La Cucina Italiana is a 9-day educational travel experience designed for student groups seeking hands-on cultural connection through food, history, and shared discovery. This Italian immersion program brings together iconic landmarks with immersive gastronomic experiences, giving students a rich and layered understanding of Italian life.
The experience encourages students to actively engage with Italian culture in real-world settings, from guided street food tours and local markets to group dinners and cooking classes. Cultural learning is reinforced through daily interaction and lived experience rather than classroom-only instruction.
From the ancient ruins of Rome and the Renaissance art of Florence to the culinary heartland of Bologna, this Italy cultural immersion journey invites students to explore deeply, build global awareness, and return home with a newfound appreciation for il Bel Paese
*Travelers do not arrange their own air. Air travel is included in the program, but the cost will be added once the group air contract is confirmed. Price is valid for 2027 programs.
9 days
These are local, in-country representatives. It may be a different coordinator per city visited, or the same coordinator throughout the program, depending on destination logistics or requirements. The role of the Travel Coordinator is as follows:
Confident leading your group and you don’t need the included Travel Coordinator? Contact us for pricing without the travel coordinator.
Day 1 | Departure
En route to Rome.
Meals Included: None
Day 2 | Rome
Benvenuti in Italia! After landing and making their way to the city center, students will navigate the modern hustle and bustle of the Eternal City. They’ll enjoy a guided visit of the Colosseum before enjoying an Xperitas welcome dinner, their introduction to Italy’s renowned cuisine, with their travel companions.
Meals Included: Dinner
Day 3 | Rome
Continue exploring Rome’s layers of ancient and contemporary history. Students will learn about famous everyday Roman specialties like supplì and pizza al taglio on a guided street food tour. Later, they will try their hand at making pizza romana with a thinner, crispier crust than its Neapolitan cousin.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 | Florence
Hop aboard a high-speed train to Florence. Discover why this city became the cradle of the Renaissance and wander the halls of the Uffizi Galleries. A local guide will introduce students to many pieces of art that they will undoubtedly recognize from textbooks.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 5 | Florence
Students will start to discover the importance of high-quality materie prime, the carefully cultivated and crafted ingredients that make Italian food so delicious. A local guide will lead them through a traditional food market. Then, the group will board a bus for the Tuscan countryside to visit a fattoria or agriturismo to learn about local food production and enjoy a late lunch made with fresh ingredients.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6 | Bologna
Another train will whisk the group away to Bologna. Students will begin their exploration with a guided walking tour of the historic city center. They’ll learn about Bologna’s many nicknames: la Rossa (the red one, because of its picturesque terra cotta roofs but also its radical political history), la Dotta (the learned one, because it hosts the oldest university in the world), and most importantly for this program, la Grassa (the fat one, because it is the culinary capital of Italy).
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 7 | Bologna
Students will get a taste of la Grassa for themselves. They will visit local producers of vinegar, olive oil, salumi, cheese, or other staple products. Later, they will try their hand at making regional specialties for themselves in a local cooking class.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 | Rome
A final train will deliver students back to Rome for one last day of taste testing, exploration, and memory making. The group will conclude their time with an Xperitas farewell dinner where they can share highlights and tell stories about their time together in il Bel Paese.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 | Return
Students will say “arrivederci” to Italy and all the amazing sites they have explored during their time abroad!
Meals Included: Breakfast
Prices are based on a minimum group size of 18 students. If the minimum is not met and your group cannot be combined, a small-group supplement will apply. Final pricing is determined by confirmed dates, air arrangements, family stay communities, program components, group size, and number of leaders at final billing.
Prices are subject to change due to fluctuations in fuel prices, exchange rates, and airfare costs beyond the control of Xperitas.
The partners in Costa Rica are fabulous! Everything was well-organized, and kids were always engaged. Our guide, Jimmy, truly is an educator and ambassador of his country. All of the students and leaders really enjoyed his personality, love of his country and knowledge. The Family Stay Experience was also very wonderful!
Know that your child will grow in so many ways from this experience. The program has just the right amount of structure and freedom for the kids to explore in a safe and enjoyable manner. The family stay, while intimidating at first glance, is a unique and amazing opportunity for the kids to really experience the culture that they are being immersed in.
Immersing students in the language and culture are keys to a successful trip overseas with students, and I can always count on our in-country Xperitas guides to communicate exclusively in the target language with our students while showing them a new culture.
The focus on language and personalized touch sets this program apart from the rest.
Copyright © 2026 | Website by TourismTiger
