Listen to “294. Journey Across Northern Italy: Lakes, vineyards and truffle country” on Spreaker.
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Northern Italy is where shimmering lakes meet mountains and elegant towns bustle with everyday life. Here you'll find the ruins of Roman villas on the lake shore, Italy's answer to champagne (it's not prosecco!) and truffle country. Take a back stage peek at Untold Italy's new 12-day Northern Italian journey from Venice to Torino.
Summary
In this episode, we go behind the scenes of Untold Italy's new Northern Italy Tour with Untold Italy founder Katy Clarke and Chief Experience Officer Olivia Windsor. Learn what inspired the tour, their thoughtful approach to crafting immersive and meaningful journeys, as they reveal some of their favorite hidden gems and guest experiences. Get ready to explore Northern Italy in a way you’ve never seen before!
LEARN MORE: About Untold Italy's New Northern Italy Tour here.
What you'll learn in this episode
- Katy and Liv discuss the inspiration behind Untold Italy’s new 12-day Northern Italy tour, created to showcase the region’s elegance, lakes, and hidden towns through a slower, more immersive travel style
- Highlighting how tours are designed to blend authenticity with comfort, emphasizing the importance of bilingual hosts who foster deeper connections with local culture
- Creating Northern Italy as a destination was driven by travelers’ desire for longer, meaningful experiences that celebrate the food, wine, and landscapes of Veneto, Lombardy, and Piedmont
- The tour's itinerary flows from Verona and Lake Garda to Piedmont’s vineyards, featuring castle visits, truffle hunts, cooking classes, and private lake cruises
- The “Untold” philosophy of travel is all about small groups, emotional storytelling, and genuine local encounters that create lasting memories
DISCOVER: More on the Northern Italy Tour and its itinerary here.
About Untold Italy Tours
Untold Italy Tours creates small group journeys that take you beyond the guidebook and into the heart of local life. Each itinerary is carefully curated with our Italian friends to reveal authentic traditions, regional flavors, and the people who make Italy so unforgettable. Designed for curious travelers, our tours are intimate, effortless, and full of moments that feel like a dream come true.
Learn more: Untold Italy Tours website • Instagram • Facebook
Italian places, foods and concepts mentioned
Places
- Malcesine – picturesque town in northern Italy on the eastern shore of Lake Garda
- Verona – elegant city in Verona, famous for its incredible Arena and the story of Romeo and Juliet
- Verona Arena – Roman amphitheatre located in the historic center of Verona
- River Adige – the second longest river in Italy, starting in South Tyrol and finishing at the Adriatic Sea
- Sirmione – gorgeous island in Lake Garda
- Lake Maggiore – second largest lake in Italy, which crosses over into Switzerland
- Le Langhe – a hilly area in the province of Asti in Piedmont, northern Italy
- Lake Iseo – the fourth largest lake in Lombardy
- Stresa – the main tourist town on Lake Maggiore, with grand architecture
- Borromean Islands – a group of three small islands and two islets in the Italian part of the lake, consisting of Isola Bella, Isola Madre, Isola Pescatori (Fisherman's Island)
- Desenzano – town on Lake Garda
- Bellagio – glamorous town on Lake Como where the lake splits into two branches
Food / Drink
- Franciacorta – a sparkling wine from the region of Brescia – Italy's champagne
- Barolo – famous Piedmont wine
- Barbaresco – wine made with the Nebbiolo grape in Piedmont
Words / Concepts
- alimentari – a grocery store
- Botticelli – Renaissance artist of The Birth of Venus, was born and lived in Florence all his life
- House of Savoy/ Savoia – a royal dynasty first established in 1003, which led the Italian unification in 1860 and ruled the Kingdom of Italy until 1946
Expert Assistance
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Book in for a trip consultation with our expert Italy travel planners ready to help you build your dream vacation in Italy whether that be a classic first-timer trip or an off-the-beaten-path adventure!
Related content on Untold Italy
Podcasts
- Ep 226 – Discover Turin – The Local’s Guide to Must-See Sights and Experiences
- Ep 206 – Barolo – King of wines
- Ep 156 – Experiences to try in Piedmont
- Ep 134 – Palaces and castles of Piedmont
- Ep 105 – Dishes to try in Piedmont
- Ep 075 – Cruising Lake Como
- Ep 072 – Magical Lake Maggiore
- Ep 055 – Picturesque Piedmont
- Ep 041 – Beautiful Bergamo – gateway to the Alps
- Ep 032 – A love letter to Brescia
- Ep 267 – Italy in your pocket!
- Ep 256 – Unlocking Italy’s Untold Charm – Stories from Professional Trip Planners
- Ep 250 – On Tour with Untold Italy – Our Hosts’ Highlights Revealed
- Ep 247 – New ways to research your trip to Italy
- Ep 212 – Untold Italy – Our story
- Ep 176 – A week in Tuscany with Untold Italy
Articles
- Best things to do in Verona
- Where To Stay in Verona, Italy: Area and Hotel Guide
- Things to Do at Lake Garda
- Discover the Magic of Lake Garda: Itinerary Ideas for an Idyllic Stay
- Where to Stay Lake Garda, Italy: Best Hotels and Resorts
- Things To Do in Lake Como
- Best Lake Como Itinerary Ideas
- Where to Stay Lake Como: Best Towns, Areas and Hotels
- Lake Como or Lake Garda?
- Piedmont Travel Guide
- Things to do in Piedmont
- Discovering Truffles in Italy
- Best things to do in Turin – a Royal, Industrial, and Reborn city
Plan your Italian adventures with Untold Italy
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Untold Italy Tours
Founded in 2022, our small group tour company takes curious travelers on multi-day adventures to Italy's lesser-known regions and to secret spots in places that are better known. Departing in Spring and Fall/Autumn, each trip focuses on food and wine, local traditions and uncovering the Italy you've always dreamed of > learn more.
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