North Italy Road Tour

About the destination: Milan-Malpensa Airport, previously known as City of Busto Arsizio Airport, is the primary international airport serving the Milan metropolitan region in northern Italy. It caters to 15 million residents in Lombardy, Piedmont, and Liguria. The airport is situated 49 kilometers (30 miles) northwest of downtown Milan, adjacent to the Ticino river, which separates Lombardy and Piedmont. The airport features two terminals, two runways, and a dedicated cargo terminal. In 2016, Malpensa Airport accommodated 19,320,546 passengers, making it the 29th busiest airport in Europe in terms of passenger traffic. Until 2008, it served as a significant hub for the national airline, Alitalia. Malpensa Airport continues to be the second busiest Italian airport for international passenger traffic (after Rome Fiumicino Airport), and the busiest for freight and cargo, handling over 500,000 tons of international freight each year. The first industrial airport was established in 1909 near the Cascina Malpensa, an old farm, by Giovanni Agusta and Gianni Caproni for testing their aircraft prototypes. This airport was then opened for civilian use in 1948 during the post-war reconstruction period, to serve the northern Milan area.

About the destination: Como is a city and municipality in Lombardy, Italy. It serves as the administrative capital of the Province of Como. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Volta Lighthouse. Offering some of the best views of the lake, this towering structure allows you to gaze down at the lake from a height of about 2000 feet. • Cathedral. • Tempio Voltiano. A pleasant stop on your walk along the waterfront, this temple dedicated to Volta is designed in a neoclassical style. • War Memorial. • City Walls. The remnants of the 12th-century city walls, which surround the narrow, winding streets of the old town. • Isola Comacina. A small island featuring the ruins of several Byzantine churches.

About the destination: Sirmione is a municipality in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy (northern Italy). It is bordered by the municipalities of Desenzano del Garda (Lombardy) and Peschiera del Garda in the province of Verona and the region of Veneto. It has a historical center which is situated on the Sirmio peninsula that separates the lower part of Lake Garda.

About the destination: Venice is a city like no other: a labyrinth of canals, marble palaces, and hidden courtyards floating on the Adriatic. Built on more than 100 small islands, it has no roads—only waterways and narrow alleys that suddenly open onto breathtaking piazzas. At its heart lies St. Mark’s Square, framed by the dazzling Basilica di San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, and the iconic Campanile. From here, you can wander under arcades lined with cafés and listen to live orchestras as the sun sets over the lagoon. The Grand Canal is Venice’s main thoroughfare, curving through the city like a glittering highway of water. Riding a vaporetto (water bus) offers a front-row view of Gothic and Renaissance palaces, their facades reflected in the rippling surface. For a more intimate experience, slip into one of the smaller canals on a gondola and glide beneath low stone bridges, passing quiet neighborhoods where laundry hangs over the water and church bells echo between the walls. Beyond the famous sights, Venice rewards slow exploration. Lose yourself in the districts of Cannaregio and Dorsoduro, where local bacari (wine bars) serve cicchetti—small Venetian tapas—alongside spritz and local wines. Cross the Rialto Bridge to visit its bustling market, where fishmongers and fruit vendors supply the city’s kitchens, and artisans sell Murano glass and traditional masks. Each sestiere (district) has its own character, from elegant San Marco to the more bohemian, artsy feel of Dorsoduro. Venice also makes an ideal base for exploring the lagoon islands. Take a short boat ride to Murano, famous for its centuries-old glassmaking tradition, where you can watch master glassblowers at work. Continue to Burano, a photographer’s dream with its brightly painted houses and lace workshops, and then on to Torcello, a peaceful island with ancient churches and a rare sense of quiet. Whether you come for art, history, or romance, Venice offers a dreamlike atmosphere that lingers long after you leave.

