Home > Deluxe Tours

Bellissima Northern Italy
11 Days / 10 Nights

• Tauck’s Yellow Roads
  A picture-postcard setting awaits along every turn, dip and bend of Tauck’s winding Yellow Roads through the beautiful Italian Lakes region – Lake Como, Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano are tranquility perfected.

• Bueno Gastronomical Experiences
  Bologna is the food capital of Italy, an epicurean delight for every palate; you’ll learn the secrets of a master chef at a cooking class – and enjoy a memorable dinner.

• The Making of Balsamic Vinegar
  Discover the art of producing the Modena region’s specialty, balsamic vinegar, and attend a tasting.

• Dine on Lake Como
  A cruise on beautiful Lake Como takes you past glamorous lakeside villas to the elegant Crotto Dei Platani overlooking the lake; dine on regional specialties that might include cavedano, one of the lake’s fish.

1. Arrive Milan
Tour begins: 6:00 PM at Grand Hotel et de Milan. A transfer is included from Milan Malpensa Airport to Grand Hotel et de Milan. At once you’ll feel the vibrancy of this cosmopolitan city that synergizes ancient and modern cultures in its art, fashion, and cuisine – the best Italy has to offer – set in the incomparably gorgeous lake region of Lombardy. A welcome cocktail reception this evening is followed by dinner. Meals D

2. Milan: City of Fashion & Art
Stand in awe of The Last Supper, painted by Leonardo da Vinci on a wall of the 15th-century convent, Santa Maria delle Grazie. The quiet power of this legendary fresco reverberates through centuries of western culture, still inciting mystery and controversy. Continue from its humble setting to the gilded halls of Castello Sforzesco, home to patrons of Leonardo, and the power center of Milan for generations. Tour the Duomo, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world; bristling with spires, it is adorned with a staggering display of statues, gargoyles and stained glass. A more recent architectural wonder is the Galleria, a vast 19th-century shopping arcade whose massive glass dome shelters a world of brilliant mosaics, as well as stylish shops and cafés that attract the glitterati. A walking tour of the city center is followed by free time and dinner on your own – your hotel is across the street from one of Milan’s most elegant streets, famed Via Napoleone. Don’t miss the fashion district, Quadrilatera, the heart of Italian chic and the upscale haunt of the rich and glamorous. Meals B

3. Lake Maggiore and Beautiful Como
Long and languorous, Lake Maggiore, with its secluded villas and lazy islands, offers a retreat from the bustle of the city. Arrive at Stresa on your way to Isola Bella, and the ancient home of the Borromeo Family, Palazzo Borromeo. Rising on a small island of landscaped gardens and terraces, the palazzo has hosted countless illustrious visitors, including Napoleon and Josephine. Ferry to a rest stop at stylish Lugano; walk its charming cobbled streets and enjoy the waterfront promenade, boutiques and outdoor cafés set along the lake. A scenic drive along Lake Lugano ends at the Grand Hotel Cadenabbia in Como, for a two-night stay. Meals BLD

4. Lake Como and Bellagio
Lake Como is the most beguiling of Italian lakes, sought after by aristocrats and film stars for its lush green islands, luscious villas, and the stunning Alps as a backdrop. Travel to Tremezzo to visit the 17th-century Villa Carlotta, called “a place of heaven,” on acres of landscaped gardens. Cruise to Bellagio, a resort town on the tip of a slender peninsula with spectacular views of the lake and mountains. Explore the shops and cafés at your leisure. Later, a boat ride past palatial lakeside villas takes you to dinner at Crotto Dei Platani, a restaurant located partially in a cave (or crotto) overlooking the lake, a dreamlike setting at evening. Meals BD

5. Roman Treasures of Northern Italy
Drive to Lake Garda and Sirmione, which the Roman poet Catullus called “the gem of all the peninsulas,” set in a dramatic landscape of glacier-carved cliffs and mountain pines. Since the first century, conquerors have fallen under the spell of its majesty. A storybook castle, Rocca Scaligera, guards the tip of the peninsula and its belfries, battlements, inviting gardens, churches and villas. Spas, outstanding restaurants, thermal baths, markets, and fashionable shops seduce the modern traveler. Depart for the nearby city of Verona and arrive at the Due Torri Hotel Baglioni for a two-night stay; you’ll dine at a local restaurant this evening. Meals BD

