Highlights of Northern Italy by Train

Tour Type

Classic

Tour Overview

Day 1 Milan
Highlights of Northern Italy by Train, day 1 of 15
Welcome to Italy! Meet your private driver at the airport and transfer to the centrally located hotel in Milan. This fascinating city is a magnet for designers, artists, photographers and models. The ancient town centre, dotted with palaces and monuments, is another reason why millions of visitors from all over the world visit the ‘city of charm’.

Day 2 Milan (Breakfast: Hotel )
Highlights of Northern Italy by Train, day 2 of 15
Milan: Walking Tour with The Last Supper. Delve into Milan’s fascinating Renaissance past and uncover the secrets behind one of the most famous paintings in the world. Accompanied by an experienced local guide venture into the fashionable district of Brera, known for its shabby chic and arty atmosphere. Walk through the narrow streets with their unique boutiques and picturesque corners. Take the elevator or climb the stairs to the rooftop terrace of the city’s Duomo. See the Duomo’s spires up close and gaze out over the Alps and Apennine mountains. The highlight of the tour is the visit to the Santa Maria Delle Grazie Church to view Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper.

Day 3 Milan (Breakfast: Hotel )
Highlights of Northern Italy by Train, day 3 of 15
There’s so much to see during your free time in Milan! Why not visit Sforza Castle, a medieval fortress built by the Visconti dynasty that became home to Milan’s ruling Sforza family in 1450. Stark and domineering, the historic brick castle has defensive walls designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Today the castle houses a number of world-class museums and galleries.

Day 4 Milan – Genoa (Breakfast: Hotel )
Highlights of Northern Italy by Train, day 4 of 15
Genoa: The City of Art. All aboard the first class Freccia Train for the journey to the next destination, Genoa. On arrival, the private driver will transfer you to your centrally located hotel. The city has a bustling seaport and an old town full of winding medieval streets lined with humble houses and beautiful churches. Narrow alleys known as ‘carruggi’ wind their way through the town leading to small squares.

Day 5 Genoa (Breakfast: Hotel )
Highlights of Northern Italy by Train, day 5 of 15
Genova: Foodie Walking Adventure. Genoa is known for some scrumptious street-food specialties, and what better way to explore the eateries than on foot. Genoa was one of the so-called Maritime Republics in the Middle Ages and today has a strong culinary tradition that merges different food cultures. Walk through the town stopping to sample traditional dishes at various eateries including delicious focaccia cooked in huge, wood burning ovens.

Day 6 Genoa – Cinque Terre (Breakfast: Hotel )
Highlights of Northern Italy by Train, day 6 of 15
Cinque Terre: Italy’s Fabulous Five Fishing Villages. Another train journey winds through stunning scenery to the next fabulous destination – Cinque Terre. On arrival, the private driver will transfer you to your hotel. The Cinque Terre is a string of five centuries-old fishing villages perched high on the wild and rugged Italian Riviera coastline: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. In this enchanting region, colourful houses and vineyards cling to steep terraces, harbours are filled with fishing boats and trattorias turn out seafood specialties.

Day 7 Cinque Terre (Breakfast: Hotel )
Highlights of Northern Italy by Train, day 7 of 15
Cinque Terre: Market and Home Cooking Experience. Get ready to learn the secrets to cooking up authentic Ligurian and Italian dishes including the region’s famous pesto sauce. After shopping in the local market for fresh ingredients, enter into a local home for the cooking class. Using recipes passed down through the generations learn how to create various dishes such as antipasto, pasta and dessert. All recipes are easy to recreate once back home. After the class, sit down and enjoy the freshly cooked Italian feast. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 8 Cinque Terre – Bologna (Breakfast: Hotel )
Highlights of Northern Italy by Train, day 8 of 15
Bologna: The Italian Food Mecca. Today’s train journey brings you to Bologna where the private driver will be waiting for the transfer to the hotel. Bologna is the epicurean capital of central-north Italy. It is also known as “la dotta, la rossa e la grassa” – for its university, Europe’s oldest; the terracotta colour of its buildings; and most importantly, for its delicious food. Stroll the stalls in the Quadrilatero or the centuries-old labyrinth of streets south of Via Rizzoli to find some of the best food markets and restaurants.

Day 9 Bologna (Breakfast: Hotel )
Highlights of Northern Italy by Train, day 9 of 15
Bologna: A Day Tour to Ravenna. Board the train to Ravenna where the guide will be waiting for a walking tour in this city full of enchanting mosaics! Ravenna is one of the most important cities of art. This is where Dante chose his last refuge; Lord Byron lived his longest relationship; Gustav Klimt drew inspiration, Hermann Hesse wrote some verses; and Oscar Wilde was inspired. It was also the seat of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, of Theodoric King of the Goths in the 6th century and then of Byzantine Italy until the 8th century. As a result Ravenna has a great heritage with historical buildings, a unique collection of early Christian mosaics and monuments, and seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. At the end of the day take the train back to Bologna.

