In the summer, Northern Italy Tours have more to offer than what most people expect. There are ancient cities, medieval castles, old salt smuggler trails leading into the mountains along with the Alps themselves that can be a welcome break for the summer heat.

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The most visited and enjoyed of the northern Italy attractions is a tossup between Venice and the Clinque Terre, but no matter where you end up going, the main airport in the north is in Milan. This is the starting point for nearly all of the tours of Northern Italy.

Milan has many attractions to get your trip off to a new start. It was first conquered by the Romans in 222 BC from the Celtics that founded this city in about 400 BC. It was also the western Capital of the Roman Empire until 402 AD. There are numerous ancient Roman buildings along with Gothic architecture.

Venice is a destination no one should miss. This is a city made up of 117 small islands and as most know, the streets are canals filled with water. The history of this city stretches back to 10 BC and was fought over by many invading armies. The structures found there are Roman along with gothic that have Byzantine and Arab influences that can be visibly seen.

There are some that feel this is a tourist trap city, but the history of it keeps people coming back for more. For this reason a brief visit is recommended.

The Clinque Terre is a set of 5 sea side towns on the cliffs. They are towns that have turned back time to a simpler way of life. The choice of tours can be either by sea or land. What is fascinating is that each one of these towns is connected by a scenic footpath that is hundreds of years old and still used today.

You can see each town from the sea and at certain points on the cliffs, but the walking trail is for those of you in relatively good shape. Some of the distances take up to 90 minutes of walking to cover between towns.

In the further reaches of the north are the Lake Como and Lake Orta. These are inland away from the sea. There you can have a tranquil experience of just what life was like in Old Italy.

This is some of what you can experience in the summer time with Northern Italy tours. With so much to see, a week is not long enough to enough everything so more than one trip is recommended.

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There are escorted tours to Cinque Terre that you can experience so the full joy and ambiance of this unique and unspoiled place can be experienced to its fullest. Nestled against the shore line, the 5 towns that make up the Cinque Terre are like no other in all the world.

Cinque Terre: Manarola at Evening

To start with you will be in the Liguria province of Italy. The 5 towns that are on the coast isolated from the rest of Italy are La Spezia, Corniglia, Manarola, Vernazza and Riomaggiore. They are all separate villages, but there are vantage points along the tour where you can see all five nestled against the cliffs.

The escorted tours can take 3 different paths. The most common is the tour by sea. This is where your tour guide will show you the dry stone walls, vineyards and fishing ports of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

For those that wish to ride in a chauffeur driven vehicle to all 5 villages, this too can be arranged. The advantage with this escorted tour is that you choose the time you spend at each village and not the ferry captain. This will allow you more time to visit the shops and cafes and absorb the scents and sounds of these quaint sea side villages.

The last option can be combined with the previous and this is the walking tour. All five villages are connected by a path. The average time it takes to walk and climb this path between villages is 90 minutes each, but there is no better way to truly get a feel for this wonderful place stuck in time.

These are your options for having personal escorted tours to Cinque Terre with a private guide to make your experience in the land that time forgot its fullest and most enjoyable of all the tours of Italy you can experience.

This is a taste of one of the 7 recommended day trips that is explained even more fully in the free travel guide download at the top right.

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The food tours of Northern Italy will include pasta, but there are so many more flavors and aromas to enjoy. To truly be considered food from Northern Italy it must come from one of 8 northern provinces. These are Aosta, Liguria, Lombardy and Piedmont to the west and Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto to the east.

When most people think of Italy and food, tomato sauces, olive oil and pasta fill their minds. This is still true with food from the north, but it is more balanced that in the south were in some places that is all there is. In the north there are more influences that include the use of butter and lard, rice, corn and many different cheeses that have developed into the creamy sauces that many people are very fond of.

In The Lombardy region they are well known for the use of rice in their dishes instead of pasta. One dish is made of rice, vegetables and bacon is called Minestrone alla Milanese. Another creamy dish that uses rice, meat stock, Saffron and of course cheese is Risotto alla Milanese.

From the Veneto region there Fegato alla Veneziana that is made of calf liver fried up with onions or Risi e Bisi which is rice and peas. Wild game along with a wide variety of sea food can also be seen in the market and on the menus of this region.

The Trentino-Alto Adige region is at the extreme north and is heavily influences by Germany. There is a type of dumpling here that consists of flour, bread and a meat broth called gnocchi that is widely popular amongst the locals. Another popular item is a type of salami that is cured with a taste similar to bacon called Speck.

These are just a few items you can experience on food tours of Northern Italy. The variety of items is nearly endless, but they all have one commonality, they are delicious to savor and enjoy.

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Welcome, northern Italy tours have never been more affordable and exclusive now that you’ve found out about Tuscany with Me.

Our friend Federica Merli was born and raised in Tuscany, is fluent in English and German and, with extensive work experience in public relations for an Italian winery, is now completing her certification as a Sommelier.  If you’ve experienced the Wine regions of the U.S., you’re ready to travel the ancient Wine Road of Italy.

