Northern Italy & Lake Como & The Alps MasterExperience
Programme & Itinerary
2026
DAY ONE – Sunday
Milan Airport - Lake Como – Como Arrival
- 12:00pm: Meet at Milano Airport (MXP) and transfer to the shores of Lake Como
- Arrival in the picturesque town of Como is where we will check into our Hotel and enjoy a leisurely lunch
- 5:30pm: a light walking tour to discover its beautiful architecture, villas & gardens, lavish Cathedral and Basilica and its history dating back to the Celts and Romans
- Evening at leisure and dinner arranged by Guests
Selected Accommodation in Como for 2 nights:
- 4-Star Accommodation:
- Hotel Barchetta Excelsior https://www.hotelbarchetta.it/en/index/ or similar
- Premium Double Room with Lake View
DAY TWO - Monday
Bellagio & Como
- 9:30am: After a leisurely breakfast, a private boat experience on Lake Como with your Host & Guide to reach the lovely village of Bellagio
- Enjoy a lovely full day in Bellagio exploring its picturesque beauty, the stunning views and its iconic buzz and elegance8
- Lunch will be in a typical restaurant, followed by an afternoon at leisure to explore the tiny alleyways, shops and the Romanesque Basilica of San Giacomo in the most charming and relaxed atmosphere
- Scenic drive or Jetfoil Ferry experience back to Como for a bit of rest
- Evening and dinner arranged by Guests
DAY THREE - Tuesday
Day at Leisure – Lecco - Brunate Funicular
- A full day at leisure to enjoy the area at your own pace
- Experiences enjoying the special atmosphere Como offers, markets, hiking, boating, visiting the local Museum and also reaching Lecco on Lake Como’s South-Eastern end and by far the most famous and coveted branch of Lake Como known to Italians and in Italian Literature
· The neoclassical elegance of Lecco combined with its medieval fortifications and fascinating history will
· The day may also feature a cable car ride from Como to Brunate for an evening at leisure and dinner arranged by Guests
· Return to the Hotel in Como by funicular for a good night’s rest
DAY FOUR - Wednesday
Spectacular Bernina Express & Saint Moritz Swiss Alps – Tirano (?)
- 7:00am (TBC): Early morning check out and Private Transfer from Como to Tirano to catch the special Bernina Express panoramic train with departure at 10:00am (tbc)
- Start a spectacular journey on the highest railway tracks in Europe from the palm trees of Tirano to St Moritz in the Swiss Alps through wildly romantic gorges and pristine snow-capped Alpine landscapes
- Lunch and afternoon at leisure to enjoy the beauty of St Moritz
- Check in at hotel in St Moritz for the night and evening arranged by Guests in the magical atmosphere of this corner of Swiss Alpine Paradise!
*Alternatively, return to Tirano and check in at Hotel with evening at leisure in the picturesque Italian Alps setting that Tirano offers being the most evocative and beautiful village in the Valtellina valley!
DAY FIVE - Thursday
Valsassina Valley Gourmet & Cheese Experience - Bergamo
- 8:00am: After breakfast, we head further north in the Lombardy region till the foot of the Alps in a truly majestic natural landscape
- Our destination is the Valsassina valley, where our Hosts at one of the most famous venues in the area will offer us an amazing cheese tasting experience combined with our Gourmet lunch
- Our Tasting Experience with the Producers will be a unique journey through the flavours of Northern Italy featuring special cheeses such as Taleggio and Gorgonzola, a staple of Italy and world renowned
- After our Gourmet Experience lunch, time to reach Bergamo Alta, the Città Alta that welcomes you with its Venetian Walls, cobblestone alleyways, its beautiful piazzas and monuments against the jaw-dropping background of the Alps and the plains in the distance
- Check in at your Hotel
- 6:00pm/6:30pm: This evening you will meet your Host for an introduction to town and for a spot of people watching while enjoying an Espresso or Apertivo in the Piazza Vecchia, sipping on an elegant glass of Moscato di Scanzo, Italy’s smallest DOCG wine, as the XII Bell Tower famously tolls its 100 chimes, a tradition dating back centuries that used to announce the curfew for the Bergamaschi of Città Alta
- Dinner and evening arranged by Guests in the heart of Bergamo
Selected Accommodation in Bergamo Alta for 3 nights:
- 4-Star Accommodation:
- Gombit Hotel: https://www.gombithotel.com/en/ or similar
DAY SIX - Friday
Discovery of Bergamo & Its Flavours - Bergamo Crafts & Workshops (TBC)
- 9:30am / 10:00am: This morning, your Host will guide you through Bergamo on an intriguing walk to discover the secrets and traditions of Bergamasco history and traditions.
