This trip will surely satisfy all of the senses. Sounds like you are making great connections and fr

Simona Piccinelli, our Italian food and wine specialist has put together a fabulous suggested week-long itinerary for gourmets wanting to eat their way through Northern  Italy s best restaurants.  Pour a glass of Italian wine, grab a notebook and read on .
DAY 1- Fly into Milan , pick up car and drive east to the Franciacorta wine region. Check into the Albereta Relais Chateaux hotel, set amid a vineyard.  Taste Franciacorta wines at La Dispensa or at the Bellavista estate. Tonight for dinner, enjoy dinner at your hotel in Gualtiero Marchesi s phenomenal restaurant.
DAY 2 - Drive to Bergamo , one of Northern columbia river cruises Italy`s hidden gems. Explore the old town in the higher part of the city . Settle into a splendid lunch at 3 Michelin starred Da Vittorio . After lunch, take in some sightseeing in the città alta and head back to the Albereta wine resort.
DAY 3 - On to Cremona, columbia river cruises home of the Stradivarius and another delightful town off the main tourist columbia river cruises track. Poke around the small town s gorgeous churches and small museums and then head to the wonderful 3 Michelin columbia river cruises starred Dal Pescatore for lunch. Mega treat. Digest your tasting menu on a charming walk through Mantova afterwards, yet another darling town and stomping grounds of the powerful Gonzagas.
DAY 4 Shift gears and head to Lake Garda today. Drive to Torre del Benaco and take a cooking class with  Andrea and Lara at Le Gemme di Artemisia which will be lunch.  (This features in our Garda culinary weekend ). Then visit the lake and head to Brescia, an unsung art town nearby where you can have a trendy aperitif. Dinner tonight could be at the beautiful 2  Michelin starred Miramonti L Altro . Sleep at Albereta again tonight.
DAY 6- Drive south today to visit Pavia, with its stunning Certosa , monastic complex. Amazing and so close to Milan. Tonight for dinner, finish your top chefs tour of Italy with a divine cena at Trussardi. Sublime.
This trip will surely satisfy all of the senses. Sounds like you are making great connections and friendships in Italia. Keep up the good work. One of these days, when my son s college payments columbia river cruises come to an end, i ll be joining you on one of these memorable visits. Happy New Year.