6. Verona and a Taste of Amarone
Verona is second only to Rome in its number of Roman ruins, which even includes a coliseum. Pastel villas, built from rosso di Verona, the local pink limestone, line the cobbled streets – and Romeo and Juliet played out their illicit affair here. But besides its romantic history, the city is celebrated for its outstanding wine and cuisine. Discover its epicurean essence on a tour of a local winery, L’Azienda Allegrini. For generations, the Allegrini family has been synonymous with Valpolicella, and producers of Amarone, a world-famous wine unique to the region. After the wine and food tasting, return to the city. Meals B

7. Mantua and Modena
Mantua (Mantova), a city of imposing Gothic architecture, bounded on three sides by lakes, is the birthplace of the poet Virgil and the setting for Verdi’s Rigoletto. Your tour includes the Palazzo Ducale, and the Castello San Giorgio, a 14th-century fortress that houses an outstanding art collection. After lunch, drive to Modena, home of the Ferrari and Maserati. Besides fast cars, Modena is famous for balsamic vinegar, produced only in the lakes region. A tour of a local museum reveals the art of balsamic vinegar making – an elaborate process of rendering grapes and decanting must into wooden barrels – as well as sampling this aromatic staple of gourmet cooking. Arrive at the Grand Hotel Bologna where you’ll dine at a local restaurant tonight for a gastronomic delight. Meals BLD

8. Epicurean Delights in Bologna
Enjoy a walking tour of the elegant center of Bologna, where palaces cluster in the shade of two colossal medieval towers. The afternoon is yours to explore on your own. Discover why the city’s nickname is La Grassa (the Fat One); gastronomic opportunities abound in this gourmet capital! A cooking class by a master chef will show you some secrets, followed by a memorable dinner. Meals BD

9. Ferrara, Padua and on to Venice
Arrive in Ferrara, where the battlements and towers of Castello D’Etense loom over the city center. A walking tour of the town uncovers a wealth of museums, art galleries, and palazzi. Have lunch at a local restaurant, and then continue on to Padua, famous as a medieval seat of learning. Visit the Basilica de Sant Antonio de Padua (Il Santo), where the saint himself lies in a tomb of carved marble. Continue on to the lovely city of Venice for a two-night stay; your hotel, the Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice, is set on Giudecca Island with breathtaking views of the canals. A flourmill in 1895, the restoration has created an architectural delight, just minutes by boat to Piazza San Marco. Meals BL

10. Venice Delights
Venice is art itself, in all its passion, eccentricity, and poignancy; its streets are a maze of canals arched by bridges and lined with magnificent palazzi. Travel by boat to Piazza San Marco for a guided walking tour, where you’ll get an insider’s view. The basilica features exquisite mosaics and carvings. You will also visit the Doges’ Palace, official residence of Venetian rulers in the Middle Ages. Nothing compares to a serenade on a gondola ride along the canals; it is something you expect to do in Venice – yet it will tug at your heartstrings long after your return. Spend the afternoon exploring on your own before returning to the hotel for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner. Meals BD

11. Journey Home
Tour ends: Venice, Italy. Fly home any time. A transfer from Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice to Venice Marco Polo Airport is included. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

Begins Milan
May 2, 16, 30 Jun 6, 13, 27
Jul 25
Aug 22
Sep 5, 19, 26 Oct 3, 17

11 Days from $4,960 plus airfare
(10 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches & 7 Dinners)

Price Per Person
Double $4960 / Single $6299 / Triple $4690

International Airfare is additional. Call for special rates on international air for travel originating in the U.S. (subject to availability).

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before your tour begins and about our comprehensive Guest Protection Plan.

• Night 1,2 Grand Hotel et de Milan
  Milan, Italy
• Night 3,4 Grand Hotel Cadenabbia
  Lake Como, Italy
• Night 5,6 Due Torri Hotel Baglioni
  Verona, Italy
• Night 7,8 Grand Hotel Bologna
  Bologna, Italy
• Night 9,10 Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice
  Venice, Italy

Back to Itinerary Page