- Stops will include the best places in Bergamo and its territory where we will taste local food & wine excellence and might also have the opportunity to watch their production.
- Several tasting experiences for a morning full of flavours and delicacies
- To follow, we attempt to visit some artisan workshops using old traditions that still survive and thrive keeping up the utmost Made in Italy quality (note: It is a Sunday)
- Chance to actually see the artisans at work, as they are immersed in their own high quality creations (TBC)
- Return to the heart of Bergamo Alta for a late afternoon and evening at leisure
DAY SEVEN - Saturday
Val Calepio Wines & Exclusive Cookery Masterclass
Balsamic Vinegar Estate
- 10:00am: This morning it will be time for …sleeves up!, a special local Cookery Masterclass to prepare and taste some of Northern Italy’s staple dishes under the guidance of our Chef!
- Our destination will be special and yet another treat as you will visit a beautiful Estate owned and run by Mrs Manuela and her daughters, a women-only reality featuring an exclusive elegance and attention to detail!
- Our Culinary Masterclass will be followed by an exquisite lunch with the fruits of our labour paired with our Hosts’ special wines and spirits
- To follow, an exclusive visit to their private family Acetaia, a unique Balsamic Vinegar storage for a truly unique tasting
- Leisurely return to Bergamo Alta for a good night’s rest
DAY EIGHT - Sunday
Franciacorta Wine Experience - Verona – Piazza Erbe – Arena
Romeo & Giulietta
· 8:15am: After a leisurely breakfast and check-out, departure to reach our next destination
· Today will be a truly special experience as we pay a visit to the Franciacorta region, world renowned for its excellent sparkling wines
· Visit to a stunning Franciacorta winery estate with a tasting and a Gourmet lunch experience!
- Then we head towards Verona, the town of Romeo & Giulietta of Shakespearean fame
· Leisurely walk through the elegant Piazza delle Erbe of the charming Verona Antica and Giulietta’s Balcony
- Evening in Verona’s charming centre followed by dinner arranged by Guests
Selected Accommodation in Verona for 2 nights:
- 4-Star Accommodation:
- Hotel Milano & Spa Verona https://www.hotelmilanoverona.com/en/ or similar
DAY NINE - Monday
Palladian Villas – Verona
· 9:00am: After breakfast, departure for a day of architectural beauty and inspiration as we visit the monumental Palladian Villas of the Veneto region
· Our first destination will be the iconic Villa Almerico Capra, also known as La Rotonda, built atop a hill on the outskirts of Vicenza and the very inspiration for the White House
· Our next visit will feature the nearby Villa Valmarana Ai Nani with its beautifully landscaped Italian Garden and its stunning 1757 frescoes by Giambattista and Giandomenico Tiepolo, the absolute highest expression of 1700s painting
· After a typical lunch in the area, return to Verona
· Evening at leisure to explore Verona on your own, meet the locals and immerse yourself in the elegance of La Dolce Vita
ALTERNATIVE 1:
Lake Garda & Medieval Castles – Spa?? - Verona
- After a leisurely breakfast, we will reach the shores of Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake for a visit to the fascinating medieval town of Sirmione
- Perched at the top of a peninsula surrounded by the crystal clear waters of Lake Garda, Sirmione welcomes Guests with its millennia-old thermal baths its impressive Scaligero Castle dating back to 1338
- Visit of Sirmione and, on request and separately, chance to enjoy Sirmione’s most famous Thermal Baths Spa for a session of pampering, wellness and relax (please advise. Duration 4 to 5 hours)
- Return to Verona and evening at leisure
ALTERNATIVE 2:
Mantova - Verona
- 9:30am / 10:00am: After breakfast, walking tour with your Host through the beauty of Mantova
- Your Host will introduce you to Piazza Sordello as we approach Palazzo Te and Palazzo Ducale, which host masterpieces painted by Renaissance artists Pisanello and Mantegna
· The interiors of the Renaissance Palaces are absolutely stunning and a spectacle for the eyes and heart
· Typical lunch in Mantova and return to Verona with evening and dinner at leisure
DAY TEN – Tuesday
Venice
- 9:30am: After a leisurely breakfast, it will be time to check out and reach the stunning beauty of nearby Venice and its Lagoon (1.5 hr drive)
- Meet your Host for a guided walk around Campi & Campielli, Rialto Bridge, San Marco Square and Ponte dei Sospiri Bridge
- This morning, meet your Host in Piazza San Marco to start a very special full-day insightful immersion in the history and culture of Venice
- A quick lunch break and check-in at your hotel before reaching the Island of Murano this afternoon
- Guided visit and chance to admire Murano’s world-renowned glass-art craftsmen
- Return to Venice for Leaving the island of Murano, we will arrive in Venice, not far from Campo SS Giovanni e Paolo where we can admire the Scuola Grande di San Marco, now a civil hospital, and the Basilica dei SS Giovanni e Paolo, the Pantheon of the Doges of the Serenissima, and also the largest church in Venice.
