REGULAR TOURS: Grand Tour of Northern Italy from Milan

Arrival at Milan airport and transfer to the hotel. Free time. At 6:00 pm, meeting with the tour leader at the reception.

Breakfast at the hotel and visit of Milan, which boasts an invaluable historical, artistic and architectural heritage, but is also a city famous in other ways: it is the Italian Fashion Capital, an industrial centre, a nerve centre of the Italian economy. A walk through Milan cannot do without visiting some of the city's iconic landmarks: Piazza del Duomo, one of the largest and most evocative squares in Italy, with the imposing Gothic-style Duomo and the Teatro alla Scala, a cultural symbol of Milan and one of the most prestigious theatres in the world for its history, architecture and works, not to mention the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Free time and return to the hotel. 

Optional excursion: Milan's Navigli district: symbol of the Milanese nightlife.

Excursion to discover the Navigli district, one of the most picturesque in Milan, and famous throughout the world for its nightlife and the hundreds of bars scattered along the banks of its canals, with a break to admire one of the most suggestive Gothic cathedrals, the imposing Duomo of Milan, illuminated. After a short walk to discover the history of this suggestive district, you can enjoy an aperitif at happy hour.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Stresa, a splendid tourist resort on Lake Maggiore. This charming town is situated in an unrivalled landscape with an excellent view of the Alps and Lake Maggiore, which is home to the famous Borromean Islands. Then, we will go on an excursion to the Borromean Islands with the monumental Isola Bella, the picturesque Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Madre, known for its botanical garden full of rare plants. During the excursion, we will have lunch on Isola dei Pescatori with typical local dishes. Return to Stresa and free time. In the afternoon, return to the hotel.

After breakfast, departure for Como with a guided tour of one of the most beloved towns in northern Italy, with the Duomo, Broletto (medieval town hall), Palazzo Terragni and ancient alleys and remains of the medieval walled city. Transfer to Tremezzo for a guided tour of Villa Carlotta, which dominates the lake and is also surrounded by a magnificent park of beautiful plants and flowers. Transfer by boat to Bellagio, one of the most beautiful tourist towns. Free time at your disposal to savour the atmosphere and discover the charming corners of the pearl of Lake Como. In the afternoon, return to the hotel and in the evening, dinner with typical local dishes from the region.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will spend the day discovering the Gulf of Tigullio: Portofino, with its elegant harmony and its brightly coloured buildings overlooking the sea, and Santa Margherita Ligure, a town famous for its pastel-coloured façades and its fantastic “lungomare”. In the afternoon, we will return by boat to Rapallo, a town with vestiges of the past located in the centre of the Gulf of Tigullio. In the afternoon, transfer to the hotel in La Spezia and free time.

Breakfast at the hotel and we will continue our journey, by boat or train depending on the weather conditions, towards the Cinque Terre. The hand of man, over the centuries, has shaped the territory by building the famous terraces that take advantage of the geography of its slopes, creating one of the most beautiful and typical landscapes of Liguria. Guided tour of Manarola, a true urban gem, with its charming port and a handful of pastel-coloured houses; Vernazza, considered one of the most beautiful towns in Italy that has kept its long seafaring tradition intact; Its natural port confirms this thanks to its amphitheatre shape from which it extends towards the sea. And, finally, Monterosso, the westernmost and most populated town of the Cinque Terre. It is located in the centre of a small natural gulf, made up of two settlements: the historic centre to the east and the more modern and touristic part to the west. In the afternoon, return to the hotel.

Breakfast and departure to Florence, a city with an atmosphere that invites us to travel back in time, known throughout the world as the city where the Renaissance was born, the cradle of architecture and art. Guided tour of its old town, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, surrounded by churches, monuments and Renaissance buildings of great beauty praised by poets of various eras. The Baptistery of San Juan, dedicated to the patron saint of the city, the famous Campanile by Giotto, the Cathedral of Santa Maria delle Fiore, the imposing dome by Brunelleschi are just some examples of the wonders that Florence offers. After the visit, transfer to the hotel.

Optional excursion: The Uffizi

Designed in the mid-16th century by Giorgio Vasari, the Uffizi Gallery is made up of 90 rooms housing the most important and famous paintings in the history of art: works by Giotto, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, as well as numerous paintings by Flemish and Dutch painters displayed in chronological order. A visit to this museum is a true journey through time through art.

After breakfast, we will begin our second day in Florence, where we will visit one of the most typical areas of the city, Oltrarno, located on the left bank of the Arno River, one of the most typical areas of the city, where you can breathe a unique and genuine atmosphere, from other times, populated mainly by Florentines. You cannot miss a visit to the Ponte Vecchio, which with its shops and hanging houses is one of the most famous places in the world, and the Pitti Palace, the last residence of the Medici, today the largest museum complex in Florence. Free time. Return to the hotel 

Optional excursion: Accademia Gallery

The Accademia Gallery is one of the most important museums in the city and in the world. Among its most important works is the incomparable David by Michelangelo, one of the most famous sculptures in the world, a universal symbol of the city of Florence.

Breakfast and departure by train to Rome. Transfer to the hotel and free time. In the evening, dinner with typical Roman dishes in the Trastevere area.

