DISCOVER EXPERIENCES

A selection of exclusive activities and itineraries to live a memorable Italian day.

EXPERIENCES

LEGEND

Gourmet

food & wine

Shopping

GUCCI MUSEUMHOME OF ART AND FASHION

SCARPERIALAND OF KNIVES AND DESIGN

DOLCE & GABBANA EXPERIENCETHE REAL ITALIAN STYLE

PARMIGIANO REGGIANO MUSEUMFOLLOW IN HISTORY FOOTSTEPS

VITE RESTAURANTSAN PATRIGNANOSHARING & RETURN TO LIFE

ANTINORI WINERYWHERE WINE, ART AND POETRY COMBINE

EMPORIO FRATELLI CARLIDISCOVERING THE GREEN GOLD

TRUFFLE EXPERIENCELOOKING FOR A UNIQUE TASTE

THE CHOCOLATE VALLEYUNDENIABLE TEMPTATION

FERRAGAMO EXPERIENCETHE “SHOEMAKER OF THE STARS”

Please note: All experiences must be reserved within 2 weeks

A piece of bread and a drizzle of oil: the richness of life in one bite. A simple gesture reminiscent of a time-honoured taste that will project you into the wildest and most profound Mediterranean spirit. That is why visiting a Fratelli Carli shop is definitelyan opportunity not to be missed. You will discover that the oil – extra-virgin, fruity or traditional – is just the beginning of a world of flavours and knowledge to be discovered. From Ligurian pesto to the refined oil powder, from Taggiasca olives to the finest flavours, Emporio will escort you to a new frontier of taste, thanks to the cuisine and menus of renowed chefs such as Davide Oldani. The green gold, the true symbol of the Mediterranean diet, awaits you. Warm up the engines.

EMPORIO FRATELLI CARLIDISCOVERING THE GREEN GOLD

Visit of the Olive Museum, including 18 themed rooms, recounting the history of this extraordinary tree, which for 6000 years has tied its story to that of the human being.

Followed by a guided factory tour, from the offices and bottling facility to the oil mill.

PROGRAM INSIGHT

If it’s true, as Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have often said, that luxury is life and sharing, you should prepare yourself for this unique experiential journey. Imagine yourself immersed in the heart of Milan: Via della Spiga, Via Montenapoleone, Corso Venezia. Boutiques and ateliers of Dolce & Gabbana, one of the most famous Italian fashion brands, will open their doors to you for a unique customised experience in the world of haute couture and fine jewellery. Let yourself be enchanted by the timeless silhouettes of the new collection, touch the hand-knitted fabrics and be inspired by clothes and jewellery made to measure. Don’t forget some time for pampering (make-up for the ladies, haircut for the gentlemen) and later a moment of rest and refreshment at the Martini Bar. Luxury is life to be fully enjoyed.

DOLCE & GABBANA EXPERIENCE THE REAL ITALIAN STYLE

First, you will get to know the fabrics used to manufacture the fashion items. Then, all the phases of the manufacturing process, from the conception of a dress to the cutting and sewing in an actual tailor’s shop.

Wrap up with the visit of the showroom with exclusive D&G items, available to purchase.

PROGRAM INSIGHT

Entering Vite’s in San Patrignano means sharing a life experience. It’s not a slogan: we are talking of real lives, those of marginalised young people who in this oasis of peace have found a new reason to look up. “For this place so special for us, we chose the name Vite. Vite, like the grapevines covering the hills of San Patrignano. Vite, like the lives that represent the centre of the community’s educational goal. Lives, like ours. That were once upside-down, but here regained enthusiasm, passion and the will to change”. This time sitting at the table and tasting wines and food sourced locally will have a unique flavour: that of toil and a conquered rebirth.

VITE RESTAURANT SAN PATRIGNANO SHARING & RETURN TO LIFE

A fish or land dinner, cooked by personnel from the San Patrignano community.

