ITALIAN LOVE STORY

Whether you approach this enchanting city by land or sea, your first glimpse of Venice will take your breath away. Once a powerful maritime republic which ruled supreme over Mediterranean trade routes, Venice continues to conquer visitors from far and wide drawing them into her net. Get ready for your capture on this entrancing orientation tour. Your private guide will meet you at your accommodation and lead you on a trail through Venice’s exquisite tracery of waterways and lacework facades, animated with true tales and snippets about the places you pass.

Venice is an archipelago of one hundred and eighteen tiny islands probably first inhabited by refugees escaping from nearby Roman cities, such as Padua, Treviso and Altino, during the Barbarian invasions in the 5th century AD. The city grew under the influence of Byzantium, flourished in the Middle Ages and reached the peak of its splendour during the Renaissance when it became a thriving commercial, cultural and artistic hub.

Make your way to St. Mark’s Square, once the heart of Venice’s political and religious life and today the main tourist attraction of this fabulous floating city. When you reach this wonderful piazza you will be standing in what Napoleon called “the finest salon in Europe” which does indeed appear to be a stunning hall of stone lined with remarkable historic buildings: the Basilica in all its Byzantine glory; the Renaissance clock tower proclaiming the city’s unrivalled wealth and prestige; the elegant arcades of the Procuratie; Sansovino’s ornate Loggetta; the Doge’s Palace, presiding regally over the Serenissima.

Located at the eastern end of the square, St. Mark’s Basilica was originally the doges’ personal place of worship. It was not until 1807, when it became the seat of the Patriarch of Venice, that this private chapel was converted into the city’s cathedral, and henceforth became a public marvel for all to enjoy. Step inside to hear how the construction of the building one thousand years ago was intricately bound up with a theft and the survivors of a storm at sea. The church’s magnificently decorated interior, with its marble inlays, finely carved capitals, jewel-studded altarpiece and, above all, glimmering mosaics covering 8,000 square metres of vaults and domes is an uplifting spectacle that never fails to impress.

Intriguing tales of scandal and conspiracies await you inside the Doge’s Palace, the former residence of the Venetian rulers and a feat of Gothic architecture. Follow your guide through the splendid marble courtyard, up the gold-vaulted staircase, past the doges’ private apartments into the Hall of the Great Council. Here, you will gain a better understanding of the city’s political institutions and take a close look at the priceless works of art by local painters that embellish the walls. An allegorical depiction of the Triumph of Venice by Veronese will draw your gaze to the ceiling while on the wall behind the doge’s throne you will see one of the widest canvas paintings in the world, the Paradise, created by Jacopo Tintoretto and his son Domenico between 1588 and 1592. To this duo we also owe the portraits of Venice’s first 76 doges represented on the frieze that runs beneath the ceiling. A macabre tale will explain why one of these paintings has been replaced with a black veil.

Grand monuments, graceful sculptures and decorative reliefs will amaze you as you saunter across the city’s squares and wander through its maze of narrow alleys, over fairy-tale bridges, along its celebrated canals. Busy workshops and bustling markets are as much a part of the Venetian cityscape as its elegant palazzi and pretty courtyards. A visit to the lively Rialto quarter, for almost 1,000 years the financial and commercial heart of the Serenissima, will let you feel the pulse of daily life in Venice, both past and present. Indeed from here it only takes a tiny step of the imagination to glimpse the sights and scents of exotic wares and oriental spices that merchants of old would have traded on this very spot. As you feast your eyes on brightly coloured displays of succulent, seasonal produce and a wide variety of fresh fish and seafood, your guide will paint a vivid picture of the scene in medieval times, when this site was Europe’s most important business centre.

In the afternoon, following lunch and time at leisure, reach the dock, hop aboard a gondola and soak up the charm and unique atmosphere of Venice on a magical ride with your private gondolier. While you glide along the shimmering waters of the city’s enchanting canals, the breathtaking views of the lagoon may seem like aspects of a dream… but this is a reverie come true.

After the gondola ride spend the rest of the evening at leisure.

