and you’ll see practically everyone in the city is outside — socializing until late, dining even later, or arm in arm on a quiet evening stroll and see where the evening takes us.
Market Tour and Cooking Lesson. In Bologna, the making of fresh pasta — more than a dozen varieties of it — is approached with precision, almost a kind of reverence. This one-day cooking class combines a morning market visit followed by a hands-on cooking class. You’ll stroll the market and learn about the local fare, including tastings, and enjoy the electric atmosphere of the market streets, teaming with beautiful displays of fresh produce, cheeses and meats. You’re then on to the kitchen to get cooking, where you will prepare a full menu from antipasto to dessert.
Tonight is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Bologna is a city that comes alive at night, with its quiet streets on the outskirts leading to lively piazzas. Throughout the historic center, street lights illuminate every nook and cranny with glowing shades of orange and gold, and cast intriguing shadows that stir the imagination. Walk around and you’ll see practically everyone in the city is outside — socializing until late, dining even later, or arm in arm on a quiet evening stroll and see where the evening takes us.
DAY 4: SUN, JUNE 1. THE MOTOR VALLEY - PART DUE |
Today, you continue your journey of the holy trinity of high-end automotive art. It's the perfect way to get your geared up for your own driving tour.
You will begin the morning with a 1-hour drive from Bologna to Maranello to visit the Ferrari Museum. The Museum not only tells the story of Ferrari’s founding father but also showcases some of the most beautiful cars ever built. You’ll see the former workshop of Enzo Ferrari’s father which has been meticulously restored and now houses the Museum of Ferrari Engines, where visitors can see the Prancing Horse’s most experimental power units as well as the perfect engines that equip the track and road cars.
Please inquire about the OPTIONAL Ferrari Racing Car track driving experience.
You will then enjoy and included gourmet lunch with a 4 course menu and wine pairing.
After lunch, you will tour the Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari (MEF). This museum focuses on the life and work of Enzo Ferrari. The museum complex includes two separate buildings, a former house and workshop that belonged to Enzo Ferrari's father, and a new building that houses a permanent exhibition displaying some of the most noteworthy Ferrari automobiles, including rare cars of the 1950s, Formula One race cars and more recent sports cars.
Tonight is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Overnight in Bologna
You will begin the morning with a 1-hour drive from Bologna to Maranello to visit the Ferrari Museum. The Museum not only tells the story of Ferrari’s founding father but also showcases some of the most beautiful cars ever built. You’ll see the former workshop of Enzo Ferrari’s father which has been meticulously restored and now houses the Museum of Ferrari Engines, where visitors can see the Prancing Horse’s most experimental power units as well as the perfect engines that equip the track and road cars.
Please inquire about the OPTIONAL Ferrari Racing Car track driving experience.
You will then enjoy and included gourmet lunch with a 4 course menu and wine pairing.
After lunch, you will tour the Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari (MEF). This museum focuses on the life and work of Enzo Ferrari. The museum complex includes two separate buildings, a former house and workshop that belonged to Enzo Ferrari's father, and a new building that houses a permanent exhibition displaying some of the most noteworthy Ferrari automobiles, including rare cars of the 1950s, Formula One race cars and more recent sports cars.
Tonight is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Overnight in Bologna
DAY 5: MON, JUNE 2. |
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Today you are on to Tuscany. Our historic villa, nestled amidst rolling hills and vineyards, sets the stage for your unforgettable adventure.
“Il dolce far nient" is a wonderful Italian expression which translates as “the sweetness of doing nothing.” The art of doing nothing — and doing it well — is what vacation is all about. Enjoy the afternoon relaxing. Lounge by the pool. Our villa is in the hills of Tuscany near Poggibonsi. It’s a beautiful location with a swimming pool and beautiful views. Breakfast is included in your price. And since it is a vineyard ... wine is plentiful!
We’ll enjoy a winetasting of the villa’s wine and olive oil with our included al Fresco dinner.
Overnight at the Chianti villa, 1 night.
“Il dolce far nient" is a wonderful Italian expression which translates as “the sweetness of doing nothing.” The art of doing nothing — and doing it well — is what vacation is all about. Enjoy the afternoon relaxing. Lounge by the pool. Our villa is in the hills of Tuscany near Poggibonsi. It’s a beautiful location with a swimming pool and beautiful views. Breakfast is included in your price. And since it is a vineyard ... wine is plentiful!
We’ll enjoy a winetasting of the villa’s wine and olive oil with our included al Fresco dinner.
Overnight at the Chianti villa, 1 night.
DAY 6: TUES, JUNE 3. |
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Today your romantic driving adventure begins! After breakfast, hop into your vintage convertible and set out for a captivating drive through the colorful landscapes of Siena. There, you will enjoy a city tour and time for lunch and leisure before we are back in our cars, winding through charming medieval villages, traverse cypress-lined roads, and discover hidden gems along the way.
