Milan
A buzzing metropolis, Milan is the place where looking stylish is big business. While this chic and elegant metropolis is generally believed to be the world’s fashion capital, it has so much more to offer than sartorial sophistication. Ruled at one time by Caesar, Napoleon and Mussolini, this fascinating city has an unrivalled history and culture. Without doubt one of the world’s most iconic artworks, Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’ is housed in the Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. This masterful psychological study is almost worthy of the trip alone, but be sure to also experience the gastronomical highlights of this gorgeous city. It is claimed that great Italian cooking was born from powerful cities such as Milan and so no visit would be complete without sampling the cotoletta (burnished, buttery veal) and saffron risotto.
Venice
Ah Venice, what can be said about this magical city that hasn’t already been said? The stunning Venetian architecture along the Grand Canal will take your breath away, but the cobbled, winding back streets are what really make this unique water city so special. Visit the Basilica San Marco, the Palazzo Ducale, take a gondola ride, but also allocate an hour or two to simply wandering around without your guidebook or map. After all, as Tiziano Scarpa said of his hometown, ‘getting lost is the only place worth going to’.
A Po River cruise is likely to set off from Milan and disembark in Venice, but there is also a wealth of culture, beauty and scenery to take in and enjoy en route. So book your river cruise for a slice of Italian life at its finest.