Bellissima Northern Italy

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Bellissima Northern Italy



Tour Description:

"Romancing the senses" is an apt description for the experiences showcased on Bellissima Northern Italy... for the landscapes you'll see and the lifestyles you'll sample take you on a love affair with Italy.
It starts with fashion and art in Milan. It continues during a private Tauck cruise across Lake Como to Bellagio and a boat ride to Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore. It captures your heart along the cobblestone streets of Verona, home to Romeo & Juliet... your taste buds at an agriturismo in the Franciacorta region and a cooking demo in Bologna (whose nickname is La Grassa, "the Fat One")... and all the senses in Venice, with visits by boat to some of the Venetian Islands and a Tauck Exclusive, after-hours guided visit to St. Mark's Basilica to view its treasures without the daytime crowds. Now that's amore, from pane to formaggio to vino...

Map for Bellissima Northern Italy
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Dates & Pricing

Saturday 13 Apr 24 — Tuesday 23 Apr 24Starting at $9,690Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Saturday 27 Apr 24 — Tuesday 07 May 24Starting at $9,690Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 01 May 24 — Saturday 11 May 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 06 May 24 — Thursday 16 May 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 08 May 24 — Saturday 18 May 24Starting at $9,690Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 15 May 24 — Saturday 25 May 24Starting at $9,690Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Saturday 18 May 24 — Tuesday 28 May 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 20 May 24 — Thursday 30 May 24Starting at $9,690Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 22 May 24 — Saturday 01 Jun 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Saturday 25 May 24 — Tuesday 04 Jun 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 27 May 24 — Thursday 06 Jun 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Saturday 01 Jun 24 — Tuesday 11 Jun 24Starting at $9,690Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 03 Jun 24 — Thursday 13 Jun 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 05 Jun 24 — Saturday 15 Jun 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Saturday 08 Jun 24 — Tuesday 18 Jun 24Starting at $9,690Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 19 Jun 24 — Saturday 29 Jun 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Saturday 22 Jun 24 — Tuesday 02 Jul 24Starting at $8,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Saturday 06 Jul 24 — Tuesday 16 Jul 24Starting at $8,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Saturday 03 Aug 24 — Tuesday 13 Aug 24Starting at $8,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Saturday 31 Aug 24 — Tuesday 10 Sep 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 04 Sep 24 — Saturday 14 Sep 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Saturday 07 Sep 24 — Tuesday 17 Sep 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 11 Sep 24 — Saturday 21 Sep 24Starting at $9,690Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Saturday 21 Sep 24 — Tuesday 01 Oct 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 23 Sep 24 — Thursday 03 Oct 24Starting at $9,690Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 25 Sep 24 — Saturday 05 Oct 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Saturday 28 Sep 24 — Tuesday 08 Oct 24Starting at $9,690Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 30 Sep 24 — Thursday 10 Oct 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 02 Oct 24 — Saturday 12 Oct 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Saturday 05 Oct 24 — Tuesday 15 Oct 24Starting at $9,690Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 09 Oct 24 — Saturday 19 Oct 24Starting at $9,690Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 14 Oct 24 — Thursday 24 Oct 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Saturday 19 Oct 24 — Tuesday 29 Oct 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 21 Oct 24 — Thursday 31 Oct 24Starting at $10,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Check Mark Icon Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.


Destination & Sightseeing

"Romancing the senses" is an apt description for the experiences showcased on Bellissima Northern Italy... for the landscapes you'll see and the lifestyles you'll sample take you on a love affair with Italy. It starts with fashion and art in Milan. It continues during a private Tauck cruise across Lake Como to Bellagio and a boat ride to Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore. It captures your heart along the cobblestone streets of Verona, home to Romeo & Juliet... your taste buds at an agriturismo in the Franciacorta region and a cooking demo in Bologna (whose nickname is La Grassa, "the Fat One")... and all the senses in Venice, with visits by boat to some of the Venetian Islands and a Tauck Exclusive, after-hours guided visit to St. Mark's Basilica to view its treasures without the daytime crowds. Now that's amore, from pane to formaggio to vino...

