Uncover the extraordinary hidden treasures of Venice and Northern Italy
Uncover the extraordinary hidden treasures of Venice and Northern Italy
You’ll encounter unforgettable sights on this odyssey through Northern Italy that begins in Milan, home to Da Vinci’s The Last Supper, and ends in legendary Venice, the “Queen of the Adriatic.” These two iconic cities bookend an exploration of Northern Italy that rewards the curious traveler with amazing experiences in Verona, Padua, Bologna and Ferrara.
Travel from dynamic Milan to romantic Venice. Soak up the enchantment of “The City of Water” and two outer lying Venetian islands, Burano and Mazzorbo. Be treated to an exclusive evening opening and lighting ceremony at St. Mark’s Basilica. Discover the charm of seaside Chioggia loved by fishermen and artists alike. Enjoy a multi-course lunch complete with wine pairings at a historic wine estate in Valpolicella. Explore medieval Padua, once home to Galileo and Copernicus; “bountiful” Bologna; Verona, the famed city of Romeo and Juliet; and UNESCO-designated Ferrara.
Each of these enchanting locales is yours to uncover on the “Gems of Northern Italy.”
WHO WILL ENJOY THIS CRUISE/TOUR
Romantics, connoisseurs of food and wine and lovers of art and architecture. Experienced travelers looking to explore the hidden gems of Northern Italy.
MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILY-FRIENDLY PROGRAM (Select sailings)
Share the enchantment of this region with the special young people in your life. These cruises not only feature unique, fun-filled adventures for families to enjoy together, they’re also packed with culturally and historically significant experiences designed to spark creativity and life-long learning.
See more Italy cruises and itineraries.
Highlights
YOUR CRUISE PACKAGE INCLUDES:
TRAVEL
7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the impressive River Countess
2 nights in Milan at Starhotel Rosa Grand (or similar) with breakfast
All transfers on arrival and departure days
TASTE
All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions
Welcome and Farewell Gala Dinners
Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks and mineral water
EXPLORE
1 country
8 days of excursions, including “Choice Is Yours” options, all fully hosted by Englishspeaking local experts
Guided “Do as the Locals Do” and “Gentle Walking” programs
4 UNESCO World Heritage sites
Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all excursions
Use of Nordic walking sticks
EXPERIENCE
Captivating onboard local entertainment
Cultural enrichment, including a Signature Lecture: “La Serenissima: The Lagoon of Venice”
Exclusive Multigenerational Family-Friendly Program on select summer departures
Itinerary
Milan
Arrive at Milan Malpensa Airport where you will be transferred to your hotel.
Milan
FEATURED EXCURSION: Milan city tour with visit to Da Vinci’s The Last Supper
Vibrant Milan is the fashion and design capital of Italy. Today you’ll explore this dazzling city and encounter two of its greatest sights—the towering Gothic cathedral and Da Vinci’s astounding The Last Supper.
Milan, Verona, Venice (embark)
FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Verona, “City of Romeo and Juliet,” and Valpolicella wine estate lunch
Head to Venice today, stopping en route in Verona—home to Shakespeare’s tragic Romeo and Juliet. Outside fair Verona, enjoy a tasting and multi-course lunch at a beautiful Valpolicella wine estate. In magical Venice, you will board your ship and embark on your exploration of the “Queen of the Adriatic.”
Venice
FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Venice walking discovery tour and exclusive evening–opening of St. Mark’s Basilica
Wind through Venice’s labyrinthine back lanes on a walking tour that features the city’s top sights and a Venetian glassmaking demonstration. This evening, you’re in for a once-in-a-lifetime experience—a crowd-free, after-hours visit inside St. Mark’s Basilica.
In the evening, enjoy a Captain’s Welcome Reception and Gala Dinner.
Note: It is not always possible to arrange after-hours visits to St. Mark’s Basilica. If religious functions or festivities are taking place in the evening, we will visit during regular hours.
Chioggia (Padua)
FEATURED EXCURSION: Padua walking discovery tour
Enjoy magnificent views of “The Floating City’s” greatest sights, including the Grand Canal, as your ship departs Venice. Visit the medieval walled city of Padua, walking through ancient arcades and porticos to Palazzo della Ragione, Padua’s historic city center, and enjoy a treat at a local café.
Polesella (Bologna or Ferrara)
FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of full-day excursion to Bologna with exclusive pasta-making workshop with lunch OR half-day excursion to Ferrara with lunch onboard.
Spend the day in Bologna, Italy’s culinary capital, an ideal place to learn the art of making pasta.
Or, spend a half day in Ferrara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a long history as a center for
the arts.
Taglio di Po, Chioggia, Venice
FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Chioggia with choice of market visit with seafood lunch OR mussel harvest experience.
There’s no better place to indulge in Italy’s famed frutti di mare than Chioggia, a colorful fishing village on the Venice Lagoon. Stroll through the town’s bustling fish market with a guide before indulging in a fresh and flavorful seafood lunch. Or, head to a casoni (fisherman’s hut) to learn the art of mussel harvesting from local fishermen. You’ll get to steam your own freshly gathered mussels in prosecco and enjoy them on the waterfront—a unique culinary treat. Later, head to the Sun Deck of your luxury ship to take in views of two more Venice Lagoon isles: sleepy Pellestrina, and Lido, home to the prestigious Venice Film Festival.
Venice Islands (Burano and Mazzorbo)
FEATURED EXCURSION: Full-day “The Magic Islands of Venice” tour: colorful Burano with lace making and peaceful Mazzorbo with wine tasting
Spend the day exploring the Venice Lagoon and two of its most notable islands. Stroll through Burano with its rainbow of cheerful and colorful homes. Learn the history and importance of lace making, which dates back to the 16th century. Then go to the island of Mazzorbo for a very special wine tasting, as it is here where the time-honored and historical grape variety, Dorona, has been planted to yield the liquid Gold of Native Venice, Prosecco.
Venice
FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of exclusive “Do as the Locals Do” Venice walking tour OR “Venetian Painters at the Accademia” tour with art-historian guide
Get a feel for daily life in Venice with a guided stroll through the bustling Rialto Market, or tour the renowned Accademia Gallery with an art historian. In the evening, enjoy a Captain’s Farewell Reception and Gala Dinner.
Venice (disembark)
Disembark the ship and transfer to Venice Marco Polo International Airport for your flight home.