But you won’t want to limit your trip to Tuscany to just the wineries.  Federica is an authority on all the best Northern Italy has to offer.  Tell her of your interests and she will research them in advance to provide your small group with the most personalized and exclusive customer service available in all of Europe.

Whether it’s a guided half day tour, full day excursion, or an entire week or two of touring, Federica can create a suitable itinerary with each person in mind.  If you’re planning a honeymoon, the celebration of retirement, a family reunion or if you simply want to gather a small group of friends or colleagues, there’s something for everyone in Italy and Federica will help you to find it.

Have you ever considered a trip to an olive grove where you can see the presses at work creating the finest olive oil in the world?  Or how about a tour devoted just to gourmet food?  You might want to devote a day to shopping where Federica will cut through the tourist traps and take you to the places the locals call authentic and a good deal.

Italy invented spas and the Italians are still pampering guests with the finest techniques and treatments in the world.   And for an adventure you may never have thought of, Federica highly recommends a tour of a white marble quarry, the same quarry used by Michelangelo beginning in the year 1500. You’ll never look at marble in the same way again.

The euro is decreasing in value against the dollar, making a European vacation the most affordable in 20 years.  So gather your group, update your passports and start planning your custom Northern Italy tours today.

There are Northern Italy tours that are economical with transportation by train and bus. For those that want something a little more intimate, there are also guided tours in the back of a limousine with your own private chauffeur. The choice is yours considering the amount of money you are willing to spend.

Regardless of the mode of transportation you have decided to use, the places will be the same. The northern part of Italy has many villages and historical sites that are enjoyed by travelers from around the world. One site most travelers stop and see is Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper. This famous painting is located on the back wall in the dining hall at Santa Maria delle Grazie which is located in Milan.

Also located in the north is the town of Saint Francis where masterpieces created by Giotto and Cimabue can be found. This town has other mystical qualities with the ancient walls still standing to help transport tourists to a long ago time.

For those wishing to ski or go mountain climbing, the Italian Alps are located at the northern extreme of the country, or the beautiful water roads of Venice can be enjoyed.

The temperature in this upper region is also ideal for the growing of grapes which is why so many of the best wineries are located here.

Lake Orta is the place for romance. The tiny village of Orta San Giulio on the lake’s edge is the destination for many Italian couples as the perfect place for their wedding. On the lake is the island of San Giulio that is the home of many monks from the Benedictine Monastery of Mater Ecclesiae.

These are just a few examples of what is in store for tourists on the many Northern Italy tours that are available.

Contact Federica Merli of TuscanyWithMe.it to design the perfect customized tour of Italy for  your favorite vacation of a lifetime.

The northern Italy travel destinations    do not include the famed Rome, but there is so much more than that old empire’s capital that Italy has to offer. One of the most luxurious places in all of Italy is Liguria or the Italian Riviera. This is the smallest of the 22 regions in Italy but for its size, there is more than enough to see. This is also where the city of Genoa is located.

The most prosperous industrial region is Lombardy, located in the northwestern part of the country. This is a rugged mountain area, along with wide stretching plains. This is the region where Milan is located. The Lake region is also here, along with the Italian Alps which reach for the sky.

In the northeastern part of the country is the famed Venice. Most visitors to this part of the country arrive in Milan and take the scenic 175-mile train ride to Venice. While on this route, travelers will pass through Brescia, Verona, Vicenza, and Padua.

In Brescia, there are Roman ruins and the Monastery of Santa Giulia with three churches in its walls.

Verona is the world famous setting of Romeo and Giulietta. This is also referred to as the Florence of the North, due to its valuable art.

Vicenza is the home town of the famous architect Palladio.

The oldest botanical garden in all of Europe is in Padua. This town is so close to Venice many visitors stay here and take the day train when they wish to visit the city.

If a straight shot from Milan to Venice is preferred, then the train ride will last less than 3 hours, but there is so much in between as northern Italy travel destinations along the way.

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Some northern Italy group tours go to famous places, but others find tucked away, out of the way locations for a unique and memorable experience.

For example, on Via Aggiunti in San Sepolcro in Arezzo, you’ll find a civic museum with collections from the 14th century till today.  These civic items include frescoes and sinopites from churches of the town.

Another unusual stop is the convent verna in Chiusi Della Verna, also in Arezzo.  Your host will usher you in on the A1 highway to local road SS 71.  Or, your group may wish to experience the thrill of European train travel and arrive by rail.

The convento complex consists of several buildings, primarily the Franciscan sanctuary which houses several churches in a row.  The Santa Maria degli Angeli is notable for the two altars decorated by Andrea Della Robbia.  Be sure to dress respectfully when visiting Italian churches.

The Public Museum of Medieval and Modern Art is located on Via San Lorentina in Arezzo.  Collectors of majolica decorative items will find a stunning display from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.  Ask your tour guide to point out the 16th century basin highlighting St. Matthew, and a Chinese flask from the 14th century.  There are painting and other pictures by Giovanni Fattori, Adriano Cecioni and Telemaco Signorini.