Tonight: Your journey culminates with an overnight stay in the picturesque town of Montalcino, a small walled town that is perched on top of a hill in Val d’Orcia and the home of the famous wine called Brunello. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a haven of natural beauty and tranquility.
Included dinner and wine pairing at the villa.
Overnight at the Montalcino villa, 2 nights
Tonight: Your journey culminates with an overnight stay in the picturesque town of Montalcino, a small walled town that is perched on top of a hill in Val d’Orcia and the home of the famous wine called Brunello. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a haven of natural beauty and tranquility.
Included dinner and wine pairing at the villa.
Overnight at the Montalcino villa, 2 nights
DAY 7: WED, JUNE 4. |
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Your journey continues through the Idyllic Hills of Val d’Orcia and Pienza. Your route leads you to the famous town of Pienza, known for its Renaissance architecture and delectable pecorino cheese. It's one of the prettiest little towns in Italy and the perfect ending for those of us who love history, architecture and food. The city wall offers a wonderful walk around the perimeter of the town. Explore the quaint streets with their colorful flower boxes, browse the high-end shops, walk the city wall and create cherished memories against the backdrop of rolling hills and historic charm.
Dinner is on your own tonight at the villa.
Overnight at the Montalcino villa, 2 nights.
Dinner is on your own tonight at the villa.
Overnight at the Montalcino villa, 2 nights.
DAY 8: THURS, JUNE 5. DRIVING THE CHIANTI WINE COUNTRY |
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Your journey continues as you drive through the enchanting landscapes of the “Chiantishire.” Immerse yourselves in the heart of Tuscany’s wine country with a private tour of historic cellars. Learn about the art of winema-king and indulge in exclusive wine tastings, savoring the flavors of Chianti Classico. Immerse yourself in the rich wine culture of Tuscany, visit little towns and drive to the end of your adventure.
Farewell Dinner and wine pairing at the villa.
Overnight back at your Chianti villa
Farewell Dinner and wine pairing at the villa.
Overnight back at your Chianti villa
DAY 9: FRI, JUNE 6. |
Included transfers to the Florence.
Airport for flights out or on to your Post-Tour Excursions.
Suggested: Florence
Florence is one of the most preserved Renaissance cities in the world. Boasting over 40% of the world’s great masterpieces, the city is considered the art capital of Italy. The city is compact and walking is definitely the best way to see it.
Airport for flights out or on to your Post-Tour Excursions.
Suggested: Florence
Florence is one of the most preserved Renaissance cities in the world. Boasting over 40% of the world’s great masterpieces, the city is considered the art capital of Italy. The city is compact and walking is definitely the best way to see it.
OTHER POST-TOUR OPTIONS |
post-tour OPTION in rome
Day 1. “Tutte e strade portano a Roma” – “All Roads lead to Rome.” Rome is one of the most beautiful, exciting cities in the world. Today’s Rome is a combination of romance, relics and ruins amidst a modern, sprawling, living city. Medieval churches sit atop ancient basilicas above Roman palaces. Gleaming office buildings incorporate fragments of eroded Roman columns. Roads and piazzas follow the lines of ancient city walls. Rome’s history began over 2000 years ago, far before the time of Jesus Christ. It was the capital of the Roman Empire and is still the capital of Italy. We’ll arrive in Rome in the late afternoon and check in to our hotel, located right in the historic centre of Rome. It’s walking distance from all the major sites and serves breakfast right at the foot of the Pantheon.
Tonight we’ll take a walking orientation enroute to included dinner.
Day 2. This morning your guide will pick you up at your hotel to enjoy a private tour of Ancient Rome, including the Capitoline, Forum and Colosseum. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
In that area after the tour, you might want to think about:
• Visiting the Wedding Cake (Tomb of Victor Emmanuel) and go up the elevator for a great view of Ancient Rome, then go next door to the Capitoline Museum which is really good. Then go over and see Michelangelo’s Moses at St. Peter’s in Chains.
• San Clemente, a church where you can walk down various levels to view centuries of archaeological finds.
• Stroll up Via del Corso and do some shopping and finish at the Spanish Steps. The Spanish Steps are crowded, and are ... steps, but a good afternoon destination for gelato and people watching. This is also at the top of a major shopping district in Rome - Via Condotti.
• Walking along the Tiber and then visiting the synagogue at the ghetto, or Jewish Quarter. There is a whole lively street of great restaurant choices. Not to be missed: The Jewish Artichoke! This local treat dates back to Imperial times, when the Roman Jewish community numbered about 50,000. They look like golden sunflowers and their leaves have a delicious nutty crunchiness. You can also visit the synagogue after lunch. You don’t need advanced reservations, but can go get tickets before lunch for an afternoon tour.
