Embrace the glamour of Milan, your introduction to the sights and sounds of northern Italy. Spend the day exploring this stylish city, home to many of the most renowned fashion houses in the world. Later, join your fellow travellers and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception, evening orientation drive and hint of the friendship and adventures to come.
Wander through the sophisticated streets of Milan joining your Local Specialist on a tour that will reveal the city's iconic and unexpected highlights. See the Gothic Cathedral, glass-domed Galleria and La Scala Opera House, one of the finest opera houses in the world. Then it's time to pound the pavements and see Milan your way. Your Travel Director will share their personal favourites. Don’t miss an opportunity to join today’s Optional Experience visit to Lake Como for a cruise past some of the region’s most glamorous lakeside properties.
Leaving sophisticated Milan behind, today is the day to treat your taste buds. Gourmands will adore our Dive Into Culture visit to a prosciutto (ham) factory near Langhirano. There’s time for a photo stop at Torrechiara fortress, perched high above the Parma Valley, before arriving at a family-run caseificio where we’ll learn the ancient craft of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese production – perfected since the 1600s. On arrival in Parma, continue your day of tasting and feasting, deepening your knowledge of Parma’s foodie heritage at an Optional Experience dinner of local specialties paired with Italian wine.
Beyond its obvious attraction as a haven for foodies, Parma is also a fascinating historic centre which you’ll come to discover this morning with your Local Specialist. Learn all about its history as a Roman settlement and medieval trading hub, including such sights as the Piazza Garibaldi, the site of a Roman Forum 2,000 years ago. You’ll have some free time for lunch perhaps indulging one last time in the city’s legendary cuisine, before heading to La Spezia on the Italian Riviera. Slow it right down this evening, taking in the tranquil seaside setting as you walk along its pretty promenade, with an evening to do as you wish.
Today we explore the dramatic coastal setting of UNESCO-listed Cinque Terre on an included full-day excursion. The deep blue Ligurian Sea provides a stunning backdrop for the expanse of pastel pinks, yellows and oranges that cling to the rugged seaside cliffs. Starting in Porto Venere, we’ll travel along the coast by boat, joining a Local Specialist who will share how the region’s isolated position protected it from pirates in years gone by. Returning to our hotel in La Spezia, we’ll enjoy dinner with our fellow travellers, sharing stories of the magnificent cliffside villages we’ve spent the day admiring.
The maritime city of Genoa and birthplace of Columbus is your first stop today as you join a Local Specialist for a guided walking tour to view the city’s majestic Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Visit Via Garibaldi, the historic centre of Genoa lined by ancient palaces, and enjoy time for lunch in the city centre, perhaps sampling some of the local focaccia before continuing to Lake Maggiore. Set against the backdrop of the Southern Alps, the quiet shores of this lake are your home for the next two nights, as they are for many well-heeled locals. Later, you could choose to join an Optional Experience to one of the Borromean Islands – Isola Bella, which includes a visit inside the aristocratic Borromeo Palace and its gorgeous terraced gardens.
Lap up gentle lakeside living during a full day spent at leisure in this picture-perfect setting. Spend the day relaxing or take an alpine train journey to see the magnificent panoramic views of the north. This evening, Connect With Locals at a Be My Guest experience. Join the Cinque family and hear all about the intriguing history of Villa Toscanini situated on a tiny romantic island which was the hideaway of the great Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini one of the most influential musicians of the 19th century.
While your holiday has come to an end, the special memories made with new friends will linger long after you return home. Say farewell to your Travel Director as you prepare to take your transfer from your hotel in Baveno to Milan Malpensa airport for your onward journey home. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.
Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a twin room. To request a personalized travel quote, click "Request Quote" and a Travel Specialist will send your custom quote including airfare if requested.
Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.
Available on Day 2
We'll travel to Lake Como, where we'll enjoy views of elegant villas and gardens as we cruise along Lake Como, one of the most beautiful spots in the Italian Lake District.
Adult Price: € 46
A fantastic opportunity to take in some of the highlights of elegant Milan. Amongst other sights, we'll visit La Scala, the world's most famous opera house, where Giuseppe Verdi, Maria Callas and others have left their mark. Our wonderful Local Specialist will bring the city’s eventful past to life.
Adult Price: € 45
Available on Day 3
Discover the cuisine of Parma as you enjoy a delightful dinner of local specialties with wine. Parma is noted for its delicacies and is considered to be the home of Italian cuisine.
Adult Price: € 68
Available on Day 4
Near the ancient Via Aurelia, we'll visit a winery to learn about "vermentino" grapes, the pride of Liguria. We'll taste several wines paired with farm-grown treats and tour the 18th-century country farmhouse. We'll then continue exploring the area, as we drive up to Sarzana, a small village founded by the Romans with rich history and heritage.
Adult Price: € 49
Available on Day 6
Come with us to Pettenasco, on the shores of Lake Orta, to experience northern Italy's best-kept secret with a Local Specialist. Afterward, we'll cruise to the island of San Giulio, famous for its peaceful atmosphere and delightful church. Then, spend time strolling in Orta town, taking in the area's beauty.
Adult Price: € 43
Available on Day 7
The famous Centovalli Panoramic Train will lead you across dramatic viaducts, past deep ravines and through beautiful forests, whilst your Local Specialist tells stories of local mountain life. We'll stop at a typical Italian Alpine village, where you'll enjoy free time to discover its picturesque charms.
Adult Price: € 53
We've organized a private launch to take you to the beautiful islands of Lake Maggiore. Here, with your Local Specialist, you'll see the Isola Madre, the Isola dei Pescatori, and on the Isola Bella we visit the magnificent palace of the Borromean Princes.
Adult Price: € 49