GO FOR IT-ALY!

After breakfast meet your private guide in your hotel lobby and enjoy a full-day tour of one of Italy’s best-loved cultural capitals.

This Tuscan pearl has very few serious rivals: it’s in a class of its own. Priceless art, stunning architecture, gripping history, exquisite craftsmanship, delectable gastronomy, world-acclaimed fashion… a truly eclectic mix of human achievement. Florence offers the visitor a vast range of unique experiences and the avenues to explore are endless. This private walking tour aims to introduce you to some of the celebrated highlights of the Cradle of the Renaissance and provide insight into why the period’s greatest works of creative genius and artistic mastery took root and flourished on this very spot, turning Florence into such a spectacular jewel.

Built as a military settlement by the Romans in the 1st century BC, the ancient Florentia blossomed in the Middle Ages and reached the peak of its splendour under the rule of the prominent Medici family, when it became an unrivalled artistic and cultural centre. Your guide will unravel the trail through the alleys of this enchanting city, revealing its precious fabric and animating the route with stories and anecdotes about Florentine celebrities. Power-mad lords, headstrong artists and a host of other fascinating characters will make their appearance in the colourful canvas that unfolds before your eyes.

Make your way to Piazza del Duomo, the city’s religious heart, to admire three striking monuments: the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence’s best-known landmark and an astonishing feat of engineering; Giotto’s Bell Tower, a fine example of Gothic architecture; the Baptistery, the city’s oldest religious site where poet Dante Alighieri himself was baptized. As you lap up views of the square, you will discover how architect Filippo Brunelleschi, back in the 15th century, built the largest masonry dome still in existence and hear about the competition for the creation of a bronze door that, according to tradition, marked the beginning of the Renaissance era in 1401.

You will then reach Piazza della Signoria dominated by the towering Palazzo Vecchio, the seat of political power and intrigue for over seven hundred years. Here, in the out-door sculpture gallery of the Loggia dei Lanzi, you will come face to face with Greek heroes Hercules and Perseus, brought vividly to life on the cusp of their triumphs by Giambologna and Benvenuto Cellini.

Your quest for Florentine attractions will also include the superbly decorated exterior of the Church of Orsanmichele and the 14th century Ponte Vecchio, world-famous for its goldsmiths and jewellery shops… And don’t forget to rub the boar’s snout in the Porcellino market for good luck as well as to ensure your return trip to Florence!

After some free time for lunch it’s time to discover Florence’s most cherished artworks on a tour of the Uffizi Gallery. Your guide will lead you through the halls and highlight the masterpieces no visitor to the city should ever miss. The treasure trove you see today originated over four hundred years ago as the Grand Duchy’s administrative centre having been built at the request of Cosimo I de’ Medici to house the Florentine magistrates’ judiciary offices – called uffizi in old Italian. Construction work began in 1560 under the direction of architect Giorgio Vasari and was completed by Bernardo Buontalenti in 1574. Only 7 years later, in 1581, Francesco I de’ Medici, Cosimo’s son, set up his private gallery inside the building’s rooftop loggia adorning it with all sorts of precious artefacts, including cameos, stones, jewellery, bronzes, scientific instruments, paintings and statues. As time passed the Medici family’s collection was enriched until it was eventually bequeathed to the city of Florence by the last member of the dynasty, Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, in 1743. The gallery first opened to the public in 1769 and has delighted visitors ever since with its vast store of wonders.

Where else in the world could you find such a dazzling, prestigious collection of Renaissance marvels? Over sixty rooms display stunning works of art from the 12th to the 16th centuries, including classic paintings by well-loved artists Cimabue, Giotto, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian. Your guide will treat you to the insider information you need to appreciate the significance of the pieces on display and the circumstances in which they were produced and commissioned. Who could resist the charms of Botticelli’s Venus emerging from her shell, as pure and perfect as a pearl? The grace of Leonardo’s Gabriel announcing the glad tidings and the thrill of meeting an illustrious Italian couple, immortalised in Piero della Francesca’s finely rendered portraits are among the lasting Florentine memories you will take away with you.