Click your way through Venice on this private photo walk. Under the guidance of an expert photographer you will polish your skills and capture fleeting impressions of this magical, floating city. Venice is awash with irresistible views begging to be caught through your lens. The fabulous architecture, dream-like atmosphere and ever-changing light playing on its waters make the city a treasure trove for adventurous picture seekers. Participants will have the opportunity to fine-tune their technical skills, stretch their creativity and pick up tricks for a masterly shot.

This activity can be customised to suit the needs, interests and level of expertise of all participants. Budding photographers, amateurs, veterans or curious new-comers to the art of photography will enjoy a revealing experience – whatever their knowledge – as they immortalize the unrepeatable moments of a delightful morning in Venice. Your photographer-tutor will explain how weather conditions can affect the quality of an image, show how diverse perspectives generate a variety of moods and feelings, teach you the basic rules of composition as well as offer encouragement to break them, when necessary, to obtain a powerful image.

You will be led past some of Venice’s most enchanting settings and, by using light as your paint brush, sketch your en plein air impressions of this ethereal city of water and stone. While you wander through the exquisite tracery of calli and picturesque campielli, across fairy-tale bridges, past lacework facades, your photographer will illuminate your path by pointing out captivating details and turning the spotlight onto the city’s lesser-known areas. From behind the lens of your camera you will glimpse off-the-beaten-path locations and peek into the city’s unique spirit. A lasting collection of Venetian memories for your holiday album is the souvenir you will take home with you.

In the afternoon, following lunch and time at leisure, discover how Venice’s allure was to influence some of Italy’s greatest Renaissance painters on a visit to the Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari and the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. Inspired perhaps by the city’s magical mix of water, light and stone, its shimmering canals and the sparkling golden mosaics inside St. Mark’s Basilica, the artists of the Venetian School of painting – a distinctive artistic style that thrived in Venice between the 15th and 17th centuries – are known for their astonishing, ground-breaking and sensuous use of colour. Brilliant hues, dynamic compositions and psychological insight characterise the works of these masters whose sense of enjoyment and lust for life spill out of the canvas.

The Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari is one of Venice’s largest and most remarkable religious complexes. First built by the frari – meaning brothers – of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor in the 13th century, the church underwent major renovation work in the 14th and 15th centuries when it acquired its Gothic layout. Today the austere, bare facade conceals some of Venice’s best-loved painted masterpieces. Your guide will point out the church’s major highlights and illustrate the lives, painterly language and extraordinary artistic careers of their celebrated producers.

You will admire Titian’s glorious Assumption of the Virgin, completed in 1518 and described more than two centuries later by Neoclassical sculptor Antonio Canova as “the most beautiful painting in the world”. Hanging over the main altar, this colossal oil on wood is indeed indisputably one of the finest examples of Venetian Renaissance painting and strikes the onlooker with its sharp contrast of light and shadow, masterful use of a rich palette and intense emotional expressiveness. Among the gems that you will have the opportunity to admire inside what is indeed a treasure chest are also Titian’s Pala Pesaro, Giovanni Bellini’s Madonna and Child with Saints, Bartolomeo Vivarini’s Triptych of St. Mark as well as Donatello’s wooden sculpture of St. John the Baptist.

The largest collection of paintings by Jacopo Tintoretto is preserved within the walls of the Great School of San Rocco, originally the seat of a confraternity of wealthy Venetian citizens founded in 1478 and named after the venerated St. Roch, who protected the faithful from sickness and the plague. Between 1564 and 1587 Tintoretto and his pupils were entrusted with the decoration of three halls of the complex – the Sala dell’Albergo, Sala Terrena and Sala Superiore – with scenes from the Old and New Testaments. More than sixty canvases depict the story of the Bible, from the Fall to the Redemption, and stand out for their audacious compositions, rapid brushstrokes and dramatic chiaroscuro effects. Listen as your guide takes you through the sacred sequence and explains why this extraordinary painting cycle is known today as “the Sistine Chapel of Venice”.

