SEE ITINERARY | DATES & PRICES | FAQs | MAKE A RESERVATION★ What's included in Now Journey's Limited Series Tour:
- True Small Group Experience, typically just 8–12 guests.
- Boutique and luxury accommodations selected for character, location and service.
- Signature Discovery Walks in each destination.
- Privately guided touring with expert local English-speaking guides.
- Curated culinary and wine experiences throughout Northern Italy.
- Included group arrival transfer from Milan Malpensa Airport.
- Scenic travel through Piemonte, Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy.
- Luxury Transportation in Mercedes-Type Vans or Microcoach
- Transparent pricing with no surprise hotel city taxes.
- Thoughtfully paced touring with meaningful leisure time.
★ Itinerary at a Glance:
- TOUR BEGINS: RELAIS IN PIEMONTE, 3 Nights
Arrive Milan Malpensa (MXP) Airport • Included Transfer
Piemonte: Vineyards and elegance of Northern Italy.
- PARMA IN EMILIA ROMAGNA, 2 Nights
Emilia Romagna: Italy’s culinary heart.
- MANTUA IN LOMBARDIA, 2 Nights
Lombardia: Renaissance beauty and quiet Italy.
- TOUR FINALE: BERGAMO IN LOMBARDIA, 3 Nights
Lombardia: Hidden elegance above Lombardy.
Chapter 1: Piemonte & Turin
Vineyards, Elegance & the Spirit of Northern Italy —
3 Days, 3 Nights
DAY 1: Arrival into Italy’s Hidden North
Welcome to Italy’s Secrets of the North — a Journey into a quieter, more refined side of Italy rarely experienced by hurried travelers.
Upon arrival at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), enjoy our included transfer to carry you away from the energy of the city and into the rolling vineyard landscapes of Piemonte — one of Italy’s most celebrated culinary and wine regions. As the scenery slowly shifts to hilltop villages, winding wine roads, cypress-lined estates, and misty green hills, the rhythm of Northern Italy begins to unfold.
This is a region known not only for extraordinary Barolo wines and remarkable cuisine, but for a slower elegance deeply woven into everyday life. After time to settle in and exhale from the journey, the evening gently introduces you to the atmosphere of the days ahead — where long dinners, meaningful conversation, timeless villages, and the beauty of Northern Italy begin to reveal themselves slowly.
Discovery Walk
After time to relax and settle in, join your fellow travelers for our signature Discovery Walk — a relaxed introduction to the rhythm of the days ahead.
As evening settles over the vineyards, candlelight flickers across courtyard tables while glasses of Barolo quietly begin to appear beside slow Northern Italian dinners.
Welcome Dinner — Piemonte Welcome
Tonight, we gather for our Welcome Dinner featuring regional specialties, exceptional local wines, and the warm hospitality that defines Northern Italy.
The Cuisine of Piemonte
Piemonte’s cuisine is considered among the most refined in all of Italy — rich with slow culinary tradition, exceptional wines, and deeply regional flavors. From handmade tajarin pasta and delicate agnolotti to luxurious truffle dishes, aged cheeses, and velvety Barolo wines, the region celebrates elegant simplicity and seasonal ingredients with remarkable sophistication. Turin itself is equally known for its historic cafés, chocolate traditions, aperitivo culture, and a distinctly polished Northern Italian dining atmosphere.
Where We Stay in Piemonte, 3 Nights with breakfast
Deluxe Hotels Collection —
Relais San Maurizio or Similar
Our home for the next three nights is the extraordinary Relais San Maurizio or similar — a beautifully restored former monastery transformed into one of Northern Italy’s most luxurious countryside retreats. Surrounded by vineyards and timeless serenity, the property blends understated luxury, historic character, and the quiet sophistication that defines Piemonte itself. Perfectly positioned in the heart of wine country yet within comfortable reach of Turin, the Relais offers the ideal balance between refined countryside escape and elegant city exploration as we enjoy scenic drives into town throughout our stay.
