Milan, it’s the heart of Italian wealth and style and never is that more apparent than when admiring the city’s beautiful buildings. Dive right in with a visit to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest active shopping gallery. The colourful mosaic floor makes it the perfect spot for morning coffee.

Wander north, to the artsy Brera neighbourhood, for lunch at Salumaio di Montenapoleone. As one of the oldest restaurants in the area, it’s had time to perfect the homemade pasta, cured meats and fresh fish it serves.

Finish your evening with an opera – Ponchielli’s spectacular La Gioconda opens in June – at Teatro alla Scala before bedding down at ME Milan II Duca. Don't forget a nightcap from its rooftop bar.

Drive south towards Parma where, just 20 minutes outside the city, you’ll find Parma2064; the award-winning manufacturer of Parmigiano Reggiano. Time your trip for lunch time and you can finish your tour with a tasting session. It’s not known as Italy’s ‘food valley’ for nothing.

Once you’ve had your fill, pop into Fidenza Village next door. This summer, the open-air shopping destination comes to life with its Street Art Festival – combining the best street artists with live music every Thursday evening.

If you’re looking to rest your head somewhere a little different, book a room at Castello di Tabiano. Set within a meticulously restored medieval castle, the hotel is filled with four-poster beds and exposed brick walls, with views over the surrounding countryside.

On your way to Parma, tackle Labirinto della Masone – the largest bamboo labyrinth in the world – before dining at the onsite Ristorante Il Labirinto where local flavours are reimagined by chef Andrea Nizzi.

In Parma, the cultural highlights are neatly packaged into the Palazzo della Pilotta, a complex housing the National Gallery, Farnese Theatre and Duomo. Soak up the arts there, before visiting Sorelle Picchi – a tiny trattoria, born out of a delicatessen, that serves the best of the region.

The other thing Parma’s famous for is its wines. End the day with a tipple at the Monte Delle Vigne vineyard. Try its aromatic Callas or elegant Malvasia – either will leave you sleeping soundly at the Grand Hotel de la Ville.

Continue to Bologna, where pastel-hued ice cream parlours, colourful markets and trendy cafes are dotted beneath its many porticos. Whether tortellini or tagliatelle, the dishes here have been perfected over centuries.

To start, head to the sprawling plaza, Piazza Maggiore. From there you’ll find the Quadrilatero food market, brimming with cheeses, fruits and fresh pasta. Pack yourself a picnic from the 150-year-old Paolo Atti bakery and head to Osteria del Sole, a fifteenth-century tavern that serves regional wines and lets customers bring their own food.

Finally, a stay at the Grand Hotel Majestic Gia Baglioni – the city’s oldest and most prestigious of hotels – is the five-star finish your holiday deserves.