Northern Italy

After breakfast in the hotel, meet a local guide in the lobby who will lead your group on a morning city tour of Europe's fashion capital by private bus. Milan is home to top designer flagship stores such as Armani, Versace, Prada and Gucci. This city is also extremely rich in history (particularly Medieval and Renaissance). During your tour, you'll visit inside the largest Cathedral in Italy, the "Duomo di Milano," which took almost 600 years to build. This afternoon is yours to soak up Milanese culture. If you're an art fan – consider paying a visit to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. This UNESCO World Heritage Site houses Leonardo di Vinci's 15th-century mural The Last Supper. Alternatively, you could visit the Pinacoteca di Brera, one of the finest art museums in all of Italy. Inside you can see medieval & renaissance masterpieces by Raphael, Caravaggio Piero della Francesca. History buffs should check out the Castello Sforzesco, and opera lovers can visit the museum of Milan's La Scala Opera House. Last but not least – shoppers can bargain hunt for great designer deals in one of Milan's several discount outlets! Dinner is on your own this evening.

This is a day to get outside and experience the beautiful surroundings of Italy's northern landscape. Following breakfast, strap on your walking shoes and jump on your private bus with fellow travelers for a transfer to a local hiking trail for gorgeous views of mountains unfolding into low woodlands and sparkling lakeshore. After soaking up the natural beauty and fresh air, transfer to the town of Bellagio where you have time on your own to enjoy a well-deserved lunch at a local cafe. Many consider this the most beautiful part of the lake. After lunch spend the afternoon exploring Bellagio before returning to Como by private bus with your group members. (Alternatively, should someone want to leave earlier or stay longer, there are ferry boats that run across the lake as well as public buses). Dinner is on your own tonight.

After breakfast in the hotel, today your group will learn all about Northern Italian cuisine during a private cooking class in a local restaurant. Although you can find delicious Italian specialties like pizza and lasagna all over the country, you will discover there is a wide array of local dishes worth sampling! Follow along as your chef-instructor shares the subtleties of how to prepare Northern Italian cuisine and try to wait until the end of your demonstration before devouring this tasty feast. Note: Regarding cooking classes, small groups can generally include these quite easily on itineraries. Simply because of classroom space, larger groups should either divide into two smaller groups – or elect to have a cooking demonstration instead (which is still very interesting). Depending on what time the cooking class finishes, if your group has time this afternoon – we recommend visiting either the town of Varenna or Menaggio with your private bus. Evening is at leisure.

After breakfast, today is all yours to discover the five fishing villages that cling to the cliffs of the Cinque Terre coast and over the Mediterranean Sea: Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Monterosso al Mare & Riomaggiore. Walking along the footpaths is the most rewarding way to get from village to village. Alternatively, the train makes constant runs along that route and there's a seasonal boat that strings the villages together. The area of the five villages and surrounding parks form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Group dinner tonight in a local seafood restaurant to try regional specialties.

After breakfast, your group will head to the center of Parma for a walking tour of its beautiful architecture. In addition to its architecture and historic university, Parma is known as a culinary capital. Its parmesan cheeses and hams (prosciutto di Parma) are now appreciated all over the world. After a break for lunch, your group will take a guided tour of a Prosciutto ham factory. See how this delicacy is processed and packaged, and (obviously) taste testing will also take place! Later this afternoon, enjoy a few free hours in Parma. Appreciate its art, architecture, and history by visiting one of several museums or historical landmarks around town. Group dinner is included at the farm accommodation.

After breakfast in the hotel, your group will check out and transfer by private bus to Malpensa Airport for its return flight to the USA.