NORTH ITALY

Day 1: Milan airport – Milan
Arrival in Milan. Transfer to the Hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2: Milan – Busseto – Parma
Walking guided tour: Sforzesco Castle Grounds, Duomo Square with its magnificent gothic Duomo, the Galleria and La Scala Opera House. On your way to Parma, stop in Busseto to see Giuseppe Verdi’s birthplace and then Parmesan cheese tasting. Optional excursion to an original ham factory. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Parma – Modena – Maranello
Guided sightseeing: the Romanesque cathedral, the bell tower and the octagonal baptistery. Continue to nearby Maranello, birthplace of the Ferrari automobile, for an exciting visit to the Ferrari Gallery. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4: Parma – Lucca
Enjoy a walk in Lucca, quaint medieval town with its ramparts and spend time in its pretty city center. Optional dinner to a typical agriturismo is available to try out Tuscan specialties. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: Lucca – Boat for Cinque Terre – Santa Margherita Ligure
Drive to La Spezia and enjoy your excursion including a mini cruise to Cinque Terre, UNESCO World Heritage Site: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. Then, Train Ride to the beautiful seaside resort of Santa Margherita Ligure. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6: Santa Margherita Ligure – Portofino
Today’s highlight is a mini cruise to Portofino, a small fishing village with brightly colored houses that became home to the “rich and famous.” Later, back in Santa Margherita, time to relax. Optional excursion to Genova. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Santa Margherita Ligure – Asti – Turin
Enter the Langhe area and arrive in Asti. Visit a local Nougat Confectioner and try a piece of hand-made torrone before continuing to Turin, birthplace of the Fiat automobile. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8: Turin
Guided tour to the amazing 548-foot-high Mole Antonelliana and walk through the historic center to visit the Cathedral that houses the Holy Shroud. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 9: Turin – Vercelli – Milan
Stop in Vercelli to visit an original Rice Factory and enjoy a risotto lunch before returning to Milan. This evening, a special farewell dinner with typical wine at restaurant. Overnight stay.

Day 10: Milan – Milan airport
Transfer to the airport for your return flight.