Spectacular Northern Italy Tour: Exploring Lake Como & More

The famous canals divide the city of Venice, drawing attention to the marble palaces soaring above the tranquil secluded waterways and leading to more than 400 bridges, which connect the various islands that create the elegant city.

Your flight will land at Marco Polo Airport, where your private transfer will greet you upon arrival and escort you to your accommodation by a private boat. By now, you will be ready for an introduction to the classic beauty for which Venice is celebrated. Your guide will lead you to the famous St. Mark’s Square to visit the fascinating architecture and artwork of the eponymous cathedral and the breathtaking interior decorated with nearly 45,638 square feet of gilded Byzantine mosaics.

You will meet your guide in the morning and walk to the growing, local crowd of the Rialto Market. The marketplace bustles with people who are searching for fresh produce and seafood. You can watch as merchants unload their goods from the barges along the lagoon near the edges of the renowned Rialto Bridge. You can follow along with the chef as a guide, learning the recipes of a customary three-course meal.

In the evening, you will find a hidden history of the Venetian Republic told through the cuisine of Cicchetti, small dishes typically served with an alcoholic beverage. Your guide will lead you through the quiet neighborhoods of the city erupting with locals enjoying delicious, traditional plates.

After breakfast, you will board a boat with your guide bound for the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello. On Murano, a narrow canal winds across the island and resembles a smaller Venice. Your guide will lead you to a private studio where you will meet an artisan who is a master at crafting handmade, colorful artwork. The heat from the kiln will fill the studio as you learn the intricate methods that are required for heating, shaping, and molding the glass into the proper form before cooling. The techniques were once coveted in Venice and moved to Murano in the 13th century by decree of the doge.

At breakfast, the aroma of espresso and fresh brioche will fill your dining room. Your private transfer will lead you outside of Venice to board a boat that will take you along the Brenta Canal. Elegant villas line the banks where you can stop and enjoy the lavish lifestyles that are captured in the neoclassical and Baroque designs. The gorgeous 16th-century Villa Foscari has a reception floor adorned with frescoes that depict mythological scenes from the epic Ovid.

You will reach the sophisticated city of Verona, which is situated on the banks of the River Adige. Upon your arrival, you will see the Roman Amphitheater as it rises out of Piazza Bra and contains 44 rows of seating that can still accommodate 22,000 spectators.

The aroma of cream puffs that are dusted with sugar will fill the streets of Verona in the morning. Your guide may meet you at the hotel and lead you through the city for a private tour that will culminate at the home of Juliet Capulet. The tunnel, which leads into the courtyard, has letters that are to the matriarch of love who has become a patron for the hopeful and heartbroken around the world.

You will travel to the train station by way of a private driver and venture to Milan. The cosmopolitan city shines with culture, architecture, and treasures that date back to the 13th century. The Duomo decorates the central piazza with a flamboyant, Gothic style accented by stained-glass windows.

You will follow your guide through the preserved history of the city, moving between art deco from the post-war redevelopment until reaching the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which dates back to the 15th century. The pink-brick exterior shines in the sunlight before you enter the structure and the renowned refectory that hosts Leonardo da Vinci’s famous work: the Last Supper.

The captivating work depicts Jesus and his apostles during their final meal. Your guide will help you decipher the meaning of the painting by pointing out the distinct character representations. After visiting the intricate artwork, you will continue to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, which is a collection of luxury shops that are set beneath a gorgeous dome.

Your private transfer will greet you in the lobby of your hotel after breakfast and escort you into the luscious landscape of the Italian Alps to reach the charming town of Como, which is located on the shores of Lake Como. The charming town sits on foundations that date back to the 1st century BC. The trees that rise among the surrounding hills fill the cobbled lanes with pine. You can even hear the water from the lake as it laps against the esplanade. Cafes will set out tables and chairs that overlook the water.

At breakfast, you can find the mouthwatering aromas of frothy cappuccino and cornetto that has been stuffed with Nutella. The remainder of the day will be yours to enjoy the beauty and charms of the villages around Lake Como. You can start by taking the funicular to Brunate. The village is located on top of the scenic mountains, offering remarkable views of the surrounding alpine landscape and the glistening water below. The quiet village almost floats serenely above the lake and is by the tranquil Chiesa di San Andrea that will glow with a faded pink façade. The interior boasts a fabulous, 15th-century fresco and 17th-century paintings that were crafted by the Recchi brothers.

The neoclassical allure of Villa Olma charms visitors as one of Como’s biggest landmarks. The opulent décor dates back to the 18th century in connection to the wealth and power of the Odesalchi family. Art exhibitions accentuate the established marvels of the Italian interior while the gardens blend both Italian and English design. The English garden possesses a small neoclassical temple and ancient trees that provide shade to visitors who stroll along the paths.

After enjoying the enchanting ambiance of the villas in Como, you can travel along the edges of the lake to reach the town of Bellagio, which is a collection of steep, stone staircases that offer views of homes with red roofs, green shutters, cypress trees, and boats.

In the morning, the sounds of the water as they lap against the shoreline will become a tranquil soundtrack to your time along Lake Como before you transfer with your private driver to the town of Stresa. The buildings of the town represent the decadence of the Belle Époque on a serene waterfront that once attracted 19th-century artists and writers. The promenade lines the lake with narrow, cobbled lanes that lead inland to the center where cafes line Piazza Cadorna beneath the shading trees.

Eager to lead you to the majestic ambiance of the Borromean islands, your guide will greet you in the hotel lobby in the morning and escort you to a boat that will be waiting on Lake Maggiore. The Baroque villa at the center of Isola Bella uses gardens, the lake, and the surrounding mountains as features to decorate this elegant estate. The palace’s grand is an interpretation of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The garden has an authentic, Italian-style with exotic plants and blossoming flowers filling the air with a soothing mixture of herbaceous and sweet fragrances.

Your private transfer will escort you from your hotel along the edges of Lake Maggiore to the classic European city of Turin, which resembles more of a French or Viennese design with wide boulevards that are with green trees and cafes in which students, intellectuals, and chocolate-lovers convene beneath snowcapped peaks of the Alps. After settling into the comforts of your hotel, your guide will greet you in the lobby and will be interested in introducing you to the splendor of Italy’s first capital.

The imposing 1st-century Roman gate of the Porta Palatina remains standing near the cathedral along the main boulevard of Via Garibaldi. The brick archway stands three stories tall and connects a pair of defensive towers. Upon reaching Reggia di Venaria Reale, you will find one of the largest royal residences in the world that once hosted a 17th-century hunting lodge.

In the morning, your guide will direct you to the Museo Egizio, which is the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on display outside of Cairo. The collection speaks as much to the dynamic culture of Egypt as to the importance of the ancient connections of Italian monarchs. The galleries inside the Palazzo dell’Accademia delle Scienze display 5,268 artifacts that have been excavated from Egypt and obtained by King Carlo Felice in the 19th century. These depict various gods and pharaohs, including a stunning assemblage of Ramses II. One of the most captivating features that are on display remains in the tomb of Merit, which was crafted in the 15th century BC.

The sunlight washes over the 13th-century Palazzo Madama at the heart of Piazza Castello, which is positioned at the top of the former Roman gate. The scent of luscious chocolate and hazelnut cake will fill the Caffè al Bicerin where white candles in antique silver holders top white tabletops above wooden floors. The Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista adorns the heart of town and hosts the Holy Shroud of Turin, which is held in a climate-controlled vault behind the altar. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you to Turin-Caselle Airport for your flight home.