A small group tour designed to live Italy, not just visit it.
Somewhere along the way, travel became another thing to survive. Weeks of planning. A new hotel every night. The same landmarks and the same crowds, because they’re the easiest places to find. Not with us.
The Italy worth knowing lives in a family cellar, a mountain village, a kitchen where no one speaks English.
It isn’t easy to find on your own. Someone has to bring you in. You arrive as a friend of a friend.
Six guests. We travel slowly and stay long enough in each place to settle in and feel at home, without packing a suitcase every morning. Each day brings one experience, a hike, a winery where the owner pours for you, a boat on the lake, a cooking class, or a slow afternoon in thermal waters with a glass of Franciacorta. Every meal is local, every introduction personal.
Just Italy, at the right pace. Everything included.
I grew up in Italy. What I share on these trips isn’t something I found in a guidebook, it’s the way I’ve always lived.
Years in the wine industry brought me close to the people behind the places, winemakers, restaurateurs, families who own remarkable properties in the countryside. Many of them don’t advertise, and most don’t need to. They open their doors to people they trust, and when you arrive with me, you arrive as one of those people.
The first tour happened almost by accident. Every guest wanted to come back. They said it had changed something for them, and they left as friends. That’s when I understood that the magic was in keeping it small.
Live Real is limited to six guests. Not because it’s a rule, but because that’s how many people fit around a real table. And just as the places we visit aren’t open to everyone, neither is this. Every trip begins with a conversation, because the right group matters as much as the right places.
This trip exceeded expectations! We traveled as welcomed guests not just tourists, getting an inside glimpse of life in the breathtaking mountains of Northern Italy, drinking our way thru with really good wine and eating a lot of really good food! The fact that all of us expressed interest in staying and working for Walter at Menegola Winery proves the point! Looking forward to getting together with this group of friends soon.
— Michelle & Mike —
Jill and I had a wonderful time exploring Northern Italy with Andrea and a small group of new friends we felt we’d known forever. From Formula 1 qualifying at Monza to a quiet lunch at La Madonnina di Barni above Lake Como, the trip exceeded our expectations and gave us exactly what we were looking for: a chance to get off the beaten path and experience local life.
We walked the vineyards with Walter at Menegola Winery in Valtellina, rode the Bernina train through the Swiss Alps, hiked on the Forni Glacier, and relaxed in the hot springs at Bagni Vecchi in Bormio. Exploring Lake Maggiore’s historic islands by private boat was another highlight. Add wonderful meals, great wine, and plenty of laughs, and it’s hard to imagine a better trip.
What made it all come together was Andrea. He planned, guided, drove, and took care of everything with an easygoing style that made the whole trip feel relaxed. No drama, no scrambling, just the chance to enjoy where we were and who we were with.
There were only seven of us, including Andrea, which made the trip feel personal. His local knowledge and relationships introduced us to people, places, and experiences we would have been unlikely to find on our own.
We came home with wonderful memories, new friendships, and a real appreciation for the care Andrea put into the trip. We would happily recommend him and Live Real to anyone looking for a more personal way to experience Italy.
— Mike & Jill —