Day 10 Bologna (Breakfast: Hotel )
Highlights of Northern Italy by Train, day 10 of 15
Bologna: Modena Food Tour. Together with a good appetite, set off on a food-centric tour to Modena. Visit a cheese producer to find out what it takes to make Parmigiano Reggiano, and of course, to sample some of the famous cheese. At the “acetaia” of Leonardi Aceto Balsamico discover just how long it takes to produce the best quality balsamic vinegar.

Day 11 Bologna – Verona (Breakfast: Hotel )
Highlights of Northern Italy by Train, day 11 of 15
Verona; The City of Love. Travel by first class train to Verona, the most romantic city in northern Italy! As usual, your private driver will be waiting to transfer you to your centrally located hotel. Verona is known as the Italian city of love and the setting for the most famous love story of all – Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The house, said to have been the home of Juliet, still exists complete with stone balcony. In the evening experience the famous show, Il Trovatore, in the famous Arena, a beautiful Roman Amphitheatre.

Day 12 Verona (Breakfast: Hotel )
Highlights of Northern Italy by Train, day 12 of 15
Shopaholics will love Via Mazzini, one of the most elegant streets in Italy full of Italian and international brands. Or why not walk to the Square of Lords, also known as Piazza dei Signori. The magnificent statue of Dante can be seen right in the middle of the square. There’s also local food markets to visit and places to do wine tastings. The city is yours to explore.

Day 13 Verona – Como (Breakfast: Hotel )
Highlights of Northern Italy by Train, day 13 of 15
Como: Italy’s Most Glamorous Lake. Today’s first class train is bound for Como, home to the beautiful Lake Como. At the station your private driver will be waiting to take you to your centrally located hotel. Stroll through the city centre and discover the majestic white marble cathedral, the elegant Via Vittorio Emanuele with its medieval walls, and the Romanesque-style church of Sant’Abbondio. Wander into traditional shops and elegant boutiques of Piazza Cavour, Via Plinio and along the lakefront. From the garden at Villa Olmo take in the magnificent views of the lake and the city.

Day 14 Como (Breakfast: Hotel )
Highlights of Northern Italy by Train, day 14 of 15
Como: The Life of the Lake. Take a tour of some of the picturesque villages around Lake Como. Bellagio is known for its cobbled lanes and elegant villas. Meet some of the local fishermen and take photographs of the gondolas in the harbour and the palaces and villas. Varenna is another beautiful village whose steep alleys lined with colourful houses, artisan workshops and elegant cafes are best explored on foot. Stop to taste locally produced olive oil, typical Valsassina cheese, cold cuts and Varenna wine. Visit the tiny St John the Baptist Church and the 14th century church of San Giorgio, famous for its black marble floor and its beautiful frescoes. The romantic lake front “passeggiata degli innamorati” (lover’s walk), is a beautiful walkway not to be missed. Take the funicular up to the village of Brunate to admire the incredible panoramic views over the lake.

Day 15 Como (Breakfast: Hotel )
Highlights of Northern Italy by Train, day 15 of 15
Sadly it’s the last day and time to say ‘arrivederci’ to Italy. After breakfast, check out and transfer to Milan airport for the onward flight.

Highlights

• Travel by train on a gastronomic tour from Milan to Lake Como.
• View Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper.
• Explore the five centuries-old fishing villages of the Cinque Terre.

Duration

• 15 Days

Inclusions

• Accommodations, meals, tickets, fees, transportation as mentioned in your itinerary.
• Tour guide services provided in the requested languages, unless otherwise mentioned in the itinerary.
• Ground transportation in private, air-conditioned vehicle
• Drinking water and cold towels during sightseeing
• Multi-lingual 24-hour customer support hotline in all destinations
• Welcome pack on arrival
• Fully licensed and insured to international standard
• All applicable local taxes.

Exclusions

• Visa fees, Personal expenses, Tips and gratuities and Airfares.
• Other services not mentioned in here

Notes or FAQ’s

• Additional airfare, airport taxes and fuel surcharges may apply.
• Additional charges may apply if changes or cancellations are made to flight tickets.
• We will notify you if ticket issuance deadlines are outside our standard terms and conditions.
• Breakfast box in case of very early morning departures.
• For solo traveller the single supplement is already included in the tour price.
• If you have decided to travel on a local holiday or festival, certain rates may be higher.
• We will let you know right away if this condition applies to you.
• Accommodation is subject to availability until you have confirmed your booking and paid any relevant deposits.
• In the event your chosen hotel is not available alternatives will be offered.