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Speak with an experienced advisor
Abercrombie & Kent
OFFER ID 1507524
Italy’s Jewels: Cinque Terre & the North
Experience all the charm and magic of Italy’s elegant northern provinces, from exquisite food and wine to unique landscapes and cultures to some of the country’s most distinguished cities.
9 nights from $8,795 per person
Abercrombie & Kent: Italy’s Jewels: Cinque Terre & the North
Day 1 Milan, Italy
Transfer to Stresa. This evening, join your Resident Tour Director and fellow guests for cocktails and a welcome dinner.
Drive to beautiful Lake Como and cruise its sparkling waters by private boat, taking in views of the many luxurious villas on the lakeshore. Go ashore for lunch at a restaurant in the village of Bellagio before returning to Stresa for the evening.
Travel to nearby Milan, Italy’s wealthiest city and the heart of its fashion industry. Go backstage on an exclusive tour of the famous La Scala opera house, where some of the greatest singers in the world have performed for over 200 years. Then, continue to your hotel in Turin.
Tour Piedmont’s famous wine country, enjoying lunch and a wine tasting. In the afternoon, explore the fascinating city of Turin. After Italy was unified as a nation in 1861, Turin was named the capital of the fledgling state. Visit the Egyptian Museum, the oldest of its kind in the world and second only to Cairo in importance.
Descend to the sunbathed Ligurian coast and the small port of Sestri Levante. Join an expert to learn the art of making traditional local pesto, then savor a delicious lunch.
Discover the extraordinary beauty of the Cinque Terre (“Five Lands”), exploring these scenic villages built along the steep coastal cliffs of Liguria on the Italian Riviera.
Cross the Appenines this morning to the region of Emilia-Romagna, aptly known as the breadbasket of Italy. In the city of Parma, embark on a food-focused walking tour that introduces you to the bounty of produce and products available here. Spend the afternoon shopping in the many markets and specialty stores, or just sit in a café and watch the world pass by.
Leave Parma today for Verona, once an important Roman settlement and still prominent today. On a walking tour, see the old Roman Forum area, the Roman arena and the remains of the original Roman walls. Stand beneath the balcony reputed to belong to Juliet, Shakespeare’s most tragic heroine. Continue to Venice, where our local A&K staff will guide you on an exclusive stroll encompassing some of the characteristic bcari (wine bars) of the city.
This morning, explore the wonders of Venice with a local expert. Stroll the Rialto Market, tour the Doge’s Palace and enter St. Mark’s Basilica. Later, gather for a festive farewell dinner.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Venice: Splendours of Venice Walking Tour - 4 hours
Venice: Venice for Art Lovers Walking Tour - 4 hours
Venice: The Roman City of Verona - 7 hours
Venice: Lagoon Islands - 7 hours
Today you will be met by your local English-speaking guide for a full day excursion by private motor-boat to explore the Lagoon Islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.
Venice lies in the centre of a vast lagoon that stretches for about 30 miles from north to south, studded by numerous small islands, mostly deserted. This amazing environment is what drove the Venetians to establish their city here, a perfectly secure and inaccessible little world. Enjoy the beauty of a ride across the waters of the lagoon; visit the island of Murano, where glass has been made for over 700 years and where you can see the age-old techniques of glass blowing still in use today.
Continue to Torcello, to see the breathtaking mosaics in the Basilica di Santa Maria dell’Assunta, the oldest building on the lagoon. After a leisurely lunch (payable locally) you reach the island of Burano, a quaint and colourful fisherman island famous for its lace and charming architecture.
Highlights:
When thinking of Parma, the first thing that comes to mind is its famous food: prosciutto di Parma; and Parmigiano reggiano cheese in particular. Home to Barillo pasta, the town is renown for its culinary delights overall. Visit Parma's various cheese factories to get a first-hand look at how Parmigiano is made and sampling, as well. The town is a feast for all senses; opera, art and history buffs will find countless ways to indulge their interests. Festival Verdi celebrates Giuseppe Verdi's musical legacy every October, and at the Piazza Duomo, one can view the medieval baptistry done by Benedetto Antelami, where rosso di Verona (pink marble) shifts tones depending on the time of day and degree of sunlight. Frescoes by Corregio and Antelami decorate the interior of the Duomo. For a broader exploration of European art masters, visit the Galleria Nazionale in the Palazzo della Pilotta, noting artworks by Pamigianino, da Vinci, Van Dyck, Tiepolo and more. Relax from site-seeing at the many picturesque cafes for siesta, or treat yourself to shopping at the many boutiques throughout town.
Italians say that Turin (Torino), the major city of the western Alps, seems more French than Italian. Its wide boulevards in a grid pattern and its 17th- and 18th-century architecture do bear more resemblance to Paris than Florence. A stroll about the city center provides architectural enthusiasts examples of Renaissance, baroque, turn-of-the-century and modern buildings. The city is also distinguished by miles/kilometers of 18th-century colonnades.
Turin is the capital of Piedmont, a region that even Italians consider to have the best food in Italy. Many years of French occupation have left a mark on Piedmontese cuisine, which includes more cheese dishes and sauces than is common in traditional Italian cooking. The Piedmontese are an independent-minded people who have invented their own style of cuisine that is neither French nor Italian, but incorporates the best of both. Turin also has a well-deserved international reputation for its coffee and claims to have invented chocolate, or at least gianduiotto, the delicious confection made from chocolate and hazelnut. Temptation beckons in every window, so it is best to leave your diet at home.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.