Tuscany & Santa Margherita Ligure Milan, Chianti Region, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Lucca, Florence, Santa Margherita Ligure, Lake Como
Tuscany & Santa Margherita Ligure Price From: $7,900 Milan, a metropolis in Italy s northern Lombardy region is a global capital of fashion and design. See the Gothic Duomo di Milano cathedral and the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent, housing Leonardo da Vinci s fresco The Last Supper. Lake Como, in Northern Italy s Lombardy region, is an up-scale resort area known for its dramatic scenery. The namesake lake s deep-blue waters are set against the rugged, forested foothills of the Alps. Santa Margherita is a picture perfect old fishing village nestled on a seaside promenade with it s elegant hotels overlooking the Ligurian Sea, making this a popular holiday spot. Cinque Terre (meaning Five Terrains or Lands) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for t s colourful fishing villages nestled into the sea-side cliffs. Visit the majestic Leaning Tower of Pisa and the beautiful Renaissance walled town of Lucca. Stay in Chianti, one of the most attractive territories of Tuscany, Italy. The panorama of holm oak vineyards, pine and chestnut forests, olive groves, vineyards and cypresses, its steep hills and the red-tiled roofs of the farm houses make it instantly recognisable. Inclusions 10 nights in a Double room for Single Use in 4 Star quality hotels 4 x Dinners, 1 x Lunch, 1 x Picnic Lunch, breakfast daily English speaking guide throughout Transfers as shown Last Supper entrance fee Sforza Castle entrance fee Private boat for Lake Como Tour Villa Balbianello entrance fee Cinque Terre entrance card Leaning Tower entrance fee Accadamia Art Academy in Florence entrance fee Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence entrance fee Cooking experience Hotel bar is open almost daily between 5.30pm and 6.30pm with house wine, beer, soft drinks included exclusively for Individual Travellers Gratuities & Porterage Water on vehicles 24 hour assistance during your trip
Day 1 Welcome to Milan! Private transfers are available upon request Check-in to your Hotel and relax This evening you will meet your new friends and our Local Representative for a Welcome Aperitif at Hotel s Bar followed by a wonderful 3 course Dinner at Trattoria Milanesewith beer, wine & soft drinks included Hotel De La Ville, Milan (or similar) D Day 2 Today we will enjoy a very special introduction to Renaissance Milan including a visit to the Last supper with our local expert guide and driver Duration 4 hours Departing from our hotel we will begin our journey with our private guide through the Renaissance area of Milan. We will admire some of the most famous monuments while we learn about life in Milan during the Renaissance period. Our visits today will include the Castello Sforzesco with its Sala delle Assi Leonardesca and the Stone Rondinini by Michelangelo Buonarroti, the Church of Bramante S. Maria at S. Satiro. We will also admire the Church of S. Maurizio at Monastero Maggiore which was entirely frescoed by the Leonardesco Bernadino Luini (one of Leonardo Da Vinci s pupils) We will then make our way towards the building that represents one of the finest examples Renaissance of Milan but not only this was the home of Leonardo da Vinci during his stay in the city while he was frescoing the Last Supper in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The home is now residence of a very important family of Milan, your guide will give you a wonderful introduction from the outside. Now of course last but not least we will cross the street and make our way to the refectory where we will have the opportunity to admire Da Vinci s masterpiece, The Last Supper. This tour can definitely be considered the perfect introduction to what this magical city has to offer. Lunch and the afternoon is at your leisure Hotel e La Ville, Milan (or similar) B