Highlights
TAUCK'S YELLOW ROADS – Picture-postcard settings await at every turn, dip and bend in the Italian Lakes region – tranquility perfected
TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – A private recital at the Museo della Musica, housed in a church that dates back to the 10th century, located in the heart of Venice
Private Lake Como and Lake Maggiore cruises featuring spectacular scenery & elegant villas
A cooking class in Bologna; learn the secrets from a chef
Tours & tastings in Modena; experience the art behind balsamic vinegar at the source and learn how Parmesan cheese is made

ITINERARY

Arrive in Milan
Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Grand Hotel et de Milan. A transfer is included from Milan's Malpensa Airport or Linate Airport to Grand Hotel et de Milan, close to the La Scala Opera House and the city's celebrated fashion district. Please join us to meet your Tauck Director and your fellow travelers at a welcome reception followed by dinner this evening.

Art and architecture of Milan
Milan's wealth of art and architecture awaits on your first day of sightseeing in this remarkable city. Join a local guide for a guided walking tour including views of the Duomo, the great Cathedral of Milan and a striking example of Gothic architecture; the famous La Scala opera house; and the impressive Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. The rest of the day is free to explore what interests you most, perhaps visiting the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie to take in Leonardo da Vinci's mural The Last Supper, which he painted on the refectory wall at the request of his patron, Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan.

Lake Como villas and a cruise to Bellagio
It's said to be Italy's most beautiful lake, and you'll understand why it entrances celebrities, aristocrats and jetsetters when you see Lake Como for yourself today. In Tremezzo, discover Villa Carlotta, known for its lovely setting and splendid 17th-century gardens decorated with sculptures, stairways and fountains. A private boat ride across the lake to Bellagio reveals the grand villas of the rich and famous. After lunch on your own, board another private boat for a cruise to Como en route to your Belle Époque hotel in Stresa on Lake Maggiore.

Lake Maggiore and Baroque Isola Bella
Your vacation continues as you travel by boat to Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore and the exquisite Villa Borromeo on the tiny, private island. Count Vitaliano Borromeo began the construction of this opulent Baroque palace and its splendid gardens in 1632. A guided tour of the ornate family home showcases priceless works of art, tapestries and furniture in an elegant and sumptuous setting. Have lunch on Isola Pescatori, then return to lovely Stresa, where the afternoon and evening are free to enjoy as you please.

Bergamo, a wine tasting & on to Verona
Today's travels take you across lush rural landscapes to ancient Bergamo, where you'll explore its walled medieval center – straight out of a storybook illustration – with a local guide; visit the Piazza Vecchia, the 12th-century Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, and the Cappella Colleoni. After a wine tasting and tasty lunch at an agriturismo in the Franciacorta region, your northern Italy vacation continues to Verona, land of Romeo and Juliet, where your accommodations at the Due Torri Hotel are not far from the famous balcony that recalls Shakespeare's timeless tragedy.

Verona, the home of Romeo & Juliet
Verona is probably best known as the home of Shakespeare's tragic lovers, Romeo and Juliet… and of The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Valentine and Proteus. But, Verona is so much more. In honor of its many historical buildings, Verona has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is famous for its Roman amphitheatre, the third largest after the Colosseum in Rome and still used for operas and other cultural entertainment, and other buildings that have survived since Roman times... as well as for its outstanding wine and cuisine. A walking tour this morning reveals the many charms of the city; the afternoon is free to continue your explorations on your own. Enjoy dinner with wine at a local ristorante tonight.

Ferraris, Parmigiano & balsamic in Modena
Travel to Modena, where you'll visit a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory to experience first-hand the process of cheesemaking; from the milk delivery to the finished wheels, follow each detail of the production – and end with a tasting! You'll then hear the story of Enzo Ferrari, driver and creator of Scuderia Ferrari in the 1930s, at the Enzo Ferrari Museum. Later, a guided visit reveals the art of balsamic vinegar making – an elