2027 Northern Italy

Join me on a hosted Wonders of Northern Italy — Florence to the lakes, with Bologna’s food, a Venice day, the Ligurian coast (Portofino / Rapallo / Cinque Terre), then Lugano, Lake Como, and Stresa on Maggiore. About 12 days on the core tour, USA–Florence in / Milan out — or continue south and fly home from Naples. Culture, cuisine, and lake calm — paced the SwissUncle way so it’s rich, not a forced march.

Florence — Duomo square loops and Michelangelo’s David with café sits; Day 2 leisure is recovery after the overnight. Bologna — Parma’s Parmigiano & prosciutto, markets, seated tastings. Venice (day trip): St. Mark’s + lunch by private water taxi or slow vaporetto — no rolling bags, no bridge sprints; stay near the square, skip island hopping if energy dips. Rapallo for Portofino by boat. Cinque Terre: train or coastal boat, not cliff trails; one harbor-level village with café sits. Lugano → Lake Como → Stresa / Isola Bella softens the core finish.

Optional add-on after the lakes: Rome — Colosseum/Forum as a short loop or seated coach overview; Vatican only if elevators/early entry work — cobbles and stair climbs are optional, not the day plan. Sorrento — flat terrace and harbor promenade; Capri or Amalfi by boat (we watch gangway steps); Positano’s stair towns stay a photo from the water. Private transfer to Naples (NAP) for the flight home — no metro sprint after a long trip. We price core and core + Rome/Sorrento separately; your return ticket must show NAP if you take the add-on.

I’ll help host with pre-trip planning, a group welcome, and optional meetups. Elevator hotels, private transfers for hard hops, rest days where they belong. Tell me your walking comfort. Travel documents: Passport required. EES at first Schengen entry (expect extra time at Florence). ETIAS for 2027 still moving — we re-check ~90 days out and confirm docs before deposit. Ask for September 2027 dates and a live agency quote (no flyer discount banners). Travel insurance should cover the full itinerary including any add-on. Cancellation and single supplement in writing before you commit.