The Lakes and Villages of Northern Italy

MILAN, LAKE COMO, VERONA AND VENICE

11 days/10 nights

Description

MILAN – LAKE COMO – VERONA – VENICE

A trip to Northern Italy is a trip to one of Italy’s most beautiful and romantic regions. Milan, Italy’s second-largest city, is a world capital of art and design. Whether experimenting with better ways to lay paint on walls, as with The Last Supper (an experiment that, admittedly, was not entirely successful) or developing better ways to help people spend their money on fashion, as with the glass-vaulted Vittorio Emmanuele II shopping arcade, Milan takes the lead in innovation. From there you’ll move to the more leisurely pace of the lake region, at Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, and in the beautiful town of Bellagio. Then it’s on to Verona and Venice – a couple of the world’s most romantic cities, at least according to Shakespeare. Your tour of Northern Italy is a springboard for your next trip here, with the help of your friends at Your Own Italy.

What's Included

  • Private driver transfers to and from airports and train stations
  • Reserved business class seats on high-speed trains
  • English-speaking local tour guides throughout your vacation
  • Accommodations: selected 4-star boutique hotels in the historic centers of Milan – 3 nights, Como – 2 nights, Verona – 2 nights and Venice – 3 nights
  • Private Introductory Walking tour of Milan with viewing of The Last Supper
  • Day Excursion to Lake Maggiore including a Private Boat Tour to the Borromean Islands for visit
  • Private Boat Tour on Lake Como including visit to the town of Bellagio
  • Private Introductory Walking Tour of Verona
  • Private Introductory Walking Tour of Venice including a Private Gondola Ride
  • Private Tour of St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs
  • Private Boat Tour with guide to the islands of Murano for a glass-making demonstration and Burano for visit
n

Itinerary

Day 1:  Welcome to Milan! Introductory City Tour

Your driver will await you at the airport and accompany you to your hotel in the heart of the Milan, a global capital of art and design and Italy’s second largest city, after Rome. Once you’ve had a chance to relax from your travels, your guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you on an introductory walking tour of what is considered Italy’s most stylish city. A high point of this introductory tour is the alluring Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a 19th century glass-vaulted shopping arcade known as the “salotto di Milano,” or “Milan’s drawing room.” A meeting point for the people of Milan since its construction, it is filled with fashionable shops and cafes. You’ll continue on to  Milan’s opera house, the world-renowned La Scala Theater. Built in 1778, it was inaugurated with an opera by Antonio Salieri of anti-Mozart fame, and is still in use today, Your tour will end at the Duomo, one of the world’s largest, most striking Gothic cathedrals, boasting no fewer than 135 spires and 3,200 statues.

Day 2:  Tour of Milan’s Unique Sites and the Last Supper

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel for a tour of Milan’s best sites. The first stop is the medieval Sforza Castle, once the seat and residence of Milan’s ruling family and now the home of several of the city’s museums and art collections. At the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie you will see Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, one of the world’s most famous works of art and not easy to see on your own.

Day 3:  Private Boat Tour on Lake Major and Visit to Borromean Islands

Take a day off from the hustle and bustle of the city! Stunning Lake Maggiore is just over an hour by train from Milan.  At the lake, located at the foot of the Alps and straddling the border with Switzerland, a private boat will take you on an excursion of the Lake and to the Borromean Islands, a group of three small islands and two islets that boast beautiful sixteenth century palaces and gardens in a picturesque setting.

Day 4:  Arrival in Como

Your departure from Milan to Lake Como should take about 90 minutes by private car. After arriving at your lakefront hotel, you will have the rest of the day to explore the charming medieval heart of town. Lake Como has been a popular retreat for aristocrats and wealthy people since Roman times, and is now a popular tourist destination, offering multiple artistic and cultural attractions. Its many villas, palaces, and homes of the famous and infamous hugging the shores of the lake, as well as its splendid microclimate, has earned it a reputation as the most beautiful lake in the world.

Day 5:  Private Boat Tour on Lake Como and Visit to Bellagio

You’ll set off on your private boat with your captain to explore Lake Como in more detail. One of the highlights of your tour will be a visit to Villa Balbianello, the stunning lakeside retreat where the James Bond film “Casino Royale” was filmed. After this you’ll head to Bellagio, a village on a promontory jutting out into the lake, often referred to as the “pearl of the lake” and known for its cobbled lanes, elegant buildings, and Villa Serbelloni Park, an 18th-century terraced garden with lake views. Nearby are the Tower of the Arts, a venue for exhibitions and performances, and the romanesque church of San Giacomo. Close to rocky Loppia Beach, the Museum of Navigational Instruments displays sundials and compasses.

Day 6:  Visit to Wine Producing Villa and Arrival in Verona

Departing from Lake Como by private car, you will head east to Verona, a journey of approximately two hours. On the way you’ll stop for lunch and wine at a wine-producing villa near Verona. Your hotel will be in the lovely historic center of Verona, famous among English-speakers as the setting of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” A 14th-century residence with a tiny balcony overlooking a courtyard may be either a house that Shakespeare saw in Italy during a secret Grand Tour of the continent and that inspired him to write his play or, more likely, an enterprising Italian’s idea of what the Capulet balcony might have looked like.

Day 7:  Introductory Tour of Verona

Your guide will meet you at your hotel and accompany you on a walking tour. Verona is an exceptionally romantic city with a rich architectural heritage. It is strategically set at the crossing of two vital trade routes on the Adige River, and has been an important cultural and commercial hub since the third century. Today, Verona’s streets reveal that rich, multi-layered history, with a medieval core, a labyrinth of cobbled laneways, and grand squares with ancient Roman structures, all of which you will take in during your three-hour tour. The most complete of its ancient structures is the still-functioning first-century Roman amphitheater, in the center of the city, where Verona’s renowned summer opera festival is held every year.

