How We Dive Deep Into Northern Italy Our Group Trips

Hang around here enough and you know full well how I, as an Italian-American who used to live there, am 1000% biased toward Italy.

So it should be no surprise that one our our first Salt & Wind trips, was a trip to Italy. A group of all ladies joined me on a trip to Italy, where we visited one of my favorite regions of Italy: Lombardy.

Why Do A Group Tour To Italy?

Why you ask am I so partial? It’s not only home to Milan (which is having a serious cultural zeitgeist-y moment) but also where you can find Italy’s lesser-known sparkling wine region of Franciacorta. When planning a trip to Italy, who can even think about skipping Italian wines? Not us!

But enough talk from me, here are 10 of my favorite parts of the Salt & Wind Italy trips with lots and lots of gorgeous photos. Take this as your Italy travel guide or join us on a trip to Italy! 

Neighborhood Tours

It’s easy to head to Milan and only see the historic city center because, well, it’s gorgeous and easy to get around. But just seeing the Duomo and Parco Sempione is like going to New York and only seeing Times Square: really just part of the story.

On our trip we went from classic neighborhoods to more boho areas and everything in between and really got an idea of what the city is like. 

Meet Local Makers

Ever since I hosted Foodcrafters I’ve been a fan of the small, indie makers. From handmade tabletop wares to artisan food, if it’s in the world of food and beverage, I want to know about it. The thing about Milan is there is a rich history of makers in everything from fresco work to home decor and, of course, fashion, but it’s easy to miss it.

The main shopping drags house all the mega multinational brands and, though I love me some &OtherStories like the next gal, visiting the local Milanese makers is when you really get a feel for the city’s creativity. 

Cocktail Class

Okay, yes, Italy doesn’t have the cocktail culture of the United States, but then it’s the size of California so that comparison is kinda apples to oranges. While you may not have hipster mixologist after mixologist competing for the latest cocktail creation spotlight (though, to be fair, there is some of that), they have a history of cocktails that runs deep. 

Take, for example, Campari that was created by Gaspare Campari in Milan back in the 1860s. It has such a foothold in Milan (along with Aperol), that it’s hard to go to aperitivo without crossing a glass or ten. That said we did a cocktail class devoted to Campari and twists on classic Italian cocktails and even I, a self-proclaimed Campari obsessive, learned a ton!

Italian Street Food Crawl

Rome, Venice, Palermo, and Naples are the cities you likely think of when you think of Italian street food, but Milan can definitely hold its own. From local pastries to gelato and fried pizzas, we crisscrossed the town to search out the best bites in Milan. In our book, any trip, no less a trip to Italy, is complete until we uncover the best digs and eat like the locals.

Day Trip To Lake Como

Okay, yes, anywhere George Clooney hangs is good by me, but, truth be told, I fell in love with Lake Como long before he set up camp there. That’s why we spent a whole day on the chicest lake in Italy (according to me) and racing around on a classic speed boat as we visited villas, idyllic villages, and botanical gardens that were so gorgeous we lingered there for hours. 

Tour Small Historic Towns

What I love about Italy is that it’s a country of small to medium businesses and small to medium towns. That means that even if you’ve been to the big 5 — Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, and Naples — there is still plenty to see. And each town has its own charm, like Brescia where you can find some of the best Roman ruins (and local pastries) in Northern Italy. 

Visit Slow Food Producers 

Slow Food was created in Italy so you’ve got to pay your respects when you’re in the country. We spent a whole day learning about local olive oil (some of the only olive oil produced north of Tuscany!) and other local products from the Lombardy area. It’s amazing to see that some of these food traditions are kept going by literally a handful of people. 

Hands-On Cooking Class

I’m a cook first and foremost so any chance I can get in the kitchen I’m game. On each Salt & Wind trip we cook with a local chef (though I’m there to assist) and every time I learn something new, different, and interesting. 

Local Wine Tasting 

Though Tuscany, Piedmont, and the Veneto are better known, one of my favorite wine regions in Italy is right in Lombardy. IMO, the sparkling wines in Franciacorta are on par with the best of Champagne but it’s virtually unknown outside Italy. 

The Views

No wonder there are Italy travel guides based strictly on finding the best views. Italy has some of the most gorgeous scenery around and you know it as soon as you see it. Even though I’ve lived there and spent literally years of my life in the country, I’ll be honest, I never get tired of the eye candy in Italy. From picturesque towns to grand villa and jaw dropping cliffs to rolling hillsides, Italy brings it when it comes to beauty. But, if I had to choose, I’d say my favorite views on this trip were from the lakes as we’d jet from one shore to the other in search of adventure. 

Have Us Plan Your Italy Trip

Did you know we’re also a boutique travel agency that specializes in Italy travel planning? If you’re looking to plan one of the best trips to Italy, our Italy trip planner services are here to help you plan your perfect itinerary.

Photo Credit: All photos by Christine Davis