The Splendour of Northern Italy
8 Days/7 Nights
Northern Italy is not famous only for the ham from Parma or the Parmesan cheese but also for the many medieval cities that remind you of times gone by.
This tour combines both: the historic cities and the food and wine tasting.
Principal Places:
Bergamo, Mantova, Ravenna, Modena, Ferrara, Parma. Program of the Tour:
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1st day: Arrival in Bergamo. Guided walk through the high part of the city and bus tour through the lower part. Transfer to the city of Mantova, the city to which Romeo fled when banned from Verona. Dinner and overnight.
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2nd day: Breakfast at the hotel. Guide tour of the city of Mantova including the visit to the church of Sant’Andrea at Piazza Mantegna, the cathedral at Piazza Sordello and Palazzo Ducale. In the afternoon we will visit a famous wine cellar to enjoy a fantastic wine tasting of the local produced wine. Dinner in a typical "Osteria" and overnight at the hotel.
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3rd day: Breakfast at the hotel. You will drive to Ravenna and have a guided tour of the city including the mausoleum of the Empress Galla Placida, Basilca San Vitale, Neonianic Baptistery, Arianic Baptistry and the mausoleum of Teodorico. In the afternoon you visit the famous churches St Apollinare Nuovo and St. Apollinare in Classe. Return to Mantova. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
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4th day: Breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards you will visit the city of Modena and its surroundings. You will enjoy a guided tour of the old city seeing the cathedral built in Romanic style, Piazza Grande and Ghirlandina, Palazzo Comunale and the Pinacoteca Estense. Visit of the market Albinelli – a historic market built in Liberty style. In the afternoon you will visit a vinegar factory and see how the traditional „Aceto Balsamico“ is prepared. Dinner at a farm house. Overnight at the hotel.
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5th day: Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning you will visit the city of Ferrara, which belonged to the Pope until 1598. Half-day guided tour through the medieval city seeing the „Castello Estense“, Palazzo Ducale, the Cathedral, Loggia dei Mercanti and the historic city center, including a walk through small picturesque street of the former ghetto. In the afternoon you can visit Pinacoteca Nazionale on your own. Afterwards you will leave for Finale Emilia and visit the beautiful city center. Dinner in a farm house on the way back to Mantova. Return to the hotel and overnight.
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6th day: Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will visit to enchanting small towns close to Parma famous for their beautiful old towns. In the morning you will see Nonantola where you can visit the abbey of the Benedictine monks called S. Silvestro with its archives and treasure. Lunch at a farm house. In the afternoon you will visit Carpi with the of S. Maria, called La Sagra. Dinner in a typical "Osteria" and overnight at the hotel.
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7th day: Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning you will drive to Parma. Guided tour through the old part of the city including the cathedral, the Palazzo Ducale, Baptistery and the theater. In the afternoon you will visit a winery where you will enjoy a wine, cheese and „prosciutto“ -ham tasting. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.
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8th day: Breakfast & Departure.
