Northern Italy including Lake Garda, Verona, Bologna & Venice Harvest 2026

Your journey through northern Italy begins on the shores of magnificent Lake Garda.

Upon arrival, meet your private driver and travel to Sirmione, the beautiful lakeside town that will be your home for the next three nights.

After checking into your hotel, the rest of the afternoon is deliberately unhurried. Settle in, take your first walk along the lake, explore the streets surrounding your hotel or simply relax and enjoy the fact that you've arrived.

This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner featuring the flavors and wines of northern Italy. It's a relaxed beginning to the journey and your first taste of what the days ahead will bring.

Tomorrow, you'll meet your local host and begin exploring Lake Garda properly.

Overnight: Sirmione, Lake Garda

Meals Included: Welcome Dinner

Sirmione · Lake Garda · Private Lake Experience · Lakeside Lunch

After breakfast, we begin our first full day in one of the most beautiful settings in northern Italy, Lake Garda.

The morning is dedicated to Sirmione, the extraordinary little town that stretches out along a narrow peninsula into the southern end of the lake. With its medieval castle, stone lanes, elegant waterfront and views across the water, Sirmione is a wonderful place to explore at a relaxed pace.

There will be time to wander through the historic center, browse the shops, stop for a coffee and simply enjoy being on the lake before we continue with our day.

Later, we set out to experience Lake Garda from the water, where the scale and beauty of the lake become even more impressive. We'll cruise along the shoreline, taking in historic villas, waterfront villages and the changing landscapes that surround Italy's largest lake.

We'll also stop for a relaxed lunch during our exploration, with time to enjoy another of Garda's beautiful lakeside towns before returning to Sirmione.

The late afternoon and evening are left free.

Enjoy an aperitivo overlooking the lake, find a restaurant tucked into the historic center, walk along the waterfront or simply enjoy having nowhere else you need to be.

Overnight: Sirmione, Lake Garda

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Experience Included: Private Lake Garda Experience

Valpolicella Wine Country · Historic Winery · Amarone Tasting · Vineyard Lunch

After breakfast, we leave the shores of Lake Garda and head into the beautiful vineyard-covered hills of Valpolicella, one of Italy's most celebrated wine regions.

This is the home of Amarone, as well as Valpolicella Classico, Ripasso and Recioto, wines that have been produced from the indigenous grapes of this territory for generations.

Today is deliberately unhurried.

We'll travel through the vineyards and small communities of the Valpolicella Classica before visiting one of the region's historic wine estates for a private introduction to the wines and traditions of the area.

Learn about the distinctive process used to produce Amarone, including the traditional drying of the grapes before fermentation, visit the cellars and taste a selection of wines produced on the estate.

Rather than rushing onward to another destination, we'll stay in wine country for a relaxed lunch featuring regional dishes paired with local wines.

After lunch, we'll make our way back toward Lake Garda, with the remainder of the afternoon and evening free in Sirmione.

Take a walk along the lake, enjoy the thermal baths, find a table for an aperitivo or simply settle into the slower rhythm of life on Garda.

Overnight: Sirmione, Lake Garda

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Experiences Included: Valpolicella Wine Estate Visit · Amarone & Regional Wine Tasting

Verona · Guided Walking Tour · Free Time · Arrival in Bologna

After breakfast, we say goodbye to Lake Garda and begin our journey south toward Bologna, stopping along the way to spend several hours in beautiful Verona.

Famous throughout the world as the setting for Romeo and Juliet, Verona deserves to be known for much more. This elegant city is filled with Roman monuments, medieval streets, beautiful piazzas and architecture spanning more than two thousand years of history.

With our local guide, we'll explore the historic center, including the magnificent Arena di Verona, Piazza Bra, Piazza delle Erbe and the lanes and squares at the heart of the old city.

After the tour, enjoy some free time to experience Verona on your own. Browse the shops, wander along the elegant pedestrian streets or settle into a café for an aperitivo before enjoying lunch in the historic center.

In the afternoon, we continue to Bologna, our home for the next three nights.

After checking into our centrally located hotel, the evening is yours.

