Grand Tour Welcome to the North - The 5 Senses 2026-27

Day-by-day itinerary

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1. 1Day 1Rome – Trieste, 670 km

   Departure from Rome for Trieste – lunch at leisure along the way – in the evening, accommodation at the hotel in Trieste – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Trieste by night: a walking tour of the historic centre with the tour leader – overnight stay.

2. 2Day 2San Daniele del Friuli, “the home of prosciutto”, and Udine, 190 km

   Breakfast at the hotel – full-day guided excursion – a visit to San Daniele del Friuli (the former Church of Sant’Antonio Abate, known as the little “Sistine Chapel of Friuli” for its remarkable Renaissance frescoes, and a panoramic visit of the historic centre) – a visit to a prosciutto producer, with lunch – in the afternoon, a visit to Udine (a city tour in the footsteps of Tiepolo, taking in his splendid frescoes in the Oratory of the Purità and in the cathedral – a walking tour through Piazza Libertà, “the most beautiful Venetian square on the mainland”, Via Mercatovecchio and Piazza Matteotti, the old Piazza delle Erbe of Udine; a visit to the city’s oldest church, Santa Maria del Castello, and to the castle – seen from the outside) – return to the hotel in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, a walking tour with the tour leader – overnight stay.

3. 3Day 3Cividale del Friuli, “Italia Langobardorum, a UNESCO World Heritage…

   Site”, and Gorizia, 150 km. Breakfast at the hotel – full-day guided excursion – a visit to Cividale del Friuli (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the leading town of the Italia Langobardorum project; Cividale brings visitors close to the Lombard world of the eighth century, with the Lombard Temple and the Christian Museum, and to earlier centuries too through the exceptionally rich collections of the National Archaeological Museum; a visit to the cathedral and a walking tour of the historic centre as far as the famous Devil’s Bridge) – lunch in a traditional osteria – in the afternoon, a visit to Gorizia and Nova Gorica (a panoramic coach tour of the provincial capital on the Isonzo, taking in the border crossing at Casa Rossa and continuing to the half-Italian, half-Slovenian Piazza Transalpina, the Austro-Hungarian railway station and Borgo Castello with its medieval castle) – onward along the scenic wine road through the Collio, a wine-growing area known the world over for the quality of its wines – a visit to a winery with a DOC wine tasting – return to the hotel in Trieste in the evening – dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure – the tour leader is at guests’ disposal – overnight stay.

4. 4Day 4Trieste, “Mitteleuropean charm” – Aquileia, “the ancient Roman colony,…

   a UNESCO World Heritage Site” – Padua, 280 km. Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit to Trieste (an extensive tour of the Borgo Teresiano, the Rive waterfront, Piazza Unità d’Italia, Porto Nuovo, the Risiera di San Sabba, one of the emblematic places of the Second World War – seen from the outside – San Giusto hill with the cathedral, and a walking tour of the historic centre and the Jewish ghetto) – lunch in a traditional beer hall – in the afternoon, a guided visit to Aquileia (a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the ancient Roman colony reveals the glories of its past through the excavations of the forum, the former river port and the residential quarters, 2,000 years old) – in the evening, accommodation at the hotel in Padua – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Padua by night: a panoramic tour by private coach and a walking tour of the historic centre with the tour leader – overnight stay.

5. 5Day 5Venice, “la Serenissima”

   Breakfast at the hotel – full-day excursion – transfer by coach to Padua railway station – departure by train for Venezia Santa Lucia – a full day given over to this UNESCO World Heritage city – in the morning, a guided visit of classical Venice (St Mark’s Square, St Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace – seen from the outside – then, threading through the narrow calli of the Castello district, on to Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo and the famous Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal) – lunch at leisure – afternoon at leisure for shopping or excursions to the lagoon islands, UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Murano, Burano, Torcello), or for a romantic gondola ride – return to the hotel in Padua in the evening – dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure – the tour leader is at guests’ disposal – overnight stay.

6. 6Day 6Padua – Verona, “the city of love and music”, 90 km

   Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit to Padua (the Basilica of St Anthony, the historic centre, the Palazzo della Ragione, the Scrovegni Chapel, and Palazzo del Bo with the University’s Anatomical Theatre) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – in the afternoon, a guided visit to Verona (a UNESCO World Heritage city: a panoramic coach tour of the hills and a walking tour of the historic centre taking in the Scaliger residences, Piazza dei Signori, Piazza Erbe, the houses of Juliet and Romeo – seen from the outside – and the Arena, also seen from the outside) – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Verona by night: a walking tour of the historic centre with the tour leader – overnight stay.

7. 7Day 7Verona – Mantua, “the city of Virgil”, and Sabbioneta, “the Gonzaga…

   ideal city” – Parma, 110 km. Breakfast at the hotel – visits to two UNESCO World Heritage cities – in the morning, a guided visit to Mantua (Palazzo Te by Giulio Romano – interior visit – and the Ducal Palace, or Gonzaga Palace – seen from the outside) – a visit to a rice estate, walking through the paddy fields and visiting the historic rice mill – tasting lunch at the rice estate – in the afternoon, a guided visit to Sabbioneta (an intact star with six bastions at its points: such is the urban spectacle Sabbioneta offers – the Ducal Palace, the Palazzo Giardino with the Galleria degli Antichi, and the Teatro all’Antica) – arrival in Parma in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Parma by night: a tour by private coach with the tour leader – overnight stay.

