Milan, The Lake District + Venice

Upon arrival at the airport or train station, you’ll be warmly greeted and chauffeured to your hotel, carefully selected for its central location and warm hospitality. The capital of Italy’s northern Lombardy region and a global center for fashion and design, Milan is a shopper’s paradise . It’s also an important financial center and home to important architectural landmarks.
 
The balance of this day is yours to do as you please: You can simply relax after your journey or perhaps take advantage of your hotel’s prime location to begin your exploration of this captivating city.
 

This morning, your private guide will introduce you to one of Europe's most sophisticated and surprising cities. Unlike many of its Italian counterparts, Milan defies easy definition. It’s a dynamic metropolis where Gothic cathedrals and Renaissance courtyards coexist with cutting-edge design and high-power finance, all woven together into a multi-faceted city that captivates visitors from all over the world.
 
Your exploration begins at the Duomo, Milan's magnificent Gothic cathedral and one of the largest churches in the world. Begun in the 14^th century, it took nearly 600 years to complete this architectural masterpiece, renowned for its impressive marble façade and soaring, elaborately carved spires. Tradition holds that the gilded statue of the Madonnina, crowning the cathedral's highest tower, has watched over the city since 1774. From here, you'll stroll into the dazzling Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the world's oldest and most beautiful shopping arcades, its elegant iron-and-glass atrium a masterpiece of 19th-century design. Nearby, you’ll take in the legendary La Scala opera house and imposing Sforza Castle, a vast 14th-century fortress.
 
Your sightseeing continues in the heart of Milan's famed fashion district. With your engaging guide sharing historical insights and keen cultural observations, you’ll stroll along the elegant Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga, home to the ateliers and boutiques of some of the world's most celebrated designers.
 
Before your tour concludes in the Piazza Duomo, your in-the-know guide will be happy to offer suggestions for your free afternoon, including dining, shopping and sightseeing tailored to your interests and style.  Meals B
 

After breakfast, sit back and enjoy the scenery as you depart Milan with your private car and driver. Traveling northward into the Italian Lake District, you’ll arrive on the shores of one of Europe's most celebrated lakes. Framed by the foothills of the Alps and dotted with elegant villas, lush gardens, and charming villages, Lake Como's calm waters and picturesque shoreline have captivated artists, poets, and discerning travelers for centuries. Check in to your hotel and then set out with your private guide to explore the city of Como itself, a destination that richly rewards those who venture beyond the lakefront.
 
Inhabited since the Bronze Age, Como played an important role in Lombardy throughout the Middle Ages as a center of commerce and trade. This rich history is still visible at every turn, and your guide will bring it to life as you enjoy a walking tour through the historic center. The crown jewel is the magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta; begun in 1396 and completed only in 1744, it blends Gothic and Renaissance styles into a harmonious whole. Its ornate marble façade features statues of the city's most famous sons, Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger. Also in the historic town center, the Basilica di San Fedele stands as a prime example of Romanesque architecture, with roots dating back to the 12th century. Nearby, a neoclassical monument pays tribute to Alessandro Volta, the Como-born physicist who gave the world the electric battery.
 
Finish your sightseeing on a high note with a ride on Como’s historic funicular. From the hilltop village of Brunate, sweeping views over the lake and the Alps beyond offer a breathtaking finale to the day.  Meals B
 

This morning, you’ll step aboard your privately chartered boat, setting set out to discover Lake Como from the water, perhaps its most captivating vantage point. Gliding northward along the western branch of the lake, your skipper and guide will share insights and stories about the region, one that has long attracted artists, writers, and sophisticated travelers. Along the way, a procession of grand villas emerges from the lush hillsides, their terraced gardens sweeping down to the water's edge. Among them are the celebrated Villa d'Este at Cernobbio, an imposing 16th-century palazzo long regarded as one of the finest luxury hotels in the world, and the exquisite Villa Balbianello, set dramatically on a wooded and beautifully landscaped promontory.
 
You'll also pass Isola Comacina, the lake's only island, before continuing to Bellagio, fondly known as the Pearl of Lake Como and perched on the point where the two southern branches of the lake divide. Time and conditions permitting, you can step ashore in Bellagio to experience its charming cobblestone streets and elegant homes.
 
Back in Como, the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure, perhaps returning to a corner of the city that caught your eye yesterday, browsing Como's elegant shops, or simply savoring the views from a lakefront terrace. 

Please contact us if you would like to spend additional nights here in Como. We can arrange a pre-stay along with a variety of excursions to further explore the region. Meals B
CLICK HERE to see our Privately Guided Tours in and around Como.

After breakfast and check out, bid farewell to Lake Como and set off with your guide on a scenic chauffeured journey eastward through Lombardy. Your first destination this morning is Franciacorta, a distinguished Italian wine region with rolling hills along the tranquil shores of Lake Iseo. About an hour’s drive east of Milan in the southern foothills of the Italian Alps, the region's mineral-rich glacial soils and favorable microclimate create an exceptional terroir for the sparkling wine that bears its name. Using the same traditional bottle-fermentation method as Champagne, Franciacorta DOCG is crafted from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc grapes—and the result is an elegant sparkling wine.
 
Surrounded by the region’s picturesque natural beauty, you’ll spend time at the historic Bersi Serlini estate. Tracing its origins to Cluny monks during the Middle Ages, the estate’s wines are fermented and aged in cellars dug into the earth, their walls lined with clay and brick to maintain ideal conditions throughout the process. A guided tasting of three Franciacorta wines, paired with local cheeses, cured meats, focaccia, and other local specialties offers a delicious introduction to the region.
 
