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railtour suisse · Individual tour

Unknown gems of Italy

Eight-day self-guided rail tour through northern Italy on Frecciarossa

Illustration of Unknown gems of Italy

Railtour Suisse's Unknown Gems of Italy is an eight-day self-guided rail journey through five cities in northern Italy: Bologna, Parma, Verona, Padua, and Vicenza. The tour departs from Zurich, traveling to Bologna on the Frecciarossa high-speed train in approximately 6 to 7 hours, then explores the region from a base in Verona. Days are yours to spend as you wish: wander Bologna's 40 kilometers of arcades and climb the Asinelli Tower, take a day excursion to Parma to see its cathedral and art galleries, or ride the Frecciarossa to Padua and Vicenza for Renaissance palaces and frescoes. Accommodation at three-star hotels includes breakfast. All train travel within Italy is in 2nd class and covered by a Half-Fare travelcard. This tour suits independent travellers who want the structure of rail and hotel bookings without a guide, food lovers drawn to Emilia-Romagna's cuisine, and history enthusiasts interested in Renaissance architecture and medieval cities beyond the crowded tourist circuits of Venice and Florence.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at CHF 1,518 every time.

CHF 1,5184 Jul12 Sep

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 2 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

  • Final hotel in Verona depends on availability; the pack lists one option (Hotel Mastino) but notes 'or similar' accommodations may apply
  • Giotto's frescoes at the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua require an early reservation, per the itinerary
  • The tour is self-guided; you navigate and plan activities independently within each city
  • No departures are listed in the evidence; confirm availability and dates directly with Railtour Suisse before booking

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Bologna

    Switzerland – Bologna

    Travelling to Bologna by direct train (from Zurich) or with a change in Milan, approx. 6–7 hours. The capital of Emilia-Romagna is known as "la dotta, la rossa, la grassa" – the learned, the red, the fat. Accommodation in Bologna for 3 nights.

  2. Day 2overnight: Bologna

    Bologna

    On Piazza Maggiore you can truly feel the heartbeat of the city. Visit the lively Quadrilatero district, the university and the Asinelli Tower – 498 steps lead up to Italy's oldest medieval tower. Shopping enthusiasts will love the 40 km of arcades in the city centre.

  3. Day 3overnight: Bologna

    Excursion to Parma

    Just one hour on the Frecciarossa takes you to Parma. Admire the cathedral, the baptistery and the Teatro Regio. Art lovers can visit the Galleria Nazionale, once part of the Farnese family's collection.

  4. Day 4overnight: Verona

    Bologna – Verona

    Before leaving Bologna, visit the Santuario Madonna di San Luca via a 4-km portico with 666 arches, or FICO Eataly World. Afterwards, take the Frecciarossa to Verona (approx. 50 minutes). Accommodation in Verona for 4 nights.

  5. Day 5overnight: Verona

    Verona

    Welcome to Veneto, the city of Romeo and Juliet. Visit Juliet's House, stroll through romantic alleys and squares such as Piazza delle Erbe. Admire the Arena, Castelvecchio and the city's architectural heritage.

  6. Day 6overnight: Verona

    Excursion to Padua

    With the Frecciarossa, reach Padua in just 45 minutes. Visit the Basilica of Saint Anthony, Giotto's frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel, and the Prato della Valle, the largest square in Italy.

  7. Day 7overnight: Verona

    Excursion to Vicenza

    In about 30 minutes, the Frecciarossa takes you to Vicenza. The city of architect Andrea Palladio impresses with the Teatro Olimpico, Palazzo Chiericati and the Basilica on Piazza dei Signori.

  8. Day 8rail

    Verona – Switzerland

    After a final morning in Verona, return to Switzerland by direct train or with a change in Milan.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Direct train from Zurich to Bologna on the Frecciarossa, Italy's high-speed train, in approximately 6 to 7 hours
  • Day 3Day excursion to Parma: one hour on the Frecciarossa to visit the cathedral, baptistery, Teatro Regio, and Galleria Nazionale
  • Day 4Fifty-minute train journey from Bologna to Verona on the Frecciarossa
  • Day 6Forty-five-minute excursion to Padua to see the Basilica of Saint Anthony and Giotto's frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel
  • Day 7Thirty-minute train ride to Vicenza to explore architect Andrea Palladio's Teatro Olimpico and Palazzo Chiericati

Included

  • Train journey in 2nd class Zurich–Bologna–Verona–Zurich, based on Half-Fare travelcard
  • Outward and return journeys in 2nd class: Bologna–Parma, Verona–Padua, Verona–Vicenza
  • Accommodation in a standard double room with breakfast
  • 3 nights in Bologna, Hotel Astoria***
  • 4 nights in Verona, Hotel Mastino***

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?
From CHF 1,518 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,862 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this tour escorted or self-guided?
It is self-guided. Railtour Suisse provides accommodation and train passes; you explore each city and plan activities on your own.
What is not included?
Meals (except breakfast), entrance fees to museums and monuments, the shuttle bus to FICO Eataly World, and activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
Which train is used?
The Frecciarossa, Italy's high-speed train, in 2nd class, used for all journeys including the main route and day excursions.

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