DAY 2: Turin & the Elegant North
Today's Adventure: Exploring Turin
This morning we journey into Turin — one of Italy’s most sophisticated and beautifully underrated cities. Once Italy’s first capital and home to the House of Savoy, Turin is defined by grand boulevards, elegant arcades, historic cafés, and royal architecture that create an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Italy.
Elegant historic cafés still shape daily life here — where espresso, chocolate, aperitivo culture, and conversation remain woven into the rhythm of the city.
Our guided walking tour introduces the spirit of this remarkable city as we stroll through graceful piazzas, café-lined avenues, and architectural treasures that still reflect the grandeur of Turin’s royal past — revealing a refined Northern Italian elegance many travelers never expect.
The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure back in Piemonte — perhaps relaxing at the property, enjoying the spa, or simply taking in the countryside with a glass of wine.
Later tonight, enjoy an optional dinner with the Tour Captain in Turin or enjoy your evening at leisure.
BACK TO TOP Got a question? CHAT HERE.
DAY 3: Barolo & the Wine Roads of Piemonte
Today's Adventure: The Langhe & Barolo
Today we immerse ourselves in the legendary wine country of the Langhe — one of Italy’s most breathtaking and celebrated culinary landscapes. Vineyards ripple across rolling hills like green velvet beneath ancient hilltop villages, while winding country roads lead us through a region where wine, history, and beauty have been intertwined for centuries. This is Piemonte at its most cinematic — elegant, atmospheric, and wonderfully unhurried.
Our day unfolds through the famed Barolo region, home to wines revered around the world as “The King of Wines.” Along the way, we pass storybook villages, medieval castles, and endless vineyard panoramas as we experience the refined rhythm of life in Northern Italy’s most prestigious wine country.
Now Journey Exclusive
Enjoy a curated Barolo tasting experience overlooking the vineyards of the Langhe — an unforgettable afternoon of exceptional wines thoughtfully paired with local morsels and regional flavors, all set against sweeping vineyard views across one of Italy’s most iconic wine-producing landscapes.
Later tonight, enjoy an optional dinner with the Tour Captain or enjoy your evening at leisure.
Chapter 2: Parma
Italy’s Culinary Heart —
2 Days, 2 Nights
DAY 4: The Wine Road to Parma
Today's Adventure: Scenic Northern Italy
Today we travel southward along scenic countryside routes toward Parma — one of Italy’s great culinary capitals. Along the way, the landscapes slowly shift from vineyard hills to the rich agricultural heartlands of Emilia-Romagna.
Upon arrival, we settle into the elegant Grand Hotel di Parma for the next two nights — perfectly situated in the heart of the city, allowing us to step directly into Parma’s refined streets, lively piazzas, and celebrated culinary culture.
By late afternoon, locals begin gathering beneath Parma’s arcades for aperitivo hour as the city slowly transitions into the warmth and ritual of the evening.
Discovery Walk
Later, join us for a Discovery Walk through Parma’s graceful historic center before gathering for dinner at one of the city’s beloved local restaurants.
Welcome Dinner — Parma
Tonight’s dinner introduces the culinary soul of Emilia-Romagna — a region known for Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma and extraordinary regional cuisine.
Where We Stay in Parma, 2 Nights with breakfast
Deluxe Hotels Collection —
Grand Hotel di Parma or Similar
Classic elegance meets modern comfort in a refined Parma property ideally positioned for exploring the historic city center and culinary treasures of Emilia-Romagna.
DAY 5: Parma: Food, Culture & Italian Life
Today's Adventure: Parma’s Culinary Soul
Today is dedicated to discovering the soul of Parma — a city that reveals itself slowly and beautifully. Together we wander elegant piazzas framed by warm ochre facades, stroll beneath arcaded streets where locals linger over espresso, and uncover the refined rhythm of daily life that gives Parma its unmistakable character. Church bells echo softly through cinematic lanes as bicycles drift past centuries-old architecture, creating the timeless atmosphere that defines this remarkable city.
But Parma is also one of Italy’s great culinary capitals — a place where food is inseparable from culture, pride, and everyday life. Throughout our morning exploration, we encounter the flavors and traditions that have made Emilia-Romagna legendary around the world. Inside historic alimentari and artisan food boutiques, towering wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano age quietly beneath careful watch while the delicate aroma of Prosciutto di Parma drifts from hanging cured hams prepared according to generations-old methods.
