Gastronomy Tour of Northern Italy

What to expect on this itinerary
During this extraordinary 10-day adventure, you will discover the magnetism of Northern Italy, the region’s phenomenal culture, and its luscious gastronomic scene. Italian culture is masterfully intertwined with its delicious cuisine. From the streets of Milan to the canals of Venice, you will be introduced to unique architecture and high-end cuisine. Venture on a truffle-hunting adventure in the rolling hills of Piedmont, handcraft your own pasta in Bologna, and learn the art of making authentic Parmesan Reggiano cheese.
Customizable Itinerary
Milan – Tour of Milan’s Duomo
When you land in Milan, your driver will escort you to your luxurious accommodation in the center of Milan. After you settle in, your guide will meet you in the lobby, and together, you will explore some of the best sites near your hotel. Centered perfectly over a busy, four-point intersection, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II mall is not only a destination for high-end fashion but also a major cut-through for locals to run their daily errands. Afterward, you will transfer to the Duomo for your private, behind-the-scenes tour. During your tour, you will stroll through the decadent interior with your informative guide to witness 500 years of history and architecture.
What's Included:
Alba – Learn the Art of Creating World-Famous Gelato
Alba – Venture through Piedmont on a Truffle Hunting Expedition
Parma – Observe the Production of Parmesan Cheese at a Local Dairy
Parma – Savor Unprecedented Cuisine on a Bespoke Walking Tour
Bologna – Hand-Craft Fresh, Delicious Pasta with a Renowned Chef
Bologna – Wander through Medieval Streets on a Private Tour
Venice – Revel in an After-Hours Tour of Glorious St. Mark’s Basilica
Venice – Cruise the Grand Canal on a Private Gondola Ride
Venice – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of Milan’s Duomo, where you will discover 500 years of faith, history, and architecture
- Handcraft your Italian gelato with instruction from world-class chefs, which will be followed by a gelato tasting that introduces you to a variety of unique flavors
- Unearth prized truffles as you take part in a classic truffle hunt before rewarding your efforts by indulging in traditional Piedmontese dishes that are perfectly paired with full-bodied wines
- Partake in the meticulous process of crafting authentic Parmesan Reggiano cheese at a traditional dairy farm
- Amble through Parma’s medieval streets, sampling locally cured prosciutto and finely aged balsamic vinegar while also exploring 800-year-old cathedrals
- Laugh along with your private chef as you knead dough into freshly made pasta, learning time-honored family recipes and uncovering old-world techniques
- Become enthralled with the ethereal grandeur of St. Mark’s Basilica, viewing its Byzantine mosaics and venturing behind the altar to the crypt of St. Mark
- Embark on an exclusive gondola ride down Venice’s Grand Canal, floating past a regal display of palaces and Gothic Architecture
- Discover Venetian cuisine during a personalized walking tour through Venice’s locally acclaimed trattorias and restaurants
Detailed Description
You will discover the unforgettable allure of Northern Italy on this elaborate, 14-day culture and gastronomy tour through backcountry eateries and celebrated landmarks. You will begin your adventure in the exciting city of Milan, where you will witness the remarkable Gothic architecture of the infamous Duomo before strolling through haute-couture shops on Italy’s most exclusive boulevards. As your tour leads you into the rolling hills of Piedmont, you will attend a world-famous gelato-making class in Asti, where chefs will teach you vital secrets of how to craft this creamy delicacy. Upon settling in to the emerald hills of Alba, you will embark on a memorable truffle-hunting expedition that will have you traipsing through the woods and hunting for the cherished truffles that make Piedmontese dishes so exquisite.
Afterward, you will venture to the Emilia-Romagna region, where traditional Italian gastronomy has remained perfectly unchanged for generations. During your time in the region, you will visit a dairy farm that produces authentic Parmesan Cheese, which is where you will learn about and taste the results of the rigorous process. Once you arrive in the medieval streets of Parma, you will commence on an in-depth, walking food tour that will introduce your taste buds to the region’s famed cuisine. The following day, you will sample delicious balsamic vinegar that has been aged for over two decades in addition to attending a prestigious culinary class, where you will learn how to craft your own pasta. Culinary surprises and over two millennia worth of history will spill over into the cobblestoned streets of Bologna as you conclude your final evening in this region.