Finally, get ready for a fun Venetian adventure. What better way to soak up the local way of life than an exhilarating rowing lesson complete with breaks for wine and tasty cicchetti? A hands-on introduction to navigating the canals, exquisite bites and the local elixir are the prime ingredients of this truly Venetian experience that is sure to be unforgettable. Immerse yourself in the city’s cultural and gastronomic traditions as you learn how to propel your raft and appreciate culinary treats that are peculiar to Venice.

A private water taxi will transport you to the starting point of the rowing lesson in the district of Cannaregio. Here, under the guidance of an expert instructor, you will enjoy a fun voga experience aboard a batellina coda di gambero, a traditional hand-crafted “shrimp-tailed” boat. Extremely rare nowadays – only seven boats of this kind still exist today – these batelline were once a very common means of transport, as attested by their appearance in works by Venetian landscape painters Carpaccio and Canaletto.

Stable, spacious and deep, these boats are suitable for participants of all ages and levels of experience, from beginners to voga champions. You will learn the basic strokes for rowing at the prow and at the stern and how to manoeuvre the batellina through Venice’s meandering canals. As you glide along the waters of the lagoon, stop at two bacari for tastings of cicchetti, accompanied by a glass of wine or sparkling Prosecco as a reward for your efforts. Bacari are cosy taverns where locals come to socialise, relax and indulge in pre-dinner drinks and snacks and probably derive their name from the God of wine, Bacchus. Cicchetti – from the Latin word ciccus, meaning a small quantity – consist of small plates of delicious finger food, prepared with a wide variety of fresh ingredients, and are Venice’s answer to Milan’s aperitivo and Spain’s tapas. Mouth-watering assortments might consist of fried snacks, beans, crostini bread slices with different toppings, cheeses and an array of fish dishes such as anchovies, cuttlefish, octopus, sardines, tuna croquets and the local source of pride, baccalà mantecato – creamed dried cod. Savour Venetian nibbles aboard your batellina boat and drink in the delights of the lagoon, before rowing back to Cannaregio.

After the experience a water taxi will take you back to your hotel.

Leave the tourist bustle of the city centre and sail off to explore two of the most popular Venetian islands on a half-day boat excursion. As repositories of the lagoon’s centuries-old traditions and manufacturing heritage, Murano and Burano play an essential role in your Venice experience. Don’t miss the chance to discover the history and customs of these magical islands and plunge into their timeless, dream-like atmosphere.

After breakfast meet your private guide and water chauffeur at your hotel and reach the first port of call on your lagoon excursion: Murano. Its 5,500 residents are proud guardians of the island’s long and still-thriving tradition dating back to 1291, when glass artisans were forced to move their kilns here from Venice because of fire risks. In a city of predominantly wooden buildings the profusion of glass-fusing ovens posed a constant threat. However this wasn’t the only reason that led Venice’s officials to relocate glass makers to Murano. Fear that the secrets of the trade might become known to potential rivals was just as dangerous, and possibly more so, than fires. By confining glass workers to a remote island, the republic sought to control glass production and trade and, most of all, to ensure that glass making techniques would remain a Venetian monopoly. The art of glass making helped publicise the island’s fame worldwide and it was the talented masters working here who produced the first Venetian crystal. This delicate, elegant material was highly prized and techniques of the craft were closely guarded secrets, the betrayal of which was once punishable by death. Today, however, you are free to watch glass blowers at work and see for yourself at close quarters how these Venetian craftspeople deftly pull from the furnace and model a dazzling array of splendid artefacts employing skills passed down through generations. These include wine stoppers, jewelry, vases, chandeliers and so much more.

After a pleasant walk in Murano rejoin your water chauffeur and set off for Burano, a quiet fishing village of about 2,300 residents, well known for its lace making industry. The origins of Venetian lace are lost in the mists of time. Legend has it that a fisherman went out to sea a few days before his wedding and encountered a group of mermaids while fishing. So love-stricken with his betrothed was he that the mermaids’ charms and songs failed to bewitch him. Impressed with the young man’s utter devotion, the mermaids decided to reward him with a magnificent piece of cloth embroidered by the froth of the waves. On their wedding day the fisherman gave the cloth to his delighted bride who immediately set about creating another similar piece of cloth… and that’s how the famed Burano lace was born.

