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.
Late afternoon: you start exploring the historical Milan: a tour of the 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 continue with Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, built in an eclectic style, typical of the second half of the nineteenth century, a dear place to local Italians 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 also visit 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 suggestive atmosphere of the ancient vicolo dei Lavandai along Naviglio Grande canalYou immerse yourself in enchanting atmosphere of the old canals in Milan and a 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: MILAN, SFORZESCO CASTLE, SEMPIONE PARK, BRERA QUARTER, RENAISSANCE MILAN
Traditional ice cream tasting
The day begins with Sforzesco Castle, a place of great culture that preserves many testimonies of Lombard art, built by Galeazzo II Visconti’s and his 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.
You take afterwards a tour and a stroll in Sempione Park that extends from castle’s “shoulders” 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 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 clamsYou are also going to join an ice cream tasting in a famous old gelateria in Milan.The afternoon continues in the sign of Renaissance Milan, going to visit the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
You are going to visit the famous Cenacolo Vinciano and admire the famous painting The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci.

The tour continues then towards 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 and then you continue towards 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.afternoon: you visit the Gardens of Villa Reale and Corso Venezia and then the bustling Corso Buenos Aires and the Fashion “Quadriletto” with 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 flavor made by lemons

Day 3: MILANO - FRANCIACORTA: to explore the wine routes
You leave by train towards Franciacorta, the hilly area located between Brescia and the southern part of Lake Iseo, a renowned area for the softness and beauty of the landscape and for the production of wines.
Its name comes from "francae curtes", a small community of Benedictine monks that obtained during middle ages the piece of land against the commitment to reclaim and cultivate it in exchange for exemption from taxes.
ROVATO-ERBUSCO 4.5 km of trekking or by bus
Wine tasting and local food
Once in Rovato you start visiting the Cathedral of Rovato, the ancient noble buildings and the center of the village, then you walk through rolling hills, vineyards and green fields to Erbusco.
Here you are going to have lunch at the charming Restaurant La Mongolfiera dei Sodi, in the halls of an old country house and then you stop at the old winery cellar, Le Cantine Bellavista for tasting a glass of sparkling Franciacorta immersed in the green romantic vineyards where you can even taste more local food.
ERBUSCO - ADRO, 3 km trek or by bus
The journey then continues in your own pace toward Adro. You visit here the small old town with its charming narrow streets and admire from the village's tower the beautiful vineyards of Franciacorta.
You also visit Madonna della Neve shrine and Museum of silk, hemp and flax, formerly widespread activity in the area.
ADRO - CAPRIOLO 3 km trek or by bus
You trek through vineyards and arrive at the village of Capriolo, collected on top of a hill. You visit the Castle with its ancient walls, walk and discover the ancient noble villas such as Villa Evelina where you find a nineteenth-century ethnographic museum displaying tools and evidence of wine making tradition in the area.

Evening: Accommodation in Farm house where you dine and taste the local specialties. Absolutely to be tasted are polenta and local fish dishes from the lake accompanied by a glass of Franciacorta wine. Even the cheese produced in this area is excellent: taleggio, formagelle and robiole.

Day 4: FRANCIACORTA’S WINE ROADS: CAPRIOLO – ISEO – SULZANO – MONTE ISOLA by train/bus or on foot on a trekking route
CAPRIOLO – ISEO (via Paratico and Clusane) 11 km by Treno Blu of Ferrovia Basso Sebino.
km of green hills and ancient villages to reach IseoYou visit the cathedral from twelfth century, basilica Pieve di San Andrea, Santa Maria della Neve, Santa Maria del Mercato and Oldofredi Castle.
You continue afterwards between the colourful and vibrant market stalls in the main square if you are going to be here on a Tuesday or Friday when there are markets.
Lunch in a local trattoria
ISEO – SULZANO – MONTE ISOLA 6 km of trekking or by bus
Once in Sulzano you embark on a boat and in a very short while you are going to be on Monte Isola, the largest island of the Italian lakes. Its center is located in the village of Peschiera Maraglio.
Guided island walks and refreshments.

Evening: Return by boat to Sulzano.
Accommodation, dinner and relax surrounded by the green area with a wonderful panoramic view on Lake Iseo at Agriturismo "Cà del Lago" in Via Martignano in Sulzano

Day 5: FRANCIACORTA’S WINE ROADS:
SULZANO – TIMOLINE- PROVAGLIO
SULZANO – TIMOLINE ( part of the Municipality of Corte Franca with fractions areas Timoline, Nigoline, Bonomelli, Colombaro, Borgonato) 12 KM of trekking or by bus
Wine tasting and local food
After a rich breakfast you start walking again through Franciacorta crossing delightful and beautiful vineyards, the municipal building of Timoline, the imposing Palace of Baroni Monti della Corte, Via Sant Eufemia that comes up in between the vineyards and leads to Calogero Villa Towers.In Timoline will be visited the Lombard church of Santa Giulia and Cantina del Barone Pizzini, part of the big park of Villa Lana, with trees and statues. You can taste local wines of Franciacorta.Lunch at the Restaurant Santa Giulia.You continue walking towards Borgonato, well known for its sparkling wines where you are going to visit the Factory Farm of Berlucchi brothers, in thirteenth century buildings with a basement decorated with frescoes inspired by the world of wine.

Evening:
Timoline - PROVAGLIO ISEO 4 km trek or by bus
Trek between unusual landscapes of moorland, nature reserves that house and protect many species of birds.If you have some time over you visit the Monastery of San Pietro in Lamosa built by Cluniac monks who arrived in 1083 to cultivate the land. The building is built on the site where in roman times used to be a temple of god Mitra and during Middle Ages was a place of shelter for needy travelers.
Accommodation, dinner and relax at one of the following B & B in Provaglio Iseo:Angolo Verde, La Badia, Acero Rosso o Concaverde

Day 6: FRANCIACORTA’S WINE ROADS: PROVAGLIO D´ISEO – RODENGO SAIANO – OME by train or on foot
You continue to immerse yourself in the ancient atmosphere while enjoying all the beautiful scenery from the train/bus. Once in Rodengo Saiano you walk to Abbazia di San Nicola that in addition to its great beauty also houses a production of liqueurs made from herbs grown by the religious monks.Lunch at a local trattoriaYou have then a walk towards Cisterna Cloister and the surroundings of Rodengo visiting some important residences that witness the splendor of the aristocracy of Brescia. These include: Villa Masperoni, Villa Paolina, Villa Molinari and Villa Fenaroli.
RODENGO SAIANO - OME 3.5 km trekking or by bus
Accommodation and dinner at Agriturismo "La Fiorita" in Ome

Day 7: FRANCIACORTA’S WINE ROADS: OME – CAZZAGO SAN MARTINO – ROVATO
dedicated to body care and thermal baths at Terme di Ome Spa.Lunch in a local restaurant
OME - CAZZAGO SAN MARTINO 14 km by the Blue Train
CAZZAGO SAN MARTINO - ROVATO, 6.5 km trekking or bus
In Rovato you visit Annunciata Abbey/ Abbazia dell’Annunciata, the ancient walls and the parish church.Evening: free Accommodation and Dinner in a Farm Factory/Agriturismo