Sapphire blue waters and the charms of the best resorts in Italy await you in its incomparable northwest. The scenery here is breathtaking, the weather sensational, the culture rich and the food divine. In Piedmont, Liguria and Lake Como, you’ll find history and romance, delicacy and grandeur. You’re sure to find a great time in Italy – and you might just find a new part of yourself.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Turin - Arrival in the Cradle of Italian Liberty
You land today in the rich and vibrant northern Italy. A private driver will take you to the steps of your elegant and centrally located hotel in thrilling Turin, the first capital of modern Italy and a present-day cultural and economic hub. After dropping off your luggage and recovering from your journey, you can set out to explore Turin on your own. The incredible blend of architectural styles make for an eclectic and eye-catching walk as you make your way past the city’s best-known sights. In the evening you will meet with your tour guide, who will give you an introduction to your future adventures in this incredible region.
What's Included:
Day 2
Turin - Walking the Streets of Turin
Day 3
Turin - Around Northern Italy
Day 4
Santa Margherita Ligure - Asti, Ginazani and Rapallo
Day 5
Santa Margherita Ligure - The Magnificent Italian Riviera
Day 6
Lake Como - A Culinary Excursion and an Evening on the Lake
Day 7
Lake Como - The Splendid Resort Towns of Lake Como
Day 8
Milan - Returning Home
Trip Highlights
- Explore the inspiring city of Turin, a city that has been a hotspot of Italian industry and culture for centuries, from the regal Palazzo Madama to the incredible items on display at the Egyptian Museum of Turin
- Visit the singular cities and fascinating towns of northwest Italy, reveling in their glorious uniqueness, like arresting Asti and elegant Grinzane
- Experience the splendor of the Italian Riviera as you make your way through the five villages of Cinque Terre and revel in the sunshine off the blue waters of the Mediterranean
- Delight in the beauty and charm filling the shores of Lake Como and the spectacular resorts at Como and Bellagio
- Wander through the Egyptian Museum of Turin, the most important Egyptology museum outside of Cairo and home to the Book of the Dead
- Traverse one of the largest royal palaces on the planet at the Venaria in Venaria Reale
- Engage your inner epicure in Parma, one of Italy’s culinary gems, when sampling delicious Parmigiano-Reggiano
Detailed Description
The northwest of Italy is one of the most fascinating regions in the country, filled with history and tradition, marked by striking scenery, picturesque villages and a passion and zest for life. This 8-day tour will give you the perfect introduction to the charms of this area, taking you off the beaten path and into an Italy that the guidebooks don’t even know about.
Begin your tour in Turin, where culture and commerce continue to thrive. Turin was the 2006 host of the Winter Olympics and the first capital of modern Italy. You will have three days in the European city to discover the historic marvels of the city known as the birthplace of the Italian Republic. Your private tours will take you along the tree-lined streets and into the fascinating palaces and museums, including the Museo Egizio, the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts outside of Cairo. Your exploration across Northern Italy will take you into the countryside to discover the fields and vineyards dotted with charming communities like Asti and Parma.
When you leave Turin, you will discover the beauty of the Italian Riviera and its true depiction of luxury for two nights. You can traverse the precariously perched communities of Cinque Terre in the heart of the Italian Riviera and relax on the cliffs overlooking the shores. You will also spend two lavish nights in the opulence of Lake Como in the eponymous town. Take your time exploring the alpine grandeur and enchanting architecture framed by the steep, forested slopes. These are the places in Italy that are calling your name, offering not the usual Italian vacation or the simple excursions to Rome or to Tuscany. These are the places that will offer a trip of a lifetime, a journey into the bosom of this bountiful and beautiful nation. These are the places that promise something different.
Starting Price
$3,600 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.9 stars based on 5889 reviews.
Zicasso’s travel company was wonderful in planning our trip on short notice and in line with our requests and preferences. Their suggestions of what to do and where to stay were perfect. And when we accidentally got off on the wrong island, the travel company quickly got us new ferry tickets to get to the right place. It was all seamless.
Reviewed By Sherry G.
This trip was the greatest week of our lives! Everything planned was better than I could have imagined. The private drivers being coordinated behind the scenes made the trip so easy and removed all the stress of trying to navigate a new country. Every driver and our tour guide was so nice and I feel like we made friends with all of them.
My favorite part of the trip was definitely the cooking classes and that every tour was private and intimate for my wife and I. The connections Zicasso’s travel agent hooked us up with made the trip the most memorable experience. Our travel agent and the travel company took special care of all the tiny details of the trip; our hotel knew it was my birthday and had a special surprise for me! I’m beyond thankful for the perfect honeymoon they provided my wife and I.
Reviewed By Branson S.
The accommodations and private tours were worth the extra money. Our drivers were professional and helpful.
Reviewed By Claudia R.
The overall trip was great. The weather was terrific and the countries we visited had so much to see. Zicasso's tour company did a good job of balancing relaxation with fun. Each of the guides we had was so pleasant and shared so much information with us. They were very attentive to our needs.
Reviewed By Nisha V.
Wow, where to begin. This trip was an absolute dream.
When I first spoke to Zicasso’s travel consultant, I told her my main travel concern: traveling with nine- and 15-year-old boys as a single mom in Italy. I was excited to take the trip with them, but I really needed something that was meticulously planned to take away the nerves of having to navigate alone with two kids. She listened and executed the most beautiful trip.
She planned activities that captured the attention and imagination of a fourth grader and a teenager. And the experiences were unique. Probably the highlight of the trip was a truffle hunt with the hunter and his dog in the countryside outside of Florence. My oldest wants to move to Florence and start hunting! We had a personalized cooking class, a private Vespa tour of Rome, and a delicious and informative art and food tour, among other amazing experiences. As we were sending photos back home, I got so many requests for our itinerary because it was so special and unique. Both boys were hard-pressed to choose which part they liked best.
The hotels she selected were beautiful, comfortable, and right in the heart of the cities and attractions we wanted to see. When we encountered a small hiccup (by our hotel, not our travel agent), I contacted her and she responded right away, getting us a free room upgrade and free dinner! We felt very taken care of.
Aside from the amazing activities and locations we saw, the trip was fantastic because everything was so seamless. We always had a private driver arranged, pre-booked train tickets, and even someone to make sure we made it on time for our flight home. I never had to worry about a thing. It was also telling that every tour guide we interacted with had only glowing things to say about our travel agent and her keen attention to detail and organization.
If you're planning on visiting Italy, this travel company is the travel agency you need to select. It takes any of the stress and guesswork out of the travel process, and all you have to do is show up and enjoy.
Thank you so much! You helped us make some amazing memories!
Stephanie
Reviewed By Stephanie S.
This was possibly the best vacation we have ever taken. A fitting trip to mark our 25th anniversary, we will remember our days in Positano and Sorrento forever. Everything was perfect and the service and support were extraordinary.
Zicasso's travel specialist and the other people were always super-helpful and friendly. The hotels they chose for us in particular were exactly what we wanted. I can’t think of a single issue. Transport, transfers, etc., were perfect. The only bad part was that we had to return to normal life afterwards! We highly recommend our travel company to anyone! Grazie mille!
Reviewed By Mauro A.