Along the way, guests will enjoy tasting freshly shaved Parmigiano Reggiano at varying stages of aging — from younger, creamy and delicate expressions to deeply aged selections with rich crystalline texture, nutty depth, and complex savory character. We will also savor silky slices of authentic Prosciutto di Parma, delicately cured and served alongside warm focaccia, regional wines, and other local specialties that capture the extraordinary culinary identity of Parma itself.
Additional discoveries may include handmade pasta shops, traditional balsamic delicacies, artisan chocolates, and elegant gourmet boutiques tucked quietly within Parma’s historic center — each revealing another layer of the city’s refined culinary heritage.
Now Journey Exclusive
Enjoy a curated tasting experience celebrating the iconic flavors of Parma. Sample beautifully aged Parmigiano Reggiano paired with regional wines, freshly baked focaccia, and delicate Prosciutto di Parma sliced moments before serving — an unforgettable immersion into the traditions, craftsmanship, and flavors that define one of Italy’s great culinary regions.
Here in Parma, food is never rushed. Meals become conversation, ritual, craftsmanship, and family tradition — a way of life preserved with quiet confidence for centuries.
The remainder of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure. Perhaps settle into a café for an aperitivo, browse Parma’s elegant boutiques and specialty food shops, or simply embrace the slower rhythm of this sophisticated northern Italian city.
The Tour Captain will invite you to optional dinner, however, this evening is ideal for lingering over dinner at your own pace within Parma’s celebrated culinary scene.
Chapter 3: Mantua
Renaissance Beauty & Quiet Italy —
2 Days, 2 Nights
DAY 6: Arrival in Mantua
Today's Adventure: To Mantua
This morning we continue eastward to Mantua — one of Italy’s great elegant treasures. Surrounded by shimmering lakes and rich with Renaissance beauty, Mantua feels wonderfully untouched by mass tourism, preserving an atmosphere that is both elegant and deeply authentic. Quiet piazzas, noble palaces, frescoed halls, and softly weathered arcades create a city that seems suspended in time, where art, history, and daily Italian life still unfold at an unhurried pace.
Laundry drifts quietly above narrow lanes, bicycles cross hidden squares, and café conversations linger late beneath softly glowing arcades.
Long favored by artists, poets, and the powerful Gonzaga family, Mantua offers the rare feeling of discovering a place that remains beautifully under the radar — sophisticated, cinematic, and profoundly Italian.
Discovery Walk
Upon arrival, we settle into our hotel before setting out on a Discovery Walk through the historic center — an opportunity to begin absorbing the atmosphere of this remarkable city. Together we wander elegant piazzas, hidden lanes, and centuries-old streets as the rhythm of local life unfolds around us, offering our first authentic glimpse into the character and charm that make this destination so memorable.
Welcome Dinner — Lombardy
This evening we gather once again for a relaxed Welcome Dinner featuring regional specialties and wines of Lombardy.
Deluxe Hotels Collection —
Grand Hotel San Lorenzo or Similar
Our home in Mantua is the elegant Grand Hotel San Lorenzo — a refined and perfectly situated retreat in the heart of the historic center, blending modern comfort with the timeless atmosphere of this remarkable Renaissance city.
DAY 7: Mantua & the Renaissance
Today's Adventure: The Gonzaga Legacy
Today we discover the extraordinary artistic and cultural heritage of Mantua. Once ruled by the powerful Gonzaga family, the city blossomed into one of Italy’s great Renaissance centers — attracting artists, architects, musicians, and scholars who helped shape its remarkable legacy. Magnificent palaces, frescoed chambers, elegant squares, and centuries of patronage still define the atmosphere today, creating a city where history and beauty seem woven into every corner.
Our morning exploration reveals beautiful piazzas, hidden courtyards, elegant arcades, and the refined atmosphere that makes Mantua feel wonderfully authentic and undiscovered. Along the way, discover traces of the Gonzaga dynasty that transformed this small city into one of the cultural jewels of Renaissance Italy, including the artistic influence of Giulio Romano, whose visionary work still leaves its mark across the city centuries later.
