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La Dolce Vita
from Venice to Catania aboard Harmony G |
| 11 Days / 10 Nights •May 24, 2012 |
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A cruise exploring the wine and cuisine of Italy from Venice to Catania aboard the 44-passenger MV Harmony With Roger Preece.
Scents, flavours and feelings - three words that help to describe Italy`s formidable food and wine culture. Italy is a republic in name only. Rather, it is a collection of ancient duchies, city-states, fiefdoms and colonies with more than a hundred dialects and native cuisines together with 250 DOC wine areas and a plethora of varietals.
Aboard the 44-passenger MV Harmony, we will taste indigenous food and wines on our journey from Venice down to Sicily, looking at how the phrase "Italy keeps all her best wine for herself" might just be true. All our vineyard visits are to producers who can best show off their region`s place in the remarkable kaleidoscope of Italian wines. To whet your appetite, we will enjoy wines with views over the Adriatic, in stunning wild countryside and even on the slopes of Mount Etna. We will encounter varietals like Nerello Mascalese, Catarratto Inzolia, Aglianico and many others.
Day 1 - VENICE, ITALY
Embarkation. Sail overnight for Ravenna.
Day 2 - RAVENNA
This morning we drive inland through picturesque countryside near Bologna. They produce one of the world`s finest cheeses - Parmigiano-Reggiano. The cheese is not just manufactured, but it is made today exactly as it was made eight centuries ago. Balsamic vinegar is a treasure of the region and before lunch we will visit one of the finest producers and see the fascinating processes and barrel-ageing involved in its production. Lunch today is in a restored farmhouse in the rolling hills near Faenza, where we can enjoy local food and wines.
In the late afternoon return to MV Harmony for some leisure time onboard or in Ravenna itself.
Day 3 - ANCONA & LORETO
Today we take a short trip to Loreto and to a family winery in the top ten of Verdicchio producers, with their remarkable, rich, Reserva being an interesting jewel in their crown, backed up by some Sangiovese blends as well as a champagne-method sparkler. Loreto itself is a site of world-wide pilgrimage. The Holy House of Loreto is one of the most revered shrines in the world. Since medieval times, the Holy House is believed to have been the very home in which the Virgin Mary lived, conceived and raised the young Jesus. A large basilica has been built around the small shrine. Lunch today features a restaurant chef whose reputation centres on the very best of seasonal ingredients - with a modern twist. After lunch we return to Ancona and the afternoon is free for you to explore the city independently.
From the 11th century Duomo you can enjoy a wonderful sea view, and also worth a visit is the art gallery (Pinacoteca Communale), situated in a historic palazzo.
Day 4 - PESCHARA & CHIETI
This morning we visit Chieti which lies on a crest along the Pescara River with its unmistakable profile of the high belltower of San Giustino and the Majella Mountains and Gran Sasso in the background. It was a Roman town, Teate, and important medieval centre which is why, when walking through the city one can see Roman and medieval ruins side by side. Of special importance is also the Pinacoteca C. Barbella, hosting works of Abruzzese artists, as well as the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, the richest archaeological museum in the region. Continue to an organic wine estate a few miles north of Pescara which produces benchmark Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and the zesty, savoury pink Cerasuolo.
After an informal barbecue lunch and wine tasting we return to Pescara.
Day 5 - TERMOLI
Today we will make a visit to the littleknown province of Molise and a rising star of the DOC Biferno area, Borgo di Colloredo. The De Giulio brothers produce a range of award-winning wines including a fine blend of Montepulciano and Aglianico as well as whites from both Greco and Falanghina. We will taste their wines with our lunch in the country, with fine views of the Adriatic in the near distance.
The afternoon is free for you to explore the old town or relax onboard.
Day 6 - BARI & SASSI DI MATERA
This morning, we will take a drive through the Alta Murgia National Park to the old town of Gravina. Here we will visit the Botromango winery. There will be tastings of classic Primitivo as well as two extraordinary blends - a red and a white - each made with 5 different varietals.
Lunch at the winery will be followed by a tour of the medieval village of Sassi di Matera, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 7 - BRINDISI & LECCE
Today begins with a short transfer to a local masseria producing a range of organic local cheeses and olive oils. We continue to the fascinating Museum Quo Quo on the outskirts of Lecce where our lunch will help us discover some of the finest products of the Salento region. In particular "frisa salentina" (hard bread), fresh home made pasta, local olive oil, meat, vegetables, fruit and a traditional dessert, all prepared by a local chef explaining the secrets of the traditional cuisine. We then make our way to Lecce, often called
"The Florence of the South" with an amazing collection of Baroque architecture. During our visit you are likely to be impressed by the lavish decorations on its facades.
