Full throttle in a Ferrari of your choice through the Italian countryside? You’d better believe it! Baroque Ground and sister company Baroque Travel have all the details of a vacation of a lifetime for those who love luxury, and speed
Which would you choose? The Ferrari 388 Spider, Ferrari California T or the Ferrari 458 Spider? They are all up for grabs in this exciting luxury trip through Italy, a journey that invites the privileged few who are mad about sports cars the opportunity to drive through Italy from Florence to Verona.
Of course, the luxury doesn’t stop there. The bespoke program, which can include all sorts of activities, from hot air balloon rides to golfing, cooking lessons and wine-tasting experiences to yachting and shopping, is luxury personified.
This exclusive self-drive getaway, called the ‘Italy Full Throttle Experience’, offers those who can afford it a combination of a unique Gran Turismo travel experience with stays at two exceptionally lavish hotels – Il Salviatino, a perfectly preserved 15th Century villa in the Tuscan hills overlooking Florence, and a 14th Century palace in Verona, Palazzo Victoria, which boasts ancient Medieval and Roman ruins integrated into its exquisitely refurbished design.
This is a three-day, two-night adventure, although we’re sure if you wish it can be extended for as long as you wish. You start off with a night at Il Salviatino, exploring the property’s magnificent gardens before enjoying an indulgent, authentic Tuscan dinner at the hotel restaurant, La Cucina del Salviatino.
The next day you’re introduced to the world of Ferrari, and have the choice of three magnificent beasts, mentioned earlier. Then it’s off on the journey of a lifetime in the Ferrari you’ve chosen, driving yourself through the exquisite Tuscan countryside, passing medieval villages and exquisite scenery as you savour the excitement of driving an Italian super car in its home country. The entire two-day 180-mile self-drive adventure is guided by a tour director via a sophisticated mobile radio system, takes you through the world-famous Mugello area, famous host of the Moto GP Grand Prix of Italy.
It also includes stopping off at the Passo della Raticosa for coffee, then roaring off to your next destination, Villa San Donnino, a traditional balsamic producer where you enjoy a tasting. Then it’s onwards to Maranello to explore the famous Ferrari Museum, before heading for your hotel in Verona, the exclusive five-star Palazzo Victoria, where you enjoy a sumptuous three-course dinner.
Il Salviatino
Luxury has no limits in this grand establishment, with sumptuous, comfortable suites and rooms, each individually decorated, with hand-crafted Tuscan linen bedding, WiFi, Nespresso coffee machines, Plasma TV and en suite rain showers. The restaurant creates dishes from the hotel’s organic vegetable garden, and other plush facilities include a spa with treatment rooms offering a selection of excellent treatments and a lavish pool area for when the weather is good.
Palazzo Victoria
This splendid palazzo is located in the center of the ancient part of Verona on Corso di Porta Borsari, that is lined with delightful cafés, restaurants and shops. The hotel has its own museum full of medieval frescoes directly underneath it. Decorated in a contemporary style, it boasts the original Zen garden and a charming inner courtyard. Accommodation is in spacious rooms and suites, some offering incomparable views over the city. The restaurant, Borsari 36, offers a gastronomic journey with a unique concept… the kitchen is in the center, making it the heart of the dining experience and the food is sublime.