Circuito Itália - Bérgamo - Verona - Veneza

About the destination: The city of Bergamo is the capital of the province of the same name, in the Lombardy region, about 40 km from Milan. The foothills of the Alps start to the North of the city. Because of this, the city sees a lot of tourist activity during the ski season and in the summer as well, though not as much, with activities centred around the mountain like climbing, abseiling...

About the destination: Set amidst endless vineyards and cypress groves, this blend of Roman ruins, pink palaces and whimsical tombs has a romantic beauty that is hard to overstate. Shakespeare set Romeo and Juliet here, and would likely be amused to know that his fictional lovers have become Verona’s top tourist attraction. However, Verona has more to offer than just Romeo and Juliet. In the centre of Verona, Brà square, there is the almost perfectly preserved Roman Arena. Up via Mazzini from the Arena is piazza delle Erbe, where tacky trinkets are sold amongst the Renaissance palazzo of former Veronese merchants and it has a lively atmosphere with charming cafes and stunning restaurants. Through an arch on the right are piazza dei Signori and the Tombs of the Scaligeri, the peculiar Gothic remnants of della Scalla, Verona’s medieval tyrants. The equestrian statue of Cangrande I, head of the Scalla clan is a glorification of raw power and can be visited at the museum of Castelvecchio. But if you are a hopeless romantic, at 23 via Cappello you’ll find Juliet’s house, where lovers scrawl their hopeful pleas. The house where Romeo used to live is now a pub. This ancient city oozes history from every brick and is well worth a visit.

About the destination: Perhaps no city is as fabulous as Venice, a metropolis built upon stilts, a maze perched over a lagoon. Venice has been dubbed the parlour of Europe, and indeed for centuries the city was a haven for ideas and idealists, a crossroads of the Byzantine and Roman worlds. Today Venice is a different kind of parlour. Wealthy visitors scramble into gondolas to gawk at the Byzantine palaces while being serenaded by accordionists and art lovers strain for a glimpse of Renaissance masterpieces. No monument is as memorable as the city itself, so use the major sights only as an excuse for wandering. Venice revolves around Piazza San Marco. The best feature of the mosaic-covered Basilica di San Marco is the Pala D’Oro, a glittering gold Byzantine bas-relief. The Torre dell’Orologio, to the left of San Marco, is a beautifully adorned clock tower. For culture enthusiasts, check the Accademia for the best of Venetian paintings. Some say that the tourist Venice is indeed Venice, but there are other Venices as well. To find them, wander away from the major sights and into the quieter outlying residential areas, you won’t be disappointed, this labyrinth of stone and colour radiates enchantment from every brick.