ITALY from Milan to Milan

TO THE ALPS & BACK BY BERNINA EXPRESS TRAIN

8 DAYS/ 7 NIGHTS

Milan / Bernina Express / Como / Bellagio / Bergamo / Sirmione / Riva Del Garda / Verona / Wine tasting Franciacorta / Milan

DEPARTURE DATES THURSDAY
High season
MAY 30
JUNE 6, 27
JULY 11, 18
AUGUST 1, 15
SEPTEMBER 5
OCTOBER 10, 24

DAY 1 THURSDAY - Welcome to Milan!
Meet our driver at Milan Malpensa Airport and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel.

Day at leisure.
Overnight ANTARES HOTEL CONCORDE BW, MIlan

DAY 2 Friday (B / HAPPY HOUR) Milan
Breakfast at the hotel.

In the afternoon, meet your professional local guide at the hotel and set off on a three-houR walking tour through the heart of Milan. Going down via Spallanzani, you will reach Porta Venezia (literally Venice Gate), one of the historical gates to the city. It has medieval and maybe even Roman origins, and it gives the name to the city district all around it. An urban legend has it that the other name it is known as - “Porta Renza” - stems from Renzo Tramaglino, co-protagonist of he novel The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni, who enters Milan exactly from this access.

You will proceed toward Corso Venezia and take a shortcut inside Giardini Indro Montanelli, a public garden. Opposite the gardens, you will go past GAM, the Galleria d’Arte Moderna (modern art museum). Proceeding along
Viale Manzoni, you will head for La Scala opera house (Teatro alla Scala), inaugurated on 3 August 1778. The theater underwent major renovations from early 2002 to late 2004.

Next then, get ready to take in the stunning Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano). Your tour guide will illustrate its main
features.

The last stop will be the majestic Castello Sforzesco, a medieval fortress built in the 15th century by the Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza.

In its vicinity, we have chosen a refined bakery for you to be able to relax and taste a typical aperitivo (happy hour). At the end of the aperitivo, the tour is over and you will have some free time before returning to the hotel on your own. Overnight stay is in Milan.
Overnight ANTARES HOTEL CONCORDE BW, MIlan

DAY 3 SATURDAY (B) Milan · Bernina Express · Milan
This is the day of your Bernina Express tour, on board “the train that snakes its way up to the mountain peaks". Just like sitting in a theater, you will admire unique views from your seat on board the Bernina Train, a piece of history (it is
100 years old) and a World Heritage train.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet our driver and reach Tirano. You will get on board there and start this ride along one of the most beautiful railway routes in the world, with its unsurpassed alpine views. The journey will need two hours to complete.

As the train winds its way over the Alps, occasionally passing through mountain tunnels, and puffing its way past a myriad of towns and villages, a number of highlights will catch your attention.

Look out at the Swiss Alps as you ride along the Bernina pass to St. Moritz, and then enjoy free time to explore it. Meet your driver to return to Milan (meeting point in St. Moritz). Overnight stay in Milan.
Overnight ANTARES HOTEL CONCORDE BW, MIlan

DAY 4 SUNDAY (B, D) Milan · Como · Bellagio · Bergamo
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and then prepare for a short visit to Como, a tourist destination for its vicinity to Lake
Como and the Alps. Amazing views over the lake and the alpine valleys are guaranteed!

The lake itself, sometimes called Lario, has long been famous for its y-shape and for Bellagio, that you will reach by boat. This little gem town lies at the intersection of the lake’s two southern arms, with the Alps dominating the horizon to the north, and is home to some of the most charming landscapes in Italy.

Spend some time exploring this picturesque village and its small streets, luxury hotels, villas, and gardens, Back on board, you will make your way to Tremezzo/ Villa Carlotta where you will meet the driver and begin your journey to Bergamo, a truly historic and artistic jewel characterized by its urban structure: the città bassa (or lower town) is modern and dynamic, while the famous città alta (or upper town) houses the city’s medieval heart.

Check in at your Bergamo hotel, dinner and overnight.
Overnight CAPPELLO D’ORO 4*, Bergamo

DAY 5 MONDAY (B, D) Bergamo · Sirmione · Riva del Garda · Bergamo
Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy, is the next destination.

After breakfast at your hotel, you suggest to take a panoramic tour of the lake’s west coast, taking in the splendid natural landscape, like the Brenta Dolomites (the Brenta Group has been officially recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the gentle slopes of the Moraine Hills of Lower Garda.

