Kick off your vacation by wandering through the ancient Quadrilatero market district, where centuries-old arcades lead to market stalls, cafes and gourmet delis. Indulge in a food tour, savoring traditional dishes like tortellini and Bolognese ragù, and don't miss Bologna's very own leaning Two Towers. Immerse yourself in the city's rich history by visiting Italy's oldest university (founded in 1088) and its ancient anatomical theatre, Round off your Bologna experience with a visit to the enchanting Basilica di San Petronio, Europe's 6th-largest church and the Basilica di Santo Stefano.

In the morning, pick up your car from your car rental provider and drive to laid-back Modena, one of Italy's greatest gastronomic centres. Explore the haunting Romanesque cathedral and wander through backstreets lined with hidden culinary gems. In the birthplace of balsamic vinegar splurge on a tasting tour and learn about the different vinegar flavours. Don't forget to buy some gifts for your family at home! Amidst the beautiful Renaissance architecture enjoy your lunch of giant tortellini stuffed with delicious fillings, paired with some authentic Lambrusco wine.

If you are a race car fan, dedicate your early afternoon to the two Ferrari museums. The Enzo Ferrari museum in Modena showcases historic race cars, while the Ferrari Museum in Maranello shows of an awe-inspiring collection of Ferrari cars on three floors. For those who want to experience the thrill of driving a Formula 1 Ferrari, there is a simulator waiting for you.

If you prefer a more historical and cultural program, visit the Modena Cathedral and enjoy the paintings in the Galleria Estense (with works by Velazque, El Greco and Correggio).

In the early evening head to nearby Parma to check in into your hotel. Of course, you can also stay overnight in Modena and enjoy a relaxed dinner here. But since we prefer to avoid frequent hotel-hopping, we suggest you book your hotel directly at your next stop.

Parma is a city of art, culture and - most importantly - of culinary excellence. This beautiful student town is larger and livelier than Modena, but still much quieter than the busy Bologna.

What to do in Parma

Day 1: The most memorable thing you can do in Parma is to go on a half-day food tour to a Parmigiano-Reggiano factory and a Prosciutto di Parma factory. The factories are a bit outside of town, so you’ll need to either book a guided tour or book a time slot in advance with the factory directly and arrive by car. Seeing the endless rows of aging cheese and prosciutto is a wonderful experience.

After lunch, take time to pop into Parma's Duomo as well as the stunning medieval baptistery. Since the Church of San Giovanni Evangelista is close by, you can also take a quick peak inside. Walk towards the Piazza Garibaldi and stroll through the adjacent beautiful streets. You may even have a bit time left to visit the closeby Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata.

Day 2: We suggest you dedicate your second day in Parma to culture and art. Explore the exquisite art collection of the National Gallery of Parma. which features paintings from no other than Leonardo da Vinci, Correggio, El Greco and local artist Parmigianino. If you love theatre, visit the Teatro Farnese. This beautiful pristine wooden theatre was originally built in 1618 for a royal wedding.

If you prefer to spend your day more leisurely, pack a picnic of cold cuts and take a stroll across the river Parma to the Park Ducale, a vast green oasis in the heart of the city.

Local culinary specialities

It's no surprise, that Parma is a paradise for lovers of cold cuts. Besides Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano, try the delicious culatello (Felino salami, coppa, cooked pork-shoulder and Strolghino). The platter of cold cuts is also often accompanied by torta fritta, golden strips of fried batter.

Pesto di cavallo is one of Parma’s unique specialities. It is basically boeuf tartare , but instead of beef, it is made with horse meat and seasoned with salt, pepper, and lemon. In Parma you will find that it is often served in sandwiches.

For primi piatti, you have a broad choice between fresh filled pasta, such as cappelletti, pumpkin tortelli, and anolini in broth, or risotto and tagliolini.

For secondi piatti, try the rich beef stew or Parmigiana tripe. This ancient peasant dish consists of veal tripe, butter, and generous portion of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

To drink, of course, order a bottle of Lambrusco, the best-selling red wine in Italy! A not particularly sophisticated wine, but light and fragrant that perfectly accompanies the traditional dishes of Parma.

More attractions

If you have more time to spend, you can get lost in the Labirinto della Masone, the largest bamboo labyrinth in the world. The star-shaped maze with 200,000 bamboo plants is only a short drive from Parma away. It also houses Ricci's art collection with around 600 pieces on display. These include canvases of Hayez and Ligabue, the mannerists as well as sculptures of Canova and Bernini.

It's time to leave Parma and head north through Brescia to Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake (370sq. km). It straddles the border of three regions, the Lombard plains to the west, Alpine Trention Alto-Adige to the north and the Veneto hills to the east.

