Discovery Italy

Day 1: THE OLD MILAN, NAVIGLIO GRANDE by bike
Arrival to Milan, welcome by the Discover Italy Now Tour Leader and transfer to 3* 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.
Late afternoon: Together with your Tour Leader and your bike you start exploring the historical Milan: a guided tour of Piazza del Duomo, the magnificent Gothic-Lombard Cathedral and a visit to its terraces, the Baptistery of San Giovanni alla Fonti and visit of the Archaeological site of the Dome Cathedral. You are going to be told the history of the visited monuments.You continue visiting the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery built in an eclectic style typical of the second half 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.
You continue then towards the charming old Piazza Mercanti, the symbol of the city, created in medieval times, recalling the past.
Sforzesco Castle and the old Brera district, populated by artists and celebrities, are also on the schedule. You are also going to have an ice cream tasting in a famous old gelateria in Milan

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: HISTORICAL MILAN, SFORZESCO CASTLE, SEMPIONE PARK, BRERA QUARTER, RENAISSANCE MILAN, VILLA REALE, FASHION DISTRICT by bike
Traditional ice cream tasting
The day begins with a bike tour towards the Sforzesco Castle, a place of great culture that preserves many testimonies of the Lombard art, built by Galeazzo II Visconti’s wish to build a fort and then restored in 1450 by Francesco Sforza. You are going to visit the castle and its museum and “immerse yourself in history” with the help of our Tour Leader
You take afterwards a tour and a stroll in Sempione Park that extends from the shoulders of the Castle to Milan’s Arena..
You 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 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.
An ice cream tasting in a famous old gelateria in Milan, is also on the schedule...
The afternoon continues on the two wheels 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 examples 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 tour continues with 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.Late afternoon: Together with your guide you are also going to visit the Gardens of Villa Reale and Corso Venezia and then 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

Day 3: BRERA GALLERY
Wine tasting
You bike today to the precious Pinacoteca di Brera, the famous art museum where, in a magnificent fourteenth-century monastery, alongside the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, you are going to find works of art and collections of paintings by famous authors painters: “The Marriage of the Virgin” by Raffaello, “Madonna with the child” by Giovanni Bellini, “The Crucifixion” of Bramantino as well as many other works of Raffaello and Leonardo.
Pinacoteca di Brera, Uffizi Gallery in Florence and Capitoline Museums in Rome represent an important international heritage recognized by UNESCO
Lunch in a restaurant in Brera district. Wine tasting.

Evening: free for shopping or biking alone and discover the enchanting atmosphere of Milan

Day 4: MILAN – COMO by train (with the bike on the train), HISTORICAL COMO, THE FARM FACTORY “IL VECCHIO FIENILE”
Local wine tasting
You start during the morning by train to the city of Como and the most romantic lake in Europe.
It is possible to bring your own bike on the train.
Check-in at 3*… You are going to be offered refreshments after which you begin the discovery of Como.
Together with the tour leader you start your bike tour & visit the following places:
Cathedral of Piazza Duomo
Broletto the beautiful Gothic building
Piazza Verdi, with monuments that recall the different historical periods (medieval walls, neo-classical theater)
Via V. Emanuele
Basilica of St. Fedele and the medieval tower, Porta Torre
It is going to be a biking journey back to the past old days ...
Lunch at Restaurant – “Pizzeria Funicolare” or “Borgo S. Agostine”, 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...
Afternoon: The guided tour continues on two wheels with a tour of the modern city, in the public gardens area, with entrance on the side of Tempio Voltiano, a tour along the lake towards Villa Olmo to admire the neoclassical villas and the Memorial War Monument to the European Resistance. You take then the cable car to Brunate and walk to the lighthouse at San Maurizio..If there is going to be some time left you also visit the Romanesque basilica of St. Abbondio and the Silk Museum.

Evening: Biking tour to 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 5: TOUR OF COMO LAKE WITH A SAILING BOAT, BELLAGIO VILLAGE, BEAUTIFUL VILLAS AND GARDENS
Today you are going to navigate by boat enjoying a trip to the center of Lake Como.
Your Tour leader is going to show you the most interesting and suggestive spots and monuments of both shores of the lake: Torno and Blevio with the 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 will see Villa Fontanelle (property of Versace), Villa Le Rose (where Churchill used to stay) as well as other historic mansions of rare beauty.
The tour leader is going also to show you the typical villages, the beautiful Island Comacina, the beautiful tower of St. Maria Maddalena.You stop at the beautiful village Bellagio, considered the "pearl of the lake” with its imposing Villa Serbelloni where you are going to walk among typical lanes and stairways overlooked by interesting shops.
Lunch at Bar-Trattoria “La Busciona” with a veranda overlooking the lake, tasting the specialties of the lake, at Pizzeria Restaurant “Bella Vista” or in a restaurant or pizzeria of your choiceAfternoon: We visit the romantic gardens of Villa Melzi and Serbelloni (access included in the price).
Walking in the romantic parks among azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias will take you back in time, during the years when the European nobility organized parties by Lake Como, considered a very romantic place

Evening: Return to Como by bus or boat. You can dine together with the tour leader or alternatively have a free evening in search of your favorite restaurant.

Day 6: COMO – BELLAGGIO – MENAGGIO
You start riding your bike on an itinerary along the shores of Lake Como: Como - Bellagio - Menaggio -Val Senagra - Val Cavargna – Val Managgio -Val Rezzo-Menaggio-Como: a total of 88 kilometers of medium difficulty trails
Como - Bellagio 31 km by bike
(Via Brunate that is going to be reached by the funicular where you embark your bike) taking “la Dorsale del Triangolo Lariano”: Brunate- Colma del Piano-Bellaggio through the tranquility of the woods and the unique landscapes where the tops of mountains can be seen.
You are going to cross small romantic villages, beautiful trails and shelters, agriculture roads and forestry with passages of average difficulty.
Lunch at one of the many shelters...
Bellagio – Menaggio by ferry
In Bellagio you take the ferry towards Menaggio.Accommodation in Farm House where you can enjoy a wonderful dinner discovering the flavors of the traditional dishes and delicious recipes with products of the lake and the area around lake Como.
Overnight at the farm house in characteristics in rooms equipped with all comfort and all modern technology. Opportunity to relax in the spa with sauna, Turkish bath, massage, Ayurvedic treatments and massages.

Day 7: MENAGGIO – VAL MENAGGIO – VAL SENAGRA – VAL CAVARGNA – VAL REZZO – MENAGGIO 40 km by bike
The tour continues today along the route of four different valleys: Val Menaggio, Val Senagra, Val Cavargna and Val Rezzo offering wonderful views...
Menaggio - Como by boat / ferry
From Menaggio (altitude 200 m) you take the boat to Como (together with your bike), where your unforgettable experience in mountain bike ends.
Dinner by the lake or a free evening.

Evening: Accommodation in Hotel ***, B & B or Farm House
End of the program.