About the destination: Cortina d'Ampezzo is a town and municipality located in the heart of the southern Alps in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. Nestled on the Boite river, within an alpine valley, it is a favored winter sports resort renowned for its ski trails, picturesque scenery, accommodations, shopping, and vibrant après-ski scene, as well as its high-profile and aristocratic European visitors. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Rinaldo Zardini Paleontology Museum • Regole of Ampezzo Ethnographic Museum • Mario Rimoldi Modern Art Museum • The Minor Basilica of Saints Philip and James • The Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes • The Castello de Zanna is a small fortress, located in the district of Majon. It features low white exterior walls and two white corner towers, with a small chapel dedicated to the Holy Trinity. • Forte Tre Sassi (or Forte Tra i Sassi) is a fortress built in 1897 during the Austro-Hungarian era on the Passo Valparola. • Castello di Botestagno (also known as Podestagno) was a medieval fort perched on a rock in the valley of the Boite river, slightly north of Cortina, in the town of Prà del Caštel.

About the destination: Urtijëi (pronounced in Ladin as [uʀtiˈʒɜi̯]; in German: St. Ulrich in Gröden [saŋkt ˈulrɪç in ˈɡrøːdn̩]; in Italian: Ortisei [ortiˈzɛi]) is a town with a population of 4,637 located in South Tyrol in Northern Italy. It is situated in the Val Gardena within the Dolomites, a mountain range that forms part of the Alps.

About the destination: With an almost Northern European ambiance, yet radiating Italian style, Milan is Italy's most cosmopolitan city. This capital of Lombardy is both industrious and glamorous - a powerhouse in sectors ranging from finance to fashion, and of course, football. However, what sets Milan apart is its standing as the hub of Italian fashion and interior design. International fashion enthusiasts, designers, supermodels, and paparazzi flock to the city biannually for its spring and fall fairs: Milan, which has meticulously maintained its reputation for flair, drama, and creativity, is Italy's natural stage. Undoubtedly, it's one of the best places in Italy for shopping, or even just window shopping. As Italy's primary industrial, commercial, and financial center, Milan unsurprisingly has a business-like demeanor. At first glance, it may not seem impressive, but if you take the time and make an effort to explore Milan’s streets, you’ll discover its aesthetically pleasing treasures – they do exist. Navigate through the modern metropolitan hustle, and you'll find impressive churches and palaces, the charming Navigli area, the trendy Brera district and vibrant university quarter, not to mention a landmark like the Duomo, or the fact that the city proudly houses Leonardo da Vinci's 15th-century masterpiece, The Last Supper. Milan leaves no room for criticism when it comes to having a good time. The Milanese know how to celebrate – and they don’t waste time getting started. Nightlife usually begins at 6pm; enjoying an aperitivo, where locals relax with after-work drinks and snacks before heading home, is more the norm than the exception. So, whether you’re in search of affordable fashion, an alternative city getaway, or an opportunity to paint the town red, Milan undoubtedly has it all.

About the destination: Milan-Malpensa Airport, previously known as City of Busto Arsizio Airport, is the primary international airport serving the Milan metropolitan region in northern Italy. It caters to 15 million residents in Lombardy, Piedmont, and Liguria. The airport is situated 49 kilometers (30 miles) northwest of downtown Milan, adjacent to the Ticino river, which separates Lombardy and Piedmont. The airport features two terminals, two runways, and a dedicated cargo terminal. In 2016, Malpensa Airport accommodated 19,320,546 passengers, making it the 29th busiest airport in Europe in terms of passenger traffic. Until 2008, it served as a significant hub for the national airline, Alitalia. Malpensa Airport continues to be the second busiest Italian airport for international passenger traffic (after Rome Fiumicino Airport), and the busiest for freight and cargo, handling over 500,000 tons of international freight each year. The first industrial airport was established in 1909 near the Cascina Malpensa, an old farm, by Giovanni Agusta and Gianni Caproni for testing their aircraft prototypes. This airport was then opened for civilian use in 1948 during the post-war reconstruction period, to serve the northern Milan area.