8. 8Day 8Parma, “Italian Capital of Culture 2021” – Langhirano, “Parma ham”…

   Fontanellato, “the Masone Labyrinth”, 100 km. Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit to Parma (the historic centre, the monumental Pilotta complex with the Farnese Theatre, the National Gallery and the Archaeological Museum, the cathedral and the baptistery) – a visit in Langhirano to a Parma ham producer – tasting lunch – in the afternoon, a visit in Fontanellato to the largest labyrinth in the world, created by the Franco Maria Ricci Foundation – return to the hotel in Parma in the evening – dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure – the tour leader is at guests’ disposal – overnight stay.

9. 9Day 9Parma – Milan, “the capital of fashion and new ideas” – Lake…

   Maggiore, 220 km. Breakfast at the hotel – full-day excursion to Milan – a full day given over to a guided visit of the city (the Duomo; the Sforza Castle with the Rondanini Pietà; the Brera Art Gallery with the Marriage of the Virgin and Bramante’s Christ at the Column; the Museum of Science and Technology; the Church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, “the Sistine Chapel of Milan”; and the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – in the evening, return to the hotel on Lake Maggiore, in Baveno or Stresa – dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure – the tour leader is at guests’ disposal – overnight stay.

10. 10Day 10Lake Maggiore and Villa Taranto, “the most beautiful garden in Italy”…

    30 km. Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit to the Borromean Islands by private motor launch (Isola Bella with the splendid Palazzo Borromeo and the marvel of its Italian garden, laid out over ten terraces sloping down to the lake; Isola dei Pescatori with its ancient alleys and evocative views) – lunch at the hotel – in the afternoon, a guided visit to Villa Taranto (a splendid botanical garden, considered the most beautiful in Italy and in the world) – return to the hotel in the evening – dinner at the hotel – overnight stay.

    Experience here: Segreti di MarmoExperience here: I Tesori di Carta

11. 11Day 11Lake Maggiore – Turin, “the Egyptian Museum and the Venaria Reale”, 150 km

    Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Turin – a full day given over to a guided visit of the city (a visit to the historic centre with Piazza San Carlo, Via Roma, Piazza Castello, Palazzo Madama and the Royal Palace – exterior visits – both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Church of San Lorenzo, the cathedral, Piazza Carignano, the Egyptian Museum – interior visit – and the palace and park of the Venaria Reale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Turin by night: a walking tour of the historic centre with the tour leader – overnight stay.

12. 12Day 12Turin – the Langhe, “UNESCO World Heritage Sites” – Genoa, 250 km

    Breakfast at the hotel – full-day guided excursion to the Langhe and its vineyard landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – visits to La Morra, Barolo (the historic centre, Piazza Falletti, the Castello Comunale Falletti di Barolo), Serralunga and Alba (the heart of the Langhe, Piazza Risorgimento, the Town Hall, the cathedral, the Church of San Domenico) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – during the day, a visit to a winery with a DOC wine tasting – arrival in Genoa in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Genoa by night: a walking tour with the tour leader in Nervi – overnight stay.

13. 13Day 13Genoa, “a jewel set between sea and mountains”

    Breakfast at the hotel – a full day given over to a guided visit of the city: the historic centre and its patrician residences, the Strade Nuove with the UNESCO-listed Palazzi dei Rolli (panoramic tour, Via Garibaldi, Piazza Caricamento, Palazzo San Giorgio, Piazza Bianchi, Piazza San Matteo, Piazza De Ferrari, Porta Soprana, the house of Christopher Columbus, the Royal Palace and Palazzo Spinola – interior visits), the Aquarium (self-guided visit) and the Old Port, with the chance to ride the Bigo, a panoramic lift 40 metres high with views over the city – street-food lunch at leisure – free time for shopping – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Genoa by night: a walking tour with the tour leader – overnight stay.

14. 14Day 14Genoa – Florence, “the historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site”…

    220 km. Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Florence – a full day given over to a guided walking tour of Florence’s UNESCO-listed historic centre (the Basilica of Santa Croce and the Pazzi Chapel, Piazza della Signoria, the Loggia dei Lanzi, Palazzo Vecchio, the Baptistery of San Giovanni and Giotto’s bell tower, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, the Museum of San Marco with the frescoes of Fra Angelico) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – dinner in a traditional restaurant – after dinner, Florence by night: a panoramic minibus tour with the tour leader (Piazzale Michelangelo, San Miniato al Monte, Scandicci, the Certosa, Fiesole) – overnight stay.

15. 15Day 15Florence, “the Uffizi Gallery” – Rome, 280 km

    Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit of the Uffizi Gallery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (the Gallery occupies the whole of the first and second floors of the great building raised between 1560 and 1580 to a design by Giorgio Vasari: it is one of the most famous museums in the world for its extraordinary collections of ancient sculpture and of painting from the Middle Ages to the modern era. Its fourteenth-century and Renaissance collections hold outright masterpieces of all time – one need only recall the names of Giotto, Simone Martini, Piero della Francesca, Fra Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Mantegna, Correggio, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo and Caravaggio – alongside masterpieces of the European tradition, German, Dutch and Flemish above all) – lunch at leisure – free time for shopping – in the afternoon, onward for the return journey – arrival in the evening. Please note: the planned visits may be rearranged between days according to museum opening times or operational requirements, but the itinerary remains unchanged.