Dirōna Plans Spring Culinary Excursion

The Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRōNA) has planned a Tuscany and Lago di Como educational and culinary excursion for its members and industry guests from Tuesday, April 22 through Sunday, May 4, 2003. Gastaldi Global Tours is organizing the trip.

The tour will begin in Florence with an overnight stay at the luxurious Helvetia & Bristol Hotel in the historic center of the city, and continue to Siena, the base city, where the group will stay at the glorious Grand Hotel Continental. Located just off the Piazza del Campo, the building dates back to 1600, when it was designed as a magnificent palace for the Chigi family.

A tour of Tuscany will include a private tour of Siena, a tasting and lunch at the famous Enoteca di Siena, dinner in Castel Nuovo Beradenga at “Da Antonio,” the most outstanding seafood restaurant in all of Italy, a private tour of San Gimignano: “the Manhattan of Tuscany,” and a private tour and tasting at Tenuta Antinori.

There will also be an optional full day’s tour of Florence, which includes private tours of the famous museums.

After Tuscany, the group will travel by bullet train to Bellagio on Lake Como, staying at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni. A grand gala in the grand frescoed dining room of the Hotel Villa Serbelloni is scheduled for a closing reception.

The price per person to attend is $6,300. The trip is limited to 45 travelers. Exclusive arrangements have been made with Alitalia North America for a special excursion rate fare on Magnifica Class, Alitalia’s Business Class.