Here you will admire a range of lovingly handcrafted goods including doilies, tablecloths, handkerchiefs, wedding veils and babies’ booties expertly woven by lace artisans using the same techniques as their ancestors in the 1600s, which is when Burano’s popularity spread across Europe. Intricate and beautifully stitched Burano lace creations were in high demand with nobles and royalties as attested by portrait paintings of illustrious personalities wearing outlandishly fancy lace finery. It is said that King Louis XIV wore a Burano lace collar for his coronation and the inventory of the English Queen Elizabeth I’s wardrobe provides evidence of her love of Venetian lace.

The striking polychrome homes of the islanders and the shifting hues reflected in the water are another typical feature of this uncannily beautiful spot which has long attracted landscape artists. The tradition of painting houses in highly-saturated hues may well be related to the island’s history as a fishing village. The bright colours which once helped fishermen to navigate through the fog and find their way back home are today a life-size canvas beckoning the modern visitor into the frame.

After a tranquil morning on these charming islands, you’ll be ready to cruise back to the hectic flurry of Venice again. Happy sailing!

In the afternoon, following lunch and time at leisure, relive the atmosphere of a bygone era on an exclusive costume fitting experience. You will enjoy a promenade and photo shoot along Venice’s canals dressed up in sumptuously decorated costumes.

The roots of the Venetians’ passion for fashion, opulence and luxury date back hundreds of years. You may not know that during the Renaissance Venetian nobles used to spend huge amounts of their fortunes on clothing to the extent that the city’s officials decided to introduce sumptuary laws with the aim of preserving economic stability. Clothing was used as a display of grandeur and social status and restrictions were put in place because reckless spending on fashion inhibited prospective marriage proposals as families could no longer afford to fund adequate dowries. However, fashion was also essential to Venice’s economy and the city dominated the textile industry for over two hundred years. Venice was renowned for the production of quality textiles that were in high demand throughout Europe. From the 13th to the 16th centuries the city was a major player in the creation of silk and velvet and also produced wool, cotton and lace.

The expertise of yesteryear’s weavers and tailors keeps inspiring and stimulating creativity today, as you will have the chance to see (and touch!) first hand. You will meet your private assistant in your hotel lobby and reach a famous costume atelier, displaying haute couture creations by one of the city’s best-loved and highly esteemed designers. Here beautifully hand-crafted and exquisitely embroidered velvet, damask and silk costumes are created to reproduce period clothing from the 17th century to the early 1900s. The distinctive style of the atelier’s creations results from a unique combination of precious brocades, traditional manufacturing techniques and inventiveness. Masks, accessories, feathers, headpieces and wigs are also available for the joy of collectors and fashion amateurs, alike. A member of staff will give you an introduction to the atelier’s collection and help you select and try on the perfect outfit.

Later, have the best fun you can imagine as you stroll along Venice’s enchanting canals dressed up as Venetian aristocrats. Your professional photographer will ensure the unforgettable moments of a magical Venetian reverie live forever.

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

After breakfast and check out your private water chauffeur will pick you up at your hotel and transport you to Piazzale Roma. From here a 45-minute drive will bring you to Padua. Your guide will be waiting at the meeting point ready to lead you on a tour of the city’s best-loved attractions.

If you trust the legend, Padua was founded in 1183 BC by prince Antenor after the fall of Troy, making it the oldest city in northern Italy. Whatever the true story, archaeological findings unearthed beneath the city centre provide evidence that prehistoric civilizations must have settled here as far back as the 11th and 10th centuries BC. The list of Padua’s feats and achievements does not end here, of course. The city is home to Italy’s second oldest university which has been a catalyst for countless generations of illustrious intellectuals and professors – including Galileo Galilei himself – since its establishment in 1222. Padua was Franciscan preacher and miracle-worker Saint Anthony’s chosen city, the place where he spent his last years and was finally laid to rest in 1231, thus triggering a wave of devotion that is very much alive today and still attracts flocks of pilgrims to the city. Padua also boasts the country’s third largest public square, the impressive 90,000 square metre Prato della Valle, graced by 78 statues featuring the city’s great and good.

