Journeys with Rosemary
Northern Italy:
Milan, the Riviera, Emilia Romagna, Lake Maggiore
May 5 -19, 2017
Northern Italy:
Milan, the Riviera, Emilia Romagna, Lake Maggiore
May 5 -19, 2017
Italy Slide Show
Milano
Our wonderful trip began in Milano where we all came together from different airports and train stations. Our first tour included the must-sees: La Scala Opera House, Sforzesco Castle and the incomparable Last Supper at S Maria delle Grazie church. On our own, we visited the Galleria and the Duomo. The next day we had a private food history walk in the Brera District which culminated in a tour and tasting lunch at Eataly. We so enjoyed seeing regional mozzarella being made! Afterwards we visited Pinoteca Art Gallery and/or craft shops.
Santa Margherita Ligure
Our next destination, two hours away via nonstop train, was S Margherita Ligure. Except for having to carry our suitcases down the steps, under the tracks, and back up again (elevator out of order), the transfer was smooth and easy. We all loved our hotel on the Italian Riviera and Antonio Restaurant, where we ate the first night, turned out to be the gold standard, especially for fish.
We took two private daylong tours here. The first was to Portovenere and the Cinque Terre. We were delighted with our included light lunch at Portovenere, which was served outside under umbrellas. We then ferried to two of the five 5T towns, Vernazza, where some of us tried fried anchovies (ok, but don't have to eat them again) and Monterosso. Our second day tour was to lovely Lucca. After our walking tour, we had ample free time. On the way back to the hotel, our charming driver, Mario, gave us an added little panoramic tour of his town, Rapallo, as well as several other neighboring ones. On our free day, the group visited nearby Portofino, experiencing various restaurants and shops. Back in S Margherita, we all sampled the local specialty, foccaccia di recco, with its very thin crust and special light cheese. It was difficult to leave this place, especially since the weather had been so lovely.
Reggio Emilia
The next part of the trip was really centered around food, as is fitting to this region. We had a private coach transfer this time, with young Andrea. The afternoon we arrived, we were greeted by hotel owner Umberto, then had a brief overview walking tour of the town. The next day we had a tour of a prosciutto factory outside Parma, which was followed by a light lunch that featured the best prosciutto most of us had ever tasted. We walked this off with a tour of the city of Parma. The following day we went to Cremona, the Violin City. We toured the museum, then went to the shop of charming Philippe, the violin maker, who demonstrated how this instrument is made. His sell for ~$50,000. A member of our group actually got to play one!
Our last full day here we toured a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory and had a tasting. As with wine, the older the better! We stopped at the Ferrari Museum where three of us did a simulator test drive. Fun! That evening we went to the hotel owner's estate and restaurant outside of town. He gave us a tour of the property, explained the balsamic vinegar making process, and then led a tasting. This was followed by a marvelous dinner.
Lago Maggiore
Our final destination was Stresa on Lake Maggiore. Andrea returned to do this coach transfer for us. (In the interim we'd learned he's the son of the owners.)
Our rooms here had beautiful views of the lake. The day after our arrival, we had a full day visit to the Borromeo Islands which sit in the lake, close to Stresa. Our chartered boat took us to three different islands, each with its own separate charm. The botanic gardens were amazing in the way they sustain plants that live in very different climates all over the world. On our final day, we took the cable car up Mount Mottarone for a 360-degree view of seven lakes and the Alps. It wasn't the clearest of days, but we still had some impressive views. The more daring ones in the group took bobsleds back down. Our grand finale dinner was at the lovely restaurant in our hotel, a special finish to a very special trip.
Milano
Our wonderful trip began in Milano where we all came together from different airports and train stations. Our first tour included the must-sees: La Scala Opera House, Sforzesco Castle and the incomparable Last Supper at S Maria delle Grazie church. On our own, we visited the Galleria and the Duomo. The next day we had a private food history walk in the Brera District which culminated in a tour and tasting lunch at Eataly. We so enjoyed seeing regional mozzarella being made! Afterwards we visited Pinoteca Art Gallery and/or craft shops.
Santa Margherita Ligure
Our next destination, two hours away via nonstop train, was S Margherita Ligure. Except for having to carry our suitcases down the steps, under the tracks, and back up again (elevator out of order), the transfer was smooth and easy. We all loved our hotel on the Italian Riviera and Antonio Restaurant, where we ate the first night, turned out to be the gold standard, especially for fish.
We took two private daylong tours here. The first was to Portovenere and the Cinque Terre. We were delighted with our included light lunch at Portovenere, which was served outside under umbrellas. We then ferried to two of the five 5T towns, Vernazza, where some of us tried fried anchovies (ok, but don't have to eat them again) and Monterosso. Our second day tour was to lovely Lucca. After our walking tour, we had ample free time. On the way back to the hotel, our charming driver, Mario, gave us an added little panoramic tour of his town, Rapallo, as well as several other neighboring ones. On our free day, the group visited nearby Portofino, experiencing various restaurants and shops. Back in S Margherita, we all sampled the local specialty, foccaccia di recco, with its very thin crust and special light cheese. It was difficult to leave this place, especially since the weather had been so lovely.
Reggio Emilia
The next part of the trip was really centered around food, as is fitting to this region. We had a private coach transfer this time, with young Andrea. The afternoon we arrived, we were greeted by hotel owner Umberto, then had a brief overview walking tour of the town. The next day we had a tour of a prosciutto factory outside Parma, which was followed by a light lunch that featured the best prosciutto most of us had ever tasted. We walked this off with a tour of the city of Parma. The following day we went to Cremona, the Violin City. We toured the museum, then went to the shop of charming Philippe, the violin maker, who demonstrated how this instrument is made. His sell for ~$50,000. A member of our group actually got to play one!
Our last full day here we toured a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory and had a tasting. As with wine, the older the better! We stopped at the Ferrari Museum where three of us did a simulator test drive. Fun! That evening we went to the hotel owner's estate and restaurant outside of town. He gave us a tour of the property, explained the balsamic vinegar making process, and then led a tasting. This was followed by a marvelous dinner.
Lago Maggiore
Our final destination was Stresa on Lake Maggiore. Andrea returned to do this coach transfer for us. (In the interim we'd learned he's the son of the owners.)
Our rooms here had beautiful views of the lake. The day after our arrival, we had a full day visit to the Borromeo Islands which sit in the lake, close to Stresa. Our chartered boat took us to three different islands, each with its own separate charm. The botanic gardens were amazing in the way they sustain plants that live in very different climates all over the world. On our final day, we took the cable car up Mount Mottarone for a 360-degree view of seven lakes and the Alps. It wasn't the clearest of days, but we still had some impressive views. The more daring ones in the group took bobsleds back down. Our grand finale dinner was at the lovely restaurant in our hotel, a special finish to a very special trip.