Spotlight on Northern Italy

Venture to vineyards, Venice, and Verona. It’s almost time to unpack once and journey among the jewels of Northern Italy.
Hotel Name: Hotel Carlton

Arrive today in Treviso, hometown of Italy’s most iconic dessert – tiramisu. Treviso also has a long history tied to the nearby island city of Venice. Founded as a mainland (terraferma) settlement, Treviso was an early outpost with the look and feel of Venice. With your feet on “firm ground,” settle into your home for the next seven nights — a recently refurbished hotel in the center of Treviso. After unpacking your things in your modern-style room, take some time to explore the lively neighborhood. Meet your fellow travelers for dinner, while a local pastry chef shows you a few tricks for preparing some sweet tiramisu.
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Treviso

Start your day with a walking tour in the city commonly called “Venice on the Mainland.” Take in the Old Town’s gothic-style windows, marble latticework, and the Sile and Botteniga rivers – humble elements all reminiscent of its famous island neighbor. After your guided tour on foot, take some time to explore more of Treviso at your own pace. Maybe you’ll wander through the weekly vegetable and housewares market. Or you can check out the picturesque Canale dei Buranelli and nearby pescheria, where fishmongers have set up shop for centuries. When you stop for lunch on your own, consider noshing on radicchio trevigiano, an autumnal delicacy consisting of red chicory grilled with a generous helping of extra virgin olive oil. Enjoy your free time and work up an appetite, because tonight you’ll dive into regional foods and Italian wines at a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Tiramisu-Making Demonstration

Verona (UNESCO) is for lovers. After a two-hour bus ride, find yourself in the romantic city of Romeo & Juliet. In Verona, it’s your choice! Explore Verona’s painted houses during a walking tour of the Old Town -OR- stroll along the town’s riverbanks in search of its bridges and lesser-known monuments. No matter what you choose, you’ll catch a glimpse of the city’s must-sees: Juliet’s balcony and the impressive exterior of the Arena, the ancient Roman amphitheater. After, enjoy some free time to explore Verona how you’d like. Whether you’re following in the footsteps of Shakespeare’s most famous dramatic characters or retracing Italian history, savor time wandering in Verona’s medieval city center. After lunch on your own in the city, return to your hotel in the late afternoon to relax.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Verona
Verona is a charming city in northern Italy, built along the Adige River. The city is the setting of Shakespeare’s famous Romeo and Juliet. A small stone house in the city center is said to be the home of the fictional heroine. In the courtyard of the home, below a small balcony, is a bronze statue of Juliet that tourists pose with for a photo. The city is also home to a mix of beautiful buildings ranging from a Roman amphitheater to medieval palaces.

Board the coach and head to Venice (UNESCO). You’ll trade wheels for water and take a boat to the isle of Murano. Famous for its glass-blowing foundries, Murano’s history with glassmaking dates back 1,500 years. A local craftsperson will share the intricacies of this age-old trade during a glass-blowing demonstration. After, set sail for the area surrounding St. Mark’s Square. Take in the Basilica and the ornate Gothic façade of Doge’s Palace. During your free time, consider an optional gondola cruise to experience Venice’s most famous pastime.

Breakfast Included

Admittance: Verona Painted City or Verona and its Waters Walking Tour
Choose how you want to explore the romantic city of Verona. Your first choice is to explore the paintings that help tell the city’s history. Embark on a guided walk and see the frescoes and painted houses, representing religious stories, historical events, and folklore that have fueled Verona. Your second choice will take you on a walk along the River Adige. You’ll get a look at lesser-known monuments and bridges and learn about the role of the river in the city’s history and the lives of the locals. Verona Painted City Activity Level: 3 Travelers should expect to walk about 90 minutes on mostly flat and cobblestoned surface. The tour will include view of Juliet's Balcony and of the Roman Amphitheatre. Verona and its Waters Walking Tour Activity Level: 3 Travelers should expect to walk about 120 minutes on mostly flat and cobblestoned surface. The tour will include view of Juliet's Balcony and of the Roman Amphitheatre.

Get to know a hilltop haven for artists today in Asolo. After your Tour Manager helps you get acquainted with the village during an orientation walk, enjoy some free time. Find inspiration and trace the steps of author Ernest Hemingway, poet Robert Browning, composer Igor Stravinsky, and many other famous virtuosos throughout history. Later, continue your journey into the rolling hills of Italy’s Prosecco region (UNESCO) for a visit to a local vineyard, where you’ll taste the region’s sparkling specialty. Roll up your sleeves and learn how to make a traditional pasta recipe under the expert guidance of a bona fide Italian nonna (grandmother). Enjoy your pasta dish with a tasting of wines, toasting to la dolce vita - the sweet life - in the Venetian countryside. Return to your hotel in the late evening. Rest well tonight; tomorrow is a full day exploring the Dolomites.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Murano Glass Blowing Demonstration

Today will be your biggest trek yet.* You’re on your way to what UNESCO says is one of the world’s most beautiful mountain chains: the Dolomites. Weave through the winding roads tucked within jagged rocks for a couple of hours en route to your first stop. Beside beautiful Lake Misurina, marvel at the sight of the Three Peaks of Lavaredo and more along a scenic drive. After lunch near the lake, reach Cortina, the Pearl of the Dolomites, and enjoy some free time and, weather permitting, a cable-car ride to the top of impressive Mount Faloria,** a favorite with hikers and bikers alike. Reminisce on your mountain adventure tonight on your way back to the hotel.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Visit Area: Venice
Venice is the regional capital of the Veneto region in the northeast section of Italy. Venice has a unique design like no other city, built on over a hundred different islands in the center of the Venetian Lagoon. Early Venetians built their city on the islands to escape barbarian invaders. The islands of the city are separated by numerous small canals and connected by hundreds of small bridges. The city is famous for its romantic gondola-filled canals and ornate palaces that line the Grand Canal. The famous glass factories of Venice are located on Murano Island. Today the Murano Islands are home to a dwindling number of glass factories, whose artists are producing handmade Murano Glass.

Begin your day with a trip to the quaint town of Bassano del Grappa. The town’s name is associated with the locally produced grape-based schnapps. Explore its cobblestoned piazzas and see the impact the beverage has had on the town, including the ancient distillery in one of the pillars of the historic Palladian Bridge. Take some time to wander around the town and grab a bite to eat for lunch (maybe paired with some grappa?). Tonight, step back in time at a classic Venetian villa. Tour the sprawling villa and its gardens, still owned by the descendants of a noble family of Venice. After you follow the family’s history within the villa’s walls, gather with your fellow travelers and savor Venetian dishes prepared with fresh local ingredients at this evening’s farewell dinner.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Asolo

It’s time to say ciao, Italia. Have a buon viaggio back home with fond memories of Northern Italy.

Breakfast Included

Admittance: Prosecco Winery Tour