CHIQUE YOURSELF UP IN ITALY

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.

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.

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.

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.