But what draws thousands of visitors from far and wide to Padua every year is the city’s prized jewel, the Scrovegni Chapel. Under the tutelage of the ambitious, powerful and affluent banker Enrico degli Scrovegni, ground-breaking painter Giotto completed the decoration of the chapel’s walls in 1305, after 855 days of painstaking, meticulous labour. The breathtakingly beautiful fresco cycle depicts scenes from the Old and New Testaments and is reputed to be a milestone in the development of Western art. Your guide will point out features of particular significance and explain why this gorgeously painted Bible constitutes an artistic revolution. Indeed the only other work that bears comparison with it in terms of its impact on the contemporary scene and its influence on the history of art is Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. The masterful use of a brilliant palette, his realistic representation of space, perspective and light, together with the emotional intensity of his characters, break away totally from all previous artistic representations.

Padua’s charms also include bustling piazzas, porticoed streets, historical cafes and an impressive wealth of medieval and Renaissance masterpieces. Gain a preview of Paradise as you gaze up at the heavenly gathering depicted in the 14th century fresco by Giusto de’ Menabuoi on the dome of the Baptistery of Saint John. Then take in a slice of daily life as you roam through Piazza delle Erbe, the city’s commercial hub since the 11th century where the fresh fruit and vegetable market is still regularly held. The square is dominated by the imposing Palazzo della Ragione, the medieval town hall where once, as a punishment, debtors were forced to sit bare-bottomed on a stone and confess their sins before being banished from the city. And don’t forget to pay your respects to the city’s patron saint whose revered relics lie in the richly ornamented chapel behind the main altar of the 13th century Basilica of Saint Anthony. Among his many powers the saint is also believed to be the protector of all things lost… so next time you find an item that had been mislaid remember to offer up thanks to St. Anthony.

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

After breakfast meet your private guide in your hotel lobby and enjoy a morning walking tour of Verona’s delightful centro storico. Well known as the setting for three of Shakespeare’s plays, most importantly for the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet, the city offers so much more than a romantic retreat. Here your heart may well miss a beat as you catch a glimpse of its Roman amphitheatre and gaze up at the magnificent palazzi. You may find yourself falling in love with Verona’s pretty courtyards and charming squares. Beyond the well-known fiction, there is a bustling, culturally thriving city and genuine history waiting to be explored.

Verona’s early beginnings remain a mystery but we know the area was inhabited in the 4th century BC and, thanks to its strategic geographic position as a suitable spot for northern border control, became a Roman municipium in the 1st century BC. Evidence of the city’s ancient past can still be seen in the existing street pattern that traces the Roman chess-board layout and in archaeological remains scattered throughout the city. Verona flourished under the rule of the Scaliger dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries and continued to prosper during the almost four hundred years of Venetian domination, up until the 1700s. The surviving architectural masterpieces and urban fabric reflecting Verona’s development over 2,000 years have earned the city its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A meticulously assembled collage of fine buildings and decorative elements from several historic epochs makes up the attractive historic centre. Roman ruins, Gothic monuments, medieval towers, Renaissance facades and modern-day shop windows all jostle for your attention.

Your guide will lead you through the centuries and point out the city’s best-loved landmarks. The grandiose, remarkably well-preserved Arena in Piazza Bra is one of Verona’s most impressive sights. Built in the 1st century AD, it is Italy’s third largest Roman amphitheatre and could seat up to 25,000 impassioned spectators who once gathered here to watch gladiator games and executions. The Arena, with its excellent acoustics, still draws crowds today as an entertainment venue hosting theatre performances, concerts and the internationally-renowned summer opera festival.

Another of Verona’s major attractions is located on Via Cappello. Here, according to legend, you can find the very house where Romeo swore his eternal love to Juliet. Visitors from all over the world line up to touch her bronze statue’s breast, hoping to get lucky in love, and to snap shots of the iconic balcony. Although Shakespeare is extremely unlikely ever to have set foot in this city and his characters are fictional, Verona’s fame is inextricably tied up with the destiny of the protagonists of this world-famous tragedy. The 14th century palazzo actually belonged to the Dal Cappello family, a name that sparked a link with the Shakespearian Capulet, thus lending a semblance of veracity to the legend.