The last stop on this tour will bring you to the impressive Basilica of Santa Croce, one of the largest Franciscan churches in the world. Attributed to the genius of Arnolfo di Cambio, who probably began work in 1294, this splendid church is also one of the finest examples of Italian Gothic architecture. Over the centuries several notable Florentine families acquired patronage of the basilica’s chapels, thus incurring the responsibility of embellishing and furnishing its walls. Not to be missed are the Bardi and Peruzzi chapels decorated by master Giotto, Taddeo Gaddi’s magnificent frescoes in the Baroncelli chapel, the Pazzi chapel designed by Brunelleschi and a wooden Crucifix by Donatello. Highlights also include the funerary monuments of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo and Rossini as this very spot is the burial place for the great and good.

After the tour spend the rest of the day at leisure.

World-renowned as a centre of excellence for the production of the finest quality hand-made goods, Florence is home to a thriving, age-old arts and crafts scene. Don’t miss the chance to encounter some of the city’s contemporary masters on this inspiring artisan expedition. Your assistant will meet you at your accommodation, accompany you to a paper bottega, a leather school and a perfume boutique and entertain you with fascinating stories about the protagonists of Florence’s creative craft world.

You begin your day with a leisurely stroll to a historical paper shop located in the Oltrarno district. Founded in 1856 as a bookbinder, this bottega began practising the art of paper marbling in the early 20th century. After an explanation of the art of marbling and a technical demonstration, you will participate in a hands-on workshop and learn how to make your own marbled paper. As you will have the chance to discover, part of the appeal of paper marbling is that no two pieces are ever exactly the same. By floating colour on an aqueous surface and then carefully transferring the marble-like pattern onto absorbent paper, you will turn out a truly exclusive work of art and feel the excitement of mastering a technique that dates back centuries.

Tucked away in a wing of the complex of Santa Croce lies the prestigious Leather School where, since the 1950s, generations of artisans have learned to create top class leather goods. The school was founded after World War II with the aim of providing orphans of war with the opportunity to learn a profession and revive ancient traditions and production methods following the destruction caused by the conflict. Today, in this one of a kind setting, time-honoured techniques continue to be taught and practised, allowing students to acquire the knowledge and expertise needed to fashion a range of leather products, including handbags, book covers, frames and belts. Escorted by a member of staff, you will enjoy a tour of the premises, gain an overview of the history of leather craftsmanship in Florence, discover the different skills and materials used and attend a demonstration of leather gilding.

After some free time for lunch the last stop on this tour will bring you to a perfume boutique. Here, you will participate in a workshop and enjoy a sensory journey into the world of artistic perfumery. A master profumiere will open the shutters of his treasure chest and share his secrets with you. More than 1,500 rare extracts and valuable raw materials are carefully preserved on the shelves of the boutique’s precious olfactory library. Learn about the variety of fragrances – from floral and fruity, to citrus-like and exotic – and how their different combinations generate an extraordinary array of scented elixirs. Under the master’s guidance, select the essences for a personalised scent, calling on your own senses to concoct a unique signature perfume. A 100 ml bottle of perfume created during the workshop, along with its exclusive formula and your newly acquired olfactory awareness, are among the cherished souvenirs you will take back home.

After the workshop spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Savour Tuscany’s irresistible sights, scents and flavours on an unforgettable excursion to the countryside from Florence. At a highly esteemed winery, set in the peaceful Chianti hills, you will participate in a cooking workshop and prepare a delicious meal with fresh, prime quality ingredients.

You may not know that the word Chianti originates from the Latin term clangor meaning “clamour”, which refers to the noise produced by the blasts of trumpets, rolling drums and clashing swords that resonated throughout the countless battles that shook the area. As a border territory between the two rival cities of Florence and Siena, Chianti often found itself at the centre of tumultuous events and was far from being the peaceful Eden you can admire today!

Beautiful landscapes, charming towns and fine red wines have made Chianti a must-see for visitors to Tuscany. The region boasts an age-old tradition of vine cultivation that dates back to Etruscan times but it was only in 1716 that Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III de’ Medici officially defined the boundaries of the Chianti wine area. Today, a true Chianti must contain at least 80% Sangiovese grapes and can be recognised by its distinctive label, the black rooster – a symbol steeped in a curious legend. Florence and Siena agreed to put an end to their long quarrel over the borders of their territories by each sending out a knight on horseback when the rooster crowed, at daybreak on a given date. The place they met would become the new border between them. The two cities both did their best to outwit their rival. In Siena, the white rooster was treated to a lavish meal in the hope that a full stomach would produce a vigorous morning crow, while in Florence, the black rooster was left hungry so that it would rise earlier, allowing their knight a head start. The latter strategy proved to be the right one for the Florentine knight set off long before his opposite number in Siena and successfully claimed most of Chianti for Florence. Since then the black rooster has been the emblem of the region.

