Remarkable Italy Itinerary: Northern Regions and Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre in Italy

What to expect on this itinerary

The cultural richness, natural beauty, and historic legacy of Northern Italy are yours to enjoy on this 12-day tour of Piedmont, Liguria, and Lombardy. From Milan to Cinque Terre and back again, you will be able to focus your attention on the rural treasures and panoramic perspectives of each region through a blend of guided excursions and leisure. Handcrafted for your enjoyment, this tour allows you to experience much of the best that Northern Italy has to offer.

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Cinque Terre, Piedmont, Milan, Cherasco, Alba, Pollenzo, Bra, La Morra, Barolo, Camogli, Portofino, Chiavari

Suggested Duration

12 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Acqui Terme – Long-Awaited Arrival

Situated on the fertile land at the foot of the Alps, Acqui Terme is an excellent place to start your tour of Northern Italy. After a transfer carries you from Milan's main airport to the heart of Piedmont, you will have a chance to acquaint yourself with this spectacular town on a walking tour. As you tour this charming town along with the famous springs that earned its listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, your guide will be happy to answer any questions you have before leaving you the afternoon to enjoy at your leisure.

What's Included:

Accommodation
Transfer
Day 2

Acqui Terme – Luxury Treatment at a Spa

Day 3

Alba – A Thousand Year-Old Castle

Day 4

Alba – Famous Piedmontese Cheese

Day 5

Alba – The Slow Food Movement

Day 6

Alba – A Castle-Hopping Experience

Day 7

Camogli – Italy's Love Affair with Olives

Day 8

Camogli – Exploring the Italian Riviera

Day 9

Camogli – Italy's Famous Five Lands

Day 10

Camogli – Taking a Turn for the Artisanal

Day 11

Milan – Walking Tour of all Things Da Vinci

Day 12

Milan – A Reluctant Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Splash into the renowned spa in Acqui Terme and bask in the thermal bliss it has been delivering to visitors for centuries
  • Stroll the cobbled alleys and rustic neighborhoods of the Piedmont region, where cultural and historical legacy will be waiting around every corner
  • Visit the impressive villa of Count Arturo Ottolenghi, who almost single-handedly spearheaded Italy's early 20th-century painting and sculpting achievements
  • Survey the countryside from the ramparts of the famous Castle of Monticello, where it once defended the land against enemies and invaders
  • Enjoy the romantic ruins of Alba on a tour that explores the city's Roman origins, modern attractions, and the seamless blend of past and present
  • Munch on a variety of local cheeses during a visit to an authentic Italian dairy where centuries of tradition contribute to an abundance of culinary skill
  • Continue your gastronomic revelry on an exploration of the Mediterranean love affair with the olive on a tour and tasting at a family-run olive press
  • Discover the scenic villages of the Cinque Terre, where rustic villages provide a splash of color to the otherwise green landscape of the lush Italian Riviera
  • Explore the artisanal splendor of Chiavari, where expert craftsmen continue to produce some of the finest examples of furniture, frames, and other woodwork
  • Plunge into the vibrant city center of Lombardy's capital of Milan, where head-turning architecture is the norm, and you can pay a visit to Da Vinci's famous Last Supper

Starting Price

$5,400 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.

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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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The trip was absolutely beautiful and well planned. Zicasso's travel expert did a fantastic job and she was on top of everything. She texted me every night with the next day's plans. The only negative aspect of the trip was that the Sorrento hotel had no air conditioning. The rooms and lobby were extremely hot, hovering around 80° day and night.

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Italy, Greece Tour Review: Santorini, Capri, Naxos, Boat Ride, 11 Days

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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Greece, Italy Tour Review: Rome, Athens, Paros, Milos, Naxos, Vatican, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Food Tour, Catamaran Ride, Sunset Cruise, 11 Nights

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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Italy’s beauty is legendary—its rolling landscapes, vibrant culture, incredible cuisine, and deep history are truly one of a kind. But what made our trip truly extraordinary was the care, creativity, and attention to detail that the Zicasso travel company team brought to every part of our journey.

Our 12-day family adventure—with three teenagers!—was the perfect balance of guided exploration, fun hands-on experiences, and thoughtfully chosen hidden gems. Every stop offered something special for each of us, which is no small feat when traveling with a group of different interests.

While we’re fairly seasoned travelers, having the added support of your concierge service via WhatsApp was a game-changer. Any small questions or needs were handled quickly, warmly, and with a level of professionalism that gave us total peace of mind.

And the hotels—just wow. Every property was not only comfortable and welcoming, but also perfectly located, making it easy for us to explore and enjoy each destination to the fullest.

A heartfelt thank you to the entire travel company team for creating such a seamless and memorable experience. We can’t wait to plan our next adventure with you.

Grazie mille and arrivederci for now!

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Customizable Itinerary

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

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