Day 3. This morning we enjoy a private tour of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s square.
This afternoon you can:
• Stay in the Vatican area for lunch and then stroll down to the Castle of the Angels. It’s a lovely museum with great views of Rome.
• Take a taxi to the orange grove to peek through the keyhole to see a cool view of St. Peter’s dome. Ask your guide for details.
• Dig a Little Deeper with our optional Rome excursions listed above
Tonight: Included Farewell Dinner
Dig a Little Deeper private optional tour excursions:
Before and After-Hours VIP Tours to the Vatican and St. Peter's. Che Bella is now offering off-hour tours, away from the heat of the day and the crowds of the general public.
Opera at the Baths of Caracalla. Formerly public baths for Romans and later enhanced with libraries, the Baths of Caracalla date back around 212-217 AD. the Baths of Caracalla today serve as the perfect backdrop for enjoying an opera. Not only does this outdoor theater offer marvelous acoustics, but there are also stunning lightshows projected onto the Baths’ ruins that accompany and enhance all operatic performances. Every summer, the Baths of Caracalla host a selection of operas from the Teatro dell’Opera. Beginning promptly at 9:00pm, these evening performances are all set in the outdoor theater, Teatro alle Terme di Caracalla. With English and Italian subtitles provided, tickets range from €25 to €100. Please inquire about the performance schedule.
Underground Rome Tour. Every time I'm in Rome, I see new diggings. Be it for the new metro line, a shopping mall or sewage pipes, a new piece of underground Rome is excavated, examined and cataloged. There is a whole world to discover beneath Rome's surface. This tour Peel back Rome's layers of history with visits to three of Rome's eeriest sights: the Capuchin Crypt, the Prscilla Catacombs and the Basilica of San Clemente.
Trastavere Foodie Tour. We came! We saw! We ate! Trastevere is a neighbourhood like no other. Its ivy-coated, cobblestone streets come alive at night, earning it comparisons to Greenwich Village and Paris’s Left Bank. It’s where Romans choose to eat with their families on a Sunday and where young Romans go for buzzing nightlife at evenings and weekends. You can’t leave Rome without walking these streets and tasting the best food in Rome. During this local walking tour, you'll enjoy learning about the history of the area, visit the local food spots, taste along the way, enjoy a magnificent sit down dinner and end with some of the best gelato in Rome.
Enroute to or from Rome, we'll make a 3-hr. stop in wonderful Orvieto, Umbria. It’s a great pedestrian town with artisan shops and a city wall that offers gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside. You can tour Orvieto’s famous cathedral or see some of the best artifacts in Tuscany in an underground system of tunnels and caverns carved by the Etruscans.
Tonight we’ll take a walking orientation enroute to included dinner.
Day 2. This morning your guide will pick you up at your hotel to enjoy a private tour of Ancient Rome, including the Capitoline, Forum and Colosseum. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
In that area after the tour, you might want to think about:
• Visiting the Wedding Cake (Tomb of Victor Emmanuel) and go up the elevator for a great view of Ancient Rome, then go next door to the Capitoline Museum which is really good. Then go over and see Michelangelo’s Moses at St. Peter’s in Chains.
• San Clemente, a church where you can walk down various levels to view centuries of archaeological finds.
• Stroll up Via del Corso and do some shopping and finish at the Spanish Steps. The Spanish Steps are crowded, and are ... steps, but a good afternoon destination for gelato and people watching. This is also at the top of a major shopping district in Rome - Via Condotti.
• Walking along the Tiber and then visiting the synagogue at the ghetto, or Jewish Quarter. There is a whole lively street of great restaurant choices. Not to be missed: The Jewish Artichoke! This local treat dates back to Imperial times, when the Roman Jewish community numbered about 50,000. They look like golden sunflowers and their leaves have a delicious nutty crunchiness. You can also visit the synagogue after lunch. You don’t need advanced reservations, but can go get tickets before lunch for an afternoon tour.
Day 3. This morning we enjoy a private tour of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s square.
This afternoon you can:
• Stay in the Vatican area for lunch and then stroll down to the Castle of the Angels. It’s a lovely museum with great views of Rome.
• Take a taxi to the orange grove to peek through the keyhole to see a cool view of St. Peter’s dome. Ask your guide for details.
• Dig a Little Deeper with our optional Rome excursions listed above
Tonight: Included Farewell Dinner
Dig a Little Deeper private optional tour excursions:
Before and After-Hours VIP Tours to the Vatican and St. Peter's. Che Bella is now offering off-hour tours, away from the heat of the day and the crowds of the general public.