Next, you will transfer to the blue lagoon waters of Venice, where you will skip to the front of the line to enjoy an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of St. Mark’s Basilica. While some of the most sacred sections of the cathedral are cornered off to visitors, you get to duck beneath the ropes and witness St. Mark’s crypt and the hallowed altar. The following day, you can indulge in a private gondola ride before cruising down the main street of Venice, the Grand Canal. Gothic palaces will delight you as you inhale the timeless romance that Venice emanates, and you can culminate your memorable trip with a food tour through the local trattorias and restaurants that line the quiet backstreet canals of the city. Throughout your time in Northern Italy, you will experience much of that this corner of the world has to offer its guests, specifically immersing you into its culture and prestigious gastronomic scene.
Starting Price
$4,500 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
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 3749 reviews
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.
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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.
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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.
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I am very happy that we chose this Zicasso travel agent. He was very responsive throughout the evaluation and planning process, as well as while we were traveling, with any questions we had. He checked in during our trip to ensure things were going smoothly and we asked his advice via WhatsApp a couple of times during our stay in Greece, to which he responded quickly and immediately researched our request.
Every transfer was on time and all of the tours were high quality. I really can't think of anything we weren't pleased with in terms of his service!
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The trip of a lifetime–thanks to Zicasso's travel company!
We recently had the absolute best travel experience of our lives, and it’s all thanks to the incredible team at this travel company. Words can hardly capture how grateful we are for the magic they created for our trip to Greece.
We were headed to a friend’s wedding on Paros and trying to plan the logistics ourselves quickly became overwhelming; figuring out how to get there, what to do, and where to stay felt impossible. That’s when my husband found this company and, from the very first interaction, we knew we were in good hands. They took the time to really get to know us, what we enjoy, our travel style, our budget, and how hands-on we wanted them to be.
After a few thoughtful conversations and a video call, they crafted multiple itinerary options tailored exactly to our preferences. In the end, we landed on a perfect blend of history, fun, and relaxation. They even helped us work everything around the wedding, ensuring we didn’t miss a thing.
We started our journey in Athens, landing early in the morning and diving straight into the day. Then came one of the highlights of the trip—meeting our travel agent in person. She met us with the warmest welcome, walked us through our itinerary, personally showed us around the city, and gave amazing recommendations for food and shopping. Her kindness, energy, and passion for hospitality were contagious.
But what truly set this company apart was their level of care and communication. Throughout our entire trip, they were just a WhatsApp message away. They proactively checked in before every activity, sent us all the necessary contacts for transport and tours, and made sure we felt supported every step of the way. Every place we stayed at was breathtaking. From Athens to Paros, Milos, and Naxos, each hotel was more stunning than the last. Immaculate rooms, beachfront views, and hosts that treated us like family. The breakfasts were absolutely mouthwatering and gave us the perfect start to each adventure-filled day.
Beyond the wedding festivities, our itinerary included food tours, temple visits, an unforgettable catamaran tour, and a dreamy sunset cruise. Every single moment felt like a dream. The islands are incredibly safe, perfect for solo travelers or a girls’ getaway, and the views? Just… wow!
And the food! I cannot emphasize this enough: the food was out of this world. Every meal was a delight—fresh, flavorful, authentic, and somehow we left feeling better than when we arrived (even after eating three generous meals a day, with snacks in between!). Pure magic.
I’m already counting the seconds until we can go back. This trip exceeded every expectation we had and gave us memories we’ll treasure forever.
To top off this unforgettable trip, we decided to spend a few days in Rome—and the travel company helped with that too! It was the perfect ending to our adventure. We explored the Vatican, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon. Every site was awe-inspiring and the city’s energy was just electric. Rome was the cherry on top of a journey we will never forget.
To the entire team—thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the most unforgettable adventure of our lives. We wouldn’t dream of traveling to Greece again without you.
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My husband and I had utilized the services of Zicasso for prior journeys to Italy, Southeast Asia, and Australia/New Zealand. For our recent trip to Matera and Puglia, I requested an agency located in Italy that specializes in travel to Italy. We selected a company that was on a magazine’s A-list of travel advisors.
Our travel consultant listened to and respected my requests for certain activities (private food, historical and boat tours, wine tastings, cheese making) and types of accommodations (properties that offered a shaded area to relax and read). She also emailed answers to my numerous detail-oriented questions (the curse of having personally worked as a tour guide). She sent a lovely gift to our first hotel and called halfway through our vacation to check in with us. Communication via text with WhatsApp was convenient and used frequently. Most importantly, when we had a problem with one of our accommodations, she followed up (even after our trip had ended) and graciously offered some compensation.
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