Escorted Tour of Northern Italy Lakes Region: from Milan to the Alps

Day 1 - Milan (Happy Hour!)

Benvenuti a Milano (Italian), or Milan, the Lombardy region capital of northern Italy!
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Day 1 - Milan (Happy Hour!)

Benvenuti a Milano (Italian), or Milan, the Lombardy region capital of northern Italy!
Leading financial centre and manufacturing/commercial city; its name derives from Latin “medio” – meaning "middle" - and -planum "plain", meaning "(settlement) in the midst of the plain”.

Upon arrival at the airport in Milan, our driver will be ready to take you to Starhotel Ritz in the vibrant city centre. Settle in, check in and have lunch on your own. In the afternoon, you will meet your guide and the rest of the group to set off on a walking tour of central Milan.

The route will start right from the hotel in Via Spallanzani, headed to Porta Venezia: you will be standing near one of the historic gates to the city, dating back to the days of the Roman city walls.
Until 1860 it was called Porta Orientale and Porta Riconoscenza in the Napoleonic era.
Also known as Porta Renza, because it is said that Renzo Tramaglino passed through it to enter Milan and escape to Bergamo in Manzoni's Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed).

Turning towards Corso Venezia you will cross the beautiful Giardini Indro Montanelli, coming out right in front of the GAM, Milan's famous Gallery of Modern Art, proceeding further down Viale Manzoni.
You are now almost in the area of Teatro Alla Scala, known by most as 'La Scala', Milan's most important opera house. It is considered one of the most prestigious theatres in the world and has hosted the world's leading opera, ballet and classical music artists for over 200 years.

But now, without further ado, let us turn to the diamond of probably the most underrated city in Italy: the Duomo, the largest church in Italy, the third largest in the world by surface area, the sixth largest by volume. At the end of the guide's explanation, this magnificent example of neo-Gothic architecture will no longer hold any secrets for you! We will take you to Castello Sforzesco: once one of the main military citadels in Europe, it now hosts institutions and museums.

Here we picked out one of the most delicious bakeries in the city to give you the chance to relax at the end of your walk with a typical Italian aperitivo. Enjoy some free time, head back to your hotel on your own, grab some dinner and get ready for day 2!

Day 2 - Bernina Express > Milan (Breakfast)

Can you imagine a place where, in just around two hours, the landscape varies from glaciers to palm trees, you immerse yourself in three different language regions and cross a national border? The answer is Treno del Bernina! The railway connecting Tirano to Saint Moritz is one of a kind. Also known as the Bernina Express or Trenino Rosso, it was already known worldwide in 1912 as one of the most astounding engineering marvels, and was soon taken as a model for the construction of a railway on the slopes of Mount Fuji (Japan). Its popularity exponentially grew in 2008 with its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and in 2010, on its 100th anniversary.

Enjoy a tasty breakfast at the hotel before leaving for Tirano aboard our coach and taking your seat on the train. The majestic panoramas of the Italian Alps unfold before you from the comfort of your reserved seat onboard the open scenic carriage of the iconic Bernina Train. In about a couple of hours you will be in Switzerland, in St Moritz, where you will be able to enjoy a good stroll, have some lunch and go shopping on your own before meeting up with the tour leader and return to Milan by coach. Day 3 awaits!

Day 3 – Milan > Como > Bellagio > Bergamo (Breakfast/Dinner)

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and then prepare for a short visit to Como, a tourist destination for its vicinity to Lake Como and the Alps. Amazing views over the lake and the alpine valleys are guaranteed! The lake itself, sometimes called Lario, has long been famous for its y-shape and for Bellagio, that you will reach by boat. This little gem town lies at the intersection of the lake’s two southern arms, with the Alps dominating the horizon to the north, and is home to some of the most charming landscapes in Italy. Spend some time exploring this picturesque village and its small streets, luxury hotels, villas, and gardens, and have lunch at your leisure in one of the many restaurants or cafés. Back on board, you will make your way to Tremezzo/ Villa Carlotta where you will meet the driver and begin your journey to Bergamo, a truly historic and artistic jewel characterized by its urban structure: the città bassa (or lower town) is modern and dynamic, while the famous città alta (or upper town) houses the city’s medieval heart.
Check in at your Bergamo hotel, dinner y overnight.