Take your first walk beneath Bologna's famous porticoes, head toward Piazza Maggiore, find a neighborhood trattoria or simply relax after the day's journey.

Tomorrow, we begin discovering why Bologna and Emilia-Romagna are considered one of the great food destinations of Italy.

Overnight: Bologna

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Historic Bologna · Markets & Food Traditions · Hands-On Pasta Making · Bolognese Lunch

Today we discover Bologna through its food.

After breakfast, meet our local guide and set out on foot through the historic center, exploring the magnificent piazzas, medieval streets and famous porticoes of one of Italy's great culinary cities.

We'll begin around Piazza Maggiore, the heart of Bologna, before making our way into the old market district, where food shops, bakeries, butchers, cheese counters and produce stalls have been part of daily life for generations.

Along the way, we'll taste some of the foods that have made Emilia-Romagna famous and learn why the cooking of this region is so deeply connected to its ingredients and traditions.

Then it's time to cook.

Roll Up Your Sleeves

Join a local cook for a hands-on lesson in the art of fresh Bolognese pasta.

Learn how simple ingredients are transformed by hand into the silky sheets of pasta for which Bologna is famous, and try your hand at some of the region's classic preparations.

Depending on the season and menu, we might prepare tagliatelle, tortelloni or another traditional fresh pasta, together with one of the sauces and dishes that belong to the culinary traditions of Emilia-Romagna.

And yes, we'll talk about ragù alla Bolognese and why what the rest of the world calls "spaghetti Bolognese" is not quite what you'll find on the table here.

Once the cooking is finished, we sit down together to enjoy what we've prepared, accompanied by local wine.

The remainder of the afternoon and evening is free.

Continue exploring Bologna, browse its extraordinary food shops, climb one of its towers, stop for an aperitivo or simply wander beneath the porticoes and discover the city at your own pace.

Dinner tonight is intentionally left open. After today's cooking and tasting, you may want nothing more than a light aperitivo.

Then again, this is Bologna.

You may find room.

Overnight: Bologna

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Experiences Included: Guided Bologna Food & Culture Walk · Local Tastings · Hands-On Pasta Making & Cooking Experience

Parmigiano Reggiano · Traditional Balsamic Vinegar · Local Producers · Countryside Lunch

Today we leave Bologna behind and head into the countryside around Modena, where some of Italy's most celebrated foods have been produced for generations.

We begin with Parmigiano Reggiano, visiting a local dairy to see how one of Italy's most famous cheeses is actually made. We'll follow the process from fresh milk and enormous copper vats to the aging rooms, where thousands of wheels mature slowly over months and years.

And, of course, we'll taste.

From here, we turn to another product synonymous with Modena: traditional balsamic vinegar.

At a family-run acetaia, we'll discover a tradition very different from the balsamic vinegar most of us know from home. Learn how the vinegar is aged slowly in a series of wooden barrels, often passed from one generation to another, and taste the remarkable differences that develop with time.

After a morning devoted to two of Emilia-Romagna's great culinary traditions, we'll settle in for a relaxed countryside lunch featuring the foods and flavors of the region.

The afternoon brings us back to Bologna, with the remainder of the day free to explore, shop or simply enjoy your final evening in the city.

Tomorrow, Emilia-Romagna reveals another side of its personality.

The food gives way to the fast cars.

Overnight: Bologna

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Experiences Included: Parmigiano Reggiano Producer Visit & Tasting · Traditional Balsamic Vinegar Experience

Today we say goodbye to Bologna and begin our journey toward Venice, stopping first in Maranello, the legendary home of Ferrari.

At the Ferrari Museum, we'll explore the history of the Prancing Horse through iconic road cars, Formula 1 racing, Italian design and the engineering that has made Ferrari one of the world's most celebrated automotive names.

For those who want to take the experience a step further, an optional Ferrari driving experience can also be arranged while we are in Maranello.

From Maranello, we continue northeast toward Venice, where the final chapter of our journey begins.

On reaching the Venetian Lagoon, we leave the road behind and board our private boat into Venice. As we cross the lagoon, the city's unmistakable skyline gradually comes into view before we enter its waterways and make our way to our centrally located hotel.

