EXPLORING the breathtaking coast, countryside and cities of Italy’s north need not take a lifetime – just a 13-day trip of a lifetime with an expertly crafted tour.
Looking at the itinerary, my wife Stacie and I wondered how we would manage to stay in so many of Italy’s landmark cities — Rome, Florence, Milan, Bologna, Venice and Turin — plus visit hotspots such as Pisa, Verona, Ferrara, Assisi and Lake Como, all in just 13 days.
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This was all made possible on an Italian Discovery coach trip with Trafalgar — the perfect way to see this beautiful country, all with the help of expert local guides and our friendly driver, Giuseppe.
The trip began and ended in Rome, winding up and across the north, before heading back via the Umbria countryside.
In Rome, Trafalgar’s priority access tour took us to all the sightseeing hotspots, including the Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica, Circus Maximus and the Colosseum.
Our first two nights in Rome were among the longest we stayed in one spot, but that suited us just fine. You can’t discover a country from a single city.
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The excitement built every time we boarded the comfortable, air-conditioned coach and the tour was so well planned that we never spent too long on the road.
Our brilliant travel director Barbara was on hand for the whole trip and enthusiastically pointed out anything of interest as we passed by. And there was plenty to see.
LABYRINTH OF STREETS
A tour of Northern Italy feels like exploring a whole continent, with differing backgrounds and cultures.
One moment we were enjoying the tranquility of Lake Como, then we hopped on the coach and were soon at Sforzesco Castle in Milan, beholding Michelangelo’s final sculpture, the Pietà Rondanini.
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Venice may be well explored by tourists but with the help of Trafalgar’s specialist, we had an exclusive tour, with fascinating insights into local past and present, visiting the Doge’s Palace with a private cruise to Saint Mark’s Basilica.
A trip to the neighbouring Venetian island of Burano was a highlight. Away from the bustle of St Mark’s Square is this picturesque fishing village, famous for its brightly coloured houses and handmade lace. The labyrinth of narrow streets was an oasis of calm after a day exploring Venice’s main island.
Florence’s museums, palaces and churches were well covered during our walking tour. We saw the Piazza della Signoria, home to many famous statues of this Renaissance city. There is one sculpture you simply cannot visit Florence without meeting: Michelangelo’s masterpiece David, in the Galleria dell’Accademia.
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As for the cuisine, it was a delight to discover how it differs from region to region, but there is a general less-is-more approach to cooking in the north.
With Burano being a fishing village, Stacie and I had to try the seafood. The crab linguini and fish risotto were up there with the best food we had during the trip. But the culinary high point came in Florence while visiting Castello del Trebbio and its historic vineyard estate as part of Trafalgar’s Be My Guest dining experience.
Simple handmade pasta dressed with extra-virgin olive oil cultivated in the castle grounds was the most understated treat. Matched with their award-winning Chianti Rufina, it was the perfect example of authentic Tuscan dining.
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There were a couple of surprising highlights of our tour.
Turin and Assisi resonated with us for different reasons.
Turin is often overlooked and possibly wouldn’t have made our Italian bucket list. But now we are converts. After visiting the Turin Shroud, the Baroque-style Piazza San Carlo square is a great place to relax with a gelato and watch the world go by. But for the best views, an uphill hike to the Monte dei Cappuccini overlooking the River Po really shows the city in all its glory.
It somehow feels un-Italian, perhaps because it is by the Alps, near the Swiss and French borders.
On the other hand, the World Heritage Site of Assisi is exactly the town you would expect to see on a typical postcard from Italy.
The included tour with a local specialist is a must and leads to the Basilica of St Francis, one of the world’s top pilgrimage destinations. Getting lost in the medieval cobblestone streets only to emerge atop this Umbrian hill town was the perfect way to remember this amazing trip. Whether it is breakfast in Verona, lunch in Pisa under the shadow of the famous leaning tower, dinner in Bologna’s countryside or a glass of wine within the medieval walls of Ferrara, there is something for everyone.
Although some may be put off by the busy itinerary, a good way to look at this trip is as a trial-and-error adventure — without the error.
Our intention was to revisit the places we liked best, but we enjoyed it all and would happily take exactly the same trip again.
GO: ITALY
GETTING/STAYING THERE: Trafalgar’s 13-day Best Of Italy trip is from £2,175pp, including 12 nights’ accommodation in handpicked hotels, daily breakfast, seven dinners (including Be My Guest dining), must-see sightseeing, VIP entry to many sights, the services of an expert travel director and separate driver, luxury coach transportation with free wifi, and private UK airport transfers. See trafalgar.com or call 0800 533 5616.
