The Hidden Gems of Northern Italy
Bologna to Bergamo
May 10-18, 2025
Lake Como add-on, May 18-21
1 place left!
Discover the heart of Northern Italy—its picturesque lakes, storybook villages, and famed cuisine. This Delicious Expedition will travel more than usual, taking us from Bologna to Mantua as we delve into the history and culture of this enchanting land.
Northern Italy is the home of polenta, risotto, Osso Buco, and amazing Ragu alla Bolognese. And of course wine, from sparkling Lambrusco and Prosecco to the famed Amarone and Valpolicello. We’ll sample balsamic vinegar from ancient barrels and marvel at enormous rounds of Parmesan placed on storehouse shelves. We’ll eat homemade ravioli stuffed with pumpkins grown in nearby fields and devour gnocco fritto—fried puffed dough stuffed with paper-thin slices of prosciutto.
Our accommodations, in mostly 4-star hotels, vary as we move among the hidden gems that possess a wealth of art and architecture but not the crowds of Italy’s top tourist destinations. We’ll stay in the heart of historic centers to make walking and exploring easy. In Reggio Emilia, our hotel dates to the 15th century and by 1684 was considered a respectable inn. We know this because they fined 25 gold coins to “anyone staying all night with the sole purpose to get drunk or lay with a prostitute.” (You’ve been warned!) In Mantua, we’ll reside in a lovingly restored palazzo. (Since most of our accommodations are situated in older buildings, there are no elevators and will require walking up 1-2 flights of stairs.)
Continue your journey by joining us on Lake Como. We’ll travel from Mantua to the quiet village of Lezzeno, located near Bellagio but far away from the crowds. Spend 3 nights lakefront relishing the beauty of the area and learning about its history, culture, and cuisine.
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Experience Northern Italy
$4800 per person, double occupancy
$750, single supplement
Extra night at the Phi Hotel Bologna: $330
Lake Como add-on:
$1400 per person, double occupancy
$400, single supplement
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Our Northern Italy tour includes 8 nights accommodations with breakfast: 2 nights at the Phi Hotel Bologna, 2 nights at Hotel La Posta in Reggio Emilia, and 4 nights at either Palazzo Arrivabene or Ca’ Degli Uberti Palace in Mantua. Also included: ground transportation after arriving to the Phi Hotel Bologna and until our last day in Mantua, all group activities and tours, expert guides, and either lunch or dinner daily. Since this is a food tour, we’ll be sampling and tasting a lot along the way.
Our Lake Como add-on includes 3 nights at the Villa Aurora with a lakeview room, all transportation until drop-off at the Milan airport or Como train station, all group activities and tours, expert guides, and either lunch or dinner daily.
A $1000 deposit is required to secure your place in our Hidden Gems of Northern Italy tour. Since the number of participants is limited and accommodations vary in size and design, early registration is advised. All rooms will be assigned on a first-to-register basis, including three balcony rooms on Lake Como.
Delicious Expeditions also offers culinary tours to:
Croatia, France, Guatemala, Ireland, Istria, Michoacán, Northern Italy, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, San Miguel de Allende, Savannah, Slovenia, Spain, The Camino, Tuscany, Umbria, Venice & ViennaDon't just take our word for it!
Read our testimonials and see for yourself that Delicious Expeditions are trips of a lifetime!
A Culinary Journey into a Fabled Land
¡Benvenuto!
Arrive to the Phi Hotel Bologna, right off the town’s main square. Gather for introductions and a glass of wine before a guided walking tour. Stroll under the covered archways that make this city unique; marvel at the medieval towers that soar into the sky. We’ll dine on traditional dishes that have made Bologna one of the world’s top culinary destinations.
See Northern Italy photo gallery
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La Cucina Italiana
We'll begin our journey into the cuisine of Emila Romagna with a countryside cooking class lunch. Then we'll head to Dozza, designated one of Italy's Most Beautiful Villages, to tour its castle. Roam the alleyways full of colorful murals, considered by many a modern-day art museum. Wine tasting at the famed Enoteca Regionale, which hosts an amazing selection of local wines.
