Gabbiano Castle with vineyards and cypress trees in Tuscany, Italy

Cultural Immersion Tour of Northern Italy & Cinque Terre

Ratings of Zicasso's Service
Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Turin, Gabbiano, Vercelli, Milan...

See all

Suggested Duration

9 Days

Northern Italy takes you out of the ordinary and into the exceptional, from the grandiosity of once noble families to the delicate flavors of balsamic drizzled over fresh strawberries. Rugged mountains run along the coast to turn fishing villages into secluded getaways. The Tuscan hills roll along the horizon and glow emerald in the sunlight. Castles rise out of old vineyards and monasteries hide between seaside cliffs. Your custom tailored tour will show you the unique and enveloping splendors...

Customizable Itinerary

Expand All

Trip Highlights

  • Discover historic opulence in the décor and architectural artistry in the palazzos around Milan and Turin
  • Witness the perfectly natural panorama of the Ligurian coastline and the colorful fishing villages of Cinque Terre
  • Enjoy a private boat ride along the Mediterranean Sea to visit the secluded ancient grounds of San Fruttuoso
  • Delight in the charm of Lucca’s historic walls and the grace of the central towers adorned with two trees
  • Taste the sweet flavors of precisely-aged balsamic vinegar on a tour of the grounds of an old-world producer
  • Indulge in a sampling of parmesan cheeses at a small dairy outside the city of Parma
  • Witness the burial monuments and elaborate décor of famous Florentines inside the Basilica of Santa Croce
  • View Michelangelo’s treasured final Pieta in the Sforzesco Castle Museum in Milan
  • Indulge in the view of the Tuscan hills and sprawling vineyards of Castello Gabbiano during your private wine tour
  • Relax in the often-overlooked elegance of Turin, home to wide cobblestone boulevards and the famous former House of Savoy

Detailed Description

Northern Italy and Cinque Terre feel a world away from the usual preconceptions if Italy.   The pleasures of Parmesan cheese and risotto are more abundant than those of pasta and pizza. Vineyards lead to massive mountains that frame the coastline as small yachts and fishing boats anchor in the harbor simultaneously. Sensational palaces and priceless works of art accentuate the lavish architecture of the quiet towns and hidden churches. Your 9-day tour takes you on an unforgettable journey along the streets, mountains, hills, vineyards, and waters to experience the real beauty of Northern Italy and Cinque Terre.

Your flight arrives in Milan, and your private transfer will meet you at the Malpensa Airport baggage claim. The city brims with fashionable locals and a youthfulness run beneath the historic city center. Wake up the next day and your guide will lead you on a remarkable tour of the city to take in the layers of architecture and artwork. Visit the town of Busseto and Giuseppe Verdi’s villa en route to Parma, where you will relish a cheese tasting at a local dairy. Discover the soft charms of Parma with a half-day tour of the Romanesque cathedral and quiet cobbled streets.

Indulge in the unique flavors of balsamic vinegar on a tour of Modena before you embark on a fabulous tour of the Ferrari Gallery in Maranello. Next day, travel to Lucca to discover the enchantment of the preserved city walls. Venture next into Florence for a memorable half-day tour of the art and architecture of a city once home to the likes of Dante, Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. At Castello Gabbiano, your guide will lead you on a magnificent tour of the vineyard and 12th-century edifice before you sample the wines produced on the property.

Treasure the scenery of the Ligurian coast the following day during your boat ride along Cinque Terre to visit the five towns famous for their beauty and seclusion. Over a couple of days, walk the trails that connect the churches and towns of Cinque Terre, or take a boat to the hidden Monastery of San Fruttuoso.  In the afternoon, travel to the lavish seaside town of Portofino to luxuriate in style. Your guide will escort you to Turin for an all-encompassing tour of the former capital of Italy and home to the Savoy family. Your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escorts you to the Turin airport for your flight home.

Starting Price

$4,100 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 5670 reviews.

Italy, Greece Honeymoon Review: Culture, Cuisine, Snorkeling,...

My husband and I went through Zicasso to plan our honeymoon to Italy and Greece. This was the best decision ever! We worked closely with our travel specialist to plan our trip and she was absolutely phenomenal. This was our first international trip outside of the US, so we were a bit nervous at first! However, our specialist ensured every aspect of the trip was organized and that we were taken care of every step of the way.

The biggest relief was transportation. We did not have to give a second thought as to how we were getting places; we had drivers set up at every destination and for nearly every activity. Also, we had 24/7 support if anything were to go wrong, which gave us peace of mind.

If you are hesitant to use Zicasso for your next trip, I want you to know that I was too, but it was the best decision! We were able to personalize and tailor our trip to our needs without the hassle of dealing with the details.

Reviewed By Grace B.

Italy, Malta Trip Review: City Tour, 20 Days

I was very pleased with the entire planning of the trip. The communication with Zicasso's tour company was excellent. The meals that were pre-arranged by them were fantastic and we probably would not have found them on our own.

Reviewed By komal P.

Italy, France Travel Review: Scenery, 10-Day Trip

The trip was amazing all around. Incredible. The service and itinerary were perfect. We highly recommend Zicasso's travel company.

Reviewed By Mitch A.

Greece, Italy Travel Review: Rome, Athens, Santorini, Local...

Our trip was absolutely amazing! This was the trip of a lifetime. Zicasso and our trip planner were incredible. He was repeatedly helpful, offering personalized attention to our needs. He booked amazing tours for us and seemed to really grasp what we wanted. Everything was incredible.

Reviewed By Helena H.

Italy Vacation Review: Ravenna, Padua, History, Art, Scrovegni...

It was a great pleasure working with Zicasso's tour agency. Our travel designer and her staff were attentive to the kind of trip we wanted and planned a great itinerary. The hotels, restaurants, and drivers were all top-notch. For us, the acid test was the quality of the guides, and they excelled there as well. We would happily have them plan another trip for us.

Reviewed By Robert K.

Italy Tour Review: Ravenna, Verona, Rimini, Scrovegni Chapel,...

My husband and I had a great time on our trip to the northeast Adriatic Coast of Italy. We have very specific tastes as far as where we like to stay and the private tours we like to have during the trip. Zicasso's travel company did a great job, giving us fantastic hotels, and all of our tour guides were top-notch.

Reviewed By Danielle S.

Your Dream Vacation

in 3 simple steps

  1. 1

    Describe your dream trip

  2. 2

    Get matched with top travel specialists

  3. 3

    Book the trip

Free service - no credit card required