The cuisine of Italy varies from region to region, 20 in all. When selecting a tour, you may want to consider which regions suit your palate. Tourists who enjoy wine with their meals may want to choose Tuscany, famous for its vineyards and cheeses. Liguria is a destination for seafood lovers while Emilia-Romagna serves up stuffed pastas such as tortellini and lasagna.
Gastronomic tours involve wine, olive oil and balsamic vinegar tastings, ham and cheese samplings and full meals. Many tours include cooking lessons and shopping in local food markets. Tour itineraries also offer sightseeing amid the culinary-related activities.
Many tours do not include the flight to Italy or other transportation as part of the cost. Check the tour itinerary to see which meals are included and which are not. As of 2010, tour prices can range from $1,350 for a five-day cooking and eating tour of Umbria to $5,068 for a culinary week in Verona.
