VoomaGo + Taste of ItalyA Cultural Food & Wine Adventure of Southern & Central Italy

Spend a unique 14 day walking and eating adventure of southern and central Italy with Antimo of VoomaGo and Astrid of Taste of Italy. A distinct blend of hand-picked authentic cultural and culinary experiences found off the beaten path. Antimo, an native Italian and Astrid an American, will share their insights, passion for gastronomy, wine, art, history, and culture.

Experience the Italian culture with locals, taste their traditions through cuisine, cook century old recipes, absorb the richness of art and layers of history, walk the ancient cobblestones, and meet the artisans from the city to the Tuscan countryside. Take part in the wine harvest and pick primitivo grapes, eat fish caught before your eyes, relax on some of the most pristine beaches of the Ionian Sea, and stroll through quaint white washed towns built in ancient times. Spend time with their friends-at the table in the heart of their homes, cantinas, and kitchens of skilled artisans who are passionate to share their family traditions.

What’s Inluded

Four star accommodations – Private transportation – Two meals per day – Two free days – Cooking classes – Visit to the Accademia Museum – Private guided art history walk of Florence – Truffle hunt and truffle meal – Artisan porchetta and sausage lesson – Visit to wineries and tasting of Chianti and Primitivo – Extra virgin olive oil tasting -Visit to Etruscan, Medieval and Baroque towns –  Making of Pizza – Harvesting grapes – Meals with Locals – Time on the beaches of Southern Italy

 

 

Meet your Hosts

Antimo Cimino will be the host of this experience in Puglia where he was born. In his home town of Manduria, you will be meeting friends and family as he introduces you to the warmth of southern hospitality. He has worked in Florence before moving to the Portland, OR in 1996. Antimo has lived in four countries, speaks six languages and has extensive experience in the travel, hotel and tourism industry. After 13 years as a project manager for leadership development in the corporate world, he decided to follow his passion for culture and travel and co-founded VoomaGo to introduce people to authentic Experiential travel. Antimo has a great outgoing personality and an infectious energy and enthusiasm.

Astrid Koteen Ensign will be the main host in Tuscany. With a passion to share the culture and provide an authentic experience of Italy, Astrid has been guiding clients on gastronomic and walking adventures since 2009. She is the founder of Taste of Italy and has been in love with Italy since the age of 15, when she spent a year in a cultural exchange program near Venice. She later returned to Florence to study art, design, and architecture. She has collaborated with food artisans throughout Italy in Tuscany, Sicily, Elba, Liguria, and Morocco. After spending more than five years immersed in Italian cuisine and culture, Astrid continued her culinary adventures in Europe, Southeast Asia, Mexico, and eventually back to the states. She formed her own company and now takes small groups on curated travels to experience Italy and create a cultural connection through food.

What Voomago Clients are saying

“I cherished every moment of the trip to Tuscany. It was so vivid and will never leave my heart and mind. Every portion was unique and was well planned, Astrid created a week of unique experiences, organized with thoughtfulness and great attention to detail. The trip experiences made me feel completely saturated in the Italian culture and flavors. I think of the trip, my photos, and Italian recipes often. Thank you Astrid for giving me a memory to last the rest of my life.”

Laurel, MT

“I had the pleasure of spending two days with Antimo during his tour of southern Italy. I had such a fun and cultural experience that I would have never had the chance to do without Voomago. Antimo's connections with family and friends in southern Italy and the days he organized were lively, personal and unforgettable! Definitely unlike any other tour I've done.”

Alison N.

“Spent almost 3 weeks in September with Antimo in Italy. Our trip included wine tastings, olive oil tasting, balsamic vinegar experiences, cooking classes, picking grapes during the crush, interactions with locals, and special adventures each day. My husband and I had a blast and can't imagine traveling any other way. Thanks Voomago and Antimo!!”

Christina E.

