AN5071 v. 09.08.2013
The Chicago Farmers (4th version)
Italy
from 27.04. to 04.05.2014
1st day, Sun 27.04.14: Departure at Chicago
11:30 h Departure from Chicago with Delta, DL 1693 14:31 h Arrival at Atlanta
17.40 h Departure from Atlanta with Delta, DL 74
(The flights are organized by the group.)
ReiseService VOGT GmbH & Co. KG - Windisch-Bockenfeld 7 - 74575 Schrozberg - Tel. 07939 - 990 80 - Fax: 07939 - 1200
AN5071 v. 09.08.2013
2nd day, Mon 28.04.14: Milan – Montegrotto Terme ca. 300 km
09:05 h Arrival at the airport of Milan-Malpensa
The airport is about 50 km away from the city centre of Milan.
Meeting with your English speaking guide Aurora. She is Italian and will be with you during the whole tour; also in the hotel.
Bus transfer to Milan ca. 50 km
13:30 h Sightseeing tour of Milan with a licensed guide
It will be a combination of a sightseeing tour by bus and a guided tour, where you only have to walk short distances.
Milan is Italy’s most important economical metropolis and the location for many important fairs. The town is world-famous for its numerous galleries, museums and churches, as well as for the “Teatro alla Scala” and of course for the extravagant designed cathedral.
15:30 h Transfer to Montegrotto Terme (region of Padua) ca. 250 km
19:00 h Check-in at the hotel, 4**** Hotel Terme Augustus www.hotelaugustus.com
Dinner at the hotel
(-D-)
ReiseService VOGT GmbH & Co. KG - Windisch-Bockenfeld 7 - 74575 Schrozberg - Tel. 07939 - 990 80 - Fax: 07939 - 1200
AN5071 v. 09.08.2013
3rd day, Tue 29.04.14: Beans – Grappa – Agrotourism ca. 230 km
7:30 h Breakfast at the hotel
8:30 h Transfer to Lamon (region of Montebelluna) ca. 100 km
10:30 h In the morning you learn something about the Borlotti beans (white beans), that are typical for the region of Veneto. www.fagiolodilamon.it
You will meet a responsible of the consortium “Fagiolo di Lamon” and get to know something about the production methods. The Borlotti beans have the certificate of origin, named I.G.P. (Indicazione Geografica Protetta). The pod of the fresh bean is yellowish in color with bright red and green speckles, while the bean itself is white with red speckles or more solidly red. The coocked beans have a dense, velvety texture with a little more nutty flavor than most beans. Borlotti beans are ideal for salads, starters and side dishes.
12:30 h Transfer to Bassano del Grappa, the home town of grappa ca. 50 km
13:30 h Lunch in a restaurant (inclusive)
15:00 h Transfer to Schiavon ca. 15 km
15:30 h Visit of a distillery for the famous grappa with tasting www.poligrappa.com / English available
17:00 h Transfer to Saccolongo (region of Padua) ca. 50 km
18:00 h Dinner at an educational farm with agrotourism www.ballacoimussi.com
It is a farm with different field of agriculture, e.g. bee- keeping, sheep, forest, Garden of the Senses, nature trail, areas for picnic, agrotourism etc. They offer different courses for children to get to know the nature, but also gastronomically and cultural events.
20:00 h Return to Montegrotto Terme ca. 15 km
(B – L – D)
ReiseService VOGT GmbH & Co. KG - Windisch-Bockenfeld 7 - 74575 Schrozberg - Tel. 07939 - 990 80 - Fax: 07939 - 1200
AN5071 v. 09.08.2013
4th day, Wed 30.04.14: Vegetables– Buffaloes – mushrooms
7:30 h Breakfast at the hotel
8:30 h Transfer to Lusia (region of Rovigo) ca. 40 km
9:30 h Visit of a exchange vegetable market
It is a market with 400 growers and 10 commissioners that negotiate the prices with the buyers The growers are allowed to choose the commissioners freely. The commissioners and the cooperative get 10% of the proceeds each. www.mercatolusia.it
11:30 h Transfer to Cona ca. 40 km
12:30 h Lunch at a buffalo-growing farm (inclusive) www.cavallerizza.com
about 300 buffaloes, production of buffalo mozzarella, Ricotta, soft cheese, yoghurt etc. in the own cheese dairy, characteristics of the buffalo milk: 9% fat, 4,8 % protein, 200.000 somatic cells and 15.000 bacterial, direct marketing
14:00 h Afterwards visit of the buffalo-growing farm
15:00 h Transfer to Noventa Vicentina ca. 50 km
16:00 h Visit of a farm for mushroom culture www.meneghellofunghi.it
family-run business since 1980, between the family 15 employees, 350 m² acreage, production of 600 t, specialization of washing and packing of the mushrooms during the last years, selling mostly to the supermarkets of the region
17:30 h Return to the hotel ca. 30 km
18:30 h Arrival in Montegrotto Terme
Dinner at the hotel
(B – L – D)
ReiseService VOGT GmbH & Co. KG - Windisch-Bockenfeld 7 - 74575 Schrozberg - Tel. 07939 - 990 80 - Fax: 07939 - 1200
AN5071 v. 09.08.2013
5th day, Thu 01.05.14: Venice – Euganei Hills ca. 210 km
Please take note that 01.05. is holiday in Italy. It´s Labour Day.
8:00 h Breakfast at the hotel
9:00 h Transfer to Venice ca. 50 km
10:00 h By taxi boat you reach the centre of Venice
Visit of this unique lagoon town with a licensed guide (additionally to your guide Aurora, necessary)
Venice is situated 4 km away from the Italian mainland. It has been built on 118 small islets and is crossed by about 100 canals. More than 400 bridges connect the shores with each other.