Base location: Where you want to stay, really depends on what you like. But we recommend you choose your hotel on the slightly less crowded western shore of Lake Garda. The eastern shore is also beautiful, but unfortunately it is difficult to even get to the lake due to the many private areas. We like the picturesque, quieter Gargnano with its breathtaking lake views. From here you can easily plan a number of day trips.

What to do at Lake Garda

Day Trip 1: Number 1 on the list is to just relax, enjoy the stunning vistas, and dine on fresh seafood at the lakeside restaurants. Take a boat excursion to discover the charm of nearby villages and enjoy Lake Garda and the mountains from a different perspective.

Day Trip 2: Lake Garda is dotted with beautiful Belle-epoche villas and gardens. So make sure to visit at least one of them. A top candidate is the hillside estate Vittoriale degli Italiani. The estate consists of the residence of D'Annunzio, an amphitheatre, the protected cruiser Puglia, a boathouse containing the MAS vessel used by D'Annunzio in 1918 and a circular mausoleum. The visit will give you a fascinating glimpse into the life of the Italian poet and novelist Gabriele D'Annunzio, who lived here until his death in 1938. He disagreed with the fascist government on several issues, and the fascists did what they could to appease d'Annunzio. (Plan for a 3-hour visit)

Day Trip 3: Hike in the Alto Garda Bresciano Park. It is one of the major natural parks in the Lombardy region. Besides the stunning, instagram-worthy views of Lake Garda, the main feature of the park is Valvestino, a large and beautiful valley that also features an open-air ecological museum. There are 137 peaks in the park, the highest and most prominent of which is Monte Caplone (1,976 m/ 6,482 ft). Bring good hiking boots with you!

Excursion to André Heller's botanical garden: This garden offers a beautiful blend of art installations and exotic plants. The walk between the plants, flowers, ponds and art is a true oasis of peace and contemplation.

On your way to Verona, stop first in Sirmione, a picturesque peninsula town in the south of Lake Garda. Stroll through the charming old streets with a gelato in hand and visit the impressive Rocca Scaligera. For panoramic views of Sirmione's rooftops, you can climb up the 146 steps to the top of the tower. Maybe even take a boat tour to say your goodbyes to the stunning beauty of Lake Garda. In the early evening, take the short drive to Verona, check-in into your hotel and enjoy a pleasurable dinner.

Verona is a small, charming town and you can visit its main sites easily in one day. Honestly, we think that as a city of romance it is overrated. The iconic balcony of Juliet is in a small overcrowded courtyard and only takes about 5 minutes to visit. However, besides that, Verona is charming and offers you a pleasurable day trip. In its centre you will find the well-preserved 1st-century Roman amphitheater. And in summer time, you can even watch an opera during the city's opera festival. Explore the charming streets and churches of Verona, look over the beautiful bridges across the Adige river, and enjoy your lunch at Piazza delle Erbe in one of the many traditional osteria's. In the evening head to your last destination, Mantua. If you do opt to stay overnight, we had found a cozy Jazz bar right next to the Arena and enjoyed this very much.

Mantua is a good place to spend your last day in. Surrounded by lakes, this ancient town captivates with its beautiful UNESCO-listed Renaissance architecture and artistic heritage. The town's development was heavily influenced by the powerful House of Gonzaga. The family reigned here for 400 years up to the 18th century and both the Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo Te were commissioned by them. Through marriage to the equally powerful d'Este family, the city was also connected to nearby Ferrara.

What to do in Mantua

Visit the Palazzo Ducale, the seat of the wealthy Gonzaga family and one of Italy's leading Renaissance clans. The Basilica di Sant'Andrea is a beautiful building and safeguards the blood of Christ in a golden vessel. It is taken out and paraded around across Mantua only on Good Friday. The Palazzo Te is a Renaissance pleasure-dome and it's fun to listen to Frederico II Gonzaga's love affairs. It's also gorgeously decorated in a kind of playboy style. If you still have time left, walk into the Rotonda di San Lorenzo. This is the oldest church in town and we love the simple, yet awe-inspiring architecture with its peaceful atmosphere. For the best views of the town, walk across the bridge towards Rocca di Sparafucile. If you are here in the evening, you will have a great last sunset :)

For your last dinner, consider the Osteria Da Giannino. It offers wonderful seafood. If you prefer classic food, the Trattoria Al Portichetto offers fresh and authentic dishes as well as the excellent (but pricey) Trattoria dei Martin.

If you have a day more to spare, you can easily spend more time in this lovely town.

Return back home

If possible, we suggest you try to get a midday return flight (or later) from Bologna. This way, you can drive from Mantua directly to the airport and drop off your car at your car rental provider without losing a night.