After breakfast your private chauffeur will meet you at your accommodation and drive you to the winery. Here, you will enjoy a truly Italian hands-on gastronomic experience. Under the guidance of a friendly cooking instructor, you will pick up culinary tips, try out infallible techniques and learn how to make nutritious, mouth-watering dishes. Recipes are deliberately kept simple and easy to recreate so as to encourage rising chefs to practise their newly acquired skills once they return home. After the cooking lesson, take a seat around the dinner table and feast on the meal you just prepared… Buon appetito!

A visit to the cellar and a wine tasting are also included. You will discover the secrets behind the wine-making process, together with the unique characteristics of the terroir and climate that make Chianti wines so special.

In the early afternoon your private chauffeur will drive you back to your accommodation in Florence.

After breakfast and check out meet your driver outside your accommodation in Florence and relax on the ride to your hotel on the Ligurian Riviera. En route, stop to enjoy a private tour of Pisa.

Pisa, with its 3,000 years of history, record-breaking academic and scientific achievements, culinary feats and artistic wonders is an obligatory stop on every trip to Tuscany. Your guide will be waiting for you in the city centre ready to lead you back down the centuries on an exciting discovery journey of this once powerful maritime republic, feared ruler of the Mediterranean Sea and Italian trade routes. You will retrace the history of Pisa, from its Etruscan origins, through its development and growth as a Roman port, to the city’s rise and expansion in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries, when many of its striking, much praised monuments were built and the city’s commercial and military might reached an unprecedented pinnacle.

As you wander through the UNESCO-listed Field of Miracles, your guide will paint a vivid scene of life in Pisa in medieval times and explain to which gifted artists and enlightened patrons the city owes this celebrated complex. You will take a peek inside the 11th century Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta to admire the precious mosaic of Saint John the Evangelist by Cimabue and Giovanni Pisano’s skilfully carved pulpit, a true masterpiece of Gothic sculpture. You will also explore the grandiose Baptistery of St. John, the largest in Italy, housing Bigarelli’s splendid baptismal font and Nicola Pisano’s proto-Renaissance pulpit.

But what draws thousands of enthusiasts to Pisa every year is the 12th century Leaning Tower, the town’s most cherished jewel, one of Italy’s most iconic monuments and an authentic miracle of statics known worldwide for its extraordinary tilt. Who’s up for a climb to the top of its 251 spiralling steps? From here, 55 metres above the ground, you’ll have earned a privileged 360-degree view over this remarkable city which has itself become a monument to human genius and creativity.

After the tour and some free time for lunch rejoin your driver and reach your hotel on the Ligurian Riviera where you will be staying for 4 nights. Following check in spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Jump aboard your private boat and enjoy a memorable day at sea. Your skipper will meet you at the port and lead you on a boat excursion along the Gulf of Paradise. Sit back, relax and watch the glorious spectacle of the Riviera as it unfolds before your eyes. You will bathe in crystal-clear waters, explore a quaint coastal town and soak up fabulous views of the Ligurian landscape.

Weigh your anchor and reach your first port of call, Camogli, stopping en route for a refreshing dip in Punta Chiappa. In olden times a thriving harbour, boasting a fleet of almost seven hundred ships at the peak of its glory, today Camogli is a charming fishing village and a popular summer resort. The town’s history is inextricably linked to the sea. According to a local belief, its etymology derives from the shortened words Casa delle mogli, meaning house of the wives, which is thought to be a reference to the women who guarded the town while their husbands – fishermen, sailors or captains – were away at sea. Rows of houses painted in shades of red, pink, apricot and amber once helped sea workers find their way back to the port and today provide a delightful pastime for visitors who enjoy spotting the illusions that decorate their facades. Lifelike inhabitants peer out of the windows, a graceful cat perches perilously on the window sill… and are those real shutters casting shadows on the wall?

