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Itinerary
Day 1 Milan
Welcome to Milan! Meet the driver at Milan Malpensa Airport and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel.
In the afternoon, meet your expert local guide at the hotel and set off on a three-hour walking tour through the heart of Milan. Going down via Spallanzani, you will reach Porta Venezia (literally, Venice Gate), one of the historical gates to the city. It has medieval and maybe even Roman origins and gives the name to the city district all around it. An urban legend has the other term, it is known as - “Porta Renza” - stems from Renzo Tramaglino, co-protagonist of the novel The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni, who enters Milan exactly from this access.
You will proceed toward Corso Venezia and take a shortcut inside Giardini Indro Montanelli, a public garden. Opposite the garden, you will go past GAM, the Galleria d’Arte Moderna (modern art museum). Proceeding along Viale Manzoni, you will head for La Scala Opera House (Teatro alla Scala), inaugurated on 3 August 1778. The theater underwent major renovations from early 2002 to late 2004. Then get ready to take in the stunning Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano). Your tour guide will illustrate its main features.
The last stop will be the majestic Castello Sforzesco, a medieval fortress built in the 15th century by the Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza. In its vicinity, we have chosen a refined bakery for you to be able to relax and taste a typical aperitivo (happy hour).
At the end of the aperitivo, the tour will be over and you will have some free time before returning to the hotel on your own.
Overnight in Milan at Starhotels Ritz or similar.
Day 2 Milan Bernina Express Milan
Get ready with the Bernina Express tour on boarding the train that snakes its way up to the mountain peaks. Just like sitting in a theater, you will admire unique views from your seat on board the Bernina Train, a piece of history (100 years old), and a World Heritage train.
After breakfast at the hotel, meet our driver and reach Tirano. You will get on board there and start this ride along one of the most beautiful railway routes in the world, with its unsurpassed alpine views. The journey will need two hours to complete. As the train winds its way over the Alps, occasionally passing through mountain tunnels and puffing its way past a myriad of towns and villages, many highlights will catch your attention. Look out at the Swiss Alps as you ride along the Bernina pass to St. Moritz, and enjoy free time to explore it. Meet your driver to return to Milan (meeting point in St. Moritz).
Overnight in Milan at Starhotels Ritz or similar.
Day 3 Milan Como Bellagio Bergamo
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and then prepare for a short visit to Como, a tourist destination and vicinity to Lake Como and the Alps.
Stunning views over the lake and the alpine valleys are guaranteed! The lake, sometimes called Lario, has long been famous for its y-shape and Bellagio, which 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. Take 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 onboard in the afternoon, you will make your way to Tremezzo/ Villa Carlotta where you will meet the driver and begin your journey to Bergamo. It is a truly historic and artistic jewel characterized by its urban structure; the città bassa (or lower town), a modern and dynamic, while the famous città alta (or upper town) houses the city, a medieval heart.
Enjoy a dinner at the hotel.
Overnight stay in Bergamo at Starhotels Cristallo or similar.
Day 4 Bergamo Sirmione Riva Del Garda Bergamo
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and visit the next destination, Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy.
We recommend taking a panoramic tour of the lake’s west coast, taking in the splendid natural landscape, like the Brenta Dolomites (the Brenta Group has officially been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the gentle slopes of the Moraine Hills of Lower Garda. Enjoy the area’s rich vegetation, including lemon trees, oleanders, magnolias, and bougainvillea, and be sure to taste some of the locally-made olive oil and wines.
Next, you will move to Sirmione, where Lake Garda and its surroundings are at their finest. See the sun reverberating on the lake’s blue waters, the tree-lined shores, Sirmione Castle, and the ruins of Catullus’s villa or Grottoes of Catullus (the 1st century BC poet owned a Villa here) during a boat tour.
Once you’re through, you will have some free time to have lunch before departing for Riva del Garda. Located on the north side of the lake, you will see its quaint Venetian-style historical center.
Enjoy a dinner at the hotel.
Overnight stay in Bergamo at Starhotels Cristallo or similar.
Day 5 Bergamo Verona Franciacorta Milan
After breakfast, reach fair Verona, a museum en plain air. A local professional will wait and take you on a guided tour. The fascinating mix of historical periods and cultures (both classical and Germanic) is a blend of Nordic as well as Mediterranean influences that are both ancient and modern.
A walk through its narrow streets will allow you to get in touch with Verona's varied and fascinating past: traces of its splendid Roman origins, its medieval structures, its magnificent renaissance palaces, as well as the impressive fortifications protecting it. The combination of art and history will amaze you.
Two of William Shakespeare's plays set in Verona: “Romeo and Juliet” is by far the most famous one. We suggest taking a look at the so-called Juliet’s home (and its balcony, said to have been the legendary balcony of the famous “Oh Romeo, Romeo” tragedy scene). It is a medieval building located via Cappello. Capello is the name of a family who resided in the building during the 14th century.
After the Verona tour, you will drive towards the area of Franciacorta, which soil consisting of gravel and sand over limestone, is ideal for the cultivation of grapes and winemaking. It is where you will enjoy a light lunch and taste some local food and renowned local wine.
After this experience, you will head for Milan, where our services will end in the late afternoon.
