Northern Italy Main | Description | Map The southern slopes of the Alps separate Italy from France, Switzerland and Austria, creating the breathtaking beauty of Italy’s alpine lakes, offering challenging skiing, mountain climbing and hiking, and also sheltering the narrow coastline of Liguria, known as the Italian Riviera, from the cold of the north. Terraced hills yield grapes and olives, producing delicate wines and oils, and form the backdrop to some of the most glamorous seaside resorts in the world — San Remo, Portofino, Santa Margherita, Rapallo. Besides golf, watersports, and lovely beaches for relaxation, there are medieval hill towns and quaint fishing villages to explore and wonderful seafood to savor. Spend a day in the Cinque Terre, or head north to Piemonte, visit Cuneo and the nearby antique market at the medieval town of Saluzzo. Turin, Piemonte’s capital, has a decidedly French look: the 11th century capital of the Kings of Savoy, it has Baroque palaces, wide boulevards, and elegant shopping areas. The Shroud of Turin can be viewed in its cathedral, and its museum has the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts outside of Cairo. Palazzo Reale, the summer palace of the Savoy family in Monza, is surrounded by the largest walled park in Europe that contains a 36 hole golf course and gardens that are ablaze with tulips the end of May. The beautiful Italian Lakes of Piemonte and Lombardy have been attracting tourists for centuries. Set amidst spectacular scenery are picturesque towns, ancient castles, and lakeside villas dating from the 17th century. Many, especially those at Lakes Maggiore and Como, have magnificent gardens; April, May and June are the best months to visit. The view across Lake Como from the gardens of Villa Melzi in Bellagio is magical; in Tremezzo, Villa Carlotta’s azaleas and rhododendrons are world famous. Villa Balbianello, reached by boat, gives perspective to Lake Como’s majestic past. The gardens of Palazzo Borromeo, a 17th century villa on Isola Bella in Lake Maggiore, feature plants from around the world. Two exceptional Italianate gardens are in the hills near Varese, at Villa Cicogna Mozzoni and Villa Bozzolo. JDB can arrange visits to private villas and gardens for small groups. Music has always been an important part of life in the north. Cremona, home of the Stradivarius violin, is a center for violin making where you can visit violin museums and work shops. The cottage in Roncole, near Parma, where Verdi was born can be visited, as well as a nearby museum and the villa he built. Modena is home to Pavarotti. Milan’s world renowned Teatro della Scala offers opera from December to June, as do La Teatro Fenice in Venice, Teatro Reggio in Parma, Teatro Communale in Bologna, and Teatro Reggio in Turin. In the open air Roman amphitheater in Verona, opera performances are held in July and August. Brescia holds a piano festival in May and June and Stresa holds musical weeks in August and September. For small groups, JDB can arrange private concerts in a museum in Milan and at nearby Villa Medici Giulini, where one of Europe’s finest collections of keyboard instruments is on display. Emilia Romagna, largely overlooked by tourists, is the source of Parma ham, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and Modena’s renowned balsamic vinegar. During the Renaissance, ruling noble families built opulent palaces and commissioned priceless artworks from the masters. In Ferrara, a small walled city with cobblestone streets, the Este family built Castello Estense, a four towered medieval fortress surrounded by a moat and containing a dungeon. Parma, a medieval city of domes, spires and bell towers, is rich in history and art: both Correggio and Il Parmigianino painted here. Bologna, the capital, is one of the best preserved Renaissance cities, and the Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna are one of Italy’s wonders. From Ravenna, it is easy to travel to Venice. Stay in a small villa in the countryside and explore the Veneto region: the Palladian villas along the Brenta River, the walled city of Treviso, the medieval hill town of Asolo, the wine producing area known as the Prosecco Route. See Giotto’s frescoes in Padua, and the finest examples of Palladio’s work in Vincenza, where he lived. Don’t miss one of Italy’s oldest and most beautiful cities, Verona.