About Italy with Pleasure

Italy With Pleasure emerged from a marriage of ideas (the traditional marriage came later). To explain, we need to wind the clock back to the time when the founders of the company, Antonella and Malcolm, were embarking on what became Italy With Pleasure.

Malcolm was working as a winemaker in Puglia, southern Italy. Discovering new flavours, but more significantly the depth of history and culture all around. Nearby was Antonella, studying for a masters in literature. Together we embarked on an exploration of firstly Puglia, where we were living, and later further afield around the many and varied regions of Italy. Everywhere we went we would seek out the local cuisine, traditions tied to the land, places off the beaten track. We’d always try to find the essence of what made each place unique, maybe it was a local artisan, maybe it was part of an ancient Roman road; it could be the particular way they make their pasta shapes in their village.

And what were our own travels in Italy are now the tours that we offer to you - Italy With Pleasure was founded specifically for this purpose. We collaborate with a group of likeminded individuals who are our Tour Leaders - Mark and Anita, Riccardo and Roberta - who will lead your group for the week and provide insights into this land. Our guiding philosophy in designing the tour itineraries is to do so with the care we would in planning a personal trip with a close friend. We've maintained the spirit of those early days, almost 20 years ago now, back when we were driving around Italy with hands stained from the intense primitivo wine being made back in the winery.

We invite you to come and uncover some of these special places for yourselves. With pleasure, of course.