Northern Italy Trip Between Opera and Culture

Verona’s beauty stems from the layers of history dating back to the Roman colony of the 1st century to the rich Romanesque churches of the 12th century. Cobblestone lanes weave and wind between regal piazzas and the River Adige’s sweeping waters emerge from the foothills of the greater Alps. Your private transfer will meet you at Verona’s Airport and escort you to your accommodations in the city center where you have the remainder of the day to enjoy the classic ambiance of Northern Italy revealing charms from the Roman amphitheater to Castelvecchio.

You will have a private walking tour of Verona with your guide eager to introduce you to the city’s lavish history. The scent of espresso may fill the central market square of Piazza delle Erbe as you make your way to the houses that inspired Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in buildings dating back to the 14th century. Later, you can bask in an evening at the Arena, when the enticing opera fills the former Roman amphitheater in Piazza Bra. The acoustics embellish the raw emotion of the performers in the stadium that can accommodate up to 22,000 people.

After breakfast, you will take the scenic train ride to Padova to experience the eclectic artistry displayed along the classic narrow streets. The grandeur of the Renaissance lines the main piazzas while Byzantine domes create an elaborate skyline. The prestigious university has preserved one of the world’s oldest botanic gardens while the city’s foundations date back to Roman times. Your guide will take you through the inspiring artistry attributed to the likes of Paolo Uccello and Donatello. In the Cappella degli Scrovegni, Giotto’s 14th-century frescoes depict the Passion with drama and emotional resonance that helped usher in the Renaissance.

A private driver will deliver you to the train station for your transfer from Verona to the gorgeous city of Bologna, the capital of Emilia Romagna. After checking in to your hotel, you can bask in the aromas of the tagliatelle Bolognese drifting out of the local restaurants as you enjoy the Renaissance architecture. The day is at your leisure to indulge at your pace. You can stroll the grounds of the university or climb to the top of the Torre degli Asinelli’s 498 steps for a view of Bologna’s skyline and the neighboring Torre Garisenda.

Proud Bologna represents a gastronomic paradise for Italian cuisine with access to famous towns producing balsamic vinegar and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Your private driver will take you on an excursion through the winding streets set between the shadow of the 11th-century university, the reddish hues medieval terracotta buildings lined with porticoes, and the Gothic basilica’s drama captured in a sundial stretching 222 feet long. You may find the source of the city’s fame in the classic ragu where the true flavors of Emilia Romana shine on the narrow lanes of the Quadrilatero, where a market has stood for nearly two millennia.

The scenic drive from Bologna to Monterosso al Mare of Cinque Terre will take you through the Tuscan-Emilian National Park. The lush woods and jagged mountains separate the forests and marshland of Emilia Romana from the treasured Ligurian coastline. Monterosso wedges between coastal cliffs and looks over a white pebbled beach in view of the shimmering turquoise sea. You may find the scent of lemons drifting from the local orchards and blending with the soothing sea breeze as you walk the cobbled lanes of the Old Village or enjoy a refreshing gelato in the Modern Village.

You can discover the beauty of Cinque Terre’s five towns at your own pace traveling between them by train or trekking the famous coastal trail that once acted as the only avenue between the isolated villages. The beauty along the remote edges of the coastal cliffs brings a lingering panorama fo Liguria’s coastline where terraced vineyards and citrus groves cling to the rocky coastal precipices. When hiking between Monterosso and Vernazza, you are rewarded with a stunning view from the trail’s highest point, looking down on the harbor and colored houses of the seaside village.

The scent of espresso may blend with a mixture of lemon and sea salt at breakfast. You will meet your private driver in the morning and travel from Cinque Terre’s seaside beauty to the Como’s alpine allure in Italy’s renowned Lakes Region. The southern tip of the eponymous lake supports the town of Como with foundations dating back to the 1st century BC. Medieval towers imitate the soaring mountain peaks as Romanesque basilicas protect priceless artworks. You can stroll on the waterfront of Passeggiata Lino Gelpi for lakeside views alongside a series of lavish villas and opulent gardens.

Your guide will meet you at the hotel and introduce you to the rich history of the town and the magnificent lake water. The Duomo’s 14th-century Gothic facade will set a dramatic tone with marble and stone carvings framing the rose window. The Basilica di Sant’Abbondio possesses a mastery of stonework and a captivating collection of 13th-century Gothic fresco cycles. After strolling the cobbled lanes, you will board a boat for a scenic ride on Lake Como. The serene glassy water offers the perfect panorama of the town embodied in grand villas and alpine foothills.

Your private transfer will meet you at the hotel after breakfast and take you on a scenic drive through the foothills of the Italian Alps to reach the bustling city of Milan. The city embodies cultural legacy, modern aesthetic, and an ultimate connection to fashion. The day is yours to enjoy the fast-paced city steeped in Renaissance architecture and treasures of art deco and rationalist designs. You may view the central cathedral where the Gothic facade features 3,400 marble statues amongst a fairytale filigree of white spires revealing extravagant and captivating detail dating back 600 years.

The day is yours to enjoy Milan at leisure wandering the former canals of the Navigli district or through the Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II where luxury shops line the elegant 19th-century halls set between the soaring dome and mosaic floor. In the evening, you will visit the renowned La Scala Opera House where some of the greatest composers and singers have performed since its opening in the 18th century. As the music fills the main theater that can seat over 2,000 people, you can bask in the spirit of works by Verdi, Rossini, and Toscanini.

You will visit the unassuming Gothic brick church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in the morning. The 15th-century structure retains a six-sided dome representative of Early Renaissance design but the true allure of the church is in da Vinci’s dramatic representation of the Last Supper. The remarkable painting depicts Jesus and the disciples in what has become a globally iconic image captured in a mixture of oil and tempera. After your inspiring visit, your private transfer will take you to Milan’s Malpensa Airport for your flight home, bringing an end to your expiration of Northern Italy.