Welcome to Milan! At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Includes meal(s): Dinner
Style & Taste in Northern Italy Your guided walking tour in Milan includes sights of Sforzesco Castle, the Galleria, La Scala Opera House, and the Duomo, followed by free time. Continue to the village of Busseto, birthplace of the composer Giuseppe Verdi for a stroll in Piazza Verdi to see the impressive municipal fortress Rocca dei Marchesi Pallavicino, location of the Giuseppe Verdi Theater. Try some local dishes for lunch before [LF] visiting a local caseificio (cheese making factory) for a Parmesan cheese tasting. (B)
LOCAL FAVORITE
Bite into 1,000 years of Italian tradition with a Parmesan cheese tasting in Busseto. Learn about the rich history that has passed the test of time with authentic ingredients of passion and perfected recipes in local caseifici (cheese making factories) of the Italian pastoral landscapes
Includes meal(s): Breakfast
Cathedrals & Classic Cars Discover more of Emilia Romagna and its rich culture. Start the day with a guided sightseeing of Parma that includes sights of the Cathedral, bell tower, and octagonal baptistry. Enjoy free time to visit the Cathedral and see the celebrated frescoes. Continue to Modena to [LF] visit the renowned Acetaia Leonardi. Learn about the meticulous process behind balsamic vinegar production and enjoy a tasting. Follow that with a short drive to Maranello, headquarters of the Ferrari car manufacturer, for a [LF] visit to the Ferrari Museum. Enjoy free time this evening. (B)
LOCAL FAVORITE
Creating classic Balsamic Vinegar requires the patience learned through four generations of devotion and respect for the 18th-century traditions at Acetaia Leonardi farm. The farm sits on 27 acres of vineyards where Trebbiano and Lambrusco grapes are grown to produce a delicate balance of sweet and sour in this Modena specialty
Includes meal(s): Breakfast
Treasured Time in Tuscany Drive into one of Italy’s most celebrated regions, Tuscany, and arrive in the beautiful walled town of Lucca. Enjoy an orientation walk of the delightful historic center, followed by free time this afternoon and evening to explore more. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Within the walls surrounding the medieval city of Lucca, the modern world fades away. While you walk, see the Piazza Anfiteatro, San Michele Square, the Roman Amphitheatre, the soaring clock tower, and the Guinigi Tower topped with a hanging garden roof – just to name a few of the impressive sights you’ll find in this historic city in Tuscany
Includes meal(s): Breakfast
Sights to Sea This morning drive to La Spezia, the starting point of your Cinque Terre and Portovenere adventure. [LF] Join a guided boat ride (weather permitting) to admire the dramatic scenery along the Cinque Terre coast. First stop is Portovenere, the unofficial “sixth village” enjoy some free time before continuing your boat ride to Monterosso, one of the Cinque Terre villages, spend some time exploringbefore continuing your journey by train. This evening, in Genoa, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Discover the beauty of Italy's Ligurian coast on a scenic cruise showcasing the famed villages of Cinque Terre and the historic charm of Porto Venere. From vibrant waterfront communities to dramatic coastal scenery, every moment reveals a postcard-perfect panorama of sparkling seas, soaring cliffs, and timeless Mediterranean beauty
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner
Spend Your Day Your Way in Genoa Follow your Local Guide to discover the highlights of the Old Town, one of the largest medieval centers in Europe, including sights of San Lorenzo Cathedral, the Ducal Palace and Christopher Columbus’ childhood home. Explore more of Genoa with your choice of an included Globus Choice excursion.
Enjoy free time this afternoon and evening. (B)
Includes meal(s): Breakfast
Carafes at the Castle Take a scenic drive to the historic Gabbiano Castle, surrounded by greenery and vineyards. [LF] Visit the wine cellars and enjoy a wine tasting followed by lunch. Arrive in the city of Turin mid-afternoon, free time to explore and get acquainted with the first capital city of Italy. (B,L)
LOCAL FAVORITE
Gracing the hills above the Po Valley, the Castello di Gabiano has made history as early as the 8th century. Once the site of sieges and wars, the castle has passed through noble families over centuries to become one of the oldest and largest manors in Monferrato. Today, its tradition of winemaking is shared with tastings of vintages aged in its cellar barrels in a tradition passed down since the 12th century
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch
Monumental Mysteries This morning join your Local Guide for a sightseeing tour in the elegant city of Turin, with its grand piazzas, palaces and churches. See the city’s landmark Mole Antonelliana, and visit the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, home to the “Shroud of Turin”. Enjoy some leisure time this afternoon and evening. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Turin abounds of a wealth of Baroque, Rococo, Neo-classical, and Art Nouveau treasures. Stroll the elegant squares to see the monument of Mole Antonelliana – a former synagogue with its 87-meter-high panorama deck. Also, visit the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, which houses the most holy relic in the Catholic Church – the Shroud of Turin
Includes meal(s): Breakfast
The Dish on Risotto Stop in Vercelli the “European rice capital.” [LF] Visit a rice factory and learn about the local rice cultivation before sitting down to savor a risotto lunch. This evening, back in Milan, join your travel companions for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
Visit Vercelli, the heart of Europe's rice production, where the tradition of delicious risotto is born. It’s here that the round rice grain called japonica is grown. This round grain keeps its shape during the cooking process to release that beautifully creamy texture of risotto that we all know and love. The fine art of rice farming in Italy now combines tradition with technology to tend these fields with loving care
Includes meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