After a leisurely stroll through town, set sail for the secluded – though much sought-after – bay of San Fruttuoso. This inlet, tucked away between the sea and woodland slopes, can only be accessed by boat or by descending a steep trail from the mountain above. As far back as the 700s this isolated corner was chosen as the ideal location for a church. According to legend Saint Fructuosus himself, martyred in the 3rd century, indicated this spot as his final resting place. He is said to have appeared in a dream to 8th century Archbishop of Tarragon Prospero who had fled from Spain and the Moors in search of a site on which to preserve the ashes of the saint. The church was rebuilt by the Benedictine monks in the 11th century and from the 13th century to 1983 the noble Genoese Doria dynasty patronized the abbey, renovating its design and transferring the family’s burial ground here. Also located in this cove are a handful of restaurants, a 16th century watchtower and an underwater bronze statue of Christ of the Abyss, protector of all those who venture out to sea.

After some free time for lunch and a healthy dose of “vitamin sea”, rejoin your skipper and cruise back to the port.

Discover one of Italy’s most spectacular destinations on this full-day excursion to the Cinque Terre. This rugged, scenic portion of coastline on the Ligurian Riviera, stretching for eighteen kilometres to the west of the city of La Spezia, comprises five enchanting seaside villages. Along the sharply rising cliffs lie Riomaggiore, a jumble of narrow alleys flanked by pastel-hued tower-houses; Manarola, a splash of colour clinging to a rocky headland; Corniglia, perched precariously on the edge of a 100-metre-high promontory; Vernazza, with its tiny port dominated by the ruins of a medieval castle; Monterosso al Mare, the largest of the five fabulous jewels, graced by a sandy bay and famed for its lemon orchards and anchovies. Breathtaking views, crystal blue waters, gastronomic delicacies and a unique historic and artistic heritage have all contributed to the worldwide popularity of the Cinque Terre since the 1970s when they became a much sought-after vacation hub.

The earliest core of these towns dates back to the 11th century when the tribes that had settled on the hills further inland were prompted to move towards the shore as a consequence of their growing numbers and because Saracen incursions were no longer a threat. It is at this point in history that the heroic populations of the Cinque Terre began erecting dry stone walls, planting vineyards and transforming the rough, unpromising, steep slopes into bountiful cultivated terraces, thus forging the stunning scenery we can still admire today. Thanks to their gargantuan efforts this splendid corner of Liguria earned its World Heritage status in 1997 as an expression of “the harmonious interaction between people and nature to produce a landscape of exceptional scenic quality that illustrates a traditional way of life that has existed for a thousand years and continues to play an important socio-economic role in the life of the community”.

While exploring these fishing and farming villages, visitors may gain a feel for the difficulties and challenges of living in this still unspoiled, once remote pocket of land. Can you imagine how life must have been here before the late 1800s when the railway was first built? Dramatically strung between sea and rock, the Cinque Terre are today linked by trains, ferries and panoramic coastal and hillside hiking trails and are mostly inaccessible to vehicles. These circumstances have helped to preserve their distinctive atmosphere and timeless, magical appeal.

Your chauffeur will pick you up at your accommodation and drive you to the train station in Levanto. Here your private guide will be waiting ready to lead you on an unforgettable tour of three of the Cinque Terre’s villages. Depending on weather, sea conditions and the number of visitors present, you may travel either by train or public ferry boat – or both. You will gain an overview of the region’s fascinating history, from its beginnings in the Middle Ages up to the present day, when the pressing need to protect this precious but geologically fragile heritage site from the onslaughts of extreme or inclement weather are felt with particular urgency. Your guide will be ready to show and tell you all you could wish to know about the fabulous five – from the unparalleled seascapes to culinary delicacies, from local legends to documented facts – ensuring a truly enlightening, enjoyable visit.

After the tour your chauffeur will drive you back to your hotel on the Ligurian Riviera.

After breakfast and check out meet your private driver at your accommodation on the Ligurian Riviera and set off for your hotel in Milan. En route stop to enjoy a food tour in Genoa. You will find out about the culinary traditions and gastronomic heritage of this lively port city, once a powerful maritime republic and major trade centre in the Mediterranean area. Follow your guide on a tasty route through the city’s maze of narrow alleys and discover hidden corners and historic shops where authentic Italian delights are still created the way they were generations ago.