Journey with a gondola, the typical boat of Venice (duration: about 35 minutes)
The building of the Venice gondola is a special art. Only few people still know this craft very well. Today, one of this gondola costs about Euro 20.000. Its life doesn’t take longer than 45 years. Additionally, you have high fees for licences and pitches. Once, there were about 10.000 of this gondola in Venice, but nowadays there are only 400 left.
Leisure time
Lunch on your own (not inclusive)
If you prefer we can also book seats in a restaurant or book a small menu for the group.
16:30 h Transfer to the Euganei Hills to Vo ca. 90 km
18:00 h Dinner on a wine-growing estate with wine (inclusive) www.montealtore.com / English available
The Euganei Hills have their origin in the south of Padua. This region is characterized by its vineyards, forrests, convents and mountain villages of the ancient family Carrara from Padua. 20 ha, production of DOC wine
20:30 h Return to Montegrotto Terme ca. 70 km
21:30 h Arrival at the hotel
(B – D)
ReiseService VOGT GmbH & Co. KG - Windisch-Bockenfeld 7 - 74575 Schrozberg - Tel. 07939 - 990 80 - Fax: 07939 - 1200
AN5071 v. 09.08.2013
6th day, Fri 02.05.14: Agricultural visits – Lake Garda ca. 290 km
7:30 h Breakfast at the hotel
8:30 h Transfer to the valley of the river Po (region close to Mantua), which is a very interesting area for agriculture ca. 110 km
10:00 h Visit of a rice-growing farm www.risorancan.it
family-run business, 12 ha rice, oil mill, direct marketing, also cultivation of maize and wheat, chicken farming
11:30 h Transfer to the region of Oppeano ca. 20 km
12:00 h Lunch at an agrotourism farm that belongs to the farm you will visit afterwards (inclusive)
You will enjoy delicious self-made products of the farm. It is an unique experience, where you get to know the hospitality of the Italians.
Afterwards visit of the farm
family-run business with 600 head of steer for meat production, crop growing (maize, soya, barley) for their own animal’s consumption (no commercial sale on the market)
14:00 h Transfer to Pegognaga ca. 70 km
15:00 h Visit of a typical Parmesan cheese dairy with the director of the local milk control institute. You will wear overalls and see the actual production of Parmesan cheese. www.latteriavogrande.it
17:30 h Transfer to Lake Garda ca. 90 km
19:00 h Check-in at the hotel, 3*** Hotel Vittorio www.hotelvittorio.it
Dinner at the restaurant nearby (inclusive)
This restaurant is situated directly next to the hotel. The Hotel Vittorio and the restaurant are working together. All the guests, that have booked half-board, go there for having their dinner. But of course, the restaurant also has other guests without a hotel reservation.
(B – L – D)
ReiseService VOGT GmbH & Co. KG - Windisch-Bockenfeld 7 - 74575 Schrozberg - Tel. 07939 - 990 80 - Fax: 07939 - 1200
AN5071 v. 09.08.2013
7th day, Sat 03.05.14:Olives – Verona – Lake Garda – wine 100 km
8:00 h Breakfast at the hotel
9:00 h Visit of an olive-growing farm with tasting www.frantoiomontecroce.it / English available
The cultivation of olives began about 8.000 years ago. The olive tree is a symbol for life and is already mentioned in the Bible. Because of the good climate at Lake Garda, the quality of the olive oil products is constantly very good. One olive tree can become 2.000 years old and despite this high age produce best olives and high quality olive oil.
10:30 h Transfer to Verona ca. 45 km
11:30 h Visit of Verona – the city of Romeo and Julia
The city of Romeo and Julia is the scene of the annual opera festival, which take place in the well-known arena; a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre. In the museum of Castelvecchio weapons, jewellery and paintings can be seen.
Lunch of your own (not inclusive)
If you prefer we can also book seats in a restaurant or book a small menu for the group.
14:30 h Transfer to Lazise in the eastern part of Lake Garda ca. 45 km
15:30 h Short walk through Lazise
16:00 h Boat trip on Lake Garda from Lazise to Sirmione
Lake Garda is about 55 km long, 3 to 17,5 km wide and up to 346 m deep. It is one of the most interesting und colourful lakes. On its shore there is a rich variety of olives, figs, almonds, lemons, wine and of course fish.
17:00 h Arrival at the peninsula Sirmione
Free time on your own
18:30 h Farewell dinner on a wine-growing estate with wine (inclusive) www.cascinamaddalena.com
3,5 ha wine-growing, 3rd generation, production of Lugano D.O.C., Rosato dei Sette Scurtoni, Rosso I.G.T. dei Sette Scurtoni, sparkling wine Lugano dry D.O.C.
21:00 h Return to the hotel ca. 10 km
(B – D)
ReiseService VOGT GmbH & Co. KG - Windisch-Bockenfeld 7 - 74575 Schrozberg - Tel. 07939 - 990 80 - Fax: 07939 - 1200
AN5071 v. 09.08.2013
8th day, Sun 04.05.14: Departure to Chicago
Packed lunch of the hotel
06.00 h Transfer to the airport of Milan-Malpensa ca. 170 km
08:50 h Check-In / Say fare-well to your guide Aurora
10:50 h Departure from Milan-Malpensa with Delta, DL 75 15:25 h Arrival at Atlanta
17:30 h Departure from Atlanta with Delta, DL 1306 18:54 h Arrival at the airport of Chicago
(The flights are organized by the group)
(-B-)
Changes in the programme are possible! Km-distances are not guaranteed!
ReiseService VOGT GmbH & Co. KG - Windisch-Bockenfeld 7 - 74575 Schrozberg - Tel. 07939 - 990 80 - Fax: 07939 - 1200