Day 3 Today with our Local Guide we will enjoy admiring the beautiful towns, villages and gardens along Lake Como in the best possible place itself the lake including a wonderful Picnic at Parco Mayer! Duration: 8 hours As we leave the frantic city of Milan we will head north through the valleys of Lombardy to make our way to the pearl of the lake, Bellagio. Our tour today will take us on a gentle cruise along the western coastline to admire and enjoy all this area has to offer. Our guide will give us an amazing introduction to all the beautiful villas and gardens we will see during our cruise, many which are dated from 15th to 19th century. We will also have the opportunity to stop and enjoy these towns and learn more about what they have to offer. Our guide will have so much to share about the way of life of the people, the culture, history, the use of the villas and who they were primarily built for, the information is much and of course the curiosity will be so immense that the questions will keep on flowing! Return to Milan Hotel De La Ville, Milan (or similar) B, L Day 4 This morning you will enjoy a private Minibus transfer from your hotel to Santa Margherita Ligure stopping en-route at La Certosa di Pavia and at Serravalle Outlet with your Local Guide. Departing from Milan we will begin our drive south towards Pavia our Guide will give us some information on this enchanting city considered to be the jewel of Lombard Renaissance Art. The construction of the Certosa began in 1396 and finished in 1542. The Facade is in Policromo Marbel and the internal area s frescoes were painted by Bergognone. On the inside you will enjoy visiting the two cloisters, the refectory and the rooms where the Monks pass their days. During your visit you will also have the possibility to buy some of their own products such as tea, candy and honey. Lunch is at your leisure Check into your Hotel with the rest of the day at your leisure. Tonight you will enjoy a wonderful 3 course Dinner at La Stella dei Frati Restaurant with beer, wine & soft drinks included Hotel Regina Elena, Santa Margherita Ligure (or similar) B, D
Day 5 Today we will enjoy a wonderful hike with our local expert guide between the towns of Vernazza and Riomaggiore stopping along the way to enjoy a wine tasting and light lunch Duration: 8 hours. Moderate fitness level. Good walking shoes are a must! Departing from our Vernazza we will begin our hike along the Cinque Terre and our first stop will be the town of Corniglia. The hike between these two towns takes about 2.5 hrs and is absolutely lovely. Corniglia hangs above a rocky promontory overlooking the sea, surrounded by a basin of vines. We will admire the The Saint Peters church, built in 1334 in Genoese Gothic style but later remodelled from the Baroque period; this is possible only from the outside. We will then continue on to the town of Manarola, which is about a 1 hr and 10 minute walk from Corniglia. This can definitely be considered the most striking town of the Five Lands with its houses built sheer above the sea. Here we will enjoy a stop for a wine tasting and light lunch in one of the oldest wine cellars in Manarola. Afterwards we will continue our hike walking along Lovers Lane Via dell Amore which is the easiest part of the walk and leads to our destination Riomaggiore. The walk from Manarola to Riomaggiore is about 30 minutes. Riomaggiore is quite enchanting and legend has that it was founded by Greek refugees in the 8th century. The village is set out in two formations of brightly coloured houses. The church of Saint John the Baptist has a beautiful gothic facade and a splendid rose window from the 14th century, while above the village lie the ruins of a castle. However, the most fascinating part of Riomaggiore are its houses, tall and narrow, with entrances on different levels at the front and back. Here you will bid farewell to your guide and take the train back to Monterosso. (Tickets included) Important Note: If bad weather persists prior to your tour, your guide will have a wonderful alternative. Hotel Regina Elena, Santa Margherita Ligure (or similar) B Day 6 Today is at your leisure Hotel Regina Elena, Santa Margherita Ligure (or similar) B
Day 7 Enjoy a private Minibus transfer from your hotel to Chianti area with your Local Guide stopping in Pisa and Lucca on the way. Today you will enjoy exploring two of the most famous and beautiful towns of Tuscany. Departing from Santa Margherita Ligure with our Tour Manager our first stop will be Lucca and its medieval wall. Lucca, famous for its Renaissance-era city walls, it is a city to be discovered with the famous Via San Paolino, statue of Giacomo Puccini, Piazza San Michele, the Cathedral of S. Martino, where you can see some of the original structure such as the great apse with its tall columnar arcades and campanile and of course a must see on the list The Piazza Napoleone. After time exploring Lucca, you may wish to enjoy lunch here as the restaurants in Lucca are particularly good and varied before heading towards the Sea and the town of Pisa. To almost every tourist, Pisa is synonymous with its grand Torre Pendente (Leaning Tower) the almost symbolic image for Italy and an awesome structure that is actually a bell tower whose construction began in 1173 and took almost 200 years to build! But the Leaning Tower is only one Pi s breathtaking Campo dei Miracoli, or Field of Miracles. Here, also can be seen the magnificent Duomo, the Battistero, and the Galleria that encloses the Camposanto (monumental graveyard). On arrival in Radda in Chianti check into your Hotel Tonight you will enjoy a wonderful 3 course Dinner at the Hotel s Restaurant with beer, wine & soft drinks included Relais Il Vignale, Radda (or similar) B, D
