Alberto Mondi, an Italian-born broadcaster [Hanatour]
Alberto Mondi, an Italian-born broadcaster [Hanatour]

Hanatour has teamed up with Italian-born broadcaster Alberto Mondi to launch a premium themed travel product centered on the food culture of Italy's smaller cities. Titled "Italy Culinary Journey," the product moves away from major-city tourism to offer an in-depth experience of local flavors and culture.

The itinerary was built around gastronomic destinations personally selected by Alberto, known to Korean audiences from TV programs including "Tokpa-won 25si," a current-affairs talk show, "Abnormal Summit" and "Welcome, First Time in Korea?" The product includes a local cooking class, the White Truffle Festival and a winery visit.

The Italy Culinary Journey is part of Zeus, Hanatour's high-end travel brand, and sits within the "Zeus Signature" lineup — an extension of high-end service into the packaged travel segment. The product is themed around gastronomy to showcase the distinctive food cultures of Italian small towns such as Piedmont and Tuscany, and is built around luxury hotels and a premium itinerary.

Travelers can attend the White Truffle Festival held each autumn in Alba, Piedmont, and sample truffles on-site. A cooking class led by a local professional chef covers traditional fresh-pasta recipes and regional home-style dishes, with participants sitting down to eat the meals they prepare.

Beyond food, the itinerary includes a visit to the Scuola del Cuoio leather workshop in Florence and a tour of the historic center of Modena. Accommodations are spread across small-town hotels: Villa La Personala near Modena, Villa Pattono Relais amid the Piedmont vineyards, and the Grand Hotel Palazzo in Livorno.

"Together with Alberto, an expert well-versed in local history and gastronomy, this premium themed journey lets travelers step away from Italy's major cities and immerse themselves in the unique food culture and atmosphere of its smaller towns," a Hanatour official said. "Following this culinary journey, we will consistently introduce a range of premium products across various themes."


terry@heraldcorp.com