This Grand tour of Italy will allow you to visit the regions of Lombardia to explore the great Northern Lakes, Veneto to discover the romantic city of Verona, Emilia Romagna to taste and discover the Parmiggiano cheese and learn about Bologna, Tuscany with it's rolling vineyard hills, Umbria for a taste of chocolate and views of hilly central Italy, and Lazio the region reigned by Popes for centuries.
On October 27 the group will board Odyssey of the Sea out of Civitavecchia for a 15 nights cruise
Price for 10 to 14 people USD/EUR 3,640* per person all prices are indicative and will have to be confirmed. *On day 11 we have an "Option A - Florence and San Gimignano" tour. If that option is chosen there will be an additional cost of EUR 170 total for the group to pay directly to the walk along guide for a 3 hours custom walking tour of Florence (see below for details).
A non refundable deposit must be paid in order to reserve. Deposit USD 250 per person payable here
Inclusions and Exclusions
All packages include:
your private English speaking Chauffeur with minibus (if we need a coach with your personal guide the price will have to be recalculated)
all tours including tickets and boat rides. Local guides are included when mentioned in the description.
all hotels accommodation.
all breakfast meals, 1 lunch (day 5) , 1 Parmiggiano tasting (day 7), 1 cooking class with meal (day 9), 1 chocolate tasting (day 10), 1 winery visit and wine tasting (day 12). You will have the opportunity to stop for food as needed on the other days (cost not included).
Package does not include:
EUR 2.50 per person per day overnight taxes (must be collected directly by the hotel staff)
all meals not mentioned in the "includes section"
gratuities, EUR 10 ferry ticket on day 6 for the optional section of the Garda lake tour
EUR 170 to the guide in Florence for Day 11, Option A. The group leader will collect and pay the guide.
Hotels
Como Lake - Grand Hotel Cadenabbia (3 nights) - Lake view rooms
Verona - Sole Hotel Verona (3 nights) (alternatives Residenza Elisabetta
San Marino - Grand Hotel San Marino (2 nights)
Near Cortona - Villa Schiatti (3 nights)
Tarquinia - Valle del Marta (2 nights)
Itinerary at a glance
Day 1: CI transfer day Milan pick up by private chauffeur + Milan city tour and transfer to Como Lake. Check in at Grand Hotel Cadenabbia (162/n)
Day 2: day tour Lake Como private chauffeured tour
Day 3: day tour Lake Maggiore private chauffeured tour
Day 4: CI check out and transfer day to Verona + guided Verona city tour. Check in at Sole Hotel
Day 5: day tour to the Sanctuary "Madonna della Corona" (can be removed and save 1 day if needed)
Day 6: day tour to Sirmione and Garda Lake
Day 7: CI transfer to San Marino with stop in Caseificio Parmiggiano and Bologna. Check in at Grand Hotel San Marino
Day 8: Stay in San Marino and take it easy this is a visit on your own and rest day
Day 9 CI Transfer day, on the way visit Arezzo. Check in at Villa Schiatti. Afternoon cooking class.
Day 10 day tour to Perugia, Assisi, Cortona
Day 11 (Option A) day tour to Florence and San Gimignano
Day 11 (Option B) day tour Monteriggioni, San Gimignano picture stop in Siena on the way back
Day 12 CI Transfer day To Tarquinia, visit Montepulciano, Fienza (optional), Montalcino with winery Tour. Check in at Valle del Marta
Day 13 day tour to Viterbo and Bomarzo
Day 14 Transfer day to ship in Civitavecchia
Itinerary Details
Day 1: arrive in Milan pick up by private chauffeur + Milan city tour and transfer to Como Lake.
Arrive in Malpensa airport and transfer to Milan (1 hr more or less).
Milan 4h private city tour to visit :
The Duomo di Milano and it's square
Galleria Mall (La Rinascente) see pictures
Sforzesco Castle and Square, see pictures
Transfer to Grand Hotel Cadenabbia (Great Lake Como view), check in and evening at leisure
Day 2: Lake Como private tour
Visit Villa del Balbianello
transfer to Como where you will have a chance to take the Funicular that connects Como and Brunate for an amazing spectacular view of the lake (about 1.5 hours)
You will then take a Cruise to Bellagio and visit at leisure
drive to Cernobbio (15 min) to visit the famous Villa D'Este.
