Italy Food & Wine Travel Guide

Italy food and wine celebrates culture and heritage through fabulous flavors. By sipping celebrated vines in the north or learning world-renowned recipes in the south, indulging in intricate family favorites found in a small coastal village or basking in bold aromas that rise from vintages produced in medieval hillside towns, you can experience how food and wine in Italy is a transformative experience. Our travel guide gives you better insights into how to customize your trip to uncover ancient dishes or enjoy contemporary wine-productions. When you are ready to book, speak with a local travel specialist who understands how to craft your mouthwatering trip.

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Vineyards in autumn, Langhe, Piedmont

Best Time to Visit Italy for a Wine Tour

Italian wines can be enjoyed year-round, but the best time to visit Italy for a wine tour depends on what kind of experience you want. While winter months...
A couple is tasting young wine at one of the wineries in Italy, Umbria region

Top 4 Wine-Tasting Experiences in Italy

From wine tasting in Chianti towns to exploring Sicilian cellars or pairing wines with Venetian delicacies, you can enjoy the top wine-tasting experiences...
Types of Italian pasta

The Top 10 Italian Pastas to Savor in Italy on Vacation

Italy is renowned for its culinary traditions, especially when it comes to pasta. This beloved staple is woven into the fabric of Italian identity and...
Vineyards around Panzano in Tuscany, Italy

Best Wine Regions of Italy

Wine in Italy is a culture all its own and the country’s best wine regions provide the perfect introduction to the preserved traditions and evolving techniques...
Three dishes of various Italian foods

Types of Italian Food by Region

The regional foods of Italy have distinct ingredients, flavors, and cooking techniques, with each destination demonstrating its heritage, and it’s here...
Woman holding wine glass showing the legs

Top Tips for Wine Tasting in Italy

The order in which you taste wine can have a marked effect on the aromas and flavors you find in each glass, outlining the first important hint in our...
Coppa di Parma

14 Best Italian Cured Meats to Try on Vacation

Cured meats are a culinary staple across the Italian peninsula and you can enjoy 14 of the best during your travels in Italy. The Italian term for cured...
Large selection of cheeses in Italian market

12 Best Italian Cheeses to Try on Vacation

This list of 12 of the best cheeses to try in Italy unveils their diversity, providing an explanation of their particular attributes, from flavor to texture,...
White Pidemont truffles and glass of wine with castle in the background in Piedmont, Italy

6 Best Truffle Festivals to Visit in Italy on Vacation

Every autumn, as the Italian landscape transforms into a canvas of golden and russet hues, the country's celebrated truffle season begins. Between October...
Selection of Sicilian street foods on a table in Sicily, Itlay

Best Sicilian Cheese and Street Food to Try on Vacation

Sicily is a melting pot of gastronomic heritage, found in the best Sicilian cheese and street food that you can sample during your Italy vacation. The...
Bari, Italy

5 Best Cities in Which to Explore Southern Italian Food

Southern Italian food features the delicious Mediterranean flavors many visitors associate with the country’s traditional cuisine that you can discover...
Amalfi Coast, Italy

3 Best Cities in Which to Explore the Food of Campania

The characteristics of Campania’s terrain provide sensational ingredients you can discover in the region’s top three culinary cities during your trip...
Bird's eye view of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy

3 Best Cities in Which to Explore the Food of Lazio

The three best culinary cities in Lazio demonstrate distinct elements of the local cuisine, and you can savor the regional flavors on your next trip to...
Bucatini all’Amatriciana

4 Dishes to Try on Your Trip to Lazio

The four best dishes to try during your trip to Lazio reflect the customs created when Rome acted as the heart of the ancient empire. The conquered landscapes...
Orvieto in Umbria, Italy

3 Best Cities in Which to Explore the Food of Umbria

The cuisine of Umbria is all about simple yet delicious seasonal ingredients you can find during your Italian food tour. Olive groves and flocks of sheep...
Cagliari on the island of Sardinia

4 Best Cities in Which to Explore the Food of Italy's Islands

The best cities in which to explore the food of Italy’s Islands are vibrant repositories of cultural and culinary traditions. Their kitchens have been...
Levizzano Rangone in the province of Modena, Italy

3 Best Dishes to Try While on Vacation in Modena

Modena’s unique position in the Po Valley influences the soil amid the rugged foothills of the Apennine Mountains, responsible for the diversity of meats,...
The famous Parma prosciutto and parmesan with green olives

4 Dishes to Try While on Vacation in Parma

The four dishes you can try in Parma on your Italy trip are less about satiation and more about taking pleasure in a meal, an ingredient, and a local...
Big boiled octopus with lemon and parsley rustic style, Italy

5 Best Delicacies from Veneto to Enjoy on an Italy Vacation

You can discover and embrace the five best dishes of Veneto as you explore the culinary landscape that encompasses mountains and lagoons, the customary...
Rows of small wooden barrels aging traditional balsamic vinegar in a Modena acetaia

An Immersive Balsamic Vinegar Tour in Emilia-Romagna

Journey through the historic provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy, where the art of traditional balsamic vinegar production has been perfected...
Balloons over Cappadocia in Turkey.

