Northern Italy: Archaeology, Culture & Cuisine

ITINERARY
(B)= Breakfast, (L)= Lunch, (D)= Dinner

Wednesday, September 10, 2025: Depart home for Milan, ITALY

Thursday, September 11: Arrive in Milan | Transfer to hotel | Welcome dinner
Upon arrival at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), you will be met and transferred to our hotel in the heart of Milan’s historic district. The afternoon is free to relax and perhaps have a stroll to admire the Gothic Cathedral (Duomo). Gather for a welcome aperitivo and dinner. Two nights at the 4-star Rosa Grand Milano. (D)

Friday, September 12: Milan: AM at leisure; PM Imperial Palace, Archaeological Museum, San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
Enjoy a leisurely morning to relax or explore local sites on your own. After an independent lunch, meet your expert local guide and enjoy a special tour of the hidden archaeological treasures of Milan, such as the Imperial Palace, symbol of Mediolanum (ancient Milan); the Archaeological Museum, which incorporates substantial remains of the ancient city wall and houses excellent Roman and medieval collections; and the medieval church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, with its well-preserved frescoes. Dinner is on your own. (B)

Saturday, September 13: Hannibal battle site | Piacenza | Cremona’s Museo del Violino | Desenzano del Garda
This morning we drive to the approximate location of Hannibal’s Battle of the Trebbia River (December 218 B.C.), southwest of Piacenza (ancient Placentia) in the shallow hills around Rivergaro, just before the Trebbia River flows into the Po River. After a look at the landscape and a discussion with our lecturer about the battle, Hannibal’s first major victory in Italy, we will visit (time-permitting) Piacenza’s Museo Civico di Palazzo Farnese. After lunch at leisure in Piacenza, continue to nearby Cremona, the 16^th– to 18^th-century center of violin-making, and visit the Museo del Violino. Continue on to Desenzano del Garda, on the southern shore of Lake Garda, and check-in to our hotel. Gather for dinner this evening. Five nights at the 4-star Villa Rosa Hotel. (B,D)

Sunday, September 14: Sirmione | Grotte di Catullo | Gorghi’s Roman furnaces | Desenzano del Garda
Start the day with a walk in Sirmione, at the northern tip of Lake Garda’s narrow peninsula, where we find the remains of a large, 1st-century A.D. Roman villa and baths. Known for centuries as the Grotte di Catullo, this is the largest domestic villa in northern Italy. After a visit of the small site museum and lunch at a local restaurant, drive to nearby Lonato del Garda to see the Gorghi’s Roman furnaces – six restored brickworks dating back to the 2nd century A.D. Then, return to Desenzano and visit a well-conserved example of a Roman villa which, although built more than 2,000 years ago, was renovated and completed between the 2nd and 4th centuries A.D. Wooden walkways take us through the villa, over a variety of colorful floor mosaics. Dinner this evening is at leisure. (B,L)

Monday, September 15: Valcamonica | Desenzano del Garda
Today we head towards the heart of the Alps for Valcamonica (Valle Camonica), the first Italian site to be included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. This valley is home to more than 140,000 prehistoric rock engravings (petroglyphs) that span approximately 56 miles and 8,000 years. Depending on physical fitness, we will split into two groups in order to explore the area at our own paces. Not to be missed is the Minerva Sanctuary, a Roman building with mosaics and painted walls located in a place of stunning natural beauty on the Oglio River. After lunch at a local restaurant, return to Desenzano. The balance of the day and dinner are at leisure. (B,L)

Tuesday, September 16: Brescia | Lucone di Polpenazze | Desenzano del Garda
This morning, we reach the city of Brescia (ancient Brixia), whose old town was radically restored and re-opened in 2015. Our visit will take us on a journey through time, from the pre-Roman era to the Renaissance. The town’s Roman ruins include Emperor Vespasian’s impressive 1st-century A.D. temple (Tempio Capitolino), plus a 15,000-seat theater, forum, and a stretch of the paved decumanus (east-west oriented road). Later monuments include the 11th-century Duomo Vecchio (built over a 6th-century church); and the Monasterio di Santa Giulia and Basilica di San Salvatore, which house the Museo della Città with its range of collections from prehistory to the Venetian era. After an independent lunch, we drive to Lucone di Polpenazze, one of the 19 Italian sites (among the 111 total sites) comprising the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Prehistoric Pile Dwellings (stilt houses) around the Alps. Return to Desenzano and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Wednesday, September 17: Peschiera del Garda | Arilica | Sigurtà Garden Park | Desenzano del Garda
After breakfast we drive to Peschiera del Garda for a walking tour of this charming lake town and a visit to the ruins of the ancient town of Arilica, dating back to the 1^st century B.C. Continue on to Valeggio sul Mincio and enjoy a local specialty for lunch: tortellini di Valeggio. After lunch we will take a walk through the Sigurtà Garden Park, one of the most interesting in Italy for its botanical variety. Return to our hotel where the balance of the day and dinner are at leisure. (B,L)

Thursday, September 18: Verona | Trieste
Today we check out of our hotel and take a motorcoach to Trieste, our home base for the balance of our journey. On the way, stop in Verona to visit the 1^st-century A.D. Roman arena, possibly the best-preserved ancient amphitheater, and for a walking tour of the hidden gems of Verona (the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Our special lunch today is a typical Veronese meal at Ristorante Maffei, which was built on the site of the 1^st-century B.C. Roman Capitol, part of which is visible in its wine cellar. Continuing on to Trieste, we check-in to our hotel. Dinner is on your own. Three nights at the 4-star DoubleTree by Hilton Trieste. (B,L)

Friday, September 19: Cividale del Friuli | Winery visit | Trieste
Seven groups of important Lombardic buildings throughout Italy comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today we learn how the Lombards influenced Italian history, visiting Cividale del Friuli—the region’s most outstanding Lombard capital, established as a duchy in A.D. 569, and still today one of the region’s most picturesque towns. Our city tour includes the Tempietto Longobardo (a “little temple” with superb artwork), the 8^th-century Altar of Ratchis in the duomo museum, and the necropolis. Continue on to a vineyard in the Colli Orientali del Friuli wine region, where we learn about and taste some of their wines. We return to Trieste for dinner and the evening at leisure. (B)

Saturday, September 20: Aquileia | Trieste | Farewell dinner
Drive this morning to Aquileia, founded by the Romans in 181 B.C., which (as a major trading link to the East) became one of the Roman Empire’s most important cities. The archaeological area and Patriarchal Basilica are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most of ancient Aquileia remains unexcavated, and the basilica’s 4^th-century mosaics (approx. 7,000 square feet) are extraordinary. Visit the National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia, and then enjoy some time at leisure for an independent lunch. We return to Trieste and enjoy one last afternoon at leisure, before gathering for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Sunday, September 21: Transfer to Venice airport | Fly home
Transfer (about two hours) this morning to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) for independent flights homeward. (B)