Treasures of Northern Italy – 3-Day Taste Journey from Venice

Venice → Verona: The City of Lovers

Departure from your Venice hotel in comfortable private car. Panoramic journey through the Veneto region to Verona (about 2 hours), one of Italy's most fascinating and romantic cities—the city of Romeo and Juliet, of Roman and medieval history, of elegant piazzas and extraordinary architecture.

Meeting with your private specialized guide in Verona's historic center. Private city tour including: the Arena, the magnificent 1st-century Roman amphitheater where spectacular opera concerts are still held; Piazza delle Erbe with Palazzo della Ragione and colorful medieval houses; the Romanesque Cathedral with its bell tower; the Roman Theatre overlooking the Adige; Ponte Pietra, the city's most romantic medieval bridge; the famous Juliet's House with the legendary balcony.

Your guide will tell fascinating stories of medieval, Renaissance and modern Verona, with particular attention to Shakespearean sites and historic places where political and commercial life of the Venetian Republic unfolded. Free time for shopping in the elegant historic center, coffee in characteristic piazzas, or romantic walks along the Adige. Check-in at 4-star hotel in Verona's center. Free dinner at one of the authentic restaurants recommended by the Argiletum team. Overnight.

Valpolicella, Lake Garda and Franciacorta: A Day of Taste

Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, journey to the golden hills of Valpolicella, Veneto's wine mountains rich in millennial history and winemaking tradition. These hills have produced wines since Roman times—the perfect terroir for Amarone, one of Italy's most prestigious and complex red wines.

Visit to an authentic family winery with guided Amarone tasting and other regional wines (Valpolicella Classico, Ripasso). The owning family that has managed the winery for generations will tell you the secrets of traditional winemaking, the grape-drying appassimento method, the region's wine history. Time to purchase bottles directly from the winery if desired—authentic prices, guaranteed quality.

Continue to Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake with breathtaking Alpine landscapes. Stop at Sirmione (historic peninsula with Scaliger castle) or Desenzano (elegant village with lakefront promenade) to enjoy the spectacular lake view, Alpine landscape backdrop, turquoise crystalline waters. Leisurely walk in the historic center, time for panoramic photos and relaxation. Free lunch at one of the recommended lakefront restaurants—lake fish specialties, risottos, authentic Lombard dishes.

In the afternoon, journey to Franciacorta, the Lombardy region famous for elegant sparkling wines produced with the classic method (like French Champagne). Visit to a selected Franciacorta winery with sparkling wine tasting paired with local cheeses and typical products. Informal lesson on sparkling wine production, differences between Franciacorta and Champagne, the region's winemaking traditions. Arrival in Bergamo in late afternoon. Check-in at 4-star hotel. Free evening for walks in lively Bergamo Bassa or hotel relaxation. Overnight.

Medieval Bergamo Alta and Transfer to Milan

Breakfast at hotel. Private tour of Bergamo with specialized guide: start in Bergamo Bassa (modern lower city) with visit to Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore with extraordinary frescoes, Palazzo della Ragione, Teatro Donizetti dedicated to the Bergamo composer.

Continue to spectacular Bergamo Alta—the medieval village perched on the hills, reachable on foot through historic walls or by characteristic 19th-century funicular. Bergamo Alta is a perfectly preserved medieval jewel, with Venetian Renaissance walls declared UNESCO World Heritage, cobblestone alleys, elegant piazzas, historic palaces.

Visit the Cathedral, Piazza Vecchia surrounded by Renaissance architecture, characteristic streets with traditional artisan shops. Free time for shopping for typical Bergamo products (cheeses, cold cuts, polenta taragna), aperitivo at one of the picturesque venues with panoramic views, or simply admire the extraordinary Lombardy panorama from historic walls—on clear days you can see the Alps and Apennines.

Free lunch in Bergamo Alta at one of the recommended authentic restaurants—polenta and braised meat, Bergamo casoncelli, stracciatella. In the afternoon, comfortable private transfer to Milan (about 1 hour by car). Arrival in Milan, drop-off at hotel, station, airport or other destination according to your specific preferences. End of Argiletum services.