From the arcades of Sottoripa you will venture into the medieval Vicoli, the very heart of the city, peppered with grocery stores, coffee bars and sciamadde where typical Genoese street food has been served for centuries. Here sailors once came to refuel with fried seafood, friscieu (fried croquettes filled with herbs), farinate (chickpea flour pancakes) and panisse (fried chickpea flour cakes) and visitors today may still savour those same age-old delicacies. You will drop in at a bakery, visit a spice shop and discover the city’s most famous confectionery where sugary treats, including chocolates, candied fruits, jellies and marron glacés, have been lovingly made since 1780. You will then explore the Macelli district, the ancient butchers’ neighbourhood, and take in the sights, scents and sounds of the Mercato Orientale, the bustling food market housed in an 18th century convent cloister. Here you will see where locals buy their supplies and feast your eyes on the array of fresh and seasonal products on display such as meat, fish, charcuterie, cheese, fruit and vegetables. Along the way your guide will reveal the history and secrets behind the tempting treats you will taste. Scrumptious highlights of your tour might include local focaccia bread, canestrelli biscuits, panera (fresh cream and coffee powder), gelato, chocolate and, of course, celebrated pesto sauce, Genoa’s signature flavour.

We know Ancient Romans used to prepare moretum, a green paste obtained from cheese, oil and herbs, but the most ancient reference to Genoese pesto as we know it today dates back to 1863 when gastronomist Giovanni Battista Ratto published his compendium La Cucinera Genovese. This is his recipe, should you like to try it out: “Take a clove of garlic, basil or, when that is lacking, marjoram and parsley, grated Dutch and Parmigiano cheese and mix them with pine nuts and crush it all together in a mortar with a little butter until reduced to a paste. Then dissolve it with good and abundant oil. Lasagne and trofie are dressed with this mash, made more liquid by adding a little hot water without salt”.

Top off your tour with a refreshing glass of Ligurian wine, then rejoin your driver and reach your hotel in Milan where you will be staying for 2 nights. After check in spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Known the world over as Italy’s stylish fashion capital and thriving business centre, Milan boasts a fascinating, thousand-year-old history and is home to an impressive wealth of archaeological, artistic and architectural treasures. See the very best of this northern gem on a private tour of the city centre.

First founded in the 6th century BC by a Celtic tribe, the ancient village of Medhelan was conquered by the Romans in the 2nd century BC and named Mediolanum, meaning “in the midst of the plain”. Capital of the Western Roman Empire from 286 to 402 AD, in its long history Milan has played a critical role in a host of social and political dramas. In medieval times the city’s fortunes waxed and waned: dark times of conquest and invasion were interspersed with fruitful periods of peace and prosperity. The city reached extraordinary artistic heights in the 15th century, when the enlightened patrons of the ruling Sforza family hired masterful Renaissance artists, including Leonardo Da Vinci and Donato Bramante, and sprinkled the city with astounding works of art. Your guide will lead you past Milan’s main attractions and highlight the key moments in the city’s past, from its early beginnings up to the latest urban projects, allowing you to gain an overview of Milan’s development throughout the ages.

You will begin your day exploring the remarkable Duomo, a masterpiece of Gothic workmanship and the 6th largest Christian Church in the world. Construction work began in 1386 and, since its completion – which took almost six centuries – it has entranced visitors from far and wide. One very impressed 19th century tourist was Mark Twain: “What a wonder it is! So grand, so solemn, so vast! And yet so delicate, so airy, so graceful! […] a miracle! – an anthem sung in stone, a poem wrought in marble!” Look up at the cathedral’s magnificent facade, brimming with statues of saints, monstrous gargoyles, pinnacles and buttresses while your guide retraces the history behind this architectural marvel and points out its most striking features. You will get to know the names of the illustrious patrons who gave impulse to this enterprise and the triumphs of the talented craftsmen whose priceless works still grace its walls. From the visionary projects of 14th century Duke Gian Galeazzo Visconti to the royal coronation of Napoleon as King of Italy in 1805, the Duomo has witnessed – and embodied – hundreds of years of Milanese ambitions.

