Discovery Italy

Day 1: MILAN - NAVIGLIO GRANDE
Arrival at the airport, welcome by the Discover Italy Now Tour Leader and transfer to 3* - 4*Hotel or B & B in air-conditioned bus. Refreshing welcome drink and free time to begin to immerse yourself in the fascinating atmosphere of Milan.
Dinner at one of the oldest and charming trattoria in the suggestive atmosphere of the ancient vicolo dei Lavandai along Naviglio Grande. You immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere of the old canals of Milan and the wide variety of traditional Lombard cuisine: you can choose among many delicious dishes such as “risotto alla Milanese”, cottoletta, mozzarella, tomato and basil with a glass of Barbera, Garda Cabernet or Franciacorta.

Day 2: MILAN - THE HISTORICAL PART
Traditional ice cream tasting
Together with your Tour Leader you start exploring the historical Milan: a guided tour of Piazza del Duomo, the magnificent Gothic-Lombard Cathedral with its beautiful terraces, the Baptistery of San Giovanni alla Fonti and the Archaeological site of the Dome Cathedral.
You are going to be told the history of the visited monuments.Your tour continues then with Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, built in an eclectic style, typical of Milan’s nineteenth century, a dear place to all Milanese people and where can be found designer shops, bars and restaurants.
A typical macchiato coffee, a delicious cappuccino and a typical Milanese cake must definitely be tasted during a stop in the Gallery.
The tour continues with the charming old Piazza Mercanti, symbol of the city, created in medieval times, recalling the past.
You also visit Sforzesco Castle and the old Brera district, populated by artists and celebrities.
You can also join an ice cream tasting in a famous old gelateria in Milan.

Afternoon: you walk towards the elegant Piazza della Scala with world's most famous theater, a temple of opera. Your Tour Leader will explain the history. A visit of Theatre’s Museum is also on the schedule.
The old Piazza Mercanti, symbol of the city, created in medieval times as a center of the city life with the lively atmosphere of inns, trattorias and workshops and where today we find Palazzo della Ragione is your next bike destination during the afternoon.

Late afternoon: free. We recommend a shopping tour in via Torino, Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the surrounding area, a tour in Parco delle Basiliche where can be visited the ancient Christian basilicas built in roman times: San Lorenzo and Sant'Eustorgioand a walk in the fashionable Corso Ticinese where you can also taste a typical piedina with bresaola, parmigiano cheese and ruccola or a delicious chocolate crepes and admire the Columns of San Lorenzo.
Alternatively you can choose a City Tour by the Hop On Hop Off open double decker bus.

Evening: Aperitif at “Victoria” Bar, right behind Piazza Duomo and dinner by candlelight at “Old America”, the elegant Via Vincenzo Monti or at “Acero Rosso” in Conciliazione area, a pizza restaurant where you can choose to eat at moderate prices meat or fish first and main courses, pizzas and typical milanese desserts. You absolutely have to taste Millefoglie or Meringata desserts as well as a limoncello, a strong flavor drink made by lemons

Day 3: SFORZESCO CASTLE, ARENA, BRERA QUARTER, BRERA ART GALLERY
Wine tasting in wine cellar
The day begins with a tour to Sforzesco Castle, a place of great culture that preserves many testimonies of the Lombard art, built by Galeazzo II Visconti who wanted to build a fort and then restored in 1450 by Francesco Sforza.
A visit of the castle and its museum is on the schedule.
You take afterwards a tour and a stroll in Sempione Park that extends from the shoulders of the Castle to Milan’s Arena.
For lunch you are going to head towards the old district of Brera, populated by artists and celebrities. Jamaica is a historical bar of Brera, where you can take an aperitif and a drink and for lunch can be found numerous restaurants and typical trattorias. The milanese cutlet with small tomatoes and lettuce is a “must-try” as well as the traditional Margherita pizza or spaghetti with tomato sauce or clams
Wine tasting in an old wine cellar

Afternoon: Visit of “Pinacoteca di Brera”, the famous Museum of Art where, in a magnificent fourteenth-century monastery, alongside the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, you will find works of art and collections of paintings of the most famous painters:
“The Marriage of the Virgin” by Raffaello, “The Virgin Mary with the child” by Giovanni Bellini, “The Crucifixion” by Bramantino
…as well as other important paintings of Raffaello and Leonardo.
You continue to visit then the Filodramatic Theatre, Clerici Palace, the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine, Church of San Marco and the Botanical GardenLate afternoon: free to walk on your own and discover the trendy shops and antiques or simply have a break and taste a good Italian ice cream. We recommend you the ice cream shop “Chocolat” in Via Boccaccio 9, Conciliazione area.