Breakfast at the hotel and start of the panoramic tour of Rome to admire the magnificent monuments that are symbols of Ancient Rome: the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, the Palatine Hill, the Baths of Caracalla and the most representative basilicas of Christian Rome: St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran, Santa Maria Maggiore and St. Peter's. We continue along the Lungotevere, where we can admire Castel Sant'Angelo and the Ara Pacis and finally we will cross by bus the magnificent Villa Borghese and the very elegant Via Veneto, the avenue of Hollywood stars, the most elegant bars and hotels in the city. During the visit there is a stop planned to go to the Capitoline Hill with a panoramic view of the Roman Forum and the magnificent Piazza Venezia. We will also stop at St. Peter's Square, where it will be possible to continue with the optional visit of the Vatican Museums. Free time and return to the hotel.

Optional excursion: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel 

The Vatican Museums, considered one of the most important in the world, and the Sistine Chapel, seat of the Conclave, masterfully painted by Michelangelo Buonarroti. A visit where you will immerse yourself in the highest expressions of art of all time, where beauty and faith meet in a unique combination. An unmissable event in Rome.

Breakfast at the hotel and guided tour with tickets included to the most suggestive and imposing monument of antiquity, the Colosseum, one of the seven wonders of the world. Next, we will visit the archaeological area of ​​the Roman Forum, symbol of the Italian capital that shows us and teaches us the mastery of the building constructions in the times of the Roman Empire.

Optional excursion: Tivoli and its magnificent villas: Hadrian's Villa and Villa D'Este

Possibility of making a half-day visit to the city of Tivoli in the afternoon. Walking through the ruins of Hadrian's Villa, from the Roman era, with its temples, theatres and statues, and inside the romantic Villa d'Este, from the Renaissance, with its waterfalls, pools and fountains in the garden, will be an unforgettable experience. At the end of the tour, we return to Rome.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for the Tuscany region. Arrival in Montepulciano, a medieval town situated on a hilltop, known throughout the world for the production of “Nobile” wine. A town rich in Renaissance buildings, ancient churches and hidden corners. From Montepulciano we will enjoy the fabulous landscape offered by the Orcia Valley and the Chiana Valley. We continue the journey to the charming Pienza, one of the most characteristic medieval towns in the heart of the Orcia Valley, known as the “ideal city” of the Renaissance, which has maintained a strong attachment to rural traditions. This is evident as soon as one enters through the main gate of the old town and enters the “corso” where there are, without interruption, shops displaying typical products of the area, among which the famous “Pecorino di Pienza” stands out. Finally, transfer to the hotel in Siena.

After breakfast, we will visit the elegant city of Siena, full of charm and memories of the past, considered one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Italy. The heart of the city is the famous Piazza del Campo, with a particular shell shape, where the famous “Palio di Siena” is celebrated, one of the most important events for all Sienese. You cannot miss the visit to the Duomo of Siena, of a breathtaking beauty in Gothic style that houses a large number of treasures signed by Donatello, Pisano and Michelangelo, as well as frescoes by the famous Pinturicchio. Departure for San Gimignano, a medieval town located in the heart of Tuscany, famous for its towers, of which today only thirteen of the seventy-two that once guarded the city remain. Characterized by its beautiful squares and by its historic center inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We continue our journey towards the Chianti area, famous for its typical Tuscan landscape, surrounded by vineyards, cypress trees and picturesque villages with their traditional wine and food delights. We will take a panoramic drive through these small villages and visit one of their wineries to taste the famous Chianti wine and other local products. Transfer to the hotel in Mestre and free time.

Breakfast at the hotel and guided tour of Venice, a unique city in the world built on about 120 islands bordered by 150 canals and linked by more than 400 bridges. Venice is home to one of the most beautiful cultural and artistic heritages in the world, which has inspired great poets and artists of the time: the elegant buildings of the Grand Canal, the delicacy of the Doge's Palace overlooking San Marco, the majesty of the Basilica and the Campanile of San Marco, but also the small artisan workshops and the picturesque coloured houses. Free time and return to the hotel in the afternoon. 

Optional excursion: Gondola ride along the canals of Venice.

The gondola ride is one of the main attractions of the city and is considered one of the symbols of Venice. Inevitably, the gondola ride is an unforgettable experience that must be done if you want to truly experience the city. There is nothing like it in the world and this is what makes Venice a unique city. In fact, it gives us the opportunity to observe the city from below, rocked by the water and the movement of the gondolier's oar.

After breakfast, departure to Verona, known throughout the world for being the scene of the turbulent love between the two most famous lovers in the world, Romeo and Juliet. Its historic centre has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its architecture and for its romantic and fascinating urban structure with its bridges over the Adige River, the wonderful buildings and the streets full of people. We then continue to Sirmione, a picturesque town located south of Lake Garda, known as “the pearl of the islands and peninsulas”. The city offers a rich historical and artistic heritage including the remains of an ancient Roman villa from the early imperial era, known as the Grottoes of Catullo, La Rocca Scaligera and the church of San Pietro in Mavino. Later transfer to the hotel in Milan.

Optional excursion: Boat trip on Lake Garda.

Lake Garda is a heritage of beauty that reveals its best secrets to those who decide to explore it from a different perspective. The boat trip is a unique experience to enjoy.

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport/station. End of services.