After checking in, the evening is yours to begin exploring Venice. Wander through the narrow streets, stop at a local bacaro for cicchetti and a glass of wine, make your way toward Piazza San Marco or simply see where the city takes you.

Overnight: Venice

Meals Included: Breakfast

Experiences Included: Ferrari Museum · Private Boat Arrival in Venice

Optional Experience: Ferrari Driving Experience

This morning after buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will have a leisurely morning before we take to the water for to explore the islands of the Venetian Lagoon by private boat.

Our first stop is Murano, internationally famous for its centuries-old tradition of glassmaking. We'll visit a working glass furnace to see master artisans at work and learn more about the techniques that have made Murano glass famous around the world.

From Murano, we continue across the lagoon to Burano, instantly recognizable for its brightly painted houses lining the canals. There will be time to wander through the island's colorful streets, discover its traditional lace-making heritage and enjoy the wonderfully different atmosphere of this small fishing community.

Our final stop is Torcello, the quietest and oldest of the three islands. Once an important center of life in the Venetian Lagoon, today Torcello feels almost rural, with pathways, fields and ancient monuments that offer a remarkable contrast to Venice itself.

We'll have time for a relaxed lunch during our exploration before returning by private boat to Venice in the afternoon.

The evening is free to enjoy the city on your own. Find a neighborhood bacaro, walk along the canals after the day visitors have departed or simply wander through Venice as evening settles over the city.

Overnight: Venice

Meals Included: Breakfast

Experience Included: Private Venetian Lagoon Boat Tour · Murano · Burano · Torcello

Private Walking Experience · Hidden Venice · Rialto · Bacari & Cicchetti · Free Afternoon · Final Evening

Today we discover the Venice that exists beyond its most famous monuments.

After breakfast, meet our private local guide and set out on foot through the maze of narrow streets, canals, bridges and hidden campi that make Venice one of the most fascinating cities in the world.

We'll pass through Piazza San Marco and learn about the extraordinary history surrounding St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace before leaving the busiest areas behind and venturing deeper into the city.

Along the way, discover quiet residential streets, centuries-old buildings, artisan workshops and neighborhood squares where everyday Venetian life continues just beyond the main tourist routes.

We'll make our way toward Rialto, exploring the historic market district and stopping at traditional bacari to experience one of our favorite Venetian traditions: cicchetti accompanied by a glass of local wine.

Rather than spending the morning moving between ticketed monuments, today is about understanding Venice itself, its neighborhoods, its food and the people who continue to call this extraordinary city home.

The afternoon is yours.

Go shopping, take a gondola ride, visit a museum, return to somewhere that caught your attention during the morning or simply wander. In Venice, getting lost is often the best way to discover something unexpected.

A Final Evening in Venice

Tonight, we come together one last time for a traditional Venetian mask experience, discovering the history and craftsmanship behind one of the city's most recognizable traditions.

Afterward, we'll enjoy our farewell dinner together and raise a glass to our journey through northern Italy.

From Lake Garda and the vineyards of Valpolicella to the kitchens of Bologna, Ferrari in Maranello and finally the canals of Venice, it has been quite a journey.

Overnight: Venice

Meals Included: Breakfast & Farewell Dinner

Experiences Included: Private Venice Walking Experience · Bacari & Cicchetti · Venetian Mask Experience

Optional: Visits to St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace can be arranged in advance, subject to ticket availability.

Breakfast · Private Departure Transfer · Continue Your Journey

Enjoy one final breakfast in Venice this morning before it's time to say arrivederci to the city and bring our journey through northern Italy to a close.

Depending on your onward travel plans, we can arrange your private transfer by water and vehicle to Venice Marco Polo Airport, or assist with transportation to the railway station for connections elsewhere in Italy.

If you're not ready to go home just yet, this journey can also be easily extended. Continue to another part of Italy, add a few more nights in Venice, or let us create the next chapter of your travels around your interests and schedule.

From the shores of Lake Garda and the vineyards of Valpolicella to Bologna's kitchens, Ferrari in Maranello and finally the waterways of Venice, we hope this journey has introduced you to just how varied and extraordinary northern Italy can be.

Meals Included: Breakfast