A Grand Tour in style: behind the wheel of a classic Alfa Romeo Spider through Chianti, the Maremma, and along the dream roads of Elba – winding panoramas, Mediterranean scents, and exquisite cuisine. In Venice, the pace shifts gracefully: on foot, by boat, and Vaporetto to the glassblowers of Murano and the pastel-colored facades of Burano. Back at the wheel, the route leads through Friuli via San Daniele and Cividale, along the Istrian coastal road to romantic Rovinj; the finale unfolds in Trieste with imperial charm, seaside aperitivi, and pure dolce vita.
We begin in suitably elegant style: right in the heart of Chianti, the Rocca delle Macìe estate welcomes us. An exclusive tasting—framed by ancient stone walls and rolling hills—immediately reveals the region’s unique magic. The evening culminates in a gourmet dinner at “Passo dopo Passo”, a true insider tip. On the panoramic terrace, nestled between olive groves and vineyards, we savor a delightful open-air prologue to the journey.
Today, the Alfa Romeo Spiders come to life. Our westward route follows sinuous country roads through cypress-lined avenues, medieval towns and the aromatic macchia to the Tuscan coast. In Piombino, ferries bustle off to Corsica, Elba and Sardinia. We board for Elba—no longer a summer secret, yet still a jewel of the Tuscan Archipelago and once Napoleon’s place of exile. Your home for the next few nights is the elegant Villa Ottone, a five-star hideaway with sea views, a private beach and a classic Mediterranean ambiance.
After breakfast, we set off on a grand circuit of Elba—an itinerary overflowing with postcard vistas and Mediterranean ease. The coastal road clings dramatically to the cliffs above the sea, revealing breathtaking views of turquoise waters, secluded coves and distant sails on the horizon. Pines, oleander and fragrant rosemary line the way as your Alfa Romeo Spider glides smoothly through the bends. In Marciana Marina, the elegant waterfront promenade invites a leisurely pause, and in the evening we immerse ourselves in rural Elba: at Agriturismo Monte Fabrello, the kitchen serves what the fields, gardens and cellar provide—seasonal, honest and intensely flavorful. A feast for all the senses under the island’s star-studded sky.
The morning is yours to slow down: sleep in, relax by the beach or pool, read in the shade of the pines—simply enjoy the moment. Later, we slip back behind the wheel of the Alfa Romeo Spider to explore the island’s east: Porto Azzurro, chic and maritime, and charming Capoliveri, perched like an eagle’s nest above the sea with alluring little boutiques. We round off the evening with a stylish Italian aperitivo in the marina of Portoferraio—sparkling Champagne and artfully prepared nibbles included. Not a formal dinner, but no one goes hungry—and certainly not without a smile.
In the morning we bid farewell to Elba and take the ferry back to the mainland. The parting is softened by one last glorious stretch through the Maremma. One more time guiding the Spider through sweeping curves, one more taste of pure Tuscany—until we finally reach medieval Monteriggioni, from where you’ll be chauffeured to Venice.
We cross the lagoon by boat to Murano for an up-close look at traditional glassmaking, then continue to Burano, where you have free time to wander the pastel façades and enjoy lunch at your own pace. Back in Venice, a few leisurely hours are yours before we glide along the Grand Canal by vaporetto and round off the evening together in a classic bàcaro over an included dinner of delectable cicchetti.
The morning is devoted to Venice’s icons—St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the Rialto Bridge—followed by time at leisure. In the afternoon, a group transfer takes you to Fagagna and the Hotel Villaverde, where a light snack and a comprehensive drivers’ briefing await. The Nostalgic Alfa Romeo fleet is then presented and you select your favourite for the first stage. On the afternoon warm-up drive you pass through San Daniele del Friuli, the “capital” of Italy’s celebrated cured ham—perfect for an unhurried tasting of Prosciutto Crudo San Daniele.
After check-out, we cruise along quiet country roads toward Trieste. A stop takes us to picturesque Cividale del Friuli, famed for its medieval Devil’s Bridge. In these old-town lanes, time seems to stand still, and classic Italian bars beckon for an espresso. Farther south we finally reach the scenic coastal road along the Istrian karst mountains. Lunch is served on a terrace with sea views—Neptune’s delights on the plate. Afterward, we cross into Slovenia and Croatia, where you’ll spend the night at the elegant Kempinski Adriatic. In the evening, we’ll take you to a nearby restaurant for Croatian cuisine.
