Visions of Northern Italy: Hiking and Touring Lake Maggiore, Dolomites, Italian Riviera

The morning light washes over the impressive 19th-century edifice of the Lido Palace Hotel. The Belle Époque architectural style has charmed guests and passersby for over a century, including Sir Winston Churchill. The morning air fills with the scent of fresh espressos drifting out of the neighborhood cafes. Your guide greets you in the lobby after breakfast and escorts you to the shores of Lake Orta to discover the Sacro Monte trail. The pathway consists of 20 chapels dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, with architectural elegance representing renaissance, mannerist, and baroque styles, consistent with the era in which the chapels were constructed.

Together the chapels help tell the complete story of Saint Francis’s life. The scent of evergreen trees creates a refreshing spice, similar to spearmint. The forest lines the pathway, opening to the chapels and sporadic views of the granite mountains. You follow the trail winding up the slopes enclosing Lake Orta, leading to the summit at more than 1,310 feet above sea level. Pass an abundant collection of vibrant terracotta statues, stopping to view the elegant religious frescoes inside the chapels. The peak provides a stunning panorama of the glistening cobalt waters below, spreading to the rolling summits framing the lake’s distant shores. The convent of San Giulio Island rises above the water, reflecting in the surface. You can enter the Church of Saint Nicolao before returning down the mountain to board the boat bound for the shores of San Giulio.

The fishermen set out onto the water before dawn, enjoying the brisk mountain temperatures and serene ambiance. When sunlight washes over the cobalt hues of the lake, the boats return to the marina with fishermen trawling nets brimming with pike, trout, and black bass. The cafes set out tables for patrons to relish the views of the vibrant lives of passersby while sipping espresso and nibbling on chocolate brioche. Your private transfer greets you at the hotel after breakfast, eager to escort you into the Dolomite Mountains by way of Valpolicella, located near Verona. The lush scenery encompasses vivacious forest and blanketing vineyards sweeping over the hills and sweeping upwards towards the mountain summits.

You reach the historical heart of the wine-producing region at the Monti Lessini hills, located northwest of Verona. While touring your first winery, you notice only red grapes growing on the vine. The bushels dangle between leaves with waxy, plum textures soaking up the minerals from the hardened soil. The aroma of the rich, textured soil fills the air, blending with the herbaceous scent of the vines. Emerge from the cool, refreshing cellar to reach the tasting room. Your guide pours a traditional Valpolicella Ripasso. The aromas of black pepper and raisins drift from the glass, leaving a touch of cherry flavor on your palate.

In the morning, the colors of Bolzano return to the squares and narrow cobbled lanes. The rich, verdant hills roll along the borders of the town decorated with protruding granite peaks. The flourishes on the building represent an Austro-Hungarian tradition, turning Bolzano into a town that straddles the culture of Italy and Austria. Cyclists take to the paths along the riversides and markets contain pine-knotted features with specials on Alpine cheese and cured ham. You make your way to the cable car at Castelrotto to reach the upper town of Compatsch. The impressive view offers vistas of stunning prairies, steep slopes, and dense larch forest. Wildflowers grow along the verdant grasses with white and purple petals. The cable car ascends to more than 2,600 feet above sea level. The trails around the Seiser Alm, a large high-altitude plain encompassing more than 25 miles, embody the largest mountain plateau in Europe. The air turns thin and crisp. The natural beauty of the mountains and plains is breathtaking, offering views of grazing horses and cows enjoying the grass and wildflowers growing along the Bullaccia Ring Trails.

Cafes in Bolzano bake gingerbread and delicate croissants. Window displays for confectionaries brim with marzipan sculptures. Equal amounts of locals speak German as well as Italian. Your guide greets you in the hotel after breakfast, eager to lead you on a historical tour of the fascinating alpine town, beginning at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. The galleries were established in the late 1990s specifically to house a naturally preserved mummy from 5,300 years ago. The mummy is kept in a temperature-controlled room, keeping the air like an igloo to protect the preserved state of the figure. You can peer through a window to find tattoos visible on the mummy’s legs.

The clothing represents the Bronze Age, with patchwork leggings, a fur cloak, and cap. The surrounding galleries put the life of the mummy known as Ötzi the Iceman into context with cultural artifacts and projections. The gothic cathedral towers over the southwest corner of the main square, reaching a height of nearly 215 feet. The sandstone filigree adorns the spire, layering the dramatic figure with an elegant aesthetic amidst the patterned tiles on the roof. Lions support the columns flanking the Romanesque doorway with the sunlight glinting off the bronze door.

A popular local café fills its display cases with decadent brownies and cakes topped with hazelnut frosting. The scent of rich hot chocolate emanates from the kitchen, spilling into the streets. The granite walls of the surrounding mountains frame the town as your private transfer greets you at the hotel. You make your way to Portovenere, a town located on the Gulf of Poets overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Tower homes line the seaside promenade. Colorful boats weigh anchor in the harbor with their masts drifting like pendulums in the gentle wake.

