Italian Masterpieces & the Enchanted Lakes · 12 days
From Rome to Milan through Italy’s great masterpieces: Assisi, Siena, Florence, Bologna, Venice and Verona, a Franciacorta tasting, lakes Garda and Como, and the legendary Bernina Express into the Alps.
Departures: May 2027: 20 · Jun 2027: 3*, 17 · Jul 2027: 8, 22, 29 · Aug 2027: 12 · Sep 2027: 2, 16, 30 · Oct 2027: 7
Day-by-day itinerary
B · Breakfast · L · Lunch · D · Dinner
Day 1 · Rome
Welcome to Rome! After the transfer to the hotel, enjoy a daily ticket for the Hop-on Hop-off panoramic bus and admire the city’s main monuments, hopping on and off at any stop. Free afternoon to explore at your own pace. Accommodation in Rome.
Day 2 · Rome (B)
After breakfast, a 2.5-hour guided tour of Rome’s archaeological area with a radio guide: the Colosseum, the Flavian Amphitheatre where gladiator fights were held; the Palatine Hill, the mythical birthplace of Rome with panoramic views; and the Roman Forum, the centre of Roman life. Rest of the day free. Accommodation.
Day 3 · Rome › Assisi › Siena › Florence (B, L)
Departure at 07:15 by luxury coach to Assisi, a walled medieval town. Visit the Basilica of St Francis, with frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue, and lunch in Assisi. Continue to Siena, a World Heritage Site, famous for its shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and the Palio. Then a route through the Tuscan landscape to Florence. Hotel check-in and accommodation.
Day 4 · Florence (B, L)
Discover Florence, cradle of the Renaissance: the Duomo, Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery; Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio and the Basilica of Santa Croce. Lunch at a typical Tuscan restaurant. In the afternoon, free time or an optional excursion to Pisa (Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli). Dinner at leisure. Accommodation in Florence.
Day 5 · Florence › Bologna › Venice (B, food experience)
Travel to Bologna, rich in culture and gastronomy. Walk from Piazza Malpighi to Piazza Maggiore, admiring the Basilica of San Petronio and the Palazzo del Podestà, and a food experience with a light local lunch of traditional delicacies. Stroll through the medieval streets and porticoes. In the afternoon, departure for Venice, check-in and accommodation.
Day 6 · Venice (B, food experience)
Transfer to St Mark’s Square for a guided tour of the most iconic sights: the Doge’s Palace (from outside) and the Bridge of Sighs. Then a glass of spritz or prosecco with cicchetti, the traditional Venetian tapas. In the afternoon, free time to explore canals, craft shops and hidden corners. Accommodation in Venice.
Day 7 · Venice › Verona › Franciacorta › Bergamo (B, L)
Departure for Verona, famous for its Arena. With a local guide, stroll the historic centre —Roman, medieval and Renaissance architecture— not missing Juliet’s House and balcony. Then Franciacorta, renowned for its sparkling wine: a light lunch and tasting of local products. End the day in Bergamo, where we spend the night.
Day 8 · Bergamo › Sirmione › Desenzano del Garda › Bergamo (B, D)
Lake Garda, the largest in Italy, is today’s destination. We drive its western shore admiring the Brenta Dolomites (UNESCO) among lemon and olive groves and bougainvillea. In Sirmione, famous for its medieval castle and the ruins of Catullus’ villa, a short boat trip and free time for lunch. Then Desenzano del Garda, with its elegant lakeside promenade. Dinner and accommodation in Bergamo.
Day 9 · Bergamo › Como › Bellagio › Milan (B)
Short visit to Como, famous for its lake and Alpine views. We explore Bellagio, at the fork of the lake’s two branches, with picturesque streets, villas and gardens. Free time for lunch. Then by boat to Cadenabbia, where the driver takes us on to Milan. Accommodation.
Day 10 · Milan › Bernina Express › Milan (B)
After breakfast, meet your driver and set off for St. Moritz, with free time to explore. Then board the Bernina Express for one of the most scenic train journeys in the world: alpine villages, tunnels and stunning landscapes as you cross the Bernina Pass towards Tirano. On arrival, your driver will be waiting to return to Milan.
Day 11 · Milan (B, food experience)
After breakfast, free time to explore Milan at your own pace. In the afternoon, a three-hour walking tour of the historic centre with a local guide: from Porta Venezia along Corso Venezia, the Indro Montanelli gardens and the Gallery of Modern Art, the iconic Teatro alla Scala, the majestic façade of the Duomo and the Castello Sforzesco. Then a relaxing aperitivo (happy hour with 1 drink included). Accommodation in Milan.
Day 12 · Milan (B)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport. Arrivederci!
What’s included
- Arrival transfer in Rome and departure transfer in Milan
- Accommodation in 4* hotels (or similar) with daily breakfast
- Rome: Hop-on Hop-off panoramic bus and Colosseum, Forum and Palatine with skip-the-line
- Visits to Assisi, Siena and Bologna and guided tour in Florence, Venice, Milan and Verona
- Lunch in Assisi and lunch at a typical Tuscan restaurant in Florence
- Food experience in Bologna, spritz and cicchetti in Venice and happy hour in Milan (1 drink each included)
- Light lunch with wine tasting in Franciacorta
- Panoramic boat transfers and lakes Como and Garda
- Ride on the Bernina Express
- 3 meals + 3 food experiences + 1 light lunch with wine tasting
Not included
- International flights to and from Italy
- Tips of any kind and personal extras
- City accommodation tax (paid at the hotel)
- Drinks not included with meals, unless part of the experience
- Entrance to museums or monuments not mentioned
- Anything not listed under “Included”
Planned hotels
4-star hotels (or similar)
- Rome · Hotel St. Martin 4* or Hotel Diana Roof Garden 4*
- Florence · Hotel Raffaello 4* or Hotel Una Vittoria 4*
- Venice · Hotel B&B Venezia Laguna 4* or Hotel Hampton by Hilton Venice Isola Nuova (Tronchetto area)
- Bergamo · Hotel Cappello d’Oro 4*
- Milan · Hotel Concorde 4* or Hotel Ramada Plaza 4*
Prices per person
| Season | Double | Triple | Single |
|---|---|---|---|
| High season · May–Oct 2027 | 3591 € | 3591 € | 4864 € |
Prices per person in euros by season and room occupancy. The final confirmation and payment method are arranged with our team.
Supplements per person
- Departure on 3 June (Milan trade fair): Double 3729 € · Triple 3729 € · Single 5277 €
Important notes
- Prices per person in euros, by room occupancy.
- Departure on 3 June: as it coincides with trade-fair dates in Milan, a supplement applies; the total price per person is €3,729 in double/triple and €5,277 in single.
- The city accommodation tax is not included and is paid at the hotel.