- The Best Small Group Tours Of Italy

Enchanted North Italy Awaits.
The Real Italy Unseen by the throngs of tourists from cruise ships & big buses.
Open my heart and you will see, engraved inside of it, ‘Italy.’” -Robert Browning
Dear friend and fellow traveler:
I would like to extend my personal
invitation for you to see the real Italy, unlike
most tourists who only visit for a day. Join
me on the trip of a lifetime, and one you
won’t soon forget. If you’ve ever been to
Italy, then you can relate to the above
sentiment - Italy is a place that, once you’ve
been, it never quite leaves you. It becomes a
part of your very being, always there,
whispering to you like a long-lost friend,
wanting you to stop in for a visit.
And if you’ve never been, then you only have
to imagine places like Lake Como, the
presence that is Bellagio, the rugged yet
gentle nature of the Cinque Terre, and the
jet set playground of the Italian Riviera.
These places, and more, will awaken inside
of you the part that longs to experience a
vibrant culture and a history so alive that it
speaks to you at every turn.
Frances Mayes in “Under the Tuscan Sun” once said that “…most trips have an underlying quest.
We’re looking for something. What? Fun, escape, adventure-but then what?” Everyone travels for different
reasons, but my question for you would be what are you looking for? And, no matter what the
answer to that may be, I can guarantee one thing-this trip can be life changing. To experience
another culture, to open your eyes to another part of the world, to step in another’s shoes, if
even for a few days, it changes you, even if only a little.
Remember Robert Browning, from the beginning of the letter? “Open my heart and you will see,
engraved inside of it, ‘Italy.’” Come, if you dare, and you may just leave with a little bit of Italy
etched on your soul as well.
I do look forward to traveling with you to Italy. Please drop
me a line with any question you might have!
Sincerely,
Mark Story,
Program Director, Story Land & Sea
Host of Mark Story World Adventures
Italy’s Enchanted North Tour
Small Group Tour: 9 Days / 8 Nights
Bologna, Parma, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure & the Italian Riviera,
Cinque Terre, Stresa & Lake Maggiore ,
Bellagio & Lake Como, with Parma, &
Milan
NOTE: This itinerary features Deluxe 5-Star Hotels.
Some rooms boast views of the Lakes and Sea. We
always request lake or sea view rooms for our guests,
however, we cannot guarantee a room with a view of the
sea or lakes as hotel availability may become an issue if
booked within 60 days of departure. Seasonal popularity
may also play a role in hotel availability. Book early!
We very much encourage trip cancellation and interruption insurance. .
Bologna, Italy
And onward to Lake Como
City: Bologna
Region: Emilia Romagna
Included Dining: Welcome Dinner
Exclusive: Story Land & Sea ® Original Experiences
Overnight Transatlantic
Flight
Depart the United States on your Trans-Atlantic
flight to Europe.
Please Note: "Day 1" is the published tour date and is the
date you will arrange your air travel to depart your home
airport.
Can we help you with your Airfare? Yes, we can
arrange your air travel from the Story Land & Sea®
AirService department. We'll work with you to get the
absolutely lowest fare available based on your travel
preferences.
Remember, airfare is a completely separate arrangement from
your land tour. It is your responsibility to arrive at the point of
tour origination (Bologna) on time regardless of whether Story
Land & Sea® has arranged your air.
At the end of the Italy's Enchanted North Tour you
should set your flight to return from Milan (MXP). Or if
you are extending to another city or region, then please
inquire for the most convenient airport to catch your
return flight. Remember, you can extend your stay on
Lake Como, or venture into Switzerland or continue
your journey through Italy. The options are endless.
Anthony Bourdain does have a palate for good food and
that's why he's started to explore the region known as
Emilia-Romagna.
Bologna is known as La Grossa or "the fat," of Italy. Not a
derogatory description but a compliment as Bologna is
known for its food and its ancient towns of Faenza,
Modena and Parma - all teeming with great cuisine.
ABOUT THE STORY WAY® OF DINING
Experience the Genuine Difference of Story Land &
Sea®'s included dinner experiences: We've collected our
favorites dishes from the incredible restaurants we visit
for each included dinner. No buffets here! Your Tour
Captain is there to make sure your dining experience
goes smoothly and will help you interpret any menu
item. For this Deluxe package, the 3 total included
dinners, your Tour Captain will select a variety of
appetizers, featuring regional cuisine, and will select
your vino for the evening ~ a variety of red and white
wine from the region you're traveling ~ and yes, the wine
flows.
Story Land & Sea® Exclusive: We enjoy a unique
experience highlighting the food and wine of the region
of Emilia Romagna at one of our favorite rustic wineries.
This is an exclusive experience that truly helps you to
connect with the wonderful land we're traveling
through. Enjoy our immersion in the traditions of
Parmagiano-Reggiano cheese and Parma Ham, typical
plates from the region of Emilia-Romagna, paired with
only the best varietals of wine.
Duomo, Cathedral of Milan
our immersion walking tour of Bologna.
We are in the heart of the region of Emilia-Romagna,
known for its robust prosperity and this comes in to
focus in the city of Bologna, our home for the next two
nights.
Beginning at the Fountain of Neptune, we will enjoy a world
-class tour with included entrances and special access.
The Fountain of Nepture is one of the key icons of Bologna.
Then we discover Piazza Maggiore, the great central
square of Bologna which is surrounded by Palazzo Podesta
and the Basilica of San Petronio.
Bologna is a sophisticated city of piazzas, leaning towers
(once numbering more than 200 and twenty still stand!),
fabulous food, and an 11th-century university, the oldest
in Europe.
Optional: Bologna Airport or Hotel Meet-and-Greet
and private transfer to Bologna hotel: Inquire for pricing and details
Sala Borsa was the city's economic center and today is the
center of its' "culture" and meeting place for the Bolognese.
Bologna is a magical city that boasts much to explore
(and taste). After our morning tour, enjoy the day at leisure as you explore this interesting city.
Optional Dining: Tonight consider joining the Tour Captain for an optional dinner or explore on your own.
Bologna Discovery
After breakfast, we will meet our expert local guide for
We are whisked along the northern Italian countryside
and arrive the town of Santa Margherita Ligure, our home
for the next three nights.
Welcome to the Italian Riviera
~ Santa Margherita Ligure
To the Italian Riviera
Parma Region & Santa Margherita Ligure
Included Dining: Welcome Dinner
Exclusive: Winery Experience
Exclusive: Story Land & Sea® Original Welcome
Experience
We are then bound for the coast but not before we arrive
at our rustic winery estate.
Story Exclusive: Winery Estate
Enjoy a tasting of varietals from the region paired with
some antipasti. A delightful diversion on the way to the
coast.
City: Santa Margherita Ligure
Region: Liguria
We arrive Santa Margherita Ligure, our beautiful resort
town with everything a Riviera playground should have:
ocean front views, palm trees, grand hotels, seaside cafes,
and a yacht-filled harbor marina. Many of the older
structures here continue to boast trompe l'oeil frescoes,
which are typical to this section of the Riviera.
Santa Margherita Ligure is the perfect balance for many;
"more spacious than the Cinque Terre; less glitzy than San Remo;
more relaxing than Genoa and environs; and ideally situated for day
trips," such as our included excursion to the Cinque Terre
tomorrow.
Story Way® Dining: Enjoy a welcome dinner tonight
with your Tour Captain on the Italian Riviera.
the sea, with their many wine bars and restaurants.
Ready to hike the Cinque Terre? Not a problem, today
the Tour Captain will give you great, close-up advice
and access to the trails.
Exploring the Cinque
The Five Lands
Region: Liguria
After breakfast, meet the Tour Captain in the lobby to
enjoy an excursion to the Cinque Terre. You'll want
good walking shoes as there are many hills and sights to
explore here. After our guided immersion this morning,
you may opt to sit and watch the very interesting
passers-by or hike part of the great trails. We travel to
and from by train on most depatures. Occasionally, we
will travel by boat.
Cinque Terre means five lands, referring to the five
villages precariously perched along the coast. It is
famous for its white wine and their Pesto Sauce with
pasta is a must as the Italian Riviera is where Pesto
originated. Enjoy the tiny villages perched high above
Optional Dining Tonight: Consider an optional dinner
tonight
with your
Tour Captain to a
delightful
restaurant
on the Italian Riviera. .
Italian Riviera at Leisure
Region: Liguria
Optional Dining: Optional Dining: Consider an optional dinner tonight with your Tour Captain to a delightful restaurant
on the Italian Riviera
Enjoy a
free day at
leisure to
explore the beautiful Italian Riviera. Many options from
water sports, culinary
experiences, walking tours to spa treatments await you.
Inquire for details.
The island
has been
completely
transformed
into a
terraced pyramid of formal gardens and boasting white
peacocks. Isola Bella is dominated by the vast Borromeo
Palace, started in the 17th-century but not finished until
1959.
We continue on to beautiful Bellagio on Lake Como, our
home for the next two days and nights..
Stresa, Lake Maggiore & Isola
Bella
After breakfast, we are bound for Stresa and beautiful
Lake Maggiore, home to the enchanted island of Isola
Bella, part of the Borromeo islands. We board our boat to
enjoy a tour of the palazzo on the island with admission
and our guided experience of the Borromeo Palace.
The most famous of the islands on Maggiore is Isola Bella.
It boasts an immaculately landscaped garden and is
named after the wife of one of the Borromeo, Isabella.
Exploring Lake Como
Jewels of the Lake
City: Bellagio
Region: Lombardy
We enjoy breakfast before our included tour via private
boat on beautiful Lake Como.
Story Land & Sea®'s Exclusive: Board our private boat for a
private exploration of Lake Como including views of Villa Balbianello and admission to Villa Carlotta. We toast the 'top of
Italy' today as this wow experience brings the lake and her surroundings to majestic life.
as patron of the arts) bought the villa. It is because of
Sommariva that the villa came into its splendor and
became "the most important halting-place of the Grand
Tour," the traditional tour through Europe's best
landmarks.
Included Dining: Farewell Dinner
INCLUDED FAREWELL
DINNER
TONIGHT: After our last day of sightseeing together,
we'll enjoy our
Farewell Dinner in Bellagio, where you'll taste the finest
cuisine and wine varietals from the region of Lombardy.
Be sure to join your Tour Captain for this Farewell
Dinner in Bellagio, Italy.
About Lake Como
Lago di Como is the third largest lake in Italy. At over
1320 feet deep it is one of the deepest lakes in Europe. The
lake's name comes from the town of Como, known to the
Romans as Comum. On a clear day the spectacular Alps
are visible across the lake. Lake Como boasts a
variety of attractive villas which have been built here
since Pliny the Younger constructed the Comedia and
Tragedia.
Villa Carlotta is a place of rare beauty where art and
nature intertwine. There are over 70 square meters (about
230 square feet) of gardens and museum to explore. The
villa, built at the end of the 17th century by the marquis
Giorgio Clerici from Milan, sits in the natural basin
between the lake and the mountains. It faces the grand
dolomite Grignas and the Bellagio peninsula. The garden
is Italian by design and temperance, and includes
sculptures, stairs and fountains. In 1801 Gian Battista
Sommariva, a famous politician and businessman (as well
This Story Land & Sea® Exclusive includes a special
wine and dining with a Top 10 Italian Chef. You will
experience some of the finest cuisine the Nord has to
offer.
Walking Italy with Story
Land & Sea Tours
was one of the best
decisions I’ve ever made.
~ David, Traveler
Discovering the
essence of Italy can be challenging
~ we’ve taken the work out of it and
kept all the pleasure ~
The Northern Italy Tour features
regional cuisine and wine in the
setting of order-as- you-like
dining experiences.
A True
Small-Group of 6 to 16 Travelers
~
Hotels Really in Center of Town
~
Unique Dining
Venues —
No Set Menus
~
No Up-Selling
while Traveling
Discover the magic of
traveling Italy with Story
Land & Sea as travelers,
not tourists.
~ Michelle, Traveler
Small Group Tour Information
YOUR DELUXE TRUE SMALL-GROUP TOUR INCLUDES:
~ All Full Breakfasts with Italian Coffee and
Cappuccino.
~ 4 Italian dining “events” with regional
wine and cuisine in the traditional
Italian style. Dinners include bottled “la
aqua naturale” & frizzante water, coffee,
soda and/or regional wine. Welcome
Dinner in Bellagio kicks-off the tour and
Farewell Dinner in Bologna caps with the
perfect finale experience.
~ Baggage handling, hotel taxes, hotel
service charges (items of a personal
nature not included). Begins at boat in
Venice.
~ Gratuities are included for your Local
Guides and Drivers.
~ Wireless headsets to hear your guide
clearly and distinctly in select public places
– select itineraries.
~ Deluxe, air-conditioned mini-coaches with
panoramic windows and comfortable
seating.
~ Certain departures include Eurostar 1st
Class Rail Travel with Reserved Seats
~ Services of English-speaking Tour Captain
and Italian-authorized local Story Land &
Sea Certified Guides.
~ Quality hotel properties with authentic
Italian architecture, private baths, nonsmoking, & located on the shores and cliffs
of the lakes and sea.
~ All Sightseeing and Admissions
described in itinerary
9 Days Round-Trip Air (not included), 9 Days Land, 8 Nights
Hotel Accommodations. Extend your tour with 4 days, 3
nights to Nice & Monte Carlo or other exciting
destination. Inquire with reservations.
Walking Tour: We walk a lot on this trip. This tour is
designed to immerse yourself in the Italian culture and life.
In order to achieve this we walk at a leisurely, enjoyable pace.
Our hotels are located in lake and seaside locations.
Tour Begins: Milan, Italy. Optional Arrival Transfer is
available. Please inquire with reservations: We will pick you
up at the Milan Airport and transfer you to your hotel.
Dates & Rates: Tour price is per person based on double
occupancy. Solo supplement applies for a private room to
yourself. Triple occupancy is available at double occupancy
per person rate.
Tour Ends: Bologna, Italy. Optional
Departure transfer from Bologna hotel to Florence Airport
Included. Inquire with reservations.