Cruise along the Cinque Terre coast with a Local Specialist and admire pastel-coloured villages set against steep hillsides and the blue Ligurian Sea. Hear stories of this once-isolated coastline while taking in the UNESCO-listed landscape from the water.

In Monterosso, explore the streets and waterfront at your own pace. The combination of coastal views and time in a village brings you close to the fishing communities, rugged terrain and vivid architecture that distinguish the Cinque Terre.

• 3 Dinner (D)
• 7 Breakfast (B)

• Deluxe coach travel
• Selected hotel dinners plus a locally hosted meal
• 4-star stays

• Milan: See Milan’s central highlights.
• Milan: Explore Italy’s renowned fashion capital with your Local Specialist. See the magnificent facade of Milan Cathedral, La Scala Theatre and the glass-vaulted shopping arcade of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, lined with luxury boutiques.
• Parma: Visit a working prosciutto factory and parmigiano reggiano cheese caseificio near Parma.
• Parma: See the medieval Torrechiara Fortress.
• Parma: Discover Parma’s rich history and cultural highlights with a Local Specialist. See the romanic Piazza Garibaldi and the baroque tower of Palazzo del Governatore. 
• Cinque Terre: Led by your Local Specialist, visit this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site, tucked away on the mountainous Italian Riviera coastline. Admire the charming fishing villages and perhaps snap some memorable pictures.
• Genoa: Explore the birthplace of Columbus with a Local Specialist and see the city’s iconic Via Garibaldi. 

Trafalgar

Meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers over a light supper in Milan, followed by an evening orientation drive through Italy’s fashion capital. It is a relaxed introduction to the city and the people sharing your journey.

See Milan’s streets in the evening, when illuminated buildings and busy cafés give the city a different character. The drive offers an initial sense of its scale and atmosphere before more detailed sightseeing with a Local Specialist.

Explore Milan with a Local Specialist and view the intricate facade of Milan Cathedral, the celebrated La Scala opera house and the glass-vaulted Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Together, these landmarks reveal the city’s religious, musical and commercial heritage.

Look up beneath the Galleria’s iron-and-glass roof and see how grand architecture frames its luxury boutiques. The tour gives substance to Milan’s reputation for style, placing its fashion culture alongside centuries of art and civic ambition.

Visit a working prosciutto factory near Langhirano to discover one of the Parma region’s defining food traditions. Learn how pork is salted and cured to develop the delicate flavour and texture associated with Prosciutto di Parma.

Langhirano lies in the hills south of Parma, where local conditions have long supported the craft of ham curing. Seeing production at its source connects a familiar Italian delicacy with the place, time and skilled work behind it.

Pause for photographs of Torrechiara Castle, the medieval fortress rising above the Parma Valley. Its towers and fortified walls make a striking silhouette against the surrounding hills and give you a clear view of its commanding position.

Built in the 15th century, Torrechiara is closely associated with nobleman Pier Maria Rossi and his courtly love story. This is an exterior viewing and photo stop, offering a glimpse of the region’s history without a visit inside the castle.

Visit a family-run caseificio near Parma and learn how Parmigiano Reggiano is made. Discover the care involved in turning milk into the firm, richly flavoured cheese that has become one of Emilia-Romagna’s best-known products.

This protected regional tradition depends on established methods, patient ageing and the skill of local producers. A visit to a working cheese factory brings the craft into focus, from its simple ingredients to the distinctive wheels recognised well beyond Italy.

Discover Parma with a Local Specialist on a tour of its historic centre. See Piazza Garibaldi, on the site of the ancient Roman forum, and the baroque tower of Palazzo del Governatore while learning how the city developed over centuries.

Parma’s streets tell a story beyond its renowned food: the settlement grew from Roman beginnings into a medieval trading centre and an important cultural city. The guided visit gives context to its elegant public spaces and layered architecture.

Savour artisanal gelato from a historic Parma shop and experience another side of the city’s food heritage. This taste of a locally made treat draws attention to the care and ingredients behind traditional Italian gelato.

The experience supports responsible consumption and production by celebrating small-scale craftsmanship. Parma is often associated with cured ham and cheese; its gelato offers a sweeter way to appreciate the people who sustain its everyday food traditions.

Walk through Genoa with a Local Specialist and discover the architecture of this historic Mediterranean port. View Via Garibaldi, where grand Renaissance and Baroque palaces reflect the wealth and influence of the city’s merchant families.

Known as the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, Genoa has a maritime history visible in its imposing buildings and tightly woven old streets. The guided walk offers a closer look at the city behind the palaces and its enduring connection to the sea.

Cross Lake Maggiore to Isola dei Pescatori for a Be My Guest dinner and wine with the Cinque family at Villa Toscanini. Hear stories of the lake and the villa in the intimate setting of a family welcome.

The island is one of the Borromean Islands, set amid Lake Maggiore’s Alpine scenery. Villa Toscanini takes its name from the influential Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini, who used the island as a retreat; its history adds a personal dimension to the lakeside meal.

Explore Como and the shores of Lake Como on an optional excursion from Milan. Spend time in the lakeside city and hear the stories behind Villa Olmo and the other villas that have helped define this stretch of shoreline.

Lake Como’s mountain-framed waters and elegant waterfronts have long attracted visitors and residents. This experience adds a different perspective to a Milan stay, exchanging city streets for the architecture and scenery of the Italian Lakes. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Taste Parma’s local specialities at an optional dinner paired with Italian wine. The meal is an opportunity to explore the flavours of a city celebrated for its food, with regional dishes taking centre stage.

Parma’s culinary identity is shaped by skilled producers and long-standing traditions, especially its cured ham and Parmigiano Reggiano. Sitting down to a dedicated regional dinner brings those flavours together in a social setting. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Explore Lake Orta with a Local Specialist on an optional excursion into the Italian Lake District. Discover the setting of this smaller lake and hear local insights that add depth to its villages and lakeside scenery.

West of Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta offers a quieter contrast to its larger neighbour, with wooded slopes and settlements gathered close to the water. The excursion suits travellers keen to see another character of northern Italy’s lakes. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Take an alpine train journey for panoramic views of northern Italy’s mountain scenery. Travelling by rail makes the landscape the focus, with changing perspectives of valleys, slopes and distant peaks from the carriage window.

This optional experience offers a scenic alternative to a day by Lake Maggiore. The rail journey highlights the close relationship between the Italian Lakes and the Alps rising beyond them. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Visit Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore and step inside Borromeo Palace on an optional excursion. Explore the aristocratic residence and its terraced gardens, created to turn a small island into a carefully composed lakeside estate.

The palace and gardens express the ambitions of the Borromeo family, whose name remains closely tied to the lake. Formal landscaping, architecture and water views combine to make this a distinctive cultural visit. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.