IMPORTANT NOTE: the villa and the gardens can only be visited by people staying in the hotel or having lunch or dinner at the hotel restaurant. We hope that by the time you will go there, the policy will change and the gardens will be open to the public. As of now, we can not guarantee that you will be able to visit the gardens as the situation is not under our control.
return transfer to hotel
Day 3: Lake Lake Maggiore private tour
pick up at hotel and transfer to Stresa
Just near Stresa, for the more romantically inclined, we suggest a visit to the splendid Borromean Islands: Isola Bella, Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Madre. In just one day you can visit Isola Bella, home to Palazzo Borromeo and a terraced garden, the picturesque Isola dei Pescatori with its characteristic houses adorned with wooden balconies and Isola Madre,
return transfer to hotel
Day 4: Transfer to Verona, afternoon guided tour of this romantic city
Transfer from your Como Lake Hotel and drive to Verona.
Drop off at Sole Hotel Verona in Verona for a quick rest and lunch break.
Meet your local guide for and afternoon guided tour of Verona. This is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. Here is a great Wikytravel article. It is famous for it's:
Verona Arena: perfectly preserved Roman amphitheater and the world's largest open-air opera venue.
Walk Verona's most famous shopping area, the Corso Porta Borsari and its adjacent squares.
Juliet's House - Romeo and Juliet. Three Shakespeare plays are set in Verona: Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew and The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Optionally visit Juliet’s Tomb: located in the vaults of the Abbey of San Francesco al Corso, not very far from the Arena di Verona
Admire the Castelvecchio Bridge: Verona's historic castle was a product of the Della Scala family dynasty during the Middle Ages.
Return to your Hotel in Verona.
Day 5: Day tour from Verona to visit the Sanctuary "Madonna della Corona" with lunch stop at a local farm.
The Madonna della Corona Sanctuary is set like a jewel in the cliffs above a magnificent valley. First we would transfer to the small town of Spiazzi, where there is a connection to the sanctuary by 10 minutes shuttle drive. There are steep steps to reach the sanctuary. Find more details about the itinerary below:
The group will meet the guide in Spiazzi at 10:00 AM. It will be possible to calmly start the tour from the parking lot after drinking a coffee or leave immediately for a 20-minute walk, 1 km approximately (the road is closed to traffic, only shuttle buses are allowed to accede the traffic restricted area), in order to reach the Sanctuary. On our way we will find a curious alpaca farm, with a kiosk selling wool products.
On the way we will see the 14 stations of the Via Crucis with bronze statues. After a gallery in the stone, we will reach a bar for a restroom stop.
A staircase of about 30 steps leads to the entrance of the Church. We will visit the structure, gathering peace and harmony, and around 12.00 PM the shuttle bus will take us back to the parking lot (alternatively you can go back on foot). From there we will move by minivan to the nearby farm (5 minutes by car).
The local producer will offer us a lunch with typical products of Monte Baldo. The lunch will be accompanied by a good glass of wine, in a wonderful position with a view of the lake. It will be possible to buy the products and relax in the beautiful garden. Around 2:00 PM, we will leave the farm to return.
Lunch: includes malga gnocchi with smoked ricotta, cutting board with cold cuts and cheeses, dessert, water and wine, coffee; the portions are abundant, the products are all homemade. There is also the possibility of buying jams, honey, as well as cheeses and other products. The setting conveys a sense of craftsmanship and tradition, and the restaurant has an indoor space and a large garden overlooking Lake Garda.
IMPORTANT NOTE: we think that the group will be better off by following the easiest route and avoiding most of the steps that take to the sanctuary. The shuttle bus (additional cost EUR 2 per person not included and paid directly on location) will leave you at 300 yards approximately from the Church. Once reached the church, you will have to take an elevator (that is located under the steps) and than you will have to climb 30 steps.
Day 6: Day tour from Verona to Sirmione and Garda Lake
Reach the town of Sirmione (40 minutes approx driving time).
spend 2h at leisure visiting the unbelievably charming town of Sirmione, a perfect location of one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe: Garda Lake.
visit the amazingly preserved medieval Scaligero Castle in Sirmione (see pictures)
Drive along the Garda Lake cost to reach what is considered one of the most beautiful roads in the world: Strada della Forra. Famous for bein featured in several movies (llike James Bond) and for being called by Winston Churchill the 8th wonder of the world. See Video here.
We will continue our drive to the northmost town on the Lake and also the most famous one Riva del Garda for a nice stroll of this lovely town.
From here you can drive back to the Hotel in Verona, or take the Ferry from Riva del Garda to Malcesine for an boat experience on the Lake, and to admire a water view of the castle of Malcesine. Cost of ferry is EUR 10 and it is not included in the package
Return to your Hotel in Verona.