Opera at the Baths of Caracalla. Formerly public baths for Romans and later enhanced with libraries, the Baths of Caracalla date back around 212-217 AD. the Baths of Caracalla today serve as the perfect backdrop for enjoying an opera. Not only does this outdoor theater offer marvelous acoustics, but there are also stunning lightshows projected onto the Baths’ ruins that accompany and enhance all operatic performances. Every summer, the Baths of Caracalla host a selection of operas from the Teatro dell’Opera. Beginning promptly at 9:00pm, these evening performances are all set in the outdoor theater, Teatro alle Terme di Caracalla. With English and Italian subtitles provided, tickets range from €25 to €100. Please inquire about the performance schedule.
Underground Rome Tour. Every time I'm in Rome, I see new diggings. Be it for the new metro line, a shopping mall or sewage pipes, a new piece of underground Rome is excavated, examined and cataloged. There is a whole world to discover beneath Rome's surface. This tour Peel back Rome's layers of history with visits to three of Rome's eeriest sights: the Capuchin Crypt, the Prscilla Catacombs and the Basilica of San Clemente.
Trastavere Foodie Tour. We came! We saw! We ate! Trastevere is a neighbourhood like no other. Its ivy-coated, cobblestone streets come alive at night, earning it comparisons to Greenwich Village and Paris’s Left Bank. It’s where Romans choose to eat with their families on a Sunday and where young Romans go for buzzing nightlife at evenings and weekends. You can’t leave Rome without walking these streets and tasting the best food in Rome. During this local walking tour, you'll enjoy learning about the history of the area, visit the local food spots, taste along the way, enjoy a magnificent sit down dinner and end with some of the best gelato in Rome.
Enroute to or from Rome, we'll make a 3-hr. stop in wonderful Orvieto, Umbria. It’s a great pedestrian town with artisan shops and a city wall that offers gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside. You can tour Orvieto’s famous cathedral or see some of the best artifacts in Tuscany in an underground system of tunnels and caverns carved by the Etruscans.
EXCURSION SUGGESTION TO NAPLES AND THE AMALFI COAST
Post-Tour Day 1. Train to Naples for day tour and on to Sorrento
We’ll begin with a stop at the Naples Archaeological Museum, where you’ll have a private tour and time to see the best of the artifacts from both Pompeii and Herculaneum … and the secret erotica room! After your museum tour, we’re on to Pizza to fortify you for the afternoon. We’re then on our way to our private tour of Herculaneum, with its expansive houses, impressive mosaics and lavish marble in the remains.
We’re then on to the Amalfi Coast, one of the most breathtaking drives in the world.
Our Sorrento hotel located above the town. All rooms will have balconies that look over the Bay of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius, with included breakfast and a pool.
Tonight we’ll enjoy our passagiatta strolling through the winding streets of Sorrento enroute to Included Dinner.
Post-Tour Day 2. A Day in Positano
Today is a day of leisure in the beautiful town of Positano. We’ll be back in the late afternoon so you can walk down in to Sorrento as well. Transfers from and back to Sorrento included.
Dinner tonight is on your own in Sorrento.
Post-Tour Day 3. A Day in Capri
This morning we’ll board the fast ferry for a day on the island of Capri.
You’ll have the afternoon to explore more of Sorrento and tonight we’ll have an included Farewell dinner to say arrivederci to Italy.
Post-Tour Day 4. Arrivederci Italia!
Transfers to the Naples Airport.
We’ll begin with a stop at the Naples Archaeological Museum, where you’ll have a private tour and time to see the best of the artifacts from both Pompeii and Herculaneum … and the secret erotica room! After your museum tour, we’re on to Pizza to fortify you for the afternoon. We’re then on our way to our private tour of Herculaneum, with its expansive houses, impressive mosaics and lavish marble in the remains.
We’re then on to the Amalfi Coast, one of the most breathtaking drives in the world.
Our Sorrento hotel located above the town. All rooms will have balconies that look over the Bay of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius, with included breakfast and a pool.
Tonight we’ll enjoy our passagiatta strolling through the winding streets of Sorrento enroute to Included Dinner.
Post-Tour Day 2. A Day in Positano
Today is a day of leisure in the beautiful town of Positano. We’ll be back in the late afternoon so you can walk down in to Sorrento as well. Transfers from and back to Sorrento included.
Dinner tonight is on your own in Sorrento.
Post-Tour Day 3. A Day in Capri
This morning we’ll board the fast ferry for a day on the island of Capri.
You’ll have the afternoon to explore more of Sorrento and tonight we’ll have an included Farewell dinner to say arrivederci to Italy.
Post-Tour Day 4. Arrivederci Italia!
Transfers to the Naples Airport.