We’ll take you on a tour of northern Italy, from east to west, including a side trip to the border regions that are spoken of as being culturally similar. This includes the beautiful Friuli region, which is considered part of Central Europe. You’ll have the opportunity not only to get to know its wonderful towns and landscapes but also to see neighboring Slovenia, all the way from Lake Bled to Trieste, which is regarded as the most Austrian city on Italian soil. Also worth visiting are Udine and Cividale, with its magnificent Lombard temple, as well as Aquileia and the charming harbor town of Grado. The rocky area above the sea along the Rilke Trail is of particular beauty, as are the hills of Collio, where you can find some of the world’s best wines.
This brings us to the neighboring region, with its Prosecco zone. In Veneto, just a short ride can take you from the mountains to the seaside. The Serenissima City of Venice and its lagoon are the main coastal attractions – a truly remarkable place, no matter what those envious of it may say. Cities like Padua, Vicenza, and Verona all have their own unique charm, and smaller towns like Chioggia, Treviso, and Asolo are also beautiful and peaceful by comparison. We will show you the villas along the Brenta Canal and the Euganean Hills near Abano. Further to the west, Lake Garda offers a change of scenery and plenty of excursions to explore.
Like the well-known northern Italian lakes situated in Lombardy, such as Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, there are also many other lesser-known lakes of equal beauty. Their elegant lakeside villas are best seen from the water, so a leisurely boat cruise is a must. But Lombardy also means big city life. Milan is Italy’s secret capital and economic center, and two cities in particular, Mantua and Pavia, may be a bit off the usual touring circuit, but they’re very close to our hearts.
Our favorite cities in Piedmont are Turin (there’s much more than just Fiat!) and Asti. But Piedmont is, in fact, quite rural, and who doesn’t want to taste some of its fine wines, the truffles from Alba, or fresh cherries and local nuts? The Langhe region is at the heart of wine production and well worth a visit. Barolo is the capital that lends its name to the wine, and the charming town of Alba attracts visitors with its truffles and much more. A trip through the vineyards of the Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato zones will provide you with magnificent memories of this harmonious landscape.
Piedmont borders the Liguria region, and from some places in the Piedmontese Mountains, you can take in a view of the sea. After just a few miles, you’ll find yourself in this region famous for its picturesque coastline lookout points. We’ll take you to the Riviera of Flowers, and by boat to the Cinque Terre and Portofino. We would also love to show you the enchanting Monte Marcello, which few travelers know about, so they don’t realize just how peaceful it can be on the Gulf of Poets. Genoa is much more than just a former maritime republic; it deserves a chapter of its own. Via Garibaldi is a center of great Renaissance art, while all around it, the “caruggi” – winding alleyways – define the cityscape.