Past tour · Northern Italy & Sardinia
Trentino
& Sardinia
Two weeks of food, wine and culture: the lakes and mountains of Trentino, then the southern coast of Sardinia, the original Blue Zone.
A food and wine journey
Two of Italy’s great tables, in one trip
This tour paired two regions that could hardly be more different: the Alpine north, where Italy meets the Nordic world, and a Mediterranean island with a culture all its own.
What tied them together was the table. Local dishes, extraordinary wines, and the people who make them.
The northern mountains of Trentino
Trentino sits at the very top of Italy, bordering Austria and Switzerland, and it looks and feels like nowhere else in the country. Snow-capped peaks, woods, wide valleys and lakes, with quaint villages set against the Alps.
At its southern tip lies Lake Garda, far larger than most people expect. In Trentino its narrow northern end runs between steep mountains like a fjord.
The Mediterranean island of Sardinia
Then we flew south to Sardinia, with its astonishingly beautiful beaches, wonderfully fresh food and a culture shaped by Phoenicians, Romans, Spaniards and the House of Savoy.
Sardinia was the first place researchers identified as a Blue Zone, home to one of the world’s highest concentrations of people who live past 100.
Week 1 · Food, wine and culture at the foot of the Alps
Riva del Garda and Trentino
We landed in Verona and traveled by private coach to our four-star hotel in Riva del Garda, a stone’s throw from the lakeshore.
Trentino’s landscapes range from mountaintops to wide green valleys, and the light on its villages against the Alps is unforgettable. Its famous resorts, from Madonna di Campiglio to Canazei, Moena and San Martino di Castrozza, draw visitors in winter and summer alike.
A land bridging the Latin and Nordic worlds, Trentino holds a remarkable cultural heritage: prehistoric sites, castles, sanctuaries and historic towns. From our base in Riva del Garda we visited local sites, enjoyed three to four wine tastings, and finished each with a four-course dinner at one of the town’s restaurants.
We also spent a day in Franciacorta, a sparkling wine region well known to wine lovers but still undiscovered by many. Optional day trips to Venice or Verona were available for those who wanted them.
- Riva del Garda
- Lake Garda
- Trentino wineries
- Franciacorta
- Optional: Venice or Verona
Week 2 · Exploring the island
Southern Sardinia and ancient Nora
After a week on the mainland, we took the 90-minute flight from Verona to Cagliari, the island’s capital.
Our four-star hotel sat about 30 km from Cagliari, near Nora, one of Sardinia’s oldest cities. Founded by the Phoenicians and later a Carthaginian town, Nora became a flourishing Roman city, home to as many as 8,000 people at its height. Its ruins still sit beside the sea.
From there we explored the beautiful southern coastline, visited towns, villages and historic sites, and learned about the Sardinian way of life.
- Cagliari
- Nora
- The southern coast
- Local villages
What the tour included
- 14 nights in four-star superior hotels
- Airport transfers
- Private coach transportation every day
- Daily breakfast, plus four-course dinners with wine (one bottle per couple), dessert and coffee
- Winery visits and tastings
- Flight from Verona to Cagliari
- All tips and taxes while with the group (except coach drivers)
Not included
- International flights
- Lunches at wineries
- Museum and historic site entry fees
- Bicycle rentals
- Personal activities outside the group schedule
- Medical and accident insurance (strongly recommended)
The story behind the tour
A full account is coming soon
Wanda is writing about this journey for the journal. In the meantime, see where we’re headed next.
See the 2027 Journey Read the journal