Evening: optionally dinner at the hotel or a walking tour to “Trattoria Toscana” or the Pizzeria - restaurant “Acero Rosso” in Conciliazione area

DAY 4: RENAISSANCE MILAN
Your guided tour starts today with breakfast at the bar tasting a freshly baked croissants, cappuccino and other Italian delicacies and then continues with the Renaissance Milan walking towards the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where you have the chance to admire the famous painting “Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci.
On the schedule there is also a visit to Magenta district with its wonderful examples of nineteenth-century houses, early twentieth century Liberty Art buildings and many nice shops.The tour continues then towards the ancient Basilica of Sant Ambrogio, queen and mother of all Lombard churches with its interior that includes works of art of 1600 years of history and then continues towards Chiostri della Cattolica / Catholic Cloisters, originally belonging to the Benedictine Monastery of Sant Ambrogio Church, San Bernardino alle Monache Church, the Renaissance Palace of Donato Bramante: Palombelli Palace and the Church of Santa Maria presso San Satiro Milan.
Lunch in a typical restaurant in Milan

DAY 5: CHIARAVALLE ABBEY, RESIDENCE AND MUSEUM OF THE FAMOUS ITALIAN WRITER, ALESSANDRO MANZONI
The morning starts with a trip out of town by train to the ancient Abbey of Chiaravalle, belonging to the Cistercian monks.
This is a charming little town about 9 km from Milan. You are going to immerse in atmospheres of other times and fascinating history and stories with the help of the tour leader.
Lunch at the Abbey or in a trattoria in the Village of Chiaravalle.
Return to Milan.
Afternoon: great Italian painters such as Botticelli and Pollaiuolo at Poldi Pezzoli Museum.
A visit to the Residence and Museum of the famous Italian writer Alessandro Manzoni, who wrote the famous work “I promessi Sposi”, "The Betrothed"…is also on the itinerary schedule.

Evening: Wine and tasty dishes in a restaurant in Brera area

DAY 6: TOUR OF NAVIGLIO CANAL BY BOAT, MUSEUM OF DESIGN
The day begins with a boat trip on Naviglio Canal Grande following the Conche Route from Porta Genova.
It can also be chosen the longer route, biking to Sesto Calende, a town outside of Milan and taking the boat from Viale Italia following Parco del Ticino route that starts at Sesto Calende, a few km from Milan.
Lunch in Naviglio's area where can be admired the small church of San Cristoforo.walk to Senigalia market and the fruit, vegetables and antiques market in Viale Papiniano.

Afternoon: Guided tour at Triennale Design Museum which houses various exhibitions every week. Aperitif at Noon bar in Cadorna area, not far from the central Piazza del Duomo

Evening: You can search by yourself a new favorite restaurant or together with the tour leader have dinner in a local pizzeria

DAY 7: THE ROYAL PALACE, THE FASHION DISTRICT
Wine tasting in a local wine cellar
The tour starts with a visit of the Royal Palace and then the Risorgimento Palace where Italy's history will be illustrated through several collections of paintings and prints from the Napoleonic period.
It follows a walk towards the Fashion District with the famous upscale shopping streets: Via Montenapoleone, Via Manzoni, Via della Spiga and Corso Venezia.

Afternoon: trip by train to Monza, a charming medieval town about 20 km from Milan , where it is going to be visited the beautiful Park, hunting summer residence of Napoleon III and Savoia's family, the last royal Italian dynasty.
A visit to the Royal villa is on the schedule.

Evening: Dinner at “Cantina di Monza”, a well-known restaurant where in addition to fresh fish, pasta salads, pizzas, meat dishes and other delicacies you can taste different wines.
“Cantina di Monza” also offers entertainment: dance, games, karaoke and other funny entertainment.
Return to Milan.
End of the program.