Verona

Explore “fair Verona,” the Italian town made famous by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Founded in the 1st century B.C., Verona has long been a favorite retreat for travelers, including Romans who rested here before crossing the Alps. Spend seven nights at a first-class hotel and venture out to explore a family-owned winery in Valpolicella; admire beautiful Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake; and sip grappa in the foothills of the Alps. In Vicenza, admire Palladio’s architectural genius and see the famous Teatro Olimpico. Zip to Venice on a high-speed train, cruise Venice’s Grand Canal and visit St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. In Padua, see Italy’s largest town square; and Giotto’s famous Renaissance frescoes at Scrovegni Chapel. A visit to Villa Pisani, an opulent Venetian villa once home to Napoleon, rounds out the trip.