The afternoon is yours to enjoy slowly — perhaps lingering in a literary café beneath the arcades, exploring the Palazzo Ducale at your own pace, or simply wandering the quiet lanes where Mantua reveals itself most beautifully.
Now Journey Exclusive
As evening settles over Mantua, we gather for a relaxed lakeside aperitivo overlooking the tranquil waters surrounding the city. With golden light reflecting across the lakes and church bells echoing softly through the historic center, enjoy regional wines and small local specialties during one of the most atmospheric moments of the journey — a side of Mantua many travelers never experience.
Tonight enjoy an optional dinner with the Tour Captain to enjoy a relaxed evening at leisure beneath Mantua’s softly illuminated arcades, or explore at your leisure.
Chapter 4: Bergamo
Hidden Elegance Above Lombardy —
3 Days, 3 Nights
DAY 8: To Bergamo
Today we arrive in one of Northern Italy’s true hidden gems: Bergamo. With its remarkably preserved medieval upper city, elegant Venetian walls, and sweeping Lombardy views, Bergamo offers a quieter and more intimate Italian experience.
Discovery Walk
After checking into our hotel, we enjoy a Discovery Walk through the enchanting Città Alta before gathering for our Welcome Dinner.
As the evening light settles across the hills and stone bell towers begin to glow above the Upper City, Bergamo reveals the kind of atmosphere travelers rarely forget.
Welcome Dinner — Bergamo
As evening settles over the stone lanes and piazzas, Bergamo reveals its timeless charm.
Deluxe Hotels Collection —
Relais San Vigilio or Similar
Our home in Bergamo is the charming Relais San Vigilio — a beautifully positioned hillside retreat overlooking the city, where historic character, quiet elegance, and sweeping views create one of the most atmospheric stays in Northern Italy.
DAY 9: Discovering Bergamo
Today's Adventure: Bergamo’s Upper City
Today we further explore the beauty and character of Bergamo — one of Northern Italy’s most captivating and atmospheric hidden gems. High above the modern city, the enchanting Upper City unfolds as a tapestry of medieval lanes, stone archways, quiet piazzas, and centuries-old architecture wrapped within the city’s magnificent UNESCO-listed Venetian Walls.
This morning we ascend into the historic heart of Bergamo aboard the beloved funicular, climbing slowly toward the hilltop city as sweeping views across Lombardy begin to unfold below. Once inside the ancient walls, Bergamo reveals itself beautifully — elegant cafés spilling into hidden squares, church bells echoing softly through narrow lanes, and centuries of Venetian and Lombard influence layered into every corner.
Throughout the day, guests will discover why Bergamo has quietly become one of Northern Italy’s most beloved insider destinations. Beneath ivy-covered archways and along panoramic terraces, the city feels both refined and deeply authentic — sophisticated without pretension, cinematic without crowds.
Now Journey Exclusive
This evening, enjoy a sunset aperitivo overlooking the rooftops of Bergamo and the distant Lombardy plains beyond. As golden light settles across the hills and the bells of the Upper City echo through the evening air, guests experience one of those rare travel moments that feels timeless, intimate, and unmistakably Italian.
Tonight enjoy an optional dinner with the Tour Captain or enjoy exploring at your leisure.
DAY 10: Leisure in Lombardy
Your final full day is yours to enjoy. Perhaps spend the day slowly wandering Bergamo’s upper town, enjoying long lunches, boutique shopping, or quiet cafés tucked into hidden corners of the city.
Tonight may be the perfect evening for a final aperitivo with new friends as the Journey comes to a close.
Our Special Journey Farewell Dinner
As evening settles across Bergamo, we gather one final time to celebrate the stories, laughter, friendships and unforgettable moments shared throughout Northern Italy.
DAY 11: Departure Day
This morning our Journey concludes. Inquire about our optional departure transfer to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP).
As you leave Northern Italy behind, you take with you more than memories — but the feeling of having experienced a quieter, richer, and more intimate side of Italy that many travelers never see.