Today’s drive follows picturesque—yet satisfyingly demanding—coastal roads down the Istrian peninsula via Poreč to Rovinj. Dubbed the “Portofino of Croatia,” Rovinj is one of Istria’s highlights, with its romantic harbor and charming old town alleys—perfect for a lunch break overlooking the azure sea. Back at the hotel, enjoy the pool or beach before we meet for an aperitivo followed by dinner on the hotel terrace.
Your finale is a city with a dazzling, multicultural past—Trieste, often called the “Queen of the Adriatic.” Strategically important since antiquity, it prospered as the Holy Roman Empire’s gateway to the Mediterranean. After the Congress of Vienna, the port city soared: opulent townhouses with unmistakable k.u.k. (imperial & royal) flair still dominate the urban landscape. Today, Trieste is reputed for its exceptional quality of life; research and development have replaced the heavy industries of steel and shipbuilding, and the city remains a powerhouse of coffee roasting—Illy being the local hero. Following a guided visit, we escort you to your hotel or Trieste Airport for your individual journey home.
Elba – Emerald of the Tuscan Archipelago
Elba is a Mediterranean dreamscape where sea and mountains meet in close embrace: crystal-clear coves in every shade of blue, fragrant maquis, chestnut forests in the island’s interior, and picturesque coastal villages that cling to the hillsides like colorful jewels. Life here moves at the island’s gentle pace – whether sipping espresso in Marciana Marina or enjoying an aperitivo in Portoferraio. Napoleon’s exile on Elba is more than a historical footnote: it helps explain the island’s enduring balance between rustic charm and refined lifestyle. Touring Elba in an Alfa Romeo means winding roads with sea views, the scent of rosemary and pine in the air – and that unmistakable sense of lightness Italy is famous for.
Venice – A Stage for Longing
Venice isn’t a city you simply “see”—it’s a place you perform. Between palazzi, quiet campi and the endless interplay of light and water, the lagoon city reveals its enchantment. Murano dazzles with centuries-old glassmaking tradition; in its fiery workshops, art is born—fragile and brilliant. Burano, with its pastel façades and famed lacework, offers a poetic, almost village-like counterpoint. Come evening, when the day-trippers have gone, the city belongs once more to the flâneurs: drift along the Grand Canal by vaporetto, slip into a bàcaro, order cicchetti and a Spritz—and understand why Venice has seduced artists, travellers and dreamers for centuries.
Friuli Venezia Giulia – A Cultural Frontier with World-Class Cuisine
Friuli is a land of thresholds: Alpine meets Adriatic, Italian ease meets Central European rigour, Mediterranean flavours meet hearty mountain fare. The cuisine tells that story—Prosciutto di San Daniele, Montasio cheese, and the elegant whites of the Collio. In Cividale del Friuli, time seems suspended in the medieval lanes, and the Devil’s Bridge arches dramatically over the Natisone. Driving here means moving not just through landscapes, but through epochs: Roman traces, Lombard heritage, Habsburg architecture—an intricate cultural tapestry you both see and taste.
Trieste – Habsburg Grandeur on the Edge of the Adriatic
Trieste is perhaps the most European of Italian cities—a place that has carried the elegance of the Austro-Hungarian Empire into the present. Its vast squares, literary cafés and austere palazzi evoke the spirit of a great port city, once the empire’s gateway to the world. In historic cafés, the art of espresso is a near-religion; names like Illy are not marketing, but lineage. From the limestone cliffs of the Karst, the view sweeps across the bay, while in the traditional osmize—seasonal farm taverns—you taste the hearty fare that binds Trieste to its Slovenian hinterland.
Istria & Croatia – An Adriatic Mosaic of Stone, Sea and Savour
South of Trieste, the coastal road clings to the karst cliffs—white limestone, endless blue horizon and an irresistible urge to savour every bend. Rovinj is the romantic star of the peninsula: a labyrinthine old town, a harbour like a painting, and a unique light that has captivated artists for decades. Istrian cuisine marries sea and land: just-caught fish and seafood, outstanding olive oils, truffles from the Mirna Valley, and regional wines such as Malvazija and Teran. Arriving here, you understand why the Adriatic has always been a promise—of space, warmth, and a culture of pleasure that never hurries.
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