Day 7: Transfer to San Marino with stop in Bologna and Parmiggiano factory
On our way to San Marino we will stop at the Caseificio 4 Madonne for a guided tour of the factory and final tasting of Parmiggiano Reggiano
Next we will make a Stop in Bologna to meet our local guide for a tour of the major sites in this lovely City, home of the first University in the world.
Transfer to San Marino and check in at the Grand Hotel San Marino.
Day 8: Day at leisure to visit San Marino
time for a relaxing day in San Marino where everything can be reached without the need of transportation
Day 9: Transfer to Hotel near Cortona with stop in Arezzo. Afternoon cooking class
During this day of transfer we will explore the magnificent city of Arezzo on our way to the hotel.
Check in at the extremely charming Villa Schiatti near Cortona.
Afternoon cooking class directly the the hotel or at the Cooks in Tuscany school in Cortona https://cooksintuscany.com/
Day 10: Day tour to the region of Umbria to Visit Perugia, Assisi and Crotona
You will meet your local guide for a lovely day tour to Perugia and Assisi
will have a chanche to visit the famous Perugina chocolate factory
on our drive to Perugia we will drive by Lago Trasimeno and the Borgia Castle (optional picture stop at our return)
Optional stop for a visit of Cortona before our return to the hotel.
Day 11 (Option A): day tour to Florence and, San Gimignano
This option requires a direct payment of EUR 170 total for the group to the guide in Florence
This is a 4.5 hours total driving time tour which will make the available time at each location not extensive
A one hour and some drive will take us to one of the greatest jewels of Italy: Florence . The tour of Florence starts with the wonderful Michelangelo Square where you can enjoy the most beautiful view of the city.
The tour continues to the historical downtown area where you will be able to visit some of all of the following sites:
The Piazza Santa Croce with Santa Croce Church
Piazza del Duomo and Giotto’s Bell Tower
Piazza della Signoria (Palazzo Vecchio)
Piazza della Republica
The elegant Ponte Vecchio (The Old Bridge)
Our tour will continue to the town of San Gimignano, a beautiful example of an Italian medieval town. Do not forget to taste the Vernaccia di San Gimignano wine, a typical wine from the Chianti region.
Possible picture stop at Monteriggioni on our drive back to the hotel.
Day 11 (Option B): day tour to Monteriggioni, San Gimignano picture stop in Siena on the way back
Drive and stop for a visit to the unique walled town of Monteriggioni
Explore San Gimignano, a beautiful example of an Italian medieval town. Do not forget to taste the Vernaccia di San Gimignano wine, a typical wine from the Chianti region.
If desired on our way back we could make a stop in Siena, one of the most beautiful town in Tuscany
Day 12: Transfer day To Tarquinia, visit Montepulciano, Pienza and Montalcino + winery tour
On this transfer day you explore the beautiful countryside of the Val D’Orcia.
We will visit the towns of Montepulciano, Pienza
Next in Montalcino we will visit a winery where they make the famous Brunello di Montalcino.
Transfer to Tarquinia and Check in at Valle del Marta
Day 13: Day tour to Viterbo and Bomarzo
Once arrived in the beautiful town of Viterbo we will meet your local guide for a tour of this beautiful location
Viterbo is a dazzling ancient city situated between two magnificent lakes, Bolsena and Vico. Enclosed by walls made of lava stone, Viterbo has spectacularly preserved medieval architecture (one of the best in Italy) and an abundance of antique shops. The main attraction in Viterbo is the Papal Palace (Palazzo dei Papi), which served as a country residence and a refuge during times when Rome was unsafe. Viterbo's historic center of San Pellegrino is one of the best preserved medieval squares in all of Italy. Here you can see the intact authentic stone walls that were vital in protecting the residents from Papal attacks. As we walk through Viterbo's Piazza della Morte and Piazza del Plebiscito, history can be seen through its magnificent architecture. Viterbo will surprise you with its abundance of rich history.
Next we will drive to Bomarzo Gardens or Park of Monsters
A short drive away from Viterbo rest the enchanted Bomarzo gardens, laid out by Vicino Orsini in the 16th century at Bomarzo. Here you'll find larger-than-life statues sculpted in the bedrock, grotesque masks, and a twisted little house, all unconnected to any rational plan and apparently strewn almost randomly about the area, "solo per Sfogare il Core" ("just to set the heart free") as one inscription on an obelisk says.
Day 14: Transfer day to ship in Civitavecchia
check out from Valle Del Marta and transfer to the Odyssey of the Sea at the port of Civitavecchia.
Interesting article: Discovering the Lakes of Lombardy