Discovery Italy

Day 1: OLD MILAN, NAVIGLIO GRANDE
Arrival to Milan and transfer to 3* - 4*Hotel or B & B in air-conditioned buses. Refreshing welcome drink and free time to begin to immerse yourself in the fascinating atmosphere of Milan.During the late afternoon we recommend you to start exploring the historical Milan: a tour of Piazza del Duomo, the magnificent Gothic-Lombard Cathedral with its beautiful terraces, the Baptistery of San Giovanni alla Fonti and Cathedral’s Archaeological site. Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery built in an eclectic style typical of the second half of the nineteenth century Milan, a dear place to all milanese people and where can be found designer shops, bars and restaurants…is also wotth a visit.
A typical macchiato coffee, a delicious cappuccino and a typical milanese cake must definitely be tasted during a stop in the Gallery.
You then immerse yourself in the charming old Piazza Mercanti, the symbol of the city, created in medieval times, recalling the past.

Evening: 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 ancient 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: SFORZESCO CASTLE, SEMPIONE PARK, BRERA QUARTER, THE RENAISSANCE MILAN
Traditional ice cream tasting
The day begins with a tour towards Sforzesco Castle, a place of great culture that preserves many testimonies of the Lombard art, built by Galeazzo II Visconti’s that wanted to build a fort and then restored from 1450 by Francesco Sforza.
You can take afterwards a tour and a stroll in Sempione Park that extends from the shoulders of the Castle to Milan’s Arena..
We recommend you to head afterwards 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 you can find 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 clamsIce cream tasting in a famous old gelateria in Milan.

We recommend you to continue during the afternoon with the Renaissance Milan visiting the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with the famous Cenacolo Vinciano where can be admired the famous painting “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci.
The tour continues then towards the District Magenta with wonderful buildings and villas from nineteenth-century and early twentieth century liberty style buildings…and many nice shops.You continue 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.
The Catholic Cloisters, originally belonging to the Benedictine Monastery St. Ambrose, the San Bernardino alle Monache church, the Renaissance Palace of Donato Bramante: Palombelli Palace and the Church of Santa Maria presso San Martiro….are also recommended and worth a visit.Late afternoon: a visit to the Gardens of Villa Reale and Corso Venezia, the bustling Corso Buenos Aires and the Fashion district with the famous upscale shopping streets: Via Montenapoleone, Via Manzoni, Via della Spiga and Corso Venezia .

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 first meat or fish courses, main courses, pizzas and typical milanese desserts. You absolutely have to taste “Millefoglie” or “Meringata” desserts as well as a limoncello, a drink by strong lemon flavor

Day 3: LAKE COMO, THE HISTORICAL AND THE MODERN PART OF COMO, FARM FACTORY “IL VECCHIO FIENILE”
Local wine and food tasting
You start during the morning by train to the city of Como and the most romantic lake in Europe. Check-in at the 3* or 4*Hotel… You are being offered refreshments after which you begin the discovery of Como. You start to visit the Cathedral of Piazza Duomo, , Broletto, the beautiful Gothic building, Piazza Verdi, with monuments that recall the different historical periods (medieval walls, neo-classical theater).
You are also going to immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere of via V. Emanuele… The tour takes you also to Basilica of St. Fedele and the medieval tower, Porta Torre. It is a trip back to the past old days ...Lunch at Restaurant - Pizzeria “Funicolare” or “Borgo S. Agostino”, both located in the most picturesque areas of the city of Como, enjoying wonderful views with panoramic terrace on the first branch of Lake Como

During the afternoon we recommend you to continue with a tour of the modern city, in the public gardens area, with entrance from Tempio Voltiano, a tour along the lake to Villa Olmo to admire the neoclassical villas and the Memorial War Monument to the european Resistances. You can take then the cable car to Brunate and walk to the lighthouse at San Maurizio..If there is some time left we recommend you to visit the Romanesque basilica of St. Abbondio and the Silk Museum.

Evening: a beautiful evening at the Farm House “Il Vecchio Fienile” a few miles from Como. Recipes and local dishes are going to be tasted in a distinctive environment surrounded by nature.
Wine tasting
Back to the hotel

Day 4: LAKE COMO TOUR WITH A SAILING BOAT, BELLAGIO VILLAGE, BEAUTIFUL VILLAS AND GARDENS
Today, you navigate by boat to the center of Lake Como. You see the most interesting and suggestive spots and monuments of both shores of the lake: Torno and Blevio with beautiful nineteenth-century villas and the sixteenth-century Villa Plinian; Cernobbio with the prestigious Villa Erba (transformed in a Congress Centre), Villa D'Este (now luxury hotel) and Villa Pizzo with its immense park.
In Moltrasio you can admire Villa Fontanelle (property of Versace), Villa Le Rose (where Churchill used to stay) as well as other historic mansions of rare beauty. You also see other typical villages, the beautiful Island Comacina and the beautiful tower of St. Maria Maddalena.We also recommend a stop at the beautiful village Bellagio, considered the "pearl of the lake” with its imposing Villa Serbelloni where you walk among typical lanes and stairways overlooked by interesting shops.
Lunch at Bar-Trattoria “La Busciona” with its veranda overlooking the lake, tasting the specialties of the lake, at Pizzeria Restaurant “Bella Vista” or at a restaurant or pizzeria of your choiceAfternoon: visit of the romantic gardens of Villa Melzi and Serbelloni (access included in the price). Walking in the romantic parks among azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias takes you back in time, during the years when the European nobility organized to meet each other by Lake Como, considered a very romantic place

Evening: Return to Como by bus or boat