A short walk will take you to picturesque Piazza Erbe, the city’s trading hub. People have assembled here since ancient Roman times, when the area was occupied by a forum. Today the square is the site of the fruit and vegetable market as well as a favourite meeting spot with young Veronesi who gather here for ritual evening aperitivi. Listen as your guide gives you details about the striking structures that surround the piazza: the arcaded portico of the medieval Casa dei Mercanti, the Mazzanti Houses, adorned with beautiful frescoes, the elaborate Baroque facade of Palazzo Maffei and the 84-metre-tall Lamberti Tower looming over the city. Not to be missed on your stroll about town are also the nearby Piazza dei Signori, the centre of Verona’s political life for hundreds of years, and the Arche Scaligere, the monumental tombs of the Lords of Verona.

After the tour your private chauffeur will pick you up and drive you to the Valpolicella wine region. The Latin etymology Val polis cellae, meaning “the valley with many cellars”, attests to Valpolicella’s ancient viticultural tradition. Extending for 240 square kilometres across the foothills of the Lessini mountains, between Verona and Lake Garda, this is one of Italy’s most prestigious wine-producing regions. Wine enthusiasts will have the opportunity to visit a highly-esteemed estate, located in an enchanting setting on the grounds of a Renaissance villa. Built at the request of humanist and landowner Giulio Della Torre in 1560, the mansion perfectly fulfilled its functions as a working farm, from which to supervise the estate’s agricultural activities, and a peaceful luxury retreat, where the owner and his privileged guests could come to meditate, relax and idle the summers away. Accompanied by a member of staff, you will explore this truly marvellous country house and learn all about the history and refined symbolism behind its construction. Highlights include the central courtyard, blending references to the design of an ancient Roman domus with a typically Mannerist taste, the hall of mirrors, decorated with original medallion portraits of poets of antiquity, and the awe-inspiring zoomorphic fireplaces featuring a lion, a sea monster and a devil. After the visit sit down inside the mansion’s dining room to be served a delicious lunch paired with the estate’s wines.

A short drive will then bring you to another renowned winery. Here, on a tour of the cellar, you will get to know about wine-making and ageing methods, become familiar with the particular features and regulations that define Valpolicella wines and discover the unique characteristics of the terroir and climate that make wines produced here so special. Top off your day with a tasting of the estate’s wines and a toast, then rejoin your chauffeur and return to your accommodation in Verona.

After breakfast and check out meet your private driver outside your hotel and relax on the ride to Lake Como. En route stop to enjoy a private tour of Bergamo. Your guide will be waiting at the meeting point ready to lead you on an exploration of the historical città alta, still miraculously intact after centuries.

“You can’t move a single stone, it would be a crime”. This is how awestruck architect Le Corbusier expressed his appreciation when he first set foot in the splendid Piazza Vecchia in the upper town of Bergamo. Here, history oozes from every corner and echoes of horses’ hooves on the cobblestones, the clang of knights’ armour, the clink of prisoners’ chains still resonate in the streets. Clinging to the southern foothills of the Orobian Alps, in the very heart of northern Italy, Bergamo is a treasure trove of medieval and Renaissance wonders, immersed in a beautiful natural setting and, for the delight of gourmands, replete with an enticing spread of gastronomic specialities.

