Come with as we enjoy the finest shooting ranges in Italy, visit some of the world greatest manufacturers and tour firsthand the cultural icons of Italy.
On Friday, September 19th we will depart from a major US airport, for a direct flight to MILAN. The exact US airport will be decided upon later on as we determine where most of the participants are flying out of and what makes the most sense.
On Saturday morning the 20th, you will wake up over Italian airspace, shortly followed by a landing at the Milano Malpensa airport at 9:00. There we will have to check through Italian customs, and clear our shotguns through the Italian police. I am pleased to say we have the help of a lady who has arranged hundreds of similar trips with Italian Shooting Federation, so I expect our trip through customs to be relatively painless. After clearing through all the necessary red tape we will head southeast towards the coast. We will stop for lunch at a delightful villa, then continue Southward to VIAREGGIO, where we stop for an early afternoon and shopping along the beach.
On Sunday the 21st, it is short ride over to PISA, where we will visit the greatest example of Murphy's law in the realm of architecture. After a short tour of the tower, it's another quick drive over to MONTACATENI where we will enjoy lunch and shooting at this famous club. Shopping is a short walk away for those who prefer a little less noise. In the mid afternoon, we will go about another hours ride to FLORENCE, we will enjoy a guided tour and shopping before retiring for the night in the Hotel Giottia.
On Monday the 22nd we will travel to BOLOGNA where will visit MATTERELLI, manufacturer of the world's finest target machines, and then just around the corner to tour the shot shell manufacturer B&P. Lunch will be at the club MOLINELLA, where we can also shoot a few rounds. The afternoon hours will include a tour of downtown Bologna, along with dinner and shopping near our hotel.
We travel northward on Tuesday to REGGIOLO where will see the factory of Emillana Piatelli that makes clay pigeons, from there we head onward through VERONA, then eastward to the famous city of VENICE, where will have lunch and a tour of the watered city. Late in the afternoon, we head over IESOLO, for dinner and shooting at their club.
On Wednesday, we head west, back to VERONA, stopping this time at the home of Romeo and Juliette with a guided tour of Piazza Erbe. Then it's a short drive over to SIRMIONE for lunch by the famous lake. Then its about another 20 minutes drive over to PADENGHE, where we will check into the Hotel West Garda, where normally all the attendees at Shotgun World Cup Finals are housed. After checking in, its over to LONATO, the most famous gun club in Italy, shopping and sightseeing is also only footsteps away for non-shooting spouses.
On Thursday the 25th we go to the famous GARDONE VAL TROMPIA, for a tour of BERETTA. Lunch will be had nearby before moving over to Giavenelli's engraving school, or the UBERTI factory. There is also a famous knife museum, which shouldn't be missed. Shopping and sightseeing is always footsteps away. In the afternoon we will go shooting at BETTOLINO and the then dinner in BRESCIA. Then back to the West Garda sweet dreams of the day's activities.
On Friday we will visit PERAZZI, shoot on Perazzi's range, then lunch in Brescia. Visiting the Roman archeological digs, the Arms museum in Brescia or shopping is your afternoon choices, before shooting and dinner at CASTELGOFFREDO. Spending the night again at the courtyards of the West Garda.
On Saturday the 27th we depart for MILANO where will have a guided tour of the famous sites, including Castello Sforzesco, Dumoa Cathedral, with lunch downtown. Early in the afternoon, we will check into our hotel to prepare packing for our flight back home. Around 4 pm, those that wish to shoot a few more rounds under the blue Italian skies, will head over to CARISIO for dinner and shooting. Those that wish to linger in Milan for the evening are of course welcome to do so.
On Sunday the 28th it's a 10 minute ride over to the airport, for our return flight home. If you want to travel elsewhere in Europe, that's easily possible too.
If your spouse is not interested in shooting, we can make arrangements for shopping or sightseeing if they are beyond walking range. Group size will be limited to 25 participants, and this year's trip will happen, even if there is only 5 of us going.
Ready to go? Click here to download our registration form.
Want more info? An exact itinerary? Send us e-mail to travel@pilkguns.com.
See Scott’s photos from the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.