Enjoy the area’s rich vegetation, including lemon trees, oleanders, magnolias, bougainvillea and be sure to taste some of the locally-made olive oil and wines.

Next, you will move to Sirmione, where Lake Garda and its surroundings are at their finest. See the sun reverberating on lake’s blue waters, the tree-lined shores, Sirmione Castle as well as the ruins of Catullus’s villa or Grottoes of Catullus (the 1st century BC poet owned a villa here) during a boat tour.

Once you’re through, you will have some free time before departing for Riva del Garda. Located on the north side of the lake, you will see its quaint Venetian-style historical center.

Dinner and overnight stay in Bergamo.
Overnight CAPPELLO D’ORO 4*, Bergamo

DAY 6 TUESDAY (B, L) Bergamo · Verona · Franciacorta (light lunch and wine tasting) · Milan
After breakfast, reach “fair Verona”, a museum en plain air. A local professional will be waiting for you and take you on a guided tour. The fascinating mix of historical periods and cultures (both classical and Germanic) is a blend of Nordic as well as Mediterranean influences that is both ancient and modern. A walk through its narrow streets will allow you to get in touch with Verona’s varied and fascinating past: traces of its splendid Roman origins, its medieval structures, its magnificent renaissance palaces, as well as the impressive fortifications protecting it. The combination of art and history will amaze you.

Two of William Shakespeare's plays are set in Verona: “Romeo and Juliet” is by far the most famous one. We suggest taking a look at the so-called Juliet’s home (and its balcony, said to have been the legendary balcony of the famous “Oh Romeo, Rome” tragedy’s scene). It is a medieval building located in via Cappello. Capello is the name of a family who resided in the edifice in the 14th century.

After the Verona tour, you will drive toward the territory of Franciacorta, whose soil consisting of gravel and sand over limestone is ideal for the cultivation of grapes and for winemaking. This is why we chose this place for your next stop. This is where you will enjoy a light lunch and taste some local food as well as the renowned local wine.

After this experience, you will head for Milan. Overnight.
Overnight ANTARES HOTEL CONCORDE BW, MIlan

DAY 7 WEDNESDAY (B, APERITIVO) Milan
Did you sleep well? Time to get up now, you are in Milan, the city of fashion!
After breakfast at your hotel, we suggest to to take the time to visit Milan’s Fashion District, the epicenter of Italian fashion. Find the so-called Quadrilatero d'Oro (or Golden Rectangle) which is lined with prestigious haute couture boutiques including Versace, Prada, and Armani.

In the afternoon, reach our meeting point in Alzaia-Naviglio Grande and explore one of Milan's most beautiful
districts (Navigli) with a boat tour. The Navigli district is famous for its canals and vibrant night life. On the boat, you will cruise along the Naviglio Grande (grand canal) while you have an excellent cocktail and delicious snacks. You will see old typical edifices on the canal, whose ground floors have been converted into bars, restaurants, and art galleries.

Navigating upstream you will reach one of the oldest churches in the city: San Cristoforo sul Naviglio. You will then see the historic headquarters of Canottieri Olona (a multi-watersports club) and the famous Vicolo dei Lavandai (or Alley of the Launderers), an open-air wash house in use from the 18th century through the 1950s (their members would collect the laundry from around the city in wicker baskets and take them on their shoulder to this alley). You can listen to the audio guide if you please in order to learn a bit of history, or you can simply enjoy the navigation while chatting with your travel companions. Overnight in Milan.
Overnight ANTARES HOTEL CONCORDE BW, MIlan

DAY 8 THURSDAY (B) Milan
After breakfast, transfer to the airport. Arrivederci

INCLUSIVE FEATURES
Transfers and sightseeing in air conditioned motor coach bus
4 star hotels as per itinerary or similar
Breakfast daily, 1 lunch, 2 dinners, happy hour in Milan
Local guide in Milan and Verona, Bernina Express,
Food & Wine tasting
Scenic boat transfers
Unique Bernina Express train ride
Drinks and finger food on a boat on the Navigli in Milan
Light lunch in Franciacorta region

NOT INCLUDED
City tax to be paid directly to the hotel
International air

COST PER PERSON - LAND ONLY
Travel agent rate based on double occupancy $2400.00
Companion rate based on double occupancy $2500.00

EXTENSIONS are available

NOTE: You will be traveling with regular passengers at travel agent rates