Day 8 Today we will enjoy learning how to prepare some of the most delicious Tuscan and Italian recipes with our private chef. Enjoy this private hands-on cooking lesson surrounded in the hills of Chianti in a magnificent farmhouse where you will learn how to prepare the most delicious traditional home-style Tuscan and Italian recipes but not only you, your chef will also share some of her secrets on what makes this dishes so unique!! All ingredients are fresh, organic and natural. You will prepare a complete meal starting from appetizers, a pasta dish, a vegetable or meat dish and then a dessert. Afterwards you will sit down and enjoy the dishes you prepared, of course accompanied each by the perfect wine. Example Menu: Antipasto (Starter) Bruschetta or Crostini with Herbs First Course Fresh homemade Pasta or Potato gnocchi or Dry pasta with red or white sauces or Ribollita (Tuscan vegetable soup) Second Course Roasted meat (Arista alla Fiorentina), Turkey breast with Balsamic Vinegar or Stuffed vegetables or savoury Cakes with Zucchini Dessert Tiramisu or Panna Cotta or Gelato Any special requests may be made and also please advise regarding any food allergies. Starting Time : 9:30 am Duration:.4.5 hours ( including meal) Includes : half day hands on private cooking class, meal with water and wine, snack with drinks and wine during the lesson, apron and recipes in English and return transfers The rest of the day and dinner is at your leisure Relais Il Vignale, Radda (or similar) B, L
Day 9 Enjoy Breakfast in Hotel Today you will have an amazing day discovering the beautiful city of Florence and all it has to offer with your local expert driver and guide -Duration: 9 hours Departing from our hotel with our Local Guide, we will begin our journey through the Chianti region towards the city of Florence. During our drive we will enjoy a wonderful introduction to this lovely region and to what awaits us. Upon arrival, we will meet our local expert guide and begin discovering this amazing city, its highlights, history and some of the lesser known areas. Just to name a few: Piazza della Signoria, one of the most amazing squares in Italy, with its masterpieces of Renaissance and Baroque sculpture and also the city s seat of government for more than 700 years, that of the medieval Palazzo Vecchio. Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral square where we can admire the Gothic bell-tower and the Romanesque baptistery with its stunning bronze doors, the most famous by Ghiberti Gates of Paradise The Ponte Vecchio and its numerous jewellery shops where you can find beautiful hand-made gold jewellery, a lasting tradition in this city, dating back to the pre-roman era of the Etruscans. This medieval bridge is the oldest across the Arno River, offering lovely views of this amazing city and the Tuscan hills. As you can see there is just so much to see and enjoy and learn with your guide! After our 5-hour tour, we will enjoy some time at leisure before heading back to Chianti. Relais Il Vignale, Radda (or similar) B, L Day 10 See the highlights of the enchanting Chianti Region with your Local Expert Driver Duration 5 hours Today s half day tour will not only take you on an amazing introduction to one of Tuscany s most famous wine areas but you will also discover all the other beauties of the region. Your private driver will not only give you heads up on the way of life, the culture but you will also enjoy a stop in one of the best wineries to enjoy a tasting of some of the best Chianti wines. (payment for wine tasting is direct) Lunch and the afternoon is at your leisure Tonight you will enjoy a wonderful 3 course Farewell Dinner at Osteria di Passignano with beer, wine & soft drinks included. Transportation to/from restaurant is included Relais Il Vignale, Radda (or similar) B, D Day 11 Private transfers to Florence Airport are available upon request Arriverderci!