Along the Azure Trail between Corniglia and Manarola in Cinque Terre National Park, Italy
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Italian Amore
Visitors often start a life-long love affair with Italy on their first trip to this country with its vestiges of ancient civilizations, delicious cuisine, priceless art and enchanting landscapes. The first visit might include the country’s most popular sites: Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, the wonders of the Vatican and the ruins of the Colosseum in Rome; astonishingly preserved Pompeii; the dreamy island of Capri; the canals of Venice (traveling with a AAA Travel cruise or tour partner can ease entry to this precious city that instituted new rules and limitations for visitors this year); the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa; and the vineyards and Renaissance art of Tuscany. Many of these highlights comprise the guided tours and cruises that visit Italy, which provide not only a perfect overview of this culturally rich country, but also whet your travel appetite for delving deeper and absorbing more of Italy’s la dolce vita, “the good life.”
Milan and Mountains
Once the must-sees have impressed you, it’s time to explore beyond the usual. AAA preferred partner Alexander + Roberts offers a three-day jaunt to Milan—the hub of fashion and design. It’s also a base from which to explore Italy’s lake country. Walk among industrious, style-conscious Italians to view the towering, white-marble Milan cathedral, one of the world’s largest. Nearby, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II offers elegant shopping that few malls have managed to replicate. Observe the world-famous La Scala opera house, and stop by the church and convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie to admire Leonardo da Vinci’s emotionally moving 15th-century mural, The Last Supper.
Beyond Milan, the Alps preside over the sublime countryside that unspools at their feet. Boats ferry you along the shores of three sparkling lakes—Como, Garda and Maggiore—where medieval fortresses and pastel-colored villas stand watch. By night, locals and visitors descend on chic resort towns, such as Como’s Bellagio, for the traditional passeggiata, the evening walk.
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Riva del Garda in summer on a beautiful sunny afternoon
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Immersive and Responsible Travel
AAA Travel partner Trafalgar has developed a unique tour of this region exclusively for AAA Travel. The intention of Trafalgar’s Impactful Travel: Flavors of Northern Italy itinerary is to infuse your vacation with travel experiences that connect you more authentically to this northern part of Italy. The vacation is packed full of purposeful explorations, including a stop at a historic homestead, where ponies and donkeys dot the landscape. A farm-to-table meal awaits at Cascina Le Volpe, where Lombardy culinary classics are brought to life using the farmstead’s fresh ingredients. While the meal of homemade pasta, locally produced ham, salami and more is remarkable, so, too, is the way the ingredients are grown. The ecofriendly, certified organic farmstead is equipped with thermal power from renewable sources, natural water-saving and filtering systems, recycling and more. This is a sustainable travel experience at its best.
In addition to the farm visit and feast, Trafalgar’s Impactful Travel: Flavors of Northern Italy itinerary visits Milan, Lake Garda, La Spezia and Lake Maggiore. The tour also stops in Cinque Terre and discovers hidden gems on a short hike, then takes a boat ride for different perspectives on this magnificent stretch of coastline.
Ruins of ancient Greco-Roman theater in Taormina
Sicily’s Island Spectacle
The spectacular ruins of the island of Sicily, a stronghold of ancient Greece, have withstood the erosion of time. The port city Siracusa’s Teatro Greco, a 15,000-seat theater carved out of rock, is a stunning example. Taormina, another exquisite town facing the sea, boasts a Greco-Roman amphitheater and prime views of Mount Etna. The volcano, one of the world’s most active, frequently spews ash clouds into the Mediterranean sky. In the island’s center, the town of Enna spreads over a high plateau. Panoramic views and historical monuments make it a memorable stop en route to Agrigento and its Valley of the Temples, among the most impressive collection of Greek ruins in Italy. The vibrant capital, Palermo, with its Byzantine mosaics, is another reminder of the island’s history. Here, the city’s street markets overflow with fruits and vegetables. Fishmongers sing as the aroma of smoky grilled octopus and panelle di ciciri, fried chickpea patties, fills the air.
Risotta with porcini and black truffles
Umbria: An Alternative to Tuscany
Less visited than neighboring Tuscany, Umbria is best known for Assisi, the home of Saint Francis, which has been a pilgrimage site for centuries. The Basilica of Saint Clare, admired for its pink-and-white-striped marble façade, is an architectural marvel, and dazzling frescoes by Cimabue and Giotto trace the revered saint’s life at the Upper Church of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. Another Umbrian town, Trevi, is encircled by two bands of medieval walls. Spoleto boasts medieval and Renaissance architecture and serves as the setting for the Festival of Two Worlds, a counterpart of the annual Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina. Wherever you find yourself in Umbria, sit down to a meal featuring favorite regional ingredients: porcini and black truffles.
Limoncello spritz aperitif cocktail in Positano, Amalfi Coast
The Boot’s Ankle: Naples and Sorrento
Naples exhilarates visitors with its vibrant street life, seaside panoramas and its most famous export, pizza. Dozens of castles, museums and churches vie for attention along with narrow cobblestone streets where laundry hangs and sing-song voices echo. Across the Bay of Naples, Sorrento’s pastel-colored villas nestle in steep, dramatic cliffs overlooking the water. After dinner, sit back with a glass of chilled limoncello, a lemon liqueur. Most every family in Naples and along the Amalfi Coast has its own version of the recipe.
Collaborate with a knowledgable AAA Travel Agent to build your best trip to Italy. Whether you’re a first-timer or a 10th-timer, AAA travel offers tours, cruises and personalized itineraries allowing you to experience Italy your way.