8-Nights Best of the Italian Lakes

8 nights from: $2,542

Northern Italian Lakes & Countryside
From the grand boulevards of Turin to the fashion streets of Milan, this nine-day journey takes you through the lakes, countryside and traditions of northern Italy. Spend time in Verona and Modena, where you’ll visit an acetaia for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and taste aged balsamic vinegar made using centuries-old methods. Settle into the lakes to explore the winding shores of Lakes Garda, Maggiore and Como. Visit the Enzo Ferrari Museum and share a home-cooked meal with the Serenelli family on their farm, a site tied to the Battle of Solferino. Along the way, take in the scenic towns, local flavors and an easy going pace of life.

Dining Summary

• 8 Breakfast (B)
• 4 Dinner (D)

• Explore Verona and Modena 
• Visit Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, Lake Garda and the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena
• View Bergamo’s Piazza del Duomo, Roman Arena in Verona, Modena Cathedral and Milan’s Duomo and La Scala Opera House
• Discover Bergamo and Milan

• Turin: Explore Turin on a city tour with a Local Specialist. Take in the city’s elegant streets and baroque buildings as you learn about its royal past and the influence of the House of Savoy from a local who knows it best.
• Visit Lake Orta, one of northern Italy’s lesser-known gems. You’ll have time to enjoy the peaceful lakeside setting, take in views of the island of San Giulio and stop for a coffee in a charming, tranquil village along the lake shore.
• Como: Enjoy free time in Como to explore your way. Known for its Alpine backdrop and lakeside setting, Como offers cafe-lined squares, quiet lanes and waterfront views. 
• Modena: Celebrate all things Ferrari, past, present and future, at the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena. This pit stop includes intriguing exhibitions and an immersive experience that you'll never forget.
• Modena: Delve into the history and culture of Modena with a Local Specialist. Stroll through the Old Town streets and see the beautiful arcade of the Piazza Grande. 
• Verona: Join a Local Specialist on a sightseeing walk along Verona's charming central streets. See the historic and most vibrant square Piazza delle Erbe and the Roman arena. 
• Milan: See Milan's central highlights.

• Solferino: Walk the property with Anna Serenelli, meet the animals and hear how the farm played a part in Napoleon III’s Battle of Solferino, an event that helped inspire the founding of the International Red Cross, before sitting down to a hearty Lombardy meal. 

• Modena: Enjoy a gourmet interlude at a historic, traditional acetaia with a tasting of some of the world’s finest balsamic vinegar. As pioneers in organic and biodynamic production, they place sustainable practices and soil care at the heart of their craft. This experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Production and Consumption.

Northwest of Verona is scenic Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake, offering Roman ruins and 12th-century castles. Free Lake Garda Travel
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Lake Garda Travel Agents

Although some of Lake Garda's towns are now a bit overbuilt (tourists pack the area in July and August), there are still some lovely little villages along its shores, including Malcesine (where you can ride a high-tech cable car with rotating cabins up to Monte Baldo) and Torri del Benaco, both on the eastern shore.

At the head of the lake, Torbole is a paradise for windsurfing and sailing. On the western shore, also at the upper end of the lake, in a truly spectacular setting, is the trendy, upscale Riva del Garda.

On the southern shore, at the end of a slender peninsula jutting into the lake, is Sirmione, with quiet cobblestoned streets, thermal baths, a castle, olive and lemon groves, and Roman ruins. Ferry and hydrofoil services are available on the lake.

Not far from Sirmione is the quaint town of Desenzano del Garda, a former fishing village with a perfectly preserved 16th-century square complete with a castle and cathedral.

Lake Garda is a nice place to relax for at least a night—and a possible base for attending the opera in Verona if hotels in the city are booked.