After the vineyard visit, you’ll continue your chauffeured journey to Sirmione, uniquely situated on a slender peninsula that juts into the southern end of Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake. On arrival, check in to your deluxe hotel in the heart of this delightful lakeside town.  Meals B
 

Set out with your private guide this morning to explore this wonderful northern Italian towns. Despite its modest size, Sirmione c  offers a rich variety of sites and experiences for the inquisitive traveler, from Roman history and medieval architecture to the serene lakeside beauty that has long attracted celebrities including the legendary soprano Maria Callas, who chose Sirmione as her personal retreat in the 1950s.
 
Your guided walking tour begins at the harbor, where the magnificent Castello Scaligero rises dramatically from the waters of the lake. Built by the powerful Della Scala family of Verona in the 13th century, it’s one of the finest examples of medieval lakeside fortification in Italy. Continue along the town's cobblestone lanes, past ancient churches and bustling shops that give way to quiet residential neighborhoods. Pause to admire the 8^th-century church of San Pietro in Mavino and see Maria Callas’ villa before continuing to the Grotte di Catullo. Named for the Roman poet said to have resided here, these ruins of a first-century Roman villa offer a fascinating glimpse into the ancient world.
 
After free time for lunch on your own, you’ll make your way to the pier to board your privately chartered boat for an afternoon on Lake Garda. This excursion is yours to shape as you wish. Your skipper will share their insider knowledge of the lake's most rewarding destinations, from the historic wine villages of Bardolino and Lazise to the enchanting cove of San Vigilio, but the itinerary is yours to decide. Linger over a single village that captures your imagination or go ashore for a quick exploration in several of them. Whatever you choose, your afternoon will be enhanced by a refreshing Prosecco aperitif with snacks—enjoyed amidst the beauty of the lake and its mountainous shoreline. With roughly two hours of cruising and two hours ashore, the afternoon will unfold at a rhythm that’s right for you. 

Please contact us if you would like to spend additional nights here in Sirmione. We can arrange a pre-stay along with a variety of excursions to further explore the region. Meals B
CLICK HERE to see our Privately Guided Tours in and around Sirmione.

This morning’s privately chauffeured journey transports you eastward from Sirmione through one of northeastern Italy's most storied wine landscapes. Tucked into the foothills of the Lessini Mountains just northwest of Verona, the Valpolicella region takes its name from the Latin for Valley of Many Cellars: a fitting description that still rings true two thousand years after Roman winemakers first cultivated these terraced hills. Today it is home to some of Italy's most coveted red wines, chief among them Amarone della Valpolicella, a wine of remarkable concentration and depth.
 
The labor-intensive process begins at harvest, when the finest grape bunches, primarily Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella, are carefully selected and laid out to dry for up to four months. As moisture evaporates, sugars and flavors become richly concentrated, and the grapes ferment slowly through the winter months into a bold, velvety wine with notes of dried fruit, dark chocolate, leather, and spice. The result is a wine capable of aging for decades and recognized the world over as one of Italy's greatest. At a family-run estate in the heart of the region, you'll be welcomed for a guided tasting that includes Amarone alongside other wines of Valpolicella, perhaps a Ripasso or the sweet dessert wine Recioto, paired with a selection of appetizers and tagliatelle.
 
After this vineyard experience, your journey continues to Venice. On arrival at Piazzale Roma, you will be escorted to a water taxi that will take you across the lagoon to your deluxe hotel—one of the world's most memorable hotel arrivals.  Meals B
 

Tailor your day by choosing one of these included excursions - and discover the magic of Venice with your own personal guide.  Meals B

Tasting Tour of Venice:  Focusing on some of Venice’s traditional bàcari (local wine bars) near the Rialto Bridge, this private walking tour offers an authentic introduction to one of the city’s most cherished traditions. Setting out with your expert local guide, explore the historic Rialto area and join Venetian residents as they gather with friends to enjoy a glass of wine and small savory bites known as cichéti.

Along the way, stop at select bàcari to sample Prosecco and local specialties, savoring flavors shaped by centuries of trade and cultural exchange. Blending relaxed conversation, local insight, and culinary discovery, this experience provides a genuine taste of everyday Venetian life while uncovering hidden corners of the city. Dietary restrictions must be communicated at the time of booking. Meeting point: Campo San Bartolomio at the Goldoni statue. Departure time: 4 pm from Monday to Saturday
 
Walking Tour + Doges Palace:  Discover the iconic landmarks that grace St. Mark’s Square as your personal guide shares colorful stories about their history and the city of Venice. Continuing to the resplendent Doge’s Palace, you’ll enter within for a privately guided tour—highlighted by the works of famous Italian artists like Titian and Tiepolo.  After visiting the notorious prisons, connected to the Palace by the Bridge of Sighs, continue your guided stroll along the charming streets, alleyways and canals of the city until you reach the Rialto Bridge. Spending some time in this area, one of the oldest parts of the city and home to the famous Rialto Markets, will offer insight into both modern-day life as well as what the city was like centuries ago. This 4-hour tour is offered every day of the week.

Private Gondola Ride:  Departing from the Bacino Orseolo Gondola Station, this enchanting excursion in your own private gondola is the most romantic and quintessentially Venetian way to experience the city. Gliding silently beneath ancient stone bridges and past centuries-old palaces, your skilled gondolier will navigate the city's famous grand waterways as well as its narrower, hidden canals — intimate backwaters where the bustle of the city fades and Venice reveals a quieter, more timeless face. It’s a truly unforgettable expeerience! This 30-minute tour is offered every day of the week.

After breakfast, your car and driver will take you to the airport or rail station for your onward journey. Or extend your travels with us to anywhere in Italy and beyond. We can arrange your transportation, fine hotels, memorable dining, and expertly guided sightseeing.  Meals B