Friends, Wine, and the Italian Adventure of a Lifetime
If you’ve ever dreamed of gallivanting through northern Italy with your best girlfriends, stuffing yourself with pasta, collecting wine like it’s going out of style, and pretending to be in a movie set in the Italian countryside—congratulations, we just lived your dream.
The Crew: Me (perpetually hungry, professional wine taster in training—self-declared), plus my three best friends: Sarah (our designated planner), Michelle (the history buff), and Jess (who believes every scenic spot is an opportunity for a full-on photoshoot). Together, we embarked on the Italy & Cinque Terre: Jewels of the North trip with Abercrombie & Kent.
Spoiler alert: it was molto bene!
Day 1: Milan – Gelato & Glamour
We landed in Milan, where even the pigeons look chic. After being whisked away to our hotel, we wasted no time hitting the town. First stop? Gelato, obviously. Second stop?
The Duomo di Milano, where Jess staged an entire Instagram shoot on the rooftop while the rest of us admired the architecture (and eyed the nearby aperitivo bars). That evening, we had our welcome dinner, where we met our fellow travelers—aka, our soon-to-be partners-in-wine.
Day 2: Lake Como – Living Like Ladies of Leisure
Lake Como is basically where the rich and famous go to vacation, so naturally, we fit right in (or at least we pretended to). The lake views were next-level, and we spent the day cruising the water, exploring charming villages, and debating if George Clooney would invite us to dinner (he did not, but a girl can dream). We wrapped up the day with a wine-paired dinner, which felt appropriate given our dedication to the art of Italian winemaking.
Day 3: Parma & Modena – Cheese, Balsamic, and More Cheese
If you’ve never had real Parmigiano-Reggiano straight from the source, I don’t know how to explain the pure joy that is eating chunks of this salty, nutty goodness while standing in a cheese-aging room. And then there was Modena, where we sampled balsamic vinegar so rich and thick it was basically syrup (Michelle nearly cried tears of joy). We left Parma a little heavier—both in spirit and in luggage (hello, souvenir wheels of cheese!).
Day 4-5: Cinque Terre – Colorful Houses & Coastal Magic
The moment we set foot in Cinque Terre, we understood the hype. Five pastel-colored villages stacked dramatically along the cliffs, with narrow streets begging to be explored. We hiked (yes, actually hiked) between towns, rewarding ourselves with seafood feasts and glasses of local white wine at every stop. One memorable moment: our cooking class, where we made fresh pesto and focaccia while our instructor flirted shamelessly with Jess.
Pro tip: If you go to Cinque Terre, eat all the focaccia. Trust us.
Day 6-7: Portofino & Langhe – Wine, Truffles, and Living the Dream
Portofino is where we fully embraced our bougie travel aesthetic. Espresso in the piazza, strolling along the harbor, pretending we were on a yacht—it was a vibe. But the real magic happened in Langhe, where we entered full wine-nerd mode.
We toured Barolo wineries, sipped our way through Nebbiolos, and even went truffle hunting with an actual truffle dog (his name was Luigi, and he was an icon). That night, over our final dinner, we toasted to an unforgettable trip and made a pact to return (and bring bigger suitcases for more wine).
Final Thoughts: Take the Trip, Drink the Wine, Eat the Pasta
This journey was everything we could have asked for—stunning landscapes, mouthwatering food, a deep dive into Italian culture, and more wine than we can publicly admit to consuming. If you’re looking for the perfect mix of adventure, indulgence, and lifelong memories with your best friends, this is the trip for you.
Now, excuse me while I go open one of my carefully smuggled bottles of Barolo. Ciao for now!
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