Discovery Italy

Day 1: BOLZANO
Arrival in Milan and welcome by Discover Italy Now Tour Leader and transfer to Bolzano, the ancient old city witness of encounters between different cultures and languages.you can fly directly to Bolzano, where you are going to be welcomed by the Tour Leader.Check-in at 3*Hotel, relax and refreshments.Lunch in an old trattoria and together with the tour leader you start discovering the old part of Bolzano with its elegant baroque architecture and gothic churches and the modern Bolzano with its twenty century buildings.
Waltherplatz square, Duomo cathedral, Piazza delle Erbe/Obstplatz with the colorful fruit and vegetable market, the bridge Talvera/Talferbrucke, Mareccio Castle/ Schloss Maretsch, the beautiful San Antonio Castle/ Schloss Klebeinstein and Runkelstein Castle that mark the entrance into the Sarntal valley, full of vineyards, the beautiful garden district of Gries, the renowned wineries where wine tasting is a must… Lagrein and Santa Maddalena are just some of the destinations you are going to visit in the ancient city of Bolzano.You immerse yourself in ancient atmospheres in search of art, culture and local traditions.

Evening: live music in a local bar

Day 2: BENEDICTINE ABBEY OF MURI-GRIES/ BENEDIKTINERABTEI MURI
Wine tasting and local gourmet
You start your morning with a visit to the benedictine abbey Muri-Gries in the main square, surrounded by ancient buildings and then the wine cellar Gries immersing yourself in wine production techniques including as well a tasting of local wines as for example Grieser Lagrein.You continue with a walk in the surrounding vineyards among romantic and charming atmosphere.
Lunch in a local trattoria tasting the local products
BOLZANO - TERLANO 14 km of trekking
TERLANO - VILPIANO 4 km trek
VILPIANO - MELTIN by cable car
VILPIANO - NALLES 4 km
Your journey continues with a fantastic itinerary, trekking along a road lined with vineyards and orchards that cover the whole valley and flanked by the river Adige in the background. On the surrounding hills are situated some beautiful castles.You also visit the centenary winery cellar Produttori Terlano that welcomes you in a nice taverna for wine and local products tasting.Then you continue with a few minutes pleasant cable car tour from the nearby village of Vilpiano / Vilpian to the village of Meltin / Molten. You dine at Vivaldi Arunda, another interesting wine cellar.From Vilpiano / Vilpian you cross the river Adige and in a couple of miles you get to Nalles / Nals.

Evening: Dinner at one of the most famous and prestigious wineries in Alto Adige, in business since 1556, "Cigno Castle" / Schloss Schwanburg or in a local restaurant tasting local food & wine.
Accommodation in 3* Hotel or Farm House

Day 3: NALLES – MERANO 14 km by train
After a rich breakfast you travel by train to Merano, a beautiful tourist resort with important spas that take advantage of the many mineral waters sources.You visit the Gothic castle with its collection of ancient weapons, Duomo cathedral and Via dei Portici, Rametz Castle, a beautiful sixteenth-century residence, entirely surrounded by vineyards and home to a wine cellar and a wine bar.
Lunch: wine cellar or a local trattoria
MERANO - PARCINES / Partschins 9.5 km of trekking
Your picturesque trekking journey continues to Val Venosta / Vinschgau, among villas and orchards. You continue your art, culture and good food itinerary.Once in Parcines together with your Tour Leader you visit the beautiful gothic church with the onion shaped tower and its castles: Stachelburg, Spauregg and Gaudententhurm

Evening: Dinner in a local restaurantAccommodation in 3* Hotel or B & B

Day 4: PARCINES – CHIUSA/KLAUSEN, 70 km by train
Wine tasting and local gourmet
Your itinerary takes you to Chiusa / Klausen, a town that has a long, intense history.Chiusa / Klausen is the first important stop on the way to Bolzano-Brenner. It was the gateway to Italy on the Brennero road.You visit the old town with its important and beautiful houses dating back to the sixteenth and seventeenth century, the Chapel of Madonan di Loreto, on a cliff above the Sabiona Monastery / Kloster Säben, overlooking the city and the valley.Within walking distance you immerse yourself in an area of vineyards and visit the remains of an early christian basilica.Lunch in local restaurant and wine tasting at Cantina Valle Isarco. This is the area of the Valle Isarco / Eisecktal that produces mostly white wines.

CHIUSA - BRESSANONE 13 km of trekking
Your guided tour continues to Bressanone / Brixen, one of the most beautiful and rich in history of the whole South Tyrol area, where can be found a fascinating fusion of gothic, renaissance and baroque style.Your walk takes you to the suggestive via dei Portici / Laubengasse, full of shops where you can buy local products. You visit the Duomo cathedral, with its ancient towers and the cloister with its interesting frescoes

Evening: relax
Dinner in local restaurant and accommodation at 3* Hotel or B & B

Day 5 giorno: BRESSANONE – NOVACELLA 3 km
Wine tasting and local gourmet
The morning starts with a trek to the Abbey of Novacella, a great center of culture and rich in art works. You also visit the wine cellar of the abbey, where since at least nine centuries, are produced the abbey’s local wines
NOVACELLA- VARNA 2 km trekking
Your itinerary continues to Varna and then to the nearby town of Fortezza that allows the bathing.
Back in Varna you spend a relaxing evening.
End of the programme dinner with a good glass of wine from the vineyards in Tyrol
in 3* Hotel or B&B.