Venice & the Italian Lakes

DAY 1: DEPART USA - MILAN Board your overnight flight to Europe. DAY 2: BENVENUTI A MILANO! ARRIVE IN MILAN Arrive in Milan and meet your Tour Director. Some time at leisure to explore on your own. Later transfer to your hotel and check-in for an overnight stay. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner with your fellow travelers this evening. (D) Overnight: Milan DAY 3: MILAN - LAST SUPPER - COMO / LAKE MAGGIORE Milan's wealth of art and architecture awaits on your first day of sightseeing in this remarkable city. Enjoy a Milan walking tour with a local guide to see the famous Duomo, the third largest Catholic Cathedral in the world and found in the very center of the city. Entrance is included into this impressive and breathtaking cathedral that is often considered one of the most beautiful churches in the world. Next visit the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie to take in Leonardo da Vinci's mural The Last Supper*, which he painted on the refectory wall. The tour will continue at Piazza Della Scala, the square that houses the Scala Theatre, built in 1776 and one of the world's best-known Opera Houses. You will have a guided visit at the La Scala Museum. Enjoy some time at leisure to enjoy a cappuccino or stroll and shop at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the world's oldest shopping malls. Later we travel to the Italian Lakes region and check-in to our hotel for a five-night stay. (B) Overnight: Como or Lake Maggiore DAY 4: FRANCIACORTA - LAKE ISEO - MONTE ISOLA Today we head to the beautiful Franciacorta region known for its famous wineries and sparkling wines produced here. See scenic landscapes dotted with wineries, villas, castles and medieval churches. Meet the owner of a local winery and farmhouse for a tour and tasting and insight into the wine produced here. Following the tour, enjoy an included lunch with wine. Continue onto the incredibly scenic Lake Iseo, nestled in between Lake Como and Lake Garda and surrounded by dense woodlands and soaring peaks. Next, take a boat trip to the idyllic Monte Isola, the largest island in any European lake with its nine small villages and less than 1,800 residents. Later return to your hotel with the evening at leisure. (B,L) Overnight: Como or Lake Maggiore DAY 5: LAKE MAGGIORE - STRESA - BAVENO - LAKE ORTA Following breakfast this morning, discover the Borromean Islands and wonderful Lake Maggiore known for its stunning villas and amazing botanical gardens. An elongated expanse of cobalt blue water extending from Italy into Switzerland with magnificent mountains are at its shores and dream like ambiance of its Belle Époque villas and vestiges to an opulent past. Free time to explore both Stresa and Baveno today. The tour continues to Lake Orta, a hidden jewel and the smallest pre-Alpine Lake offers a picturesque hilly landscape dotted with small villages. In the village of Orta, located on the shores of the lake, see the old market square and narrow, medieval alleyways with romantic secluded gardens. Next, its off on a boat ride to the island of San Giulio to visit the oldest church of this region with its precious frescoes dating back to the Renaissance period. Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure. (B) Overnight: Como or Lake Maggiore DAY 6: DAY AT LEISURE - OPTIONAL TOUR TO BERGAMO The entire day is at leisure and yours to do as you wish. Relax, explore on our own or join the optional tour. Today's optional tour and excursion travels across lush rural landscapes to ancient Bergamo, where you'll explore its walled medieval center, straight out of a storybook illustration. Meet your local guide and ride on a funicular to its older upper district (called Città Alta), and visit the Piazza Vecchia, the 12th-century Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, and the Cappella Colleoni. Time to wander through the picturesque cobblestone streets and small shops in the historic district and enjoy an included lunch. Return to your hotel later this afternoon and the evening is at leisure. (B) Overnight: Como or Lake Maggiore DAY 7: COMO / LAKE MAGGIORE - LUGANO SWITZERLAND This morning travel to Lugano, Switzerland, an Italian-style city set on the edge of a bejeweled lake with views of the Alps in the distance. Enjoy a tour of Lugano and some free time to shop and explore on your own. Experience the splendor of the Bernese and Vallese Alps as seen from the top of Switzerland's sunniest mountain as you ride on the Monte Bre Cable Car. From the top, enjoy the stunning views of Lake Lugano and surrounding mountains from the panoramic terraces. This evening enjoy dinner including wine. (B,D) Overnight: Como or Lake Maggiore DAY 8: COMO - VENICE-MESTRE After breakfast, we say goodbye to the Italian Lakes and travel to Venice-Mestre. Arrive at your hotel and unpack for a three-night stay. Dinner is included this evening. (B,D) Overnight: Venice-Mestre DAY 9: VENICE - WALKING TOUR - GONDOLA RIDE Following breakfast, take a short train ride to Venice Island. Meet your local guide and transfer by boat to St. Marks Square. Next enjoy an 'insiders walking tour' of St Mark's Square to learn the history of this world-famous landmark. Admire the Campanile, a brick bell tower that rises above the piazza, see the Bridge of Sighs and entrance is included into the incredible Doges Palace, built in 1340 and once the residence of the Doge of Venice. Next, enjoy an iconic gondola ride as you sit back, relax and glide gracefully through the picturesque canals of Venice with a master gondolier. Lunch is included today at a local restaurant. The afternoon is at leisure to shop or explore Venice on your own. (B,L) Overnight: Venice-Mestre DAY 10: VENICE-MESTRE - MURANO - BURANO Today we visit Murano and Burano. It's a short train ride to Venice to catch your boat and cruise across the Venetian Lagoon to the island of Murano. Meet your local guide and visit a glass factory, where you'll watch a glass blower creating beautiful pieces of glassware, a Murano tradition that dates back to 1291. Next visit Burano, a picturesque island famous for its seafood, brightly colored fishermen's houses and lace production which dates back to the 16th century. Free time to visit local shops and a museum to see high-end lace on display. Later return by boat to Venice and return to your hotel. This evening enjoy a Farewell Dinner including wine. (B,D) Overnight: Venice-Mestre DAY 11: VENICE – FLIGHT HOME Transfer to the Venice airport for your flight home filled with memories of Milan, Venice and the Italian Lakes. (B) *Every effort will be made to secure tickets to see The Last Supper. Please note that tickets only go on sale 90 days before visits and cannot be guaranteed. A maximum of 25 people may enter at any one time and larger groups will be divided into two. TOUR ACTIVITY LEVEL - Easy 1 2 3 4 Ac ve Venice & The Italian Lakes - Bellisima Northern Italy

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