The local sandstone, tinged a warm pink, is so easy to work with that it fostered the rise of a local style (barocco leccese) as ornate and intricate as any the world has seen.
Day 8 - TARANTO
This morning we cruise around the heel of Italy and dock at Taranto at lunchtime. In the afternoon visit a local winery and here we can taste a range of wines including classic Primitivo di Manduria.
In addition to the full range of rich, long-lived reds we will taste rosé and whites from indigenous Verdeca and Alessano grapes.
Day 9 - CROTONE
Having crossed the Gulf of Taranto, today we will visit the jewel in Calabria`s wine crown - Librandi. It was the ancient Greeks who first planted vines in this sun-baked land and whilst Librandi have only been making wine for half a century or so, their quality is first rate. The company nods to the region`s history by producing two wines from varietals known to the Greeks Gaglioppo and Mantonico. As a complete contrast they also produce wines from modern varietals including Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.
After a light Calabrian-influenced lunch at the winery we rejoin the ship and begin our cruise to Sicily.
Day 10 - TAORMINA & MOUNT ETNA, SICILY.
This morning visit Taormina, one of the most beautiful villages in Sicily. Settled on a hill of the Monte Tauro, Taormina dominates two grand, sweeping bays below and the peak of Mount Etna on the southern side, Europe`s highest active volcano which is often capped with snow. The views are simply breathtaking, a dramatic and memorable vista over almost one hundred miles of Mediterranean Sea. We then move ever closer to Etna and visit the vineyards of Benanti, tucked away on the slopes of Etna itself; Benantini own vineyards up to an altitude of 1000m. Lunch will be taken at the vineyard followed by some wine tasting. White wines are made from the indigenous Carricante - only found on the slopes of
Etna and the more-famous reds are made from Nerello Mascalese, a varietal which thrives in the unique volcanic soil structure.
Day 11 - CATANIA, SICILY
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport.
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| MORE INFO |
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| SHIP STATISTICS |
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Built:2001
Crew:17
Language: English
Passeng. Cap.: 46
Engine:2x680kWa Cummins
Ship Speed: 11 knots
Max. Speed: 13 knots
Length: 54 m
Beam: 7,10 m
Draft: 3,6 m
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Cruise rates (GBP) per Person
Category A
Category B
Category C
Category P
Category C for sole occupancy
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4,770
4,570
4,270
5,070
4,970
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Rates include:
• Accommodation in chosen cabin with full board service
• Wine tastings and lunches ashore as described
• Food and wine expert
• Services of a cruise director
• Guest speaker
• Shore excursions
• Port taxes
• Gratuities to crew
Rates do not include:
• Domestic and/or international flights
• Post cruise accommodation ( available on request )
• Drinks/ beverages from the ship’s bar (except those mentioned above)
• Transfer from and/or to the ship prior to embarkation and/or after disembarkation
• Gratuites ashore
• Onboard communication such as facsimile, telephone, internet
ITINERARY DEVIATIONS:
Every effort will be made to adhere to the scheduled itinerary ; however, due to the schedule changes beyond organizer’s control, we reserve the right, without prior notice, to change routing or alter shore excursions.
* DELECTA Ltd.reserves the right to change the vessel provider in case of the contracted services are
not supplied according to the previously agreed standards.
BOOKING:
Bookings are on request and need to be confirmed.
30 % reservation deposit per person based on the total cost of the cruise should be paid within 7 days from our written confirmation.
Deposit is non refundable.
Final payment is required 90 days prior to departure.
CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS:
Our flat rate claim to reimbursement consist of a processing fee of 30% per person ot total price
for cancellation of a reserved trip up to 89 days prior to commencement of travel.
The
following annulment fees shall arise in the event of later cancellation:
40% of the tour price for cancellation 89 - 61 days prior to commencement of travel
50% of the tour price for cancellation 60 - 61 days prior to commencement of travel
60% of the tour price for cancellation 60 - 35 days prior to commencement of travel
75% of the tour price for cancellation 35 - 15 days prior to commencement of travel
100% of the tour price for cancellation 14 - 0 days prior to commencement of travel |