The citadel protects the grand towers of Castello Doria. The Romans built a port on the gulf to sail to Gaul and then Spain, with Byzantine and the Genovese Republic adding their particular style and culture to the town over two millennia. You settle into the comforts of your luxurious hotel with a view of the glistening waters of the Mediterranean. You can watch the boats return from the open sea and moor along the edges of the harbor.

Verdant forests spread across the undulating hills, leading to the Maritime Alps separating the seaside from the inland weather. The remainder of the day is yours to embrace the relaxed pace and gorgeous scenery. Doria Castle was erected in the 12th century under Genovese rule. The steep, thick walls embody the power of the structure, comprising separate bases with encircling cyclopean masonry. Wander through the archways of the interior to view the 15th-century House of the Lord Manor.

Cinque Terre has gained prominence for its preserved wonder of the five villages connected by the railway or former paths once traveled by donkeys and goat herders. Olive groves, vineyards, and lemon orchards grow along the terraced gardens. The seaside villages lead to cobbled streets of the secluded towns resting on the cliff plateaus. After breakfast, you take the scenic train to reach Monterosso, the most northerly of the five villages. The sunlight blankets the Mediterranean creating a glinting sapphire color. The aroma of the sea blends with the citrus scent of lemons. Monterosso is divided into two sections, the historic quarter closest to the water and the contemporary neighborhood ascending the hills opposite the train tracks.

The tower homes squeeze against the cobbled lanes making it feel like an encroaching, colorful cave. Restaurants near the waterfront fill with the aromas of pesto, as basil plants thrive in the climate and soil along the hills. The pebbled beach sweeps across the bay, touching the framing granite promontories. The northern cliff contains a large statue carved into the precipice. The figure of Neptune stands more than 45 feet tall and looks as though he supports a protruding platform. The statue was added to the cliff in the early 20th century to decorate the seaward facing windows of Villa Pastine. Continue onto the trails of Cinque Terre, passing the Aurora Tower overlooking the waters to reach the neighboring town of Vernazza.

In the morning, you can bask in the sunlight washed over the cobblestones of the promenade. The seaside aroma blends with the scent of lemon trees and fresh espresso. Your guide greets you at the hotel after breakfast and escorts you to Florence, stopping en route to visit the medieval town of Lucca. The limestone mountains and sapphire waters of the Ligurian coastline give way to the cypress trees and olive groves of Tuscany. The fabled hills roll across the horizon with the legendary walls of Lucca rising out of the green valley. In the early 19th century, Napoleon gifted the city to his sister Elisa, who turned the 13th-century walls into a lush public park for the locals to enjoy.

The foothills of the Apuan Alps overtake the horizon to the north. The largest of the walls were renovated between the 16th and 17th centuries, atop the foundations laid in the 2nd century BC. The ramparts reach a height of nearly 30 feet, stretching more than three miles long around the historical center. Trees shade the walkways and locals cycle or stroll alongside the verdant lawns while children kick footballs. More than 200 wooden steps lead to the top of the 13th-century clock tower Torre Civica delle Ore, the tallest of Lucca’s 130 towers at a height of nearly 165 feet. The rich history of the city emanates from the 11th-century Romanesque cathedral, with a façade embodying the traditions of Pisan architectural style.

Florence is a renaissance city preserving former grandeur and continuously inspiring visitors from around the world. The rosy brick dome of the cathedral towers above the city center reaching heights of more than 375 feet. Green, pink, and white marble adorn the façade amongst detailed statues of saints and cherubs. Red-tiled roofs frame narrow cobbled lanes and wide pedestrian boulevards with artistry adorning the public piazzas in the form of hidden embellishments and opulent statues. Your guide greets you in the hotel lobby, eager to lead you on a private tour of the captivating city, eventually guiding you to Santa Croce. The basilica was erected in the 14th century with neo-gothic designs and an array of colored marble.

A statue of Dante Alighieri flanks the tripartite doorways. The frescoes painted by Giotto adorn the Cappella Bardi, depicting the life of St. Francis. Candles flicker on the votive, and the aroma of frankincense swirls over the nave and leads you to the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo. In the afternoon, you make your way to the Church of San Miniato al Monte, situated in the hills above Piazza Michelangelo. You can see the historic walls of the former center of Florence. Vineyards sweep over the undulating knolls amongst towering cypress trees. Monks begin chanting inside the chapel. The sun begins to set and causes the gilded frescoes to shimmer in the fading light.

The passeggiata is a traditional leisurely stroll Italians take in the evening to enjoy the pleasures of daily life. You joined the locals in Florence the previous night as the city filled with the aromas of grilled bistecca Fiorentina, an Italian-style steak, and al dente pasta finished with luscious garlic and walnut sauce. In the morning, the city returns to life around the medieval walls of the city center. Cafes set out tables and chairs for patrons to enjoy the pleasant views of the artistic architecture. The scent of cappuccino and espresso blends with the aroma of buttery brioches moving between bakeries and café windows. The sunlight shines over the golden hues of the antique brick façade of the Old Palace in Piazza della Signoria. Your private transfer greets you at the hotel and escorts you to Florence International Airport for your flight home.