As you weave your way through the maze of narrow winding alleys, you will learn about the history of Bergamo, from its origins as a Celtic settlement to the peak of its fortunes under the rule of Milan and Venice, when the city bloomed and became the gem we can admire today. Your tour will begin in Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe, a 15th century shoe market, where you will gain an introduction to city life in Bergamo, past and present. From here amble along the charming streets flanked by irresistible eateries, quaint artisan shops and amazingly well preserved medieval tower-houses, and reach Piazza Vecchia. Built upon the ancient Roman forum and dominated by the Civic Tower and the 12th century Palazzo della Ragione, this square has been the political and social heart of the city for some 2,000 years. The adjacent Piazza Duomo boasts two of the old town’s most cherished monuments. According to tradition, the Romanesque Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was erected by Bergamo’s citizens as a votive offering to the Madonna to give thanks for her protection from the 12th century plague. Inside it preserves a dizzying collection of works of art, spanning five centuries and ranging from Flemish tapestries to 14th century frescoes, from Baroque paintings to exquisitely inlaid marquetry. The nearby Colleoni Chapel, built at the request of mercenary captain Bartolomeo Colleoni, is a triumph of Renaissance architecture. Its construction in 1472 was strongly opposed by the clergy but Colleoni solved the problem in the traditional fashion, sending his soldiers to silence the protest and demolish the old sacristy, thus making room for his opulently decorated mausoleum. Don’t forget to touch Colleoni’s extravagant coat of arms on the gate, which is believed to bring good luck.

Make your way uphill and reach the last stop on your tour, the 14th century citadel bearing witness to the Visconti family’s domination over the town from 1332 to 1428. The complex was built not only as a defence against enemy attacks but as a place of refuge in case the town’s tide turned against the rulers themselves and, above all, as a proclamation of the Visconti’s unrivalled supremacy. The dreaded hunger tower with no openings on the ground floor, where traitors and debtors were once locked up and left to starve, still stands as a stark reminder of Bergamo’s “good old days.”

After the tour and free time for lunch rejoin your driver and reach your hotel on Lake Como where you will be staying for 4 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 tour. In the morning you will explore a historic villa surrounded by splendid botanical gardens. In the afternoon you will enjoy a stroll around the two lakeside towns of Bellagio and Varenna.

After breakfast your private guide will meet you at your hotel and accompany 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 hop aboard a taxi boat and sail to nearby Bellagio to enjoy some free time for lunch followed by a pleasant walk through town to discover its major landmarks.

The final stop on your tour will bring you to the beguiling town of Varenna. 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.

After the tour take a taxi boat back to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

After breakfast meet your private driver at your accommodation and relax on the ride to Como. Here your guide will be waiting 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 reach the dock, hop aboard your private boat and set sail for Villa del Balbianello. As you cruise along watch the delightful views of Lake Como’s winding shoreline unravel in front of you: dark green forested slopes rising against a backdrop of majestic snowy peaks, historic mansions set amongst lush Mediterranean foliage, lavish terraced gardens tumbling right down to the banks, pretty villages sprinkled with pastel-hued buildings. Here natural beauty, botanical rarities, art treasures and architectural marvels merge perfectly, creating one of Italy’s finest landscapes. Poet Percy Shelley navigated these waters, enjoying the very same sights you admire today, as 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. You will sail by Villa d’Este, once a Renaissance residence and today a 5-star hotel, glimpse views of the privately owned exclusive Villa Oleandra and Villa La Cassinella, glide past the tiny Comacina Island and dock at Villa del Balbianello.

Perched on the tip of a peninsula jutting out over the lake, this is one of the area’s most stunning estates. Built in 1787 at the request of pleasure-seeking Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini, on the site of an earlier 13th century Franciscan monastery, today the premises host magnificent gardens and a house museum dedicated to the villa’s last owner, Count Guido Monzino. Collector, entrepreneur, insatiable traveller and also the first Italian ever to climb Mount Everest, Count Monzino bequeathed the villa to the Italian National Trust so that memories of his thrilling adventures could live on for posterity. Here you may enjoy a 1-hour guided tour of the mansion – which is exactly how the owner left it on his death in 1988 – led by an official guide from the museum. On display are 18th and 19th century furniture, French boiseries, Beauvais tapestries and oriental carpets as well as maps, books, collections of prehistoric artefacts and relics of Count Monzino’s travels, including a dog sleigh from his 1971 expedition to the North Pole. The gardens surrounding the villa are a true masterpiece of landscaping and design. Follow the paths that meander across carefully manicured lawns, bordered with hedges of laurel, magnolias and cypress trees, leading to the lakefront loggia where one of the most fabulous views awaits guests.

Take a last long look at the gorgeous lakescapes before returning to your hotel by taxi boat.

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 at your hotel and head for the airport or your next travel destination.