Day 4 - Bergamo > Sirmione > Riva del Garda > Bergamo (Breakfast/Dinner)

The largest lake in the country, Lake Garda, will be your destination today!
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and soak up the magic atmosphere of the lake’s splendid landscape during a panoramic tour: look up to the Brenta Dolomites (UNESCO Heritage World Site) and down, towards the gentle slopes of the Moraine Hills of Lower Garda.
The vegetation here really is something unique: lemon trees, oleanders, magnolias and bougainvillea are among the most renowned symbols of this area and the local production of wine and olive oil is simply divine. You will then proceed to Sirmione, the peninsula surrounded by the lake at its southern end.
Watch the sun reverberating on the lake’s blue waters, trace the outline of its tree-lined shores and admire Sirmione’s Castle, as well as the ruins of Catullus’ Villa (Grottoes of Catullo) during a fantastic boat tour (weather permitting). At the end of the tour, enjoy some free time to grab some lunch before heading to Riva del Garda, just on the north side of the lake: let us guide you through its Venetian-style city centre before getting back to Bergamo. It’s time to pack your bags: tomorrow will be the last day!

Day 5 - Bergamo > Verona > Franciacorta > Milan (Breakfast/Lunch)

Verona will be the perfect last stop of this incredible journey; enjoy your last breakfast at the hotel in Bergamo, check out at the hotel and get on board the coach as we reach The Fair City.
A local guide will be there to take you on a 2-hour walking tour in this city which is a fascinating mix of historical periods and cultures, a blend of Nordic as well as Mediterranean influences that makes both ancient and modern at the same time.
You will get in touch with Verona’s long traditions and past: from the traces of its splendid Roman origins to its medieval buildings; from the magnificent Renaissance palaces to the ancient fortifications that still protect them. A combination of art and history that will take your breath away.
Romeo and Juliet is by far Shakespeare’s most famous play set in the city: set off to admire Juliet’s home and its balcony, where she used to look out calling her Romeo by the name (“Oh, Romeo, Romeo”)!
Following the walking tour of Verona, you will be heading towards the Franciacorta region, which has always had the perfect conditions allowing to cultivate grapes and hence produce some of the best wine labels in Italy: we have selected a local winery where you will taste a typical light lunch and taste some wine. After this experience, you will head for Milan, where you will have the last overnight in Milan.

Day 6 - Milan
After breakfast, transfer to the airport.

Day 1
- Arrival at Milan airport (flights not included in the package)
- Private transfer to hotel
- PM: 3-hour walking tour of Milan (guided)
- Happy Hour in the area near Castello Sforzesco
- Return to hotel (not included)
- Overnight stay

Day 2
- Breakfast at the hotel (included)
- Transfer by coach to Tirano
- Bernina Express (one-way ticket included)
- Free time in St Moritz
- Return transfer to hotel in Milan (included)
- Overnight stay

Day 3
- Breakfast at the hotel (included)
- Check-out from the hotel in Milan (city tax not included)
- Short visit of Como
- Boat transfer from Como to Bellagio (weather permitting)
- Lunch (not included)
- Transfer to Bergamo and check-in at the hotel
- Overnight stay

Day 4
- Breakfast at the hotel (included)
- Panoramic tour of Lake Garda
- Transfer to Sirmione
- Boat tour from Sirmione (weather permitting)
- PM: transfer to Riva del Garda and short visit
- Return transfer to Bergamo (included)
- Overnight stay

Day 5
- Breakfast at the hotel (included)
- 2-hour walking tour of Verona (guided)
- Transfer to the Franciacorta region, light lunch and local wine tasting
- Return transfer to Milan (included)
- Overnight stay

Day 6
- Breakfast at the hotel (included)
- Transfer to the airport (included)

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