Day 8:  Arrival in Venice, Introductory Tour of Hidden Venice and Gondola Ride

You will take a high-speed train to Venice. Upon arrival, a greeter will meet and lead you to a private taxi-boat for your entrance on the Grand Canal into one of the most unique cities in the world. After you check in to your hotel, your guide will pick you up and take you on a private walking tour of the labyrinth also known as “hidden Venice”. You’ll be introduced to the city’s piazzas (“campi” in Venetian), shops and cafés and culminate with a glide along the city’s canals in a private gondola !

Day 9:  Tour of Venice’s Unique Sites

Your guide will meet you between the famed columns of St. Mark’s Square. You will admire the outside of St. Mark’s Basilica, with its Byzantine mosaic renditions of scenes from the life of Christ and, in the lunettes of the lateral portals, scenes showing the history of the relics of Saint Mark. Within the Basilica, which is unique in the world for its 4,000 square meters of golden mosaics and marble floor inlays, your guide will introduce you to its many art treasures, including the magnificent high altar, or Pala d’Oro. You’ll proceed to the opulent Doge’s Palace, adjacent to the cathedral, which was the seat from which the Duke wielded power over the great economic empire that was the Republic of Venice. You’ll visit the prison where enemies of the state, including Giacomo Casanova, were held (and in his case escaped) and pass through the Bridge of Sighs, an enclosed bridge with small windows that allowed prisoners one final lachrymal look at the lagoon of Venice before their confinement.

Day 10:  Explore Murano and Burano

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel and will accompany you to your private boat. You’ll speed along the Venetian Lagoon to two islands famous for their handicrafts and architecture. Known for its glassware shops and factories, Murano boasts a long and still-thriving glass tradition dating back to 1291, when artisans moved their kilns from the old city center. Exploring the island on foot, you will visit a museum dedicated to the art of glass and watch a skill glassblowers at their craft; view the splendor of Murano’s palaces and Veneto-Byzantine style churches, some with mosaics and ornamental motifs designed in the 12th century; and, if weather permits, catch a glimpse of San Michele, Venice’s 19th-century cemetery, across the water. Your next stop will be Burano, a miniature Venice with picturesque fishermen’s houses. Since the 16th century Burano has been famous for its lace, once considered the most refined in Europe. Browse local lace shops, visit the museum dedicated to the craft of lace, and enjoy an aperitif in a cafe on the canal with the colorful backdrop of the fuchsia pink, deep blue and vibrant yellow houses that characterize this lovely island town.

Day 11:  Departure – Arrivederci !

Your guide will meet you at your hotel and accompany you by private boat to Venice’s airport for departure. We salute you with a warm and heartfelt “arrivederci.” See you again! Now that you’ve traveled with us, know that you have friends here in Your Own Italy.

U

Other Info

  • There is a dress code for churches and basilicas. Shoulders and knees must be covered, shorts, miniskirts, and sleeveless shirts are not permitted. It is recommended that you not take large bags on tours that include churches as storage is not always  available
  • Please wear comfortable footwear as the tours on your vacation involve a lot of walking
  • The team at Your Own Italy is absolutely flexible and will customize your vacation to suit your personal needs. Are you traveling with children? We will provide the necessary assistance to adjust our packages to ensure that your vacation is truly memorable!
  • Contact Your Own Italy for customization options on your vacation
  • Refer to our website for details on our Cancellation Policy

Faq

When should we start planning our trip?
Ideally, we ask for at least 3 months’ advance notice, especially in the high season (May through September). Arrangements can be made on shorter notice, but you run the risk of missing out on the availability of our favorite hotels and guides. We want the best for our clients, and the more time we have, the more we can guarantee just that.
What are Your Own Italy’s payment terms?
We require a 20% deposit upon approval of your vacation package. The balance is due 45 days prior to your date of travel.
What happens after I’ve made a reservation through your website?
Upon approval of your vacation package, an invoice with payment instructions will be sent by email. Payment method options include Paypal, any major credit card or a personal check.
Should I purchase travel insurance?
We strongly encourage you to buy travel insurance at the time of booking, in the event you must cancel and forfeit funds or in the unfortunate case of injury or loss. We offer travel insurance through out partner, Allianz.
What kind of information will we receive before our trip?
Approximately one month prior to your departure date, you will receive a Your Own Italy Travel Packet consisting of a detailed day-to-day itinerary, our list of recommended restaurants, a “Helpful Hints Guide” for Italy, and your specific destinations, plus detailed information and contacts for your accommodations, tours and transportation.
Can you give me a cost breakdown of my customized vacation and what is included?
The vacations we create are bundled packages and therefore we do not provide a cost breakdown. Our local suppliers give us bundled prices for the services provided and we do the same for our clients. We simply arrange for all your accommodations, transportation, local tour guides, restaurant reservations, and any other fun activities and experiences from the moment you arrive until the day of your departure. We also follow through your itinerary with you upon arrival to departure with 24/7 concierge service from Rome, Italy.
J

Cancellation Policy

Please read our Vacation Package Cancellation Policy by clicking on the following link: Cancellation Policy here.

Vacation Prices

Starting at:
group size / price per person

2 – $8,300
3 – $7,900
4 – $7,700
5 – $7,500
6 – $7,300
7 – $7,000
8 – $6,800

Vacation Airfare

To arrange your international flights at our preferred rates Airfare – UPANDAWAY Travel International Specialist
+1800.275-8001
kyle@upandaway.com

Reserve Vacation

After filling this form one of our travel specialists with contact you.  

You have Successfully Subscribed!