Unbeaten Path of Italy Tour: Discovering Cinque Terre, Lake Garda & Venice

The five towns of Cinque Terre always offer new experiences to visitors, whether it’s your first experience with the Italian Riviera or one of many trips to this region. The sunlight washes across the Mediterranean Sea to highlight the transitioning shades of blue found lighter near the shore to the richer over the deepest sections of the seafloor. Your private transfer will meet you at the airport and escort you to the edges of the town of Monterosso, the most northern of the towns that connect to Cinque Terre, where you can settle into your charming accommodations.

After breakfast,  you can onto the old railway built in the mid-19th century that leads from Genoa to Rome, and connects the secluded towns of Cinque Terre to the outside world. Cafés set out tables along the narrow streets for patrons eager to bask in the Mediterranean breeze and watch passersby. The medieval historical center of Levanto has been well preserved and has an intimate atmosphere tucked between the sea and the coastal mountains. Step onto the trail that will take you into the hills alongside the edges of the castle ramparts as holm trees shade you from the sunlight. 

After breakfast, you will meet your skipper at the harbor and board a private yacht to tour the Mediterranean waters. The gorgeous coastline will pass you by with views of pastel-painted tower houses. You will soon reach the island of Palmaria with a view of the beautiful fishing village of Portovenere and the unfettered sea. When you return to Monterosso, you will indulge in a relaxing wine tasting experience that will lead you through the terraces and into a secluded winery that offers tastings of the flavors produced and bottled around Cinque Terre.

The first half of the day is at your leisure to explore or relax around the five towns at your preferred pace. Linger beneath the shade of the beach umbrellas or take the train to Manarola to view the second smallest, and also the oldest, of the Cinque Terre towns. Back in Monterosso, you will meet a private chef and enjoy a gregarious welcome into a traditional Ligurian kitchen. Follow your guide with a mortar and pestle to craft the perfect pesto sauce, a tradition beginning on the Italian coast and remaining a fresh, herbaceous staple of the cuisine.

After breakfast, your private transfer will escort you from the Ligurian coast to the town of Salo, part of the Riviera at Lake Garda. The lake crosses geographical borders with a surface area of 143 square miles. The town of Salo rests at the foot of San Bartolomeo Mountain. Fishing and sailboats moor against the lakeside promenade and the backdrop of the gold and silver streaks of the rugged mountain summit accentuates the yellow and rosy painted medieval homes. For a spectacular view of the lake, you can board a boat and take a lesson in sailing. 

Today you can continue your discovery of the villages and towns around the lake, whether in the foothills of the Dolomites or nudged the calm, fresh cobalt water. The peak Monte Baldo stands at the backdrop to the town of Malcesine at the height of over 7,200 feet. The town itself looks as though it rises directly out of the lake crowned by Castello Scaligero. The castle ramparts resemble a fairytale surrounded by the emerald hills and shimmering waters. For an unforgettable view of the lake, you may take the cable car to the top of Monte Baldo. 

Your morning in Salo could make you feel that you could spend years waking-up alongside the wooden walkways before you make your way to Padua. The narrow streets of the old city wind around the banks of the river and beneath the soaring tower of La Specola, an 18th-century astronomical observatory set inside an earlier castle turret, now connected to the University of Padua. On the Brenta Canal, you can travel the waterway that connects Padua to the Venetian lagoon. Villas once belonging to noble Venetian families continue to decorate the banks and reveal the prestige of the former Republic.

Venice is known as the City on the Canal. Your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby and introduce you to the highlights of Venice before you move beyond the iconic bulbous domes of Venice’s historical city center. The wealth and power of the former maritime powerhouse emanate from the elegant architecture and rich artistry that rises alongside the canals. A network of bridges connects the nearly 120 small islands that make up the city. The iconic figure of St. Mark’s Basilica crowns the eponymous square while the Doge’s Palace strikes a regal pose. 

Venice springs to life in the morning with the Rialto Market. Fishers carry their nets and display the sea bass, clams, and mussels caught that morning as the locals arrive ready to shop. Gondolas return to the water and drift down the narrow neighborhood canals that lead away from the major waterway. Your will boat will meet you at the private dock of your luxury hotel and take you across the Grand Canal to meet your private transfer to Marco Polo Airport for your flight home.