CHARMING NORTH ITALY

Upon your arrival at the "City of Fashion", one of our vehicles will be waiting for you at the airport to transfer you comfortably and quickly to the hotel.

The rest of the day is free for you to relax and enjoy Milan at your own pace.

Greca Tip: You can add extra pre-tour nights in Milan if you wish to extend your stay at Step 1/3.

After having breakfast at the hotel we will have some free time to enjoy as we wish. In the afternoon, we are going to meet our professional local guide at the hotel and set off on a three-hour walking tour through the heart of Milan.

Going down via Spallanzani, we will reach Porta Venezia (literally Venice Gate), one of the historical gates to the city. It has medieval and maybe even Roman origins, and it gives the name to the city district all around it.

An urban legend has it that the other name it is known as - “Porta Renza” - stems from Renzo Tramaglino, co-protagonist of the novel The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni, who enters Milan exactly from this access. We will proceed toward Corso Venezia and take a shortcut inside Giardini Indro Montanelli, a public garden.

Opposite the gardens, we will go past GAM, the Galleria d’Arte Moderna (modern art museum). Proceeding along Viale Manzoni, we will head for La Scala opera house (Teatro alla Scala), inaugurated on 3 August 1778.

The theater underwent major renovations from early 2002 to late 2004. Then, get ready to take in the stunning Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano). Our tour guide will illustrate its main features. The last stop will be the majestic Castello Sforzesco, a medieval fortress built in the 15th century by the Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza.

In its vicinity, we have chosen a refined bakery for you to be able to relax and taste a typical appetizer. At the end of the appetizer, the tour is over, and will be some free time before returning to the hotel on your own. 

Greca Tip: The Milan Cathedral is the fifth largest cathedral in the world, with a capacity for more than 40,000 people. Such a vastness has taken five centuries to complete. The first stone was laid in 1386 and the cathedral was not finished until 1965.

After breakfast at the hotel, we are going to meet our driver and reach Tirano. We will get on board there and start this ride along one of the most beautiful railway routes in the world, with its unsurpassed alpine views.

This is the day of our Bernina Express tour, on board “the train that snakes its way up to the mountain peaks". Just like sitting in a theater, you will admire unique views from your seat on board the Bernina Train, a piece of history (it is 100 years old), and a World Heritage train.

The journey will take two hours to complete. As the train winds its way over the Alps, occasionally passing through mountain tunnels, and puffing its way past a myriad of towns and villages, several highlights will catch your attention. Look out at the Swiss Alps as you ride along the Bernina pass to St. Moritz, and then enjoy free time to explore it. Meet your driver to return to Milan.

Greca Tip: The minibar serves snacks and refreshing drinks.

We will enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then we should prepare for a short visit to Como, a tourist destination for its vicinity to Lake Como and the Alps. Amazing views over the lake and the alpine valleys are guaranteed!

The lake itself, sometimes called Lario, has long been famous for its y-shape and for Bellagio, which we will reach by boat. This little gem town lies at the intersection of the lake’s two southern arms, with the Alps dominating the horizon to the north, and is home to some of the most charming landscapes in Italy.

After spending some time exploring this picturesque village and its small streets, luxury hotels, villas, and gardens, there will be some free time to have lunch at our leisure in one of the many restaurants or cafés.

Back on board, we will make our way to Varenna in the afternoon, where we will take a panoramic tour before moving on to Bergamo, a truly historic and artistic jewel characterized by its urban structure: the città bassa (or lower town) is modern and dynamic, while the famous città alta (or upper town) houses the city’s medieval heart. Check-in at our Bergamo hotel, dinner, and overnight.

Gredca Tip: Enjoy a "Piadina alla Nutella" (like a crepe spread with chocolate and hazelnut paste) near the lake.

After breakfast at our hotel, we will take a panoramic tour of Lake Garda, the largest in Italy.

The lake takes place in the splendid natural landscape, like the Brenta Dolomites (the Brenta Group has been officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the gentle slopes of the Moraine Hills of Lower Garda. Enjoy the area’s rich vegetation, including lemon trees, oleanders, magnolias, and bougainvillea.

Next, we will move to Sirmione, where Lake Garda and its surroundings are at their finest. See the sun reverberating on the lake’s blue waters, the tree-lined shores, Sirmione Castle as well as the ruins of Catullus’s villa or Grottoes of Catullus (the 1st century BC poet owned a villa here) during a boat tour.

Once we’re through, we will have some free time to have lunch before departing for Riva del Garda. Located on the north side of the lake, we will see its quaint Venetian-style historical center. Dinner and overnight in Bergamo.

Greca Tip: Be sure to taste some of the locally-made olive oil and wines.

After breakfast, reach “Fair Verona”, a museum in plain air. A local guide will be waiting for us to take us on a guided tour. The fascinating mix of historical periods and cultures (both classical and Germanic) is a blend of Nordic as well as Mediterranean influences that is both ancient and modern.

A walk through its narrow streets will allow us to get in touch with Verona’s varied and fascinating past: traces of its splendid Roman origins, its medieval structures, its magnificent Renaissance palaces, as well as the impressive fortifications protecting it. The combination of art and history will amaze you.

Two of William Shakespeare's plays are set in Verona: “Romeo and Juliet” is by far the most famous one. We suggest taking a look at the so-called Juliet’s home (and its balcony, said to have been the legendary balcony of the famous “Oh Romeo, Rome” tragedy scene). It is a medieval building located in via Cappello. Capello is the name of a family who resided in the edifice in the 14th century.

After the Verona tour, we will be driven toward the territory of Franciacorta, whose soil consisting of gravel and sand over limestone is ideal for the cultivation of grapes and winemaking. This is where we will enjoy a light lunch and taste some local food as well as the renowned local wine.
After this experience, we will head for Milan. 

Greca Tip: Near Juliet's statue, hundreds of couples have placed padlocks with their names on them to ensure everlasting love.

After breakfast at your hotel, we will take the time to visit Milan’s Fashion District, the epicenter of Italian fashion. Find the so-called Quadrilatero d'Oro (or Golden Rectangle) which is lined with prestigious haute couture boutiques including Versace, Prada, and Armani.

In the afternoon, reach our meeting point in Alzaia-Naviglio Grande and explore one of Milan's most beautiful districts (Navigli) with a boat tour. The Navigli district is famous for its canals and vibrant nightlife.

On the boat, you will cruise along the Naviglio Grande (grand canal) while you have an excellent cocktail and delicious snacks. We will see old typical edifices on the canal, whose ground floors have been converted into bars, restaurants, and art galleries. Navigating upstream we will reach one of the oldest churches in the city: San Cristoforo sul Naviglio.

We will then see the historic headquarters of Canottieri Olona (a multi-watersports club) and the famous Vicolo dei Lavandai (or Alley of the Launderers), an open-air wash house in use from the 18th century through the 1950s (their members would collect the laundry from around the city in wicker baskets and take them on their shoulder to this alley).

Greca Tip: Audio guides are available if you please to learn a bit of history.

In the morning, you will enjoy a delicious breakfast. Then, at the indicated time, you'll be transferred to Malpensa International Airport, in Milan.

After spending some fantastic days with Greca, we hope to see you again to enjoy some wonderful moments that will remain forever in your memory.

Bon voyage! Or, as you say yourself: "Buon Viaggio!".