9-Nights Italy’s Jewels: Cinque Terre & the North - Connections Boutique Group Journeys from $8,795

Abercrombie & Kent: Italy’s Jewels: Cinque Terre & the North

Day 1 Milan, Italy

Transfer to Stresa. This evening, join your Resident Tour Director and fellow guests for cocktails and a welcome dinner.

Drive to beautiful Lake Como and cruise its sparkling waters by private boat, taking in views of the many luxurious villas on the lakeshore. Go ashore for lunch at a restaurant in the village of Bellagio before returning to Stresa for the evening.

Travel to nearby Milan, Italy’s wealthiest city and the heart of its fashion industry. Go backstage on an exclusive tour of the famous La Scala opera house, where some of the greatest singers in the world have performed for over 200 years. Then, continue to your hotel in Turin.

Tour Piedmont’s famous wine country, enjoying lunch and a wine tasting. In the afternoon, explore the fascinating city of Turin. After Italy was unified as a nation in 1861, Turin was named the capital of the fledgling state. Visit the Egyptian Museum, the oldest of its kind in the world and second only to Cairo in importance.

Descend to the sunbathed Ligurian coast and the small port of Sestri Levante. Join an expert to learn the art of making traditional local pesto, then savor a delicious lunch.

Discover the extraordinary beauty of the Cinque Terre (“Five Lands”), exploring these scenic villages built along the steep coastal cliffs of Liguria on the Italian Riviera.

Cross the Appenines this morning to the region of Emilia-Romagna, aptly known as the breadbasket of Italy. In the city of Parma, embark on a food-focused walking tour that introduces you to the bounty of produce and products available here. Spend the afternoon shopping in the many markets and specialty stores, or just sit in a café and watch the world pass by.

Leave Parma today for Verona, once an important Roman settlement and still prominent today. On a walking tour, see the old Roman Forum area, the Roman arena and the remains of the original Roman walls. Stand beneath the balcony reputed to belong to Juliet, Shakespeare’s most tragic heroine. Continue to Venice, where our local A&K staff will guide you on an exclusive stroll encompassing some of the characteristic bcari (wine bars) of the city.

This morning, explore the wonders of Venice with a local expert. Stroll the Rialto Market, tour the Doge’s Palace and enter St. Mark’s Basilica. Later, gather for a festive farewell dinner.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.