After admiring the splendid interior, housing precious stained glass windows, paintings and sculptures, climb down the time-travel staircase and find yourself hurtled into a bygone era. Indeed, hidden almost four metres beneath the Duomo’s floor lie the subterranean remains of a 1,600-year-old baptistery where Milan’s patron Saint Ambrose is said to have baptised Saint Augustine in 387 AD. Your all-round exploration of the cathedral will end on the panoramic rooftop terraces, offering unparalleled views of the Milanese skyline. From here you will also gain a closer look at the myriad of fantastic marble creatures that populate the Duomo’s spires as well as the much-loved gleaming Madonnina, bestowing her blessings on the city since 1774.

A leisurely stroll through the city centre will allow you to discover many of Milan’s picture postcard landmarks. Your guide will certainly show you around the elegant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a 19th century glass vaulted arcade lined with voguish boutiques and cafes, which can honestly claim to be one of the oldest shopping centres on earth – a noteworthy record for the capital of glamour. You will also discover the significant contribution of Milan to the world of music as you amble past the legendary 18th century La Scala theatre, a milestone in the history of opera, where innumerable premieres by Italy’s greatest composers were staged. No less astounding are the city’s triumphs in the development of military engineering and its past and ongoing reputation for fostering the most brilliant talents on the art scene, as you will learn as you gaze out on the 15th century red-brick Sforza Castle, once the residence of the powerful ruling family.

After the tour spend the rest of the day at leisure.

After breakfast and check out meet your driver outside your hotel in Milan and relax on the ride to your hotel on Lake Como. En route, stop to enjoy a private tour of Como. Your guide will be waiting at the meeting point ready to lead you on a trail through Como’s elegant streets, across charming piazzas, inside splendid churches, while filling you in on the history of this lakeside town. From its early days as an ancient Roman colony, through its rise in the Renaissance as a prosperous trading hub and major silk production centre, to today’s glamorous role as Italy’s prime tourist destination… you’ll have 2,000 years to cover.

You begin your day with a visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the pride of Como, boasting a brilliant blend of different artistic styles, stretching from the Middles Ages through to the Renaissance and Baroque eras. Construction work started in 1396 and ended more than three hundred years later, in 1740, when architect Filippo Juvarra crowned the queen of Como’s churches with an imposing dome. The 14th century facade is a Gothic marvel featuring elaborately sculpted portals, pinnacles, stone carvings and a rose window. Before stepping inside don’t forget to pay homage to two prominent ancient Roman residents of Como, Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, who surprise visitors with their welcome from either side of the main entrance, a gesture traditionally performed by saints. The interior proudly safeguards 16th and 17th century tapestries made in Ferrara, Florence and Antwerp, together with paintings by masters Bernardino Luini and Gaudenzio Ferrari, a precious wooden altar from the 1500s and 19th century stained glass windows.

Another of Como’s landmarks, the polychromatic Broletto, has been sitting sedately in the same square of Piazza Duomo ever since 1215. Formerly the seat of Como’s town hall, this building is situated right next to the grandiose cathedral, material evidence of the close connection between religious and political power in the Middle Ages. In 1477 the unfortunate Broletto suffered a reduction in size in order to make room for an enlargement of the cathedral – a heartfelt blow for lay institutions.

From here make your way through Como’s alleys, taking in the sights of handsome palazzi, on a quest for some of the town’s most striking monuments. You will certainly come across the Church of San Fedele, whose simple Romanesque facade conceals a graciously decorated interior, the 40-metre-high Porta Torre erected in 1192 as a defence against enemy attacks, and the extraordinarily well preserved portions of medieval walls. Not to be missed are also the Neoclassical-style facade of the Teatro Sociale and the Casa del Fascio, an example of 1930s rationalist architecture.

After some free time for lunch rejoin your driver and reach your hotel on Lake Como where you will be staying for 3 nights. Following check in spend the rest of the day at leisure.