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The Magic of Modena
Discover the town of Modena through its food with a moveable feast. We’ll start at the historic Albinelli covered market and continue on to various botteghe storiche, or historical gastronomic stores. Afterward, we'll head to the village of Correggio to meet Fabio, an award-winning gelato maker. Taste his many creations. Arrive to Hotel La Posta in Reggio Emilia. Stroll through the town’s many squares and alleyways, stopping for a glass of wine as locals often do.
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The Enchanting Town of Parma
We're off to Parma, an UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, for a guided walking tour with a featured stop at the breathtaking Teatro Farnese. Lunch of local specialties, including gnocco fritto--the local, tantalizing fried bread that is served with Proscuitto di Parma. Discover Fontanellato Castle with its often-photographed moat and its surrounding village. Free evening.
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The Wonderful World of Parmesan
Immerse yourself in the world of Parmesan—the most popular cheese in the world—as we visit a DOP-certified diary farm and sample how the cheese changes with age. Discover San Benedetto Po, another one of Italy's designated Most Beautiful Villages. Local trattoria lunch before indulging in award-wining (and often misunderstood) Lambrusco at Bugno Martino winery. Travel to Mantua and settle in at Palazzo Arrivabene or Ca’ Degli Uberti Palace.
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The Work of Guilio Romano
Discover the magnificent town of Mantua with a walking tour that explores its history and the life of Guilio Romano, the architect, painter, and artistan who envisioned and then built much of the town. Lunch of local specialties. Free afternoon to explore more of the town or just enjoy La Dolce Vita, sip a glass of wine on the piazza or dine on pumpkin ravioli, a native dish.
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A Feast of Music
We'll explore Cremona, the internationally renowned home of violinmakers. Lunch on local fare at a historic tavern. Visit a master luthier, or violinmaker. Learn about his work, hear his notes and his story. Prosecco in the piazza, in front of the stunning cathedral. Free evening.
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Lake Garda
We’ll travel to the shores of Lake Garda, first stopping at a 17th-century mill that today produces one of the top Carnaroli rices used in making risotto. Enjoy a tortellini demonstrantion in Valeggio sul Mincio, the birthplace of the knotted pasta, followed by lunch and a guided walking tour of the centuries-old Borghetto, or hamlet. Free afternoon in the fortified island town of Peschiaria del Garda.
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For those continuing on to Lake Como:
Bergamo Beauty
We’re off to the foothills of the Italian Alps and the magical hill town of Bergamo. Wander the medieval streets on your own, walk the Venetian defensive walls, or savor the amazing frescoes in the Basilica. Lunch featuring the local pasta--casoncelli alla bergamasca, a meat-stuffed ravioli served with butter, bacon, and apple--along with other treats. Arrive to Lake Como and the Hotel Aurora in time for a sunset cocktail lakeside.
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Villas, Villages & Boats
Tour the famed botanical gardens of Villa Melzi on our way to Bellagio, considered the gem of Lake Como. Roam the alleyways and enjoy the vistas with our local guide. Lakeside lunch. Afternoon boat tour of the middle lake that will end with a wine tasting at Crotto del Misto, an old wine cellar.
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Quiet on the Waterfront
Free day to explore more villages on the lake—Como, Varenna, Menaggio. Hike the Reggina trail, the donkey path that once connected Como to Bellagio, or stay at the Aurora and lounge along the waterfront. Our farewell dinner will be with our neighbors at the acclaimed Osteria Il Governo 1801.
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A Final Farewell
After breakfast, we’ll pack our bags and head to Milan for a drop-off at either the airport or the Como train station.
Our itinerary is designed to showcase the best of Northern Italy while allowing enough free time for you to also explore on your own.
The above is a sample itinerary. Minor adjustments might be made depending on local events and festivals. Hotels may be substituted depending on availability.
Physical Requirements:
Walking 1-2 miles a day, standing at least an hour at a time, and climbing 2 flights of stairs.
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