Learn to say "the road less traveled" on this 12-day tour through some Northern Italian jewels. Spend time venturing through the streets of Florence, please your palate in Bologna and see where the world's best athletes called home during the 2006 winter Olympics in Turin.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Lago Maggiore

Your vacation begins with an overnight flight to Italy.

Day 2 - Lago Maggiore

Arrive in Milan. From there, a Go Ahead representative will escort you to your hotel in Lago Maggiore. Meet the other travelers at tonight’s included dinner. (B in flight, D)

Day 3 - Turin

Lago Maggiore has long stirred the imaginations of artists and writers. Enjoy stunning scenery this morning during your cruise to Isola Bella, where a local guide introduces you to the garden island. After you return to shore, travel to Novara to pass by its historic Baroque cathedral. Continue to Turin, host city of the 2006 Winter Olympics. Once you’ve settled in to your hotel, enjoy an included dinner. (B, D)

Day 4 - Turin

Before the world’s premiere athletes came to town, the elegant boulevards of Turin played host to some of Italy’s technological and industrial powers. Discover Turin on this morning’s guided tour. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Royal Palace, Royal Gardens and Palazzo Madama, a mixture of baroque and Renaissance style. In the afternoon, continue exploring Turin on your own, or join an optional wine-tasting excursion to Barolo and La Morra D’Alba. (B)

$39 USD

Barolo & La Morra D'Alba Venture into the vineyard-laden countryside and head to the Cantina Marchese di Barolo for a tour of its celebrated wine cellars. Sample the delicious results with a tasting of Barolo wine. Continue to the main square of La Morra D’Alba, a beautiful hilltop village with spectacular views.

Day 5 - Italian Riviera

Travel west to the region of Liguria for a taste of seaside luxury. Along the way, stop for guided sightseeing of the medieval town of Asti. Later, reach Liguria, better known as the Italian Riviera, which once drew legions of artists and celebrities to its shores and leisurely lifestyle. Discover for yourself il dolce far niente, Italian for “the sweet art of idleness.” Dinner is included this evening. (B, D)

Day 6 - Italian Riviera

Luxuriate on the shores of the Italian Riviera at your leisure today. Or enjoy a full-day optional excursion to Cinque Terre, a group of five villages dramatically situated in the heart of the Italian Riviera. Travel by train to explore two of the cliffside villages. (B)

$75 USD

Cinque Terre *A Go Ahead Favorite excursion!* Set off on a full-day trip to the Cinque Terre—a collection of five isolated Italian Riviera villages, each clinging to the rocky coastline.

Day 7 - Bologna

As you bid a fond farewell to the Riviera, rest assured that culinary delights await in your destinations today. First, your tour director introduces you to Parma, where you’ll sample local prosciutto and parmesan cheese. You’ll also attend a tasting at a balsamic vinegar factory. Continue on to Bologna, touted for its pasta and mortadella sausage. Save room for tonight’s dinner, as Bologna is considered the culinary capital of Italy. (B, D)

Day 8 - Bologna

This morning, venture out into the sienna-hued streets of Bologna on a sightseeing tour with an expert local guide. Your tour includes a visit to the University of Bologna, Europe’s oldest operating university. In the afternoon, partake in an optional excursion to Dozza, including a tasting at the wine exhibition at Enoteca Regionale Emilia Romagna in Dozza. (B)

$65 USD

Dozza Travel to the medieval village of Dozza, known for the brilliantly colored frescoes painted on houses throughout the village. A professional sommelier will lead you on a tour of a wine exhibition, which displays a seemingly infinite number of wines from 200 of Italy’s finest wineries.

Day 9 - Bologna

Enjoy a free day to explore Bologna on your own. Follow the world’s longest portico uphill to the Basilica of San Luca. Or take in the splendors of Florence with an optional excursion to the birthplace of the Renaissance. (B)

$119 USD

Florence by Train In the timeless city of Florence, see where the Italian language was born, travel to the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo lie and shop along the famed Ponte Vecchio.

Day 10 - Verona

En route to Verona today, stop for a guided tour of Ferrara, whose medieval walls encircle Este Castle and several ducal palaces. Finally, arrive in the small northern city of Verona, home of Romeo and Juliet. (B)

Day 11 - Verona

On a guided walking tour today, discover the sites of Verona, situated by the River Adige. Verona is one of Italy’s best-preserved medieval centers. Pass by the town’s Roman amphitheater and Casa di Giulietta, Juliet’s house and balcony. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for an included Farewell Dinner. (B, D)

Day 12 - Verona

Extend your stay with two nights in Venice, or board your flight home. (B)