- In the square, we will also admire the statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni designed by Verrocchio, the teacher of Leonardo.
- We will pass by the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli, an enchanting Renaissance jewel by the Lombardo brothers. From there, we will walk towards Canaregio, crossing secondary calli, including the narrowest in Venice, only 49 cm, far from the hustle and bustle of the most touristy streets, to reach the Fondamenta della Misericordia.
- After crossing Campo de l'Abazia, we will reach the Fondamenta Gasparo Contarini from which we can admire what was once the Contarini Dal Zaffo palace, which now houses the Cottolengo di Venezia, where we will enter its garden for a pleasant surprise! We will then skirt the palace that, in the 12th century, was the home of the mischievous Mastelli brothers. After telling a legend linked to the palace, we will reach the silent and peaceful Campo della Madonna dell'Orto where we can admire the church of the same name in which Jacopo Tintoretto was buried.
- We will then deviate towards Campo dei Mori where we will find ourselves in a smaller Venice, far from the crowded tourist routes. Here is the house of the painter Tintoretto. In this square we will tell the legend of the swindling merchant Rioba Mastelli and his three brothers!
- We will resume our walk to reach the Fondamenta degli Ormesini and conclude the visit after visiting and narrating the history of the oldest Ghetto in the world and still today the seat of an active Jewish community of about 500 people.
- Evening at leisure and dinner arranged by Guests
Selected Accommodation in the heart of Venice:
· Hotel Ai Cavalieri Venezia – 4 Star Superior: LINK OR similar
DAY ELEVEN – Wednesday
Transfer to Venice Aiport OR Bullet “Ferrari” Train - Rome
· 9:30am: After breakfast, private boat transfer with assistance to reach either Venice Aiprort or the Santa Lucia Train Station to board the fast Bullet “Ferrari” train to Rome Termini Station (4 hour ride – Business OR 1st Class tickets included).
· Train departure: 11:05am (TBC)
· Arrival at Rome Termini train station at 15:10 (TBC)....Arrivederci Italia!
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Highlights & What's included
€4950 eur pp - 2 Guests || €4350eur pp – 5 Guests || €3950 eur pp – 6/7 Guests
- Guests: min 5/max 7
- Starting point: Milan Airport @ 12:00pm on Day One (please contact us for arrangements)
- Ending point: Venice Airport/Station OR Rome on Day Eleven (please contact us for arrangements)
- Fully escorted by our Tour Leader, Guides and Hosts
- Accommodation 11 days / 10 nights: SINGLE/DOUBLE EN-SUITE ROOM ACCOMMODATION (NO single room supplement!) in selected venues and Hotels that deliver a true feeling
for the town & area
- 3 nights in Como
- 1 night in St Moritz – Switzerland OR Tirano
- 3 nights in Bergamo
- 2 nights in Verona
- 1 night in Venice
- *Accommodation venue vary from 4-Star Hotels and luxury upscale B&B’s to a dispersed hotel concept with the rooms scattered around town / village
- Hands-on Cookery Classes at our exclusive venues
- Foodie
Experiences:
- Markets
- Cheese Tastings
- Highly selected Wine Tastings & Winery visits
- Olive Oil Tasting
- Visit to several beautiful towns and locations with incredible views
- All restaurants and venues are highly selected and offer the most special ItaliaSpeciale Experiences!
- All lunches and tastings included as per the program with selected wines
**Itinerary could be subject to slight modifications. All experiences are guaranteed!
Not included
- Flights
- Gratuities
A word on Tipping
At Italia Speciale our mission is to assure only the best experiences possible around Italy through our highly selected network of Partners and Hosts, all committed to delivering the highest standards of knowledge and service to our guests. We do this by nature and soul, as proud as we are of our proposals and our people. Tips are never expected and always come as a nice bonus and, especially, feedback for our partners.
Should you feel the need to share a token of gratitude, ideally your Host should collect €95 eur in cash per guest to cover all tips that deserve to be shared among all Partners. Tips are not compulsory by any means, and should be given exclusively for high quality service.
Payment: Bank Transfer + bank charges | Credit Card: +3.5%
Italia Speciale - Leonardo De Flaviis
Stampa 