Discovery Italy

Day 1: HISTORICAL 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 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 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 your tour with a visit to 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.

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 old canals in 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, THE RENAISSANCE MILAN, VILLA REALE, FASHION DISTRICT
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 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 clamsAn ice cream tasting in a famous old gelateria in Milan, is also on the schedule.

The afternoon: continues 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.
You will also visit Villa Reale’s garden, 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”, in the elegant Via Vincenzo Monti or at Acero Rosso in Conciliazione area, a pizza restaurant where, at moderate prices, can be eaten meat or fish first and main courses, pizzas and typical Milanese desserts. The desserts "millefoglie" or "meringata" as well as a limoncello, a drink by strong flavor made by lemons…are a “must try”.

Day 3: BRERA GALLERY
Wine tasting
You walk 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: “Marriage of the Virgin” by Raffaello, “Madonna with the child” by Giovanni Bellini, “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 UNESCOin a restaurant in Brera district.
Wine tasting

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

Day 4: MILAN - COMO by train, HISTORICAL COMO, FARM FACTORY “IL VECCHIO FIENILE”
Local wine tasting and gastronomic products
You start during the morning by train to the city of Como and the most romantic lake in Europe. Check-in at 3* or 4*Hotel.
You are going to be offered refreshments after which you begin the discovery of Como.
Together with your tour leader you start your tour and visit the following places:
the Cathedral of Piazza Duomo, Broletto, the beautiful gothic building, Piazza Verdi, with monuments that recall different historical periods (medieval walls, neo-classical theater) and the charming V. Emanuele Avenue.
You will also visit St. Fedele Basilica and the medieval tower, Porta Torre.
It is going to be a journey back to the past old days ...
Lunch at the 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.

Afternoon: The guided tour continues with a tour of the modern city, in the public garden 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 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 5: COMO LAKE TOUR 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.
Your 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” sitting on a veranda overlooking the lake, tasting the lake specialties, at Pizzeria Restaurant “Bella Vista” or in a restaurant or pizzeria of your choice.

Afternoon: We visit the romantic gardens of Villa Melzi and Serbelloni (access included in the price).
The romantic park walk 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, CERNOBBIO, COMO - GRAVEDONA by boat, COMACINA ISLAND, GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI MUSEUM
The days starts with a walk between Como and Cernobbio and then continues by boat to Gravedona.
You are going to visit St. Maria del Tiglio and the beautiful narrow streets of the village until you reach the panoramic viewpoint of the castle.
Lunch in a typical trattoria or pizzeria and then the tour continues towards Comacina Island.

Afternoon: you visit the island and then back to Como. Upon returning you also join a cultural moment at the History Museum “Giuseppe Garibaldi”.

Evening: dinner by the lake at “Da Silvio” restaurant, famous restaurant with lake recipes and a wide selection of wines.
After dinner you can choose to go on your own and discover Como or to take a glass of local wine at a taverna overlooking the lake or in the area of disco “Moregallo” located by the lake.

Day 7: COMO - TREMEZZO, VILLA CARLOTTA, VILLA DEL BALBIANELLO
The day is going to be dedicated to Villas and Gardens of your dreams.trip by ferry towards Tremezzo and Villa Carlotta, are on the schedule.are going to visit the ancient villa that is now a museum that houses art works of famous painters and the botanical garden full of variety of alzalee and other exotic plants.

Afternoon: lunch and boat tour towards Villa Balbianello, a jewel of Lake Como.

Evening: Free evening to relax
End of your unforgettable itinerant journey