Northern Italian Lakes & Countryside

Welcome to Turin, the starting point for a journey through Italy’s northern countryside and lakes. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers and get to know one another over dinner, sharing your first taste of regional flavors.

Get your bearings on a city tour of Turin with a Local Specialist, taking in piazzas, wide boulevards and baroque architecture. The afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Stroll the arcaded streets, sip a rich bicerin at a cafe or join an Optional Experience to an UNESCO-listed palace, part of the “Corona di Delizie” (Crown of Delights) built by the Royal House of Savoy and one of Italy’s most impressive palace complexes. This evening, perhaps join an Optional Experience for dinner at a local restaurant near Turin.

Start your day at Lago d’Orta, with time for a coffee by the water and views of the island and the Alps beyond. Continue along Lake Maggiore, following the shoreline past pastel villas and wooded hills to Stresa, where you can enjoy free time or join an Optional Experience to the Borromean Islands, group of private isles once home to aristocratic families. Later, arrive in Erba, gateway to the Lombardy countryside, where you may choose to round off the day with an Optional Experience dinner on the shores of Lake Pusiano.

Spend the day in Como, with plenty of time to explore at your own pace. You might take the funicular up to Brunate for panoramic views, browse local boutiques or relax by the lake with a gelato. For a different perspective, you can join an Optional Experience with a Local Specialist to learn about the history, culture and villas of Lake Como.

Explore the upper town of Bergamo, where medieval streets lead to Piazza Vecchia, once the heart of civic life. See the Contarini Fountain and Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, built in the 12th century as a tribute to the Virgin Mary. Walk past Renaissance facades before traveling into the Lake Garda area. Enjoy a Be My Guest experience with the Serenelli family at their farm where you’ll dine on Lombardy favorites. Settle in for a three-night stay surrounded by the Italian countryside and tree-covered hills.

Your day starts with an introduction to the gastronomic hub of Modena, home of sparkling Lambrusco, salty prosciutto and the aromas of parmigiano, for an exploration with a Local Specialist. Wander past pastel-hued facades in the heart of the city that was the birthplace of Ferrari, Pavarotti and tortellini. Modena's Old Town and the Piazza Grande with its 12th-century cathedral and Torre Civica, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As the day continues, visit the Enzo Ferrari Museum where you'll Dive into Culture and explore the history of this Italian icon. Enjoy a gourmet interlude at a historic, traditional Acetaia on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience to taste the delicious flavors of some of the world’s best organic and biodynamic balsamic vinegar. Settle in for a leisurely dinner with your traveling companions and Travel Director.

Romance is in the air today as you journey to Verona, the home of Shakespeare’s tragic star-crossed lovers. A walking tour with a Local Specialist introduces you to the city’s remarkable architecture and elegant piazzas, as well as the impressive Roman arena, still in use today. Afterwards, enjoy time at leisure to explore further—admire the medieval towers of Castelvecchio, relax beneath the shady trees of Piazza Bra, or climb Lamberti’s Tower for sweeping views across this beautifully preserved city.

In search of spires that reach the sky, leave the tranquil lakes behind for the chic northern capital of Milan. Admire the Gothic Duomo, La Scala Opera House and 19th-century Galleria with its glass and iron-domed roof. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure to jostle with the Milanese for your spot in the shopping district of Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga and Via Sant'Andrea. This evening, join your fellow travelers for dinner to celebrate the end of your holiday together.

Your jaunt through the lakes and countryside of northern Italy has come to an end. Say arrivederci to Italy and your newfound friends.