PROGRAM INSIGHT

Nine centuries of passion and taste carefully handed down. Nine centuries of ritual gestures and connoisseurs who give us one of the world’s most beloved cheeses: Parmigiano Reggiano. An authentic heritage, today enclosed in a magnificent Museum in the old dairy Court Castellazzi in Soragna, a marvellous 15th century citadel. Between the tasting and the rest, you can be a part of that history, following in the footsteps of master cheesemakers who, then as now, continue to produce this hard cheese made with only the best Italian milk. More than 120 items from centuries past and a hundred pictures, drawings and photographs project you into an unknown world, where manual skill and conventional wisdom become strength and creativity. Enclosed in a form to be enjoyed.

PARMIGIANO REGGIANO MUSEUMFOLLOW IN HISTORY’S FOOTSTEPS

The visit starts with the different phases of milk processing: collection, settling, cooking in copper cauldrons, moulding and salting.

As a wrap up, tasting of local cheeses.Please note: to participate in the guided tour and tasting, you need to be there by 9:00 AM

PROGRAM INSIGHT

Knives have been used for hunting since the beginning of humanity, brandished by pirates attacking ships, and used to wreak revenge on love rivals. They are handed down from father to son, or simply used in the kitchen or at the table. In whichever capacity, knives have always been a part of human history. In Scarperia, an ancient medieval village in the heart of Tuscany, a long generation of master cutlers have handed down their love for the art of these sharp implements. Visit the land of knives, enter the fabulous Saladini company and discover the many uses, craftsmanshipand design applied to these objects that are at times dangerous, yet so indispensable. With collectible knives and new contemporary lines, you can gain first- hand experience of fantastic Italian savoir-faire.

SCARPERIA THE KINGDOM OF KNIVES AND DESIGN

Visit of the Saladini knife-making workshop, to witness all the steps to manufacture an ancient workmanship knife: from metal forging and sharpening to haft making.

Wrap up with focus on the creation of the renowned cigar cutter.

PROGRAM INSIGHT

Halfway between Florence and Siena, in the extraordinary wine-hills of Chianti, you can immerse yourself in extraordinary surroundings and embark on an emotional journey crammed with flavours and fragrances: the world of Cantina Antinori. This estate is the work of 26 generations of passionate men and women, an architectural work of rare beauty, built exclusively with natural materials to mark the deep bond with the land. The barriques, each unique in the world, are housed inside waiting to disclose to you the secrets and seasons of good Tuscan wine: the cask stores the wine and escorts it throughout its refinement process until it is bottled. Food tasting and a meal at the Antinori restaurant are not to be missed and neither is a visit to the “Antinori Art Project” museum area, where art, innovation and tradition embrace passion and appeal, thanks to the determination of industry experts and renowned chefs. A suggestion? Treat yourself to a walk among the vineyards and ancient abbey for an experience beyond time.

ANTINORI WINERYWHERE WINE, ART, AND POETRY COMBINE

Visit of the winery guarding all the secrets of the Antinori family.

Followed by the visit of the production facilities.

As a wrap up, tasting of three wines.

At the end of the tour you’ll also have the option to dine at the internal Rinuccio 1180 restaurant.

PROGRAM INSIGHT

The poingnant smell of roasted cocoa beans. The all-enveloping taste of melted chocolate, the decisive flavor of a fondant or the sweeter one mixed with hazelnuts and selected coffee beans. These are just some of the possible “tasting experiences” that the Italian Chocolate Valley has to offer. A journey through the shops of the most famous master craftsmen that wind along the route connecting Pisa to Prato and touches, one by one, upon the companies that made Italian chocolate famous in the world thanks to the work of internationally renowned artisans. Just think of Cioccolateria Amedei, which won the Oscar of chocolate with the famous “product 9”; Torrefazione Trinci, renowned for its roast cocoa and wood-fired coffee creating unique blends in the world; Roberto Catinari, the undisputed master of chocolate art learned in Switzerland; or, the company Slitti that has been offering Italy the unmistakable covered fruit for over 40 years. The chocolate valley is not simply a journey, but a temptation. Are you ready to give in?

