THE ITALIAN RIVIERA GASTRONOMICAL TOUR, The Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre, Portofino, Milan, Parma, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Tuscany, Florence, Bellagio, Rapallo, and the Northern Italian Lakes (ALBUQUERQUE… BOB CLARK… MAY 5TH-16TH, 2025)

Description

The Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre, Portofino, Milan, Parma, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Tuscany, Florence, Bellagio, Rapallo, and the Northern Italian Lakes

For those of you who simply can’t get enough of LA DOLCE VITA……that elegant décor in your luxury hotel property…..dining events fit for royalty……and so many sights to see that other countries would be content to have a fraction of what Italy offers to the world’s curious travelers……well: for 2025 we’re bringing back The Italian Riviera tour event in an expanded form; and as always it’s a bonafide gastronomical event too!

THE ITALIAN RIVIERA GASTRONOMICAL TOUR         11 DAYS, 10 HOTEL NIGHTS

DATES May 5th-16th, 2025

 

Day 1  Milano to the Italian Riviera 

Upon arrival in Milan’s Malpensa airport meet your tour leader from Conservative Tours and your chauffeur for the next 11 days.     We’ll discover Milan, Italy’s business capital and for many the world’s fashion capital, towards the end of the tour event.   Today we head straight for our home for the next 3 hotel nights: the Italian Riviera.   We’ll be based in Rapallo/Santa Margherita.  No time to waste: after check in at the hotel and a brief orientation we’ll enjoy our first dinner together as a group.   As always….we’ll savour regional Italian delicacies during our dining events and the wines, red or white, are certain to please.  

Day 2 Cinque Terre 

Today we will visit the UNESCO designated World Cultural Heritage site known as Cinque Terre.   By train and by boat, we’ll visit 3 of the 5 Terre, Monterosso, Riomaggiore, and my favorite: Vernazza.   When you see coastal post-cards from the Mediterranean, the 5 villages of Cinque Terre are often featured.  The pastel colors, the azur Ligurian sea, and the plunging cliff face right up to the water’s edge!  As with many locations in Italy Cinque Terre is occasionally chosen by Hollywood for filming motion pictures.   Evening at leisure in Rapallo. 

Day 3 Portofino 

After another pleasant breakfast feast at your hotel we’ll spend the next few hours, using a local boat, visiting the Peninsula of Portofino. Time to stroll around and enjoy the local port and charming seaside scenery. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy Santa Margherita Ligure and the Rapallo area. One suggestion for lunch along the water: pesto!  This is the place!

Day 4 Pisa-Lucca- Pistoia 

Today we will leave Liguria and head in the direction of Tuscany. We will stop in Pisa to enjoy some time by the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Field of Miracles with its Duomo and Baptistery.  We will continue to nearby Lucca for sightseeing in the town of Giacomo Puccini. Early dinner at a local winery/Farmhouse before reaching our hotel in the countryside of Tuscany for 3 nights. At Conservative Tours we pride ourselves on our winery visits across Europe; and the Italian events top the list!

Day 5 Florence  

Today we will dedicate our day to discovering the Cradle of the Renaissance, Florence. We will enjoy a guided tour of the main highlights of the city including the Accademia Gallery with Michelangelo’s David. Afternoon at leisure in Florence to shop and enjoy perhaps a glass of wine in one of the beautiful squares of the city before making our way back to our hotel.  Try Rivoire café….wonderful confections in an elegant setting.

Day 6 Siena, San Gimignano, and winery with lunch. 

This morning we will visit the southern part of Tuscany including the best preserved medieval town of San Gimignano, known as the Medieval Manhattan for its eye-catching towers from the Middle Ages.  The beautiful walled city of Siena, not surprisingly, has a culture and a history all its own. Guided walking tour of beautiful Siena including all the passion of Il Palio, the incomparable horse race for which Siena is famous!   We will also be treated to a wine tasting and lunch at a Chianti local winery. Late afternoon return to our Tuscan hotel.  

Day 7 Modena-Parma-Stresa 

Today we leave Tuscany’s beautiful verdant scenery and head towards the Northern Italian Lakes Region. Our first stop today will be to learn the process of Parmigiano cheese making at a local factory.  To say that the production of Parmesan cheese is strictly regulated is an understatement.  This is the KING.  It is the world’s favorite cheese for a reason…..and ONLY HERE, IN PARMA, IS THIS PRECIOUS DELICACY HAND-CRAFTED!    . We will visit the aging rooms and enjoy a tasting; and if you’d like to purchase some authentic parmesan to take home you may do so.   We’ll next drive a short distance to Modena to enjoy a visit to one of the oldest traditional balsamic vinegar producers in the environs of Modena.  Enjoy a tasting session too followed by lunch featuring regional dishes. In the late afternoon we will continue to Stresa for check in at our hotel for 4 nights. 

Day 8 Stresa 

Today we will stay on lovely Lake Maggiore and visit the Borromean Islands—-with a particular emphasis on Isola Bella, including a visit inside the aristocratic Borromeo Palace. Keep an eye out for a souvenir of Benito Mussolini’s visit to the palace.  On this ornate spit of rock as you exit the palace you enter a terraced garden the beauty of which reminds you why you came to Europe in the first place.  Yes….those are real flamingos!  Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the charm of Stresa and the views off to the north to the foot of the Alps.

Day 9 Milano 

Today we will spend a full day in Italy’s business capital and rival to Rome on many levels…..bustling and elegant Milan; what many believe is the true fashion capital of the world!  It’s no accident that while we’re visiting in the heart of the city, La Galleria and the Duomo, you’ll notice how fashionable both men and women are attired.  The highlights on our guided tour include the Duomo, the Vittorio Emanuele Galleria….(truly a pleasure to stroll about…not just Italy’s oldest shopping gallery but arguably it’s most beautiful and elegant one too,) La Scala opera house, and just off the square is located the impressive medieval Castello Sforzesco.  Late afternoon return to Stresa. 

Day 10 Lake Como & Bellagio 

Today our first stop will be in the charming town of Como, known for its Renaissance architecture and its narrow passages through which you’ll stroll starting at the water’s edge.   Highlights include the cathedral and the Broletto, a medieval town hall. Next we’ll take a pleasant boat ride to the nearby peninsula of Bellagio to take in some of the most dramatic scenery in Northern Italy!  The village of Bellagio is stunning but the vistas out on to the Lake and the Alps are equally memorable and perfect as background for photo opportunities.   Return to the hotel in Stresa and celebrate Italia at our arrivederci dinner at a local restaurant. 

Day 11 Stresa to Milan airport 

In the morning transfer to Milan Malpensa airport for your return flight home to the USA.   Arrivederci

 

PRICE    $5,488.00 per person

TOLL FREE   888-733-9494

 

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

Round trip airfare from the USA to Milan and back from Milan’s Malpensa Airport

3 hotel nights in a 4 star property on the Italian Riviera

3 hotel nights in a 4 star property in Tuscany

4 hotel nights on Lake Maggiore in a 4 star property (Regina Palace or similar)

Breakfast each day in your luxury hotel

5 dining events with wine (3 dinners and 2 lunch events)

Professional Italian tour leader from Conservative Tours for the entire event

Entrance fees for all local visits as per the itinerary

All licensed local expert guides as per Italian tourism protocol

Private deluxe Mercedes motor coach throughout with one chauffeur from Conservative Tours

Porterage of large suitcase at each hotel

All airport transfers

Whispers audio listening system for each guest during certain private guided visits.

All boat excursions at Cinque Terre and on The Northern Italian Lakes

WHAT’S  NOT  INCLUDED:

Government air & city taxes

Travel insurance policy