Bella Vista Walking & Cooking Tours
About our company, our guides, chefs & services
 
WELCOME AND BUON APPETITO!
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Walking Tours for Small Groups in Italy & France
Walking Tours - Self Guided - Italy & France
Cycling Tours for Small Groups in Italy & France
Cycling Tours - Self Guided - Italy & France
Custom Groups for Any Size
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Luxury Cooking & Walking Vacations
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About our company, our guides, chefs & services
Fun Facts of Italian Life...
Cooking Classes & Wine Tastings in NYC & other cities in North America
Cooking Classes in Italy

Meet Our Superb Trip Leaders


JANE FERRIS
Also known as "Lady Jane", Ms. Ferris lives in Ontario and originally hails from England. She is now a proud Canadian and member of the Stratford Mushroom Club.

An expert in mushrooms or "funghi", flora, fauna, and the history of Italy, a week with Lady Jane will teach you more than you ever imagined about the ins and outs of Italy and her customs.

Jane's passion for Italy stems from a 1950's love affair with "Vittorio"...and if you are lucky enough to have Jane as one of your leaders, you will hear all about it!

MICHAEL MELLAND

With one season under his belt, Michael is ready to take a break from his hometown of Vancouver and jump on the trails again!

For those of you who shop too much, or need someone to carry your pack when it becomes too heavy, Michael is there to help you! As the master of our first aid kit, he'll fix your blister, show you how to properly stretch and use your walking stick, and teach you some Italian along the way.

He is a lively, energetic guide who loves being in the Tuscan Trails.

SUSAN BERTOIA
Susan's routes are from the Veneto area of Friuli, although she knows all of Italy very well. A more lively and energetic guide you will not likely find!

You'll be singing trail songs with Susan as you wander through Chianti, and Susan will be the one to ask if you and your group can pick grapes in the field.

Remember - she's an actress, so expect to have a great time with Sue!!

TULLAN HOLMQVIST

Originally from Sweden and now a veteran New Yorker, Tullan is one of the creative group behind Bella Vista Tours. Tullan is a guide and a public relations person for Bella Vista in New York City, and is responsible for adding new hotels and cooking schools to our Italy program.

MICHELE MELLAND
The owner of Bella Vista Tours, Michele lives in New York and is always happy to breathe Italian air! She will tell you about the walls of Volterra, why the Tuscan bread is unsalted, how to count to say basic Italian phrases, and why Italians never order cappuccino after 12:00 pm.

 

Cooking Class Instructors




Stefania Farina from Modena on the food of Emiglia Romagna..

Alvaro Claudi presents a Medieval Banquet preparation (in costume and all) on the island of Elba...


Carlo Zarri from Villa San Carlo in Cortemilia shows you how to make Hazelnut Pasta and will match your meals with the best of Piedmont wines, such as Barolo and Barbaresco!


Maria from Lake Como has your group rolling Gnocchi on the Marble Kitchen counters, in a gorgeous private Villa overlooking Lake Como...

Giulia Casartelli walks with you from Villa D'Este (also on Lake Como) to her home, where you will prepare pastries and sweets in the hear of the Lakeside village of Cernobbio....

Giuliana from Il Poggiolo in Umbria mixes ingredients from the property, which also houses her lovely refurbished farmhouse (we recommend yous tay a few days!)

Paolo Monti from the Grand Hotel Portovenere on the Cinque Terre invites you into his Five Star restaurant. He presents the most wonderful professional cooking class, while you try not to be distracted by the brightly coloured boats you see bobbing in the harbour next to you....

Marisa-Mimma-Simonetta-and Lele from Tutti a Tavola in Radda-in-Chianti!!

.....and of course, c'e' sempre qualche novita' ancora da scoprire!!

 (there's always someone new to discover...)

Our Service Fees

If you are booking a tour with Bella Vista Tours & Travel, there is no additional service fee charged. 

WALKING & WINE PACKAGES IN ITALY

If you are planning on renting a car and travelling through Italy on your own, have limited time, and would like to do some hiking or arrange some pre-arranged vineyard visits, please let us know.  We can arrange to supply you with maps and directions for a day trip of walking or hiking in easy countryside, or set up an itinerary for you for visiting some of the most famous vineyardsin Chianti or in Piedmont.  If you're only there for 10 days, you don't want to spend all your time on the phone making arrangements, so give us a call and we can arrange that for you for $50.00 per person.

AIRFARE, CAR RENTAL & ACCOMMODATION

We also operate as a regular travel agency, providing you with airline tickets, hotel accommodations and car rentals.  There is a minimum $50.00 service fee per passenger for these arrangements.  If the hotel does not pay commission to travel agents, or pays less than the standard 10%, we may ask for the difference. 

 

We hope you agree that it is deserving, as we believe  your vacation deserves the best service.