Week 1: Sept. 11-17th in Puglia

Seven nights in the Southern Italy region of Puglia. Our homebase will be in Antimo’s hometown, Manduria, from where we will visit the surrounding areas and countryside around Alberobello and Lecce.

  • Welcome Dinner
  • Harvesting grapes with late breakfast in the vineyards
  • Visit to Museo del Primitivo and wine tasting
  • Visit to local farmers market
  • Historic walk along the ancient walls
  • Relaxing on the beach and lunch with Massimo
  • Walking the streets of Alberobello
  • Lunch with Rita & Giuseppe at their farm
  • Walking around Cisternino for caffe e gelato
  • Day trip to Lecce and the Adriatic coast
  • The making of Pizza with Gianna and Leonardo

Week 2: Sept. 18-24th in Tuscany

Six nights in Tuscany

  • Walking off the beaten path in Florence with local guide
  • Visit to the open market and pecorino tasting
  • Truffle hunt in the valley with lunch with an artesianal porchetta demonstration 
  • Visit and entrance to the Accademia Museum
  • Walking exploration of a Roman amphitheater and an Etruscan town
  • Visit to local ceramic studio
  • Extra virgin olive oil tasting 
  • Stay at an elegant 11th century converted monastery 
  • Visit the family winery and cantina to taste some of the best Chianti Classico in the region
  • Cooking lesson to learn Tuscan recipes and enjoy lunch together
  • Free relaxing time 

 

Southern & Central Italy

Southern Italy

Our first week will be spent in Puglia—the heel of the boot surrounded by the Adriatic sea to the east and by the Ionic sea to the south. With its ancient history steeped in Byzantine and Greco-Roman influences, this part of Italy has a unique culture, a vast culinary tradition, and some of the best wines in the world. Olive trees and grapes as far as the eye can see, lively small towns with cobblestone piazzas spread over a rather flat territory with charming hill tops, hundreds of miles of beautiful, emerald-green coastline, and warm, welcoming locals. Puglia will feel like a different country.

 

Central Italy

Our second week will be spent in Tuscany immersed in the charm of Florence and its Renaissance history, the Chianti, and the picturesque hills surrounding the area. You will spend time with knowledgeable locals who will proudly show you around and welcome you in their homes. Enjoy and relax while we introduce you to a great variety of wines and culinary traditions you’ll be begging to stay for.

Who We’ll Be Meeting

Rita and Giuseppe will be inviting us into their humble farmhouse and cook a variety of traditional dished to enjoy in their company in particular two cheeses they make at their organic farm. 

Gianna and Leonardo, a husband-and-wife team, will be hosting a great Italian pizza making experience in their beautiful, private home.

Massimo one of Antimo’s best friends from childhood who is a passionate fisherman, great cook, farmer and winemaker as well. At his beach house we will enjoy a wonderful meal with fresh caught fish.

Andrea is a fourth generation master butcher, he was born “between prosciutto and everything that occurs on the chopping block” of a butchers shop. Not only is proud of following a family tradition,  he is a firm believer of sourcing locally and being part of the chain of a sustainable community.

Massimo is a second generation tartufaio-truffle hunter with a passion and respect for this admired and elegant tuber. Along with his loyal dog Pepper, they enjoy sniffing out and unearthing one of the most prized culinary delicacies of the world. 

Elisa, born and raised in Florence, loves to share her captivating city and culture through the eyes of a local. With a strong passion for travel, foreign languages, and cultures, she remains deeply attached to Florence and all its charm and beauty. She knows her city like the back of her hand and her personality adds even more to the guided tour experience.

Join us September 11—24th!

Go_experience

Join a unique VoomaGo & Taste of Italy adventure to experience the warmth of Italian people in Puglia and Tuscany for two weeks centered around regional grastronomy, wine, olive oil and ancient history with a chance to harvest grapes with locals. 

 

14 Days of great experiences

Per Person (Double Occupancy): $4,500

Per Person (Single Occupancy): $5,200

 

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