From ancient Roman celebrities to contemporary Hollywood stars, no one has been able to resist the allure of Lake Como. A timeless tourist destination, after 2,000 years this heavenly spot keeps luring prominent visitors to its shores with a one-of-a-kind combination of architectural marvels, artistic treasures and fabulous landscapes. Set at the foot of the Rhaetian Alps, Lake Como is the third largest Italian lake, the deepest and unarguably the most spectacular. Its shoreline is studded with a succession of charming sights: dark green forested slopes rising against a backdrop of majestic snow-covered peaks, lush terraced gardens cascading right down to the waters, pretty towns sprinkled with pastel-hued buildings, lakeshore restaurants shaded by blooming pergolas. Soak up the beauties of Lake Como on this full-day excursion. In the morning you will enjoy a boat ride followed by visits to the two lakeside towns of Varenna and Bellagio. In the afternoon you will explore a historic villa surrounded by splendid botanical gardens.

After breakfast meet your private guide in your hotel lobby and together join your skipper down on the dock. Sit back and relax as he takes the helm and unveils some of Lake Como’s famous addresses. Poet Percy Shelley navigated these waters, enjoying the very same sights you admire today, while he cruised from Como to Tremezzina: “The union of culture and the untameable profusion and loveliness of nature is here so close that the line where they are divided can hardly be discovered”, he noted in a letter dated 1818. Here natural beauty, botanical rarities and elegant architecture merge perfectly, creating one of Italy’s finest scenes. You will glide past the tiny Comacina Island, sail by the privately owned exclusive Villa La Cassinella, glimpse views of Villa del Balbianello’s marvellous gardens and dock at Varenna.

A leisurely stroll through this beguiling town will follow. You will weave your way up steep stone stairways lined with shops, cosy cafes and flowering balconies, step inside the 14th century Church of San Giorgio to see its precious frescoes, and take in stunning views by the waterfront promenade, romantically named passeggiata degli innamorati – lover’s walk.

Later, cruise towards Bellagio, also known as the “pearl of the lake”. After some free time for lunch you will be led up to the heart of the old town and discover its history and major landmarks on a pleasant walk with your guide.

The final stop on your tour will bring you to Villa Carlotta. Built between 1690 and 1743 for the pleasure-seeking marquis Giorgio Clerici, the villa now houses an exquisite museum. Sculpted masterpieces by Antonio Canova and Bertel Thorvaldsen are on display together with a fine collection of paintings, cameos, furniture and decorative pieces from the mid-19th century. The eight-hectare neighbouring garden is a triumph of colour and variety and provides a magnificent backdrop to the palazzo. Five hundred different botanical species, including azaleas, rhododendrons, palms, tropical plants and aromatic herbs flourish in this romantic oasis, rated among Italy’s most beautiful gardens by prestigious local and international magazines.

After visiting the villa and grounds return to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Have you ever wondered which wine George Clooney likes to drink on Lake Como? Discover it along a special biking itinerary! You will have the opportunity to visit a one-of-a-kind agriturismo on Lake Como, one of the very few places that produces wine in the area, and it’s family owned and managed!

Great food, the local elixir, a friendly environment and a fabulous panorama… what could be better than savouring all of this after an energising bike ride?

After breakfast you will meet your guide at your hotel, hop on your bike and start cycling toward the northern tip of the lake for a 28 kilometre one-way ride on traffic-free roads and paths. The terrain is mixed between bike paths, old mule tracks and lakeside trails, with a continuous up and down elevation and constant lake views as you pass through old villages and hidden streets.

The bike ride will end at an agriturismo, set in an enchanting hillside location offering superb views of the lake below. Founded in 1997 by a dedicated husband-and-wife team, this farm aims at promoting the heritage and flavours of this idyllic corner of Lombardy by reviving native grape varieties of Verdesa and Rosseia. Ubiquitous and international Sangiovese and Merlot are also cultivated to please the palate of a satisfied and ever-growing clientele. Here IGT designated red, white and rosé wines are created along with extra virgin olive oil, grappa and blueberry liqueur.

Upon arrival take a seat on the outdoor patio and lap up the wonderful panorama while you enjoy a delicious meal accompanied with the estate’s wines.

In the early afternoon your chauffeur will pick you up and drive you back to your hotel where you may spend the rest of the day at leisure.

After breakfast and check out, which will take place before 10:00 or 11:00 AM, meet your private driver outside your hotel and head for the airport or your next travel destination.