THE BEST OF NORTHERN ITALY

See the highlights of Tuscany’s capital on a three-hour walking tour, complete with a visit to the Accademia Gallery, where Michelangelo’s David takes the spotlight. Admire the works of Botticelli, Giotto, Cimabue and Leonardo at the Uffizi Gallery, a space originally designed by Giorgio Vasari to accommodate Florentine magistrates – hence the name “uffizi” (offices).

Taste the true essence of Italy in Bologna, the capital of Emilia Romagna and home to the first university in Europe. Roam its streets with a private guide, admiring antique churches and medieval towers but also the mix of styles, a testament to the city’s continued relevance throughout history. Enjoy some free time to savor Bologna’s legendary cuisine, which has established it as the capital of the “Italian Food Valley.” Don’t miss the handmade pasta with Bologna’s own ragù alla Bolognese.

Visit magnificent Ravenna, a capital city three times throughout history. Today listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it showcases remarkable monuments from the early Christian period. With a private guide, venture behind the stern façades of the Church of San Vitale, the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia to discover the wonderfully preserved mosaics. Admire the fusion of the East with Christian iconography and understand why Ravenna is nicknamed the “capital of mosaics.” Ponder the circles of Hell, Purgatory and Heaven on a small side-street, standing by the tomb of Dante Alighieri, the poet whose Divine Comedy, penned in the 14^th century, is considered one of the world’s greatest works of literature.

Take in the relaxed ambiance of Padua, whose patron saint, Saint Anthony of Padua, watches over travelers. Stroll the town’s medieval squares on a private tour, then visit the Scrovegni Chapel featuring remarkable frescoes by Gothic painter Giotto. Visit the Anatomical Theater, one of the first of its kind, where students observed human anatomy from viewing tiers centered on a table where dissections were performed. Travel to Vicenza, a lively cosmopolitan gem sprawled at the base of Mount Berico. Visit a 16^th-century Palladian villa to learn about the work of Andrea Palladio, a Renaissance architect who masterminded much of the heritage today known as the trademark of the Veneto region, as well as UNESCO-listed World Heritage.