NORTHERN ITALY: FROM VENICE TO PIEDMONT

DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN VENICE

Arrival in Venice airport and private transfer to your Hotel. Lunch on your own . Free afternoon to relax at your hotel or to visit the city centre at leisure. Welcome dinner based on Venetian specialties. Overnight in Venice.

ESSENCE SPECIALS

 

• A special welcome dinner serving the best Venetian specialties in a romantic and evocative atmosphere: the restaurant "Agli Assassini"


• A gondola ride at sunset (on request)

DAY 2 - CLASSIC VENICE TOUR

In the morning meeting in Hotel with private guide and beginning of the HD classical walking guided tour of Venice city centre of 2 hours, visiting the main highlights. Afternoon at leisure to visit and explore Venice on own. Dinner and overnight in Venice

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 

• St Mark’s Square, one of the biggest and more beautiful squares in the world


• Gran Canal, with its bridges and elegant palaces directly built on the sea


• The Cathedral, masterpiece of Byzantine and Gothic art


• Rialto Bridge

ESSENCE SPECIALS

 

• A private walking tour with licensed guide

DO NOT MISS

 

• The Dukes’ Palace, full of enchanting and elegant salons, artistic masterpieces and terrifying prisons


• Craftsmen’s masks shops along Venice streets


• An aperitif at the typical "bacari", where to have excellent Italian wines accompanied by appetizers

DAY 3- MURANO, BURANO AND TORCELLO

In the morning, meet with your private English speaking guide in the hotel and departure with ferry to visit Murano, Burano and Torcello, three wonderful islands where you can admire the art of Venetian craftsmen. Lunch on own in a typical restaurant of one of these islands. Return to Venice in the early afternoon, balance of the day at leisure. Dinner on own and overnight in Venice.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 

• Murano island, famous for its glass-ware and glass laboratories


• Burano island, with its colourful fishermen’s houses painted in bright colours and its lace-making laboratories


• Torcello, the silence of its atmosphere and the mystical surrounding of its ancient Byzantine church

ESSENCE SPECIALS

 

• Private islands’ tour, an original exclusive excursion with professional guide

DO NOT MISS

 

• Glass objects and souvenirs in Murano


• Glass production live demonstration in laboratories in Murano


• Burano typical pastries: the "Buranelli"


• Burano hand-made laces


• A lunch at the famous Locanda Cipriani in Torcello, a real must-go restaurant.

DAY 4-GARDA LAKE

In the morning, check-out and private transfer to Garda Lake. Stop on the way to visit Sirmione, the real "jewel" of the lake, with its quaint streets and the Catullo archeological park. Lunch on own in Sirmione. Afterwards, walking tour of Salò, a charming village overlooking the Garda Lake and visit of the wonderful Vittoriale, the marvellous palace home of Italian poet D’Annunzio. Dinner on own in a local restaurant. Overnight in Salò.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 

• Luxurious palaces and villas in Salò, where high society used to gather in the past


• The Vittoriale: full of history, precious objects and legends


• Sirmione quaint streets and spectacular archaeological park surrounded by the natural environment of Garda Lake

DO NOT MISS

 

• An ice cream in one of the several ice-cream shops in Sirmione


• Sostaga restaurant, directly overlooking the Garda Lake


• Reading Catullo ’s immortal lines while sitting on the archaeological park’s stones and admiring the wonderful panorama

DAY 5 - MILAN

In the morning, private transfer from Garda Lake to Milan. Check-in at your hotel and meeting with your guide for an half-day walking tour around the city centre with the main highlights and attractions. Lunch on own. Afternoon at leisure to visit the city: we suggest you to take a stroll in Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga to do some shopping and admire the wonderful and creative street shop windows. Typical dinner in a local restaurant.
Overnight in Milan

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 

• Milan cathedral, built in Gothic style: walk among its pinnacles to admire its magnificence


• Vittorio Emanuele Gallery, where local high society gathered during Belle Epoque


• Scala Theatre


• Sforzesco castle, the mansion of Milan’s ruling families

ESSENCE SPECIALS

 

• A private walking tour that will help you discover all the cultural attractions hidden in Milan


• A 3 courses dinner based on local authentic cuisine in the restaurant "Il Brellin" serving typical dishes such as the famous "risotto alla milanese".

DO NOT MISS

 

• Shopping in Milan fashion district in exclusive boutiques


• An aperitif at "La Cova", the most elegant and refined café of Milan


• Carla Sozzani gallery in Corso Como


• Leonardo da Vinci last supper: a real must-see of Milan city centre.

DAY 6 - COMO LAKE AND BELLAGIO

In the morning, private transfer from Milan to Como Lake, where you will visit Bellagio, undoubtedly the most famous resort on the lake. Lunch on own in Como city centre and visit of the area. In the afternoon, around 4 pm, private transfer from Como to Turin. Check-in at your hotel and overnight in Turin.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 

• Bellagio elegant and refined atmosphere, with elegant palaces, fishermen’s villages overlooking the lake and gardens


• Como lake, characterized by unspoilt nature and wonderful surroundings


• Como city centre, with its elegant shopping streets and historical monuments, such as St Mary’s dome and the Broletto, the city hall.

DO NOT MISS

 

• Restaurant "Solito Posto", founded in 1888 and presenting the best Italian cuisine dishes


• Craftsmen’s shops in Como city centre


• Villa Melzi Gardens in Bellagio, a wonderful garden directly overlooking the lake.


• A boat trip on the lake, with its natural marvellous surroundings.

DAY 7 - TURIN

In the morning, meet you licensed local guide and enjoy a half-day guided walking tour of Turin that will lead you to discover its elegant and refined atmosphere. Lunch at leisure along the tour. Rest of the day free to visit the town. Dinner on own and overnight in Turin

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 

• Via Roma, the city's most elegant shopping street


• Palazzo delle Scienze, that hosts the Galleria Sabauda, the private collection of Savoy Dukes


• The Mole Antonelliana, the monument symbol of Turin

ESSENCE SPECIALS

 

• Private tour with professional guide in Turin, an original and often ignored destination

DO NOT MISS

 

• The Cinema museum, a modern and interactive museum where to take a journey throughout cinema history


• A bicerin, the typical hot beverage based on coffee, cream and chocolate, served in the elegant cafés of Turin


• The Egyptian museum of Turin, one of the most complete museums in Italy.

DAY 8 - CHECK OUT

Check-out and transfer to Milan airport.

OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR THE TOUR: 3*, 4*, 5* HOTELS, VILLAS AND HISTORICAL RESIDENCES, ALL THE TOURS CAN BE PERSONALIZED AND TAILOR MADE

PRICE: ON REQUEST AT INFO@ESSENCEOFITALY.IT