14-day tour of north-west Italy

Get to know the north-west of Italy in all its facets: bustling metropolises, charming little villages, mountains, lakes and the sea. Variety is the order of the day on this 14-day round trip. You have plenty of time to enjoy it and, thanks to your hire car, you can simply stay a little longer where you particularly like it. Fall in love with a corner of Italy that is unjustly rarely on the itinerary of holidaymakers in Italy.

Discover a special form of public transport on your 14-day tour of north-west Italy in Genoa: the lifts. The oldest, still active lift dates back to 1909 and takes you from the Palazzi dei Rolli up to the Spianata Castelletto, from where you have a fabulous view of Genoa’s old town. Another lift in Genoa is unique in the world: the Montegalletto lift from 1929. First horizontally like a cable car, then vertically as a classic lift, this marvel of technology takes you to the Castello d’Altbertis and its Museum of World History. This extraordinary collection gives you a very intimate insight into the life of the collector Enrico Alberto d’Albertis and the history of his time, the 18th century.

In Turin, you can’t miss a look at the world-famous shroud, of course. But other sights in the city are also fascinating – such as the Turin Cathedral and the Mole Antonelliana – once the tallest brick building in Europe and now home to the very exciting Turin Film Museum. You can travel much further back in history at the Porta Palatina, a Roman city gate from the first century, and in the Egyptian Museum, whose collection is the largest outside Egypt.

From the great world history in a somewhat sleepy Italy of yesteryear, you land in the picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre. Here, small fishing boats bob in a very well-organised harbour and you will breathe easy as you stroll along the narrow, cobbled alleyways alongside the typical Ligurian houses. You will discover historical treasures such as the Gothic San Pietro in Corniglia or the nested houses of Manarola.

Even its name evokes anticipation: Flower Riviera. Fascinating flowers and other plants can be found along the picturesque coastline, including in the Hanbury Gardens with their countless flowers and exotic plants. The Grottoes of Toirano in Liguria are almost bizarre. The cave system unites more than 50 caves in which researchers have found traces of cave bears, Neanderthals and fascinating geological formations.

A landscape to fall in love with awaits you on your 14-day round trip through north-west Italy on Lago Maggiore: the turquoise-blue lake, small islands with Mediterranean sandstone buildings and dense forests that climb up the mountain slopes to imposing peaks. This postcard panorama conceals another Botanical Garden, that of Villa Taranto. Stroll through the terraces, past water features and exotic plants. There are around 20,000 different plant species to discover here with the picturesque silhouette of Lake Maggiore in the background.

The Valentino Park on the banks of the Po in Turin is almost like a time capsule. Here you suddenly find yourself back in the Middle Ages in the extensive grounds with rock gardens, an ornate fountain and the small village in the centre of the park.

The cuisine of northern Italy is different from the rest of Italy, but just as delicious and varied. There are many influences from neighbouring countries in the dishes, so you may well find a Sacher torte on the menu. Meat dishes are braised, refined with wine and aromatic herbs or roasted. Freshwater fish from the inland lakes as well as fish and seafood are also frequently on the menu. If your tour of northern Italy takes you to Piedmont, you should try the famous Alba truffles that grow here or dip vegetables in a delicious hot dipping sauce – bagna cauda.

In Liguria and Lombardy, the culinary focus tends to be on fish and vegetables. Famous are not only the cheeses from Lombardy, such as Mascarpone, Gorgonzola, Taleggio or Grana padano, but also the pesto alla genovese.

A rich and varied cuisine, which is mainly characterised by fish and meat, will spoil you in Veneto. This is often accompanied by polenta prepared in different ways and, of course, a good drop of wine, which are plentiful in the north of Italy and will turn your trip into a culinary experience.

Get to know the sweet side of Turin and the sun-kissed hazelnuts of Piedmont at the small Cioccolateria Giordano. The chocolate that you enjoy here with a good coffee is still made by hand according to traditional recipes. Among other things, gianduiotti, a hazelnut nougat, will melt in your mouth, for which hazelnuts from the region are used in this cioccolateria – and you may even be told a story or two about it as you savour it.

We do not offer standardised packages. Your Geotoura trip is customised according to your wishes.

We make this possible thanks to our high level of expertise and in-depth knowledge of the country as well as our excellent network of partners. You can look forward to extraordinary experiences, charming boutique hotels and very special insider tips on site.

Geotoura stands for the perfect planning of your personalised dream trip. Your individual price will therefore only include what really enriches your holiday.

Compared to standard holidays, this price is competitive. You will usually receive the comprehensive holiday design within 24 hours on working days.

Highly personalised trips are our speciality and the pleasure you deserve.