Immerse yourself in a week of Italian culture, automobiles, food, lifestyle and passion-filled driving.
Drive The Italian Lifestyle! What could be more ideal than activating all your senses as you tour the Italian countryside, reminiscing of the golden age of “la dolce vita”, behind the wheel of an iconic sport-tuned, Italian sportscar? The Canossa Grand Tour automobiles are FIAT 500 Abarth Cabrios, tailor-made by Garage Italia, a dream boutique founded by Lapo Elkann, the grandson of FIAT founder Gianni Agnelli, and are intended to provoke imagination and to illuminate the inner desire of everyone who loves to drive.
Experience the true Italian Lifestyle as you and your co-pilot embark on an unparalleled motoring holiday exploring Italy’s most exciting roads, immersed in breathtaking sceneries and savouring the culinary specialties of Emilia-Romagna and the UNESCO recognized “Italian Food Valley.” And our tour is not just about the world famous cuisine, Emilia-Romagna is also home to Italy’s legendary automotive industry, where we will visit Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani, Maserati and others. Like the custom FIAT 500 Abarths, Canossa Grand Tours are light, nimble, exciting and exclusive.
To provide the most embracing occasion, each Canossa Grand Tour is limited to 10 cars, and as such, Canossa Grand Tours are an ideal experience for creating new friendships, intimate groups of family or friends, or for corporate team-building. Or, if you just want to break away from it all and leave it all behind for one week, Canossa Grand Tours may be the perfect road-going yoga for your individual salvation.
Day 1 - Saturday
Our Chauffeur will await you at the airport and will escort you to the Armani Hotel in Milan, a five star hotel and icon of exquisite Italian hospitality.
Once you are settled in, you will have the afternoon to explore the many sites of the historic city center, indulge in a shopping spree, or perhaps while away the afternoon people watching in Piazza del Duomo. For those who wish to focus on the automotive experience, the Alfa Romeo
Museum is only a few miles from the city center. That evening we will celebrate the official start of our Canossa Grand Tour, with a welcome dinner highlighted by the many savory and traditional flavors of Milanese cuisine.
Day 2 - Sunday
After a rejuvenating night of rest, we’ll enjoy breakfast and a proper Italian espresso, or two, or three. We will hold a concise drivers briefing with useful information for the road, in an effort to maximize your Grand Tour experience.
From Milan, we will depart for the paradiso della cucina, Parma! The “City of Gastronomy” and the UNESCO-designated “Creative City”, located in the heart of the “Italian Food Valley.” Upon our arrival in Parma, we will continue our culinary celebration of Italy with a lunch of incomparable delight, at the spectacular medieval castle of Vigoleno.
Following lunch, we will traverse the exhilarating foothills of the northern Apennine mountains, as we continue our journey to our next destination, Modena, birthplace of Enzo Ferrari and the holy epicenter of Aceto Balsamico. Following a full day of impassioned driving, we will be greeted by the welcoming staff at the newly- opened Hotel Rua Frati 48 in Modena center. After settling in, we will gather for a smooth and easy cocktail reception, followed by a relaxed dinner of true Modenese culinary passion.
Day 3 - Monday
Stretching for less than 40 miles around Modena, the history of motorsports and the automobile altogether, cannot be told without highlighting this monumental region of automotive genius. Beginning with the Maserati brothers in 1914 and their subsequent rise to greatness in motor sport victories and road-going automotive manufacturing. Then in 1929 came the legend himself, the “Commendatore.” Enzo Ferrari and his famous Scuderia Ferrari marked the beginning of what has arguably become, the sublime pinnacle of motor sport and road-going automotive perfection. Next in line to leave his mark in the pantheon of Italian automotive greatness was Ferruccio Lamborghini, then followed by Horacio Pagani and his transcendent works of automotive brilliance. Of course, we would be remiss if we did not mention the greatness bestowed upon the two-wheeled world in 1926, by our friends in Bologna, at Ducati motorcycles.
To compliment our immersion in automotive greatness on this day, we will also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the 12th century Cathedral of Modena and the Torre della Ghirlandina. We will ensure that the thrills, beauty and magnificence of this day will be highlighted accordingly, with a heavenly Michelin-star dinner.
Day 4 - Tuesday
We depart the Motor Valley along the legendary roads of the Mille Miglia, through the Appennines, across the Futa and Raticosa Passes on our way to the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Florence. On our way, we stop for lunch at a small, family run osteria; a truly hidden gem known only to the locals and the well-travelled. Arriving in Florence you will be greeted by the splendor of this magic city built around the Arno River. You should have the afternoon to explore the magical twisting, turning of streets of Florence, before enjoying a dinner with a view not to be forgotten. Should you have any questions or needs, our Experience Managers will be at your disposal, to custom tailor your day.
Day 5 - Wednesday
We’ll depart from Florence heading to the Chianti region, where you will be consumed by the undulating roads and mesmerized into tranquility by the infinite sequence of vineyards, farms and olive groves. We will then head to the medieval village of Volterra, where we will stop for a traditional lunch of regional specialties. The day's journey ends in Forte dei Marmi, Tuscany’s most glamorous town on the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Day 6 - Thursday
Our day will start with a visit to Pisa and the world’s most famous tower. From here we’ll head to the magnificent walled city of Lucca, founded in 180 BC by the Etruscans. Entering through one of Lucca’s ancient gates, we will explore the city before heading off into the Apuan Alps, where we will traverse the roads that snake through the quarries of the world famous marble of Carrara. Closing off the day, we will return to Forte dei Marmi for dinner by the seaside while the sun sets in the blue water of the Mediterranean Sea.
Day 7 - Friday
We will explore the Tuscan coast and the romantic Gulf of Poets, with a quick stop in the enchanting seaside village of Lerici. We will then reach the Cinque Terre, another remarkable UNESCO paradise, where the mountain vineyards touch the sea. We will break for lunch in the early-13th century Cinque Terre town of Riomaggiore. Following lunch, we will reach Milan via fast and curvy freeway.
We will return to the Armani Hotel, where you will have time to relax and gather all that you have collected during this past week, before we meet for the farewell dinner of the Canossa Grand Tour, highlighted by a spectacular view of the Duomo and one final Italian culinary experience.
Day 8 - Saturday
At check-out you will receive your personalized postcard of the Canossa Grand Tour along with your stamped Canossa passport, where you can collect all your Canossa experiences and enjoy benefits granted to Canossa’s family members. Welcome to Club Canossa!
Our chauffeur will take you to the airport. Within a few weeks, you will have a chance to relive your memories with a complete photo book of your tour.