In the town of Camaldoli in Arezzo is the Sacro Eremo di Camaldoli, an example of 11th century hermitage architecture in the Camaldoli forest.  The building includes a sheltered area of approximately 20 “cells” along four paths, and a church, chapter house, a refectory, guest rooms and a library.

Lastly, your guide will recommend a beautiful park and nature reserve called the Valle Dell’ Inferno.  This area is home to fish which are all but extinct elsewhere as well as several species of birds of Tuscany, proving northern Italy group tours have something to offer everyone.

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Many Northern Italian small guided tours can cover a lot of ground simply by their nature of being limited in number.

One excursion that is popular with small groups is discovering the artisans of Florence.  Your guide can organize visits with the best that Tuscany has to offer with work in gold, silver, wood and paper.  Most tour guides in Italy have extensive education in the fine arts and they are happy to share this source of national pride with the rest of the world who comes to visit.

Florence is an artistic city that was fueled by craftspeople.  The narrow streets of the Santa Croce neighborhood are a living testament to the value placed by inhabitants to create items of beauty and function.

Among the skills you can see are artists creating marbled papers, the kind most often seen in leather-bound books.  This craft has been practiced in Florence since the year 1000.

Along the way you’ll see the ancient art of bookbinding as it was done in Galileo’s day.  Metal smiths heat, hammer and bend iron into decorative motifs used in fences, gates and stair rails.   Wood carvers chip away an ordinary piece of wood into something extraordinary, and the textile industry which offers hand woven and stenciled fabrics for designers is also on display.

By this time you will want to have lunch and your tour guide has several options for your small group.  Hidden trattorias line the cobblestone streets and beckon you with Tuscan specialties and wine.

Now you are not very far from one of the world’s most famous bridges, the Ponte Vecchio, or “old bridge”.  It’s difficult to believe anything in America with the world “old” in it would be a tourist attraction, but this is northern Italy!

Ask your guide about the many Northern Italian Small guided tours available.

There are northern Italy tours to suit every taste and budget.  Northern Italy is best known as Tuscany, that enchanting part of the world that has spawned books and films and drawn visitors from across the globe.

To the north Tuscany is fringed with mountains; the Pratomagno range and the Apuan Alps.   Between the Alps and the coast lie the lower Chianti hills, an area famous for its wines, its soil rich in minerals for growing, and its gentle climate.

The coast features the sandy shores of Versilia to the north and the rocky cliffs near Livorna at the mid-point.  And just off shore are the islands that form the Tuscan Archipelago.  The most popular among them are Capraia, Giglio, Elba, Pianosa, Montecristo and Giannutri.  All of these are well equipped for visitors looking for sun, beaches, charm and excellent cuisine.

With its Mediterranean climate, look for hot summer months and warm winters, except  in the mountains where snowfall allows for winter sports.  Generally, Tuscany has favorable weather no matter when you go.  The month of July is the hottest and it can feel quite tropical throughout the region.

Tuscany is the birthplace of Italian art, dating back to the Iron Age, but the Etruscan civilization is credited with spawning the best ancient art.  Items of terracotta and pottery in the form of vases and urns are considered masterpieces of the time.

Visitors to Tuscany are treated to an abundance of art from the Middle Ages which occurred after the fall of the Roman Empire.  The walls of Monteriggioni and the Castle at Prato are some of the surviving architecture on display from this period.

Siena and Florence reveal the Italian Gothic influence and in Florence the zenith of Renaissance design delights tourists and students alike.  Contact TuscanyWithMe.it to organize a trip within northern Italy tours and see history on display.

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Many Northern Italian Tours are best experienced with the whole family.  Children over the age of 5 will remember more than you think after this grand adventure through one of the world’s best regions.

You can begin your trip in the village of Cortona, the setting for the best-selling novel Under the Tuscan Sun.  Take the scenic road numbered SS71 north to Arezzo.  Be sure to bring your camera because this road is classic and quintessential Tuscany.

Arezzo is chock full of ancient art and frescoes by Piero della Francesca.  Movie buffs will also recognize some of the street scenes from the Academy-Award winning film Life is Beautiful.   If you time your trip right, your children will delight in the medieval joust that occurs during the Street Fairs on the first Sunday of each month.

The next day consider the old tunnels in Orvieto, a small hilltop city that is lit with spotlights at night.  The food is very special there and there is a wine by the same name.  Visit the toy stores with colorful puppets, and get ready for the requests.  Your children will surely ask to take one home.   After lunch you can visit the Etruscan Tombs.  Don’t worry, there’s nothing scary, but it’s an impressive place from an urban engineering standpoint.

Make your way to the Parco Naturale della Maremma to see white cattle and wild horses.  Have your camera ready to spot a wild boar.  Your tour guide will arrange a guided horseback ride in the early evening.

One cannot travel to Italy without seeing the famous Leaning Tower in Pisa.  The entire family, including children over the age of 8, are welcomed to climb inside to the top.  As famous as this is, you needn’t budget more than a half day in Pisa.

There is much to explore with Northern Italian Tours, and the best way to do that is with your family.

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