By train, by land, by sea: A real journey through Italy
Intertravel Viaggi
Explore Italy in 12 days! You start your journey in Bellagio, a beautiful city located on the banks of the Lake Como. After visiting Milan and Venice (traveling by fast train) you will join a group tour to the Lagoon island where you will visit Murano, the Glass Island. With another fast train you will arrive to Rome where you will spend 2 days. By train you move on to Cinque Terre and end you journey in Milan.
DAY01:
ARRIVAL IN MILAN
According to your flight details, you will arrive in Milan Malpensa (MXP) or Milan Linate (LIN).
The first one is about 55 km far from the downtown, while the second is closer, with a distance of less than 10 km.
You will meet your driver waiting for you with a signboard, then board on your private car for the transfer to your hotel located in Bellagio, situated on the banks of the Lake Como.
Overnight in Bellagio in a 3 or 4 star hotel for 3 nights, with breakfast and local city tax included.
DAY02:
BELLAGIO
Breakfast at hotel
Today is completely at your disposal to enjoy the town.
Bellagio is a pearl on the shores of the lake as it sits in the middle of a 'Y' that gives the shape to this three-legged lake. You will experience the charming town with its narrow streets and steep alleyways, its cozy and inviting city center, the lakeside promenade aligned with flowers, markets and cafes.
You may also go to the ferry ticket office to get information about villages you can reach and visit by ferries departing from Bellagio.
DAY03:
LAKE COMO BOAT TOUR
Breakfast at hotel
Today enjoy a tour of the lake by private boat, at your disposal for 7hrs.
You will discover the lake from a new perspective, discovering enchanting historical villas surrounded by centuries-old gardens and spaces that artists have converted into a real art forms.
In the morning you will have a guided tour of Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, to visit its magnificent botanic garden and art masterpieces in over 70.000 square metres of gardens and museum.
After the visit, free time to enjoy the lake and its villages, you can ask for suggestions directly to the pilot to know the best places to see.
After the boat tour, relax at the hotel or stroll along the streets of Bellagio looking for a good restaurant to have your last dinner on the lake (not included).
DAY04:
MILAN / VENICE by FAST TRAIN
Breakfast at hotel
This morning you will travel to Milan to take your Fast Train leaving to Venice. Private car and driver will be at your disposal for this transfer. Train ride is about 2 hours and a half.
Upon your arrival at Venice station, you will find an English speaking assistant that will escort to your hotel, transfer by private taxi boat is also included.
Check in at your hotel in Venice, then acquaint with the nearby area. Walk through the canals to get to the magnificent Piazza San Marco, where you will find many café to stop in to sip the typical cocktail “Spritz”.
Rest of the day at disposal.
Overnight in Venice in a 4 star hotel for 3 nights, with breakfast and local city tax included.
DAY05:
VENICE
Breakfast at the hotel
Meet your English speaking guide at the hotel lobby to start a 2 hours walking tour of the city, including the admission to the beautiful St. Mark Basilica, the most famous of the city's churches and one of the best known examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture. Adjacent to the Basilica, you will find and visit inside the Doge's Palace. Originally it was the chapel of the Doge, and has only been the city's cathedral since 1807, when it became the seat of the Patriarch of Venice.
After the tour, free time to enjoy the city on your own. You may stop in one of the many “Bacari” to taste wine and local products (finger food).
DAY06:
LAGOON ISLANDS
Breakfast at hotel
Walk a little to join a morning group tour to the Lagoon islands. You will visit Murano, the Glass island, where you will have the opportunity to see a Glass Factory and assist to the glass-blowing by local artisans. Then move to the island of Burano, made of picturesque canals lined with brightly colored houses. The island is also famous for its artisan lace makers and there's a Lace Museum as well as shops selling lace. Last stop will be in the island of Torcello to see the spectacular Byzantine mosaics inside the seventh century Cathedral of Santa Maria Dell'Assunta. Much of the island is a nature reserve, accessible only on the walking paths.
Come back to Venice after the tour (duration is about 4 hours), then have free time to spend in Venice.
DAy07:
VENICE TO ROME By FAST TRAIN
Breakfast at the hotel
Private transfer till Venice station by private boat is included, then board your fast train to Rome Tiburtina. Train ride is about 3 hours and 35 minutes.