How to Plan Your Zicasso Trip in 4 Easy Steps

Explore the world with Zicasso by working with top travel specialists who will bring your dream vacation to life. Our primary goal is to make planning,...
Aerial view of luxury overwater bungalows on Bora Bora island in French Polynesia.

How to Plan Your Zicasso Trip Budget in 3 Easy Steps

Knowing your budget is an essential component of any trip-planning process. Whether the sky's the limit or you have specific parameters, a customized...

4.9

Reviews of Zicasso's Italy Food & Wine Tours

Based on 5260 verified traveler reviews.

kavita A.
Italy Tour Review: Rome, Venice, Tuscany, Chianti, Vespa Tour, Boat Ride, Cooking Class, 20 Days

Our trip was absolutely amazing and the planning done by Zicasso's travel company surpassed my expectations. The attention to detail was amazing: from excellent and punctual drivers to assistants who helped us with the water taxis in Venice to the lounge access for trains. It was truly white-glove service that made my trip seamless and allowed me to enjoy every moment because every detail was handled.

The excursions were fantastic. I especially enjoyed the cooking class at a farm in Tuscany and the Vespa tours in Rome. There was a nice mix of private excursions for the walking tours and boat rides, to a few shared excursions, such as the cooking class.

The hotels the travel company booked were chic, boutiquey Italian hotels and each had its own charm (from the former palace in Venice to the castle in Chianti), and we loved them. We would absolutely recommend to anyone booking a trip to Italy!

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Carles P.
Italy Travel Review: Assisi, Tuscany, 15-Day Trip

Zicasso's team was excellent with planning and execution of the itinerary to meet our specific needs.

I was able to add an additional city on short notice!

We had knowledgeable local city guides and all drivers were professional.

We had a wonderful family trip!

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Jeff S.
Italy, France Vacation Review: Rome, Florence, Venice, Paris, Bayeux, Normandy, 18 Nights

We had an excellent experience with Zicasso's travel company. We are a family of four and spent 18 nights going through Italy and France. We worked with the company to make arrangements to see the cities and sites we wanted to visit. They offered great options for hotels and activities. They stayed in close contact with us during the trip and made additional arrangements upon request. The company provided outstanding service making arrangements and during the trip. We were very satisified and have already recommended them to our friends.

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Dorothy K.
Italy Tour Review: Rome, Florence, Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, Ancient Sites, Cooking Class, 1 Week

I can confidently say that Zicasso's travel specialist is truly dedicated to providing her clients a luxury experience. From the outset, we had a 20-minute call where she wanted to learn about our dream vacation and get to know us. She was attentive to every request we made and organized our itinerary accordingly. During the trip, she texted us daily to inform us about our drivers and guides for the next day. Additionally, she checked to ensure our trip was progressing smoothly.

Here are some highlights:

Rome: We were greeted at the airport by our agent, who expedited our passage through passport control. The following day, we started our exploration at the Vatican. Our agent had purchased our tickets in advance, allowing us to skip the line. She also planned the remainder of our self-guided tours of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and other ancient sights. We accomplished so much in just two days!

Florence: We took part in a pasta-making class with a chef who was fantastic! Her husband was also quite charming. Our experience there was truly wonderful. Special thanks to our driver, who was incredibly helpful and informative.

Sorrento (Amalfi Coast): We began with a visit to Pompeii, where our guide, also arranged by our agent, was spectacular! His passion and extensive knowledge made the experience enjoyable. Next, we had a fun blind wine tasting. When we arrived at our amazing hotel, we were greeted with a surprise.

While in Rome, we encountered a minor issue, which our agent resolved quickly. She even went above and beyond by ordering us a bottle of prosecco to celebrate. We also took a car tour of Positano and Ravello, guided by a local from Ravello who was informative, knowledgeable, and delightful. We loved her! Our day ended with a lovely sunset cruise off the coast! Both days had excellent drivers.

This trip was a dream come true for my husband and me. Without a doubt, our agent made it the luxurious experience we desired. I highly recommend her and her team!

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Laura M.
Italy Trip Review: Florence, Amalfi Coast, Uffizi Gallery, 9 Nights

The trip went very well! Our Zicasso travel specialist did a thorough job planning our vacation to Italy. We would definitely use her again.

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Margaret K.
Italy Vacation Review: Lake Garda, Verona, Milan, Boat Trip, Gastro Tour, 1 Week

Our trip was a 10 out of 10! There is no way it could have been any better. Zicasso's travel expert and the tour company's team were incredibly responsive (not that we had any issues) and the itinerary was so impeccably curated.

Every greeter, driver, and tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and professional, and hotels were immaculate. It was such a relief to know that every last detail was taken care of and we didn't have to worry about anything.

We highly recommend our travel company and would definitely use them again.

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