Venice to Lake Como – 2 week Itinerary organised and booked by Passion for Italy Travel. You can choose a 3, 4 or 5 Star hotel in each of the cities.
Day 1
Welcome To Venice – La Serenissima
After 1400 years of extraordinary history Venice remains almost unchanged. It is a unique city, where historical palaces and churches and the homes of ordinary Venetians still line meandering canals, giving it a magical quality that never fails to amaze even the most seasoned traveler.
You will be welcomed into your hotel with fabulous views over the sea just a five min walk from San Marco. With a vaporetto stop 100m from your door, La Serenissima is there to explore at your leisure. Go up to the Terrace for a welcome drink and enjoy the sweeping views from San Marco to Guidecca, San Giorgio and the Lido of Venice.
Day 2
Private Venice Walking Tour
This tour is a discovery of Venice, navigating labyrinths of narrow alleyways, delicate bridges and enchanting canals and introducing you to life past and present in Venice. Leisure Time- The rest of the day is at your leisure. We all respond differently to long distance travel and this free afternoon and evening gives you the opportunity to continue to explore Venice.
Day 3
Doge’s Palace Tour
First built in the 9th century, and rebuilt in the 10th and 14th century the Palace of the Doges is the historical house of power in Venice. It is the home of the Venetian Grand Council, the Senate and the Doge, not to mention one of the finest examples of Gothic design in the world and its art collection will take you through the entire history of Venice itself.
Leisure Time – The rest of the day is at your leisure. If you have no plans of your own ask us for one of our suggested itineraries.
Day 4
A Day At Your Leisure. – If you have no plans of your own ask us for one of our suggested itineraries.
Day 5
A Royal Castle to Explore
Pack your bags and meet in the lobby to board your private water taxi transfer to meet your minibus transport for the day. Today you will have a private driver through the Veneto to your new accommodation, a castle near Padua. The castle is now at the centre of a wine estate and for the next two nights it’s apartments and beautiful grounds are ours to explore and enjoy.
Day 6
Head for the Hills
Today we are hitting the Strada delle Prosecco, Italy’s first Wine Route. We will explore the hills of the Veneto, visit wineries, sip Prosecco and learn about the food, wine and history of the region. Meals: (B)
Day 7
La Rotonda and Italian Cooking Class
This morning we will visit Antonio Palladio’s masterpiece Villa-Temple the Villa Almerico-Capra, better known as “La Rotonda”. Built for Bishop Paolo Almerico around 1570, the villa is now owned by the family of Count Valmarana, who opened it to the public in 1986.
The rest of the day is all about wine and food as we head into Valpolicella red wine country to a famous Wine Estate which is one of the oldest and most traditional estates in Valpolicella. We will take a cooking class and have lunch as well as taste and learn about the beautiful red and white wines grown and produced on the estate. From here we travel on to your hotel in the heart of Shakespeare’s “Fair Verona”, with all that this amazing and historical city has to offer right on your doorstep.
Day 8
Welcome to Fair Verona
Ostrogoths and Visigoths, Romans and Lombards, Emperors and Kings, Napoleon and NATO – for the last two and a half thousand years Verona has been at the centre of Italian and European power struggles. Today this beautiful city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers up her history, architecture and charm to visitors from around the globe.
It seems as though every day is market day in Verona and Saturday is no exception, with the traditional markets in Piazza delle Erbe, as well as the marvelous Flea Market at Piazzale Olympique. Take your time wandering around, check out all the local produce and wares and enjoy a spot of people watching as you go. You will be sure to find something new or old for yourself or a friend to keep forever as a reminder of this wonderful city.
Shakespeare’s Verona – Guided Walking Tour
This tour will introduce you to medieval Verona, the thriving town of Shakespeare’s day.
Day 9
A Day At Your Leisure
Today is totally free, allowing you to explore Verona at your own pace. If you have no plans of your own, ask us for one of our suggested itineraries.
Day 10
Verona to Bello Bellagio, Lake Como
Meet in lobby for private transfer and then on to Bellagio, nestled on the edge of Lake Como. Lake Como is Italy’s third largest lake and perhaps the best known. It’s stunning views and mild climate have drawn writers, artists and actors for more than a millennium and its star has yet to wane.
Stay in a former palace on the lake from all the rooms and the restaurant terrace has views right down the lake and to the mountains beyond.
Day 11
Lake Como
Meet in the lobby for a day on the lake. We will start with a private boat tour and transfer to Villa Balbianello, for a three hour private tour of the villa and its lavish gardens. When we are finished at Villa Balbianello we move on to tiny island in the middle of the lake for lunch and more exploring if you wish, before returning across the lake to Bellagio.
The rest of the afternoon and evening are yours to spend at your leisure.
Day 12
Como Tour
This morning we will have a private guided tour to introduce us to the city of Como. As with Verona, Como has been passed to and from any number of invaders over the millennia until in 1859, following the arrival of Garibaldi the town was freed from Austria and became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy. Como is famous for silk production and still produces today beautiful silks and velvets to be sold around the world.
Leisure Time: The rest of the day is free to spend at your leisure. You might take the funicular up to Brunate or perhaps the chapels of Sacro Monte di Ossuccio, high above Comacina may beckon or catch the ferry for an aperitivo at Villa d’Este a beautful hotel and villa. Catch the boat back to Bellagio for dinner.
Day 13
A Day At Your Leisure on Lake Como
Your last day is yours to spend entirely as you wish. Visit more picturesque villages, magnificent stately villas and gardens around the lake, or take time for some last minute shopping. The options are endless and as always we will be happy to help you plan your day.
Day 14
End of tour. Private Transfer to Milano Malpensa Airport.