Upon your arrival you will meet your driver, for the transfer to the hotel where you will stay for 3 nights.
Overnight in Rome in a 4 star hotel for 3 nights, with breakfast and local city tax included.
The rest of the day is at your disposal to relax or to visit the city on your own.
DAY08:
ROME
Breakfast at hotel
Meet your English speaking guide and private car at the hotel lobby for a morning tour of the Vatican, including the admission to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter Basilica.
Vatican Museums boasts one of the most impressive art collections in the world. Some of the most famous works of art on display here include the wall and ceiling paintings of the Sistine Chapel, the Stanze of Raphael, the Laocoön statue and the Apollo del Belvedere.
The St. Peter's Basilica is the most important church in the world, with its magnificent altars and monuments inside, amongst all the works by sculptor/architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini and also Michelangelo's Pietà.
The afternoon is at your disposal, you may visit the typical Trastevere district, the neighborhood "across the Tiber" on Rome's left bank, that is a pleasant diversion from the tourist-heavy historic center.
DAY09:
ROME
Breakfast at hotel
Meet again your English speaking guide and private car at the hotel lobby for a morning visit to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
The Colosseum of Rome is without doubt the most renowned symbol of Rome all over the world. For the enjoyment of the inhabitants of Rome, it hosted fights between gladiators or against wild animals and fabulous spectacles as "naumachie", real naval combat in the arena filled with water, were organized. Under the arena of the Colosseum were numerous corridors and rooms used for housing the gladiators and the ferocious beasts that could be brought to the center of the arena thanks to a series of elevators and ramps.
The Roman Forum was in ancient times a marsh. From the end of the seventh century B.C., after the drainage of the marshes, the Forum was constructed and this served as the center of the public life in Rome for over a millennium.
Another afternoon at your disposal. Stroll along Via del Corso, that connect Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo, where you will find a lot of shops and café, and also the directions to reach the Trevi fountain and Spanish steps on a side, and the Pantheon and Navona square on the other side.
This evening enjoy a farewell dinner to the Eternal City at a local typical restaurant (included).
DAY 10:
ROME TO CINQUE TERRE VIA LUCCA INCLUDING TRAIN RIDE
Breakfast at hotel
Meet your private car and driver at the hotel lobby for the transfer to Rome TIBURTINA station.
Here take a fast train direct to Florence Santa Maria Novella. Train ride is about 1 hour and a half.
Upon your arrival, meet your English speaking driver at the station and board your private car for the transfer to Monterosso with a stop en route to Lucca for max 2 hours.
Lucca holds many attractions for the tourist. Its historic center, with medieval towers and nearly 100 churches, is completely enclosed by its walls and it's a good city for walking, biking, and shopping.
After the visit of Lucca, proceed north towards the Cinque Terre region, and Monterosso.
The car can arrive till the main square of the town , from there then you will have to walk for about 5/10 minutes uphill with several steps to reach your accommodation. You can contact the B&B owners to meet
them and get help to locate your accommodations.
Rest of the day is free to relax at your hotel or to walk around the town.
Overnight in Monterosso in a B&B for 2 nights, with breakfast and local city tax included.
DAY 11:
CINQUE TERRE
Breakfast at hotel
The day is completely at your disposal to explore the Cinque Terre.
The best way to visit is by the sea, you can buy the ferry tickets on the spot directly at the harbor ticket office. The ticket allows you to visit all the villages of the Cinque Terre except Corniglia, that cannot be reached by sea, only on foot or by train.
In case of bad weather conditions, you can travel by train, riding the “Cinque Terre Express”.
There is a ticket option that arrives till Portovenere, if you wish to go and visit the town.
Ask for suggestion to the B&B reception or directly at the ticket office.
DAY 12:
MONTEROSSO / MILAN by train / MALPENSA
Breakfast at hotel
After breakfast and check out at the hotel, walk till the main square to meet your driver for your private transfer to Monterosso station.
Then board your train to Milan (included) where you will find another driver who will escort to the airport for your flight back to home.
According to the flight departure, you may spend your last night in Milan and have the chance of a short visit to Italy's fashion and design capital. Milan is also home of Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece “The Last Supper”, and if you want to visit it do not forget to make a reservation in advance.
Lufthansa City Center