THE CHOCOLATE VALLEY UNDENIABLE TEMPTATION

The visit starts with the roasting of cocoa beans.

Then it moves on to the manufacturing process: the beans are ground, then pressed and processed in a mixer to get a soft paste.

In the third and last phase, the paste is blended to obtain the desired type of chocolate, poured into moulds and then wrapped to preserve all the chocolate aromas.

At the end of the visit, a chocolate tasting.

PROGRAM INSIGHT

There’s something ancestral, adventurous and irresistible about searching. Mankind has always searched, from the very beginning of our existence. We searched for water, fire, food.And even now, when it seems we have everything at our fingertips, our continual hunger for discovery lives on. The search for truffles, an ancient and well-known practice, brings with it all of this: the beauty of a walk in the woods, relying on the sense of smell of trained dogs, learning to recognise the signs and tracks accompanied by truffle masters par excellence, to find the best and most flavourful truffle and then pick it up, gently, so as not to damage the truffle bed. Join us in this rare and special experience. The reward? A taste to remember. Experience beyond time.

TRUFFLE EXPERIENCE LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE TASTE

The experience starts with a short briefing, before going into the woods to look for truffles.

The searching activity will be carried out alongside an educational explanation of the different types of truffles you can find in Tuscany, their natural habitat and organoleptic properties.

After the ‘harvesting’, lunch or dinner with fresh truffles and local wines.

PROGRAM INSIGHT

Art and fashion in a single space? This is the proposal of the Gucci Museum in Florence, now creatively transformed into the Gucci Garden. The whole history of the famous maison is summed up in the nearly two thousand square metres inside the 14th-century Palazzo della Mercanzia. The two floors are organised by thematic areas, illustrating by means of adynamic and interactive exhibition the past and present of the brand through iconic garments and accessories—since 1921—along with memorabilia and contemporary art. However, don’t expect a traditional museum: here the exhibits are not arranged in chronological order, so that visitors are free to explore the eclectic nature of one of the world’s largest international fashion houses, promoting creative experimentation. And, on the subject of experimenting, you can also enjoy the incredible cuisine of Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura.Are you ready to get involved?

GUCCI MUSEUM HOME OF ART AND FASHION

Visit of the Gucci Museum rooms with the most prestigious pieces of their collections.

Followed by the museum shop with items of clothing exclusively designed for the Florentine maison.

To wrap up the visit, opportunity to dine at Gucci Osteria by Massimo Bottura, the best Italian chef with 3 Michelin stars.

PROGRAM INSIGHT

Entering the Ferragamo Museum equates to seizing an opportunity. The opportunity to experience first hand what it means to create an iconic and unmistakable style from nothing. The museum traces the adventurous life of Salvatore Ferragamo – the “cobbler-to-the-stars”– who, with his distinguishing traits of skill, genius and typically Neapolitan resourcefulness, arrived in Hollywood to make history. His legacy was taken up by his daughter Fiamma, who designed shoes that are still today among the best selling in the world. If you wish to discover the secrets of this fascinating story, all you have to do is drive to Florence and be enchanted by the magnificence of Palazzo Spini Feroni, which houses the Museum. Among 17th century frescoes, Florentine art masterpieces and medieval pedestals, you can immerse yourself in a unique and unrivalled world. And maybe even do a little shopping... Why not?

FERRAGAMO EXPERIENCETHE “SHOEMAKER OF THE STARS”

Access to the Spini Feroni palace, among the most impressive in Florence.

At the Museum, welcome by the ‘dream shoemaker’, who will tell you all about his jewels: handcrafted shoes renowned worldwide, including among VIP’s.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn more by visiting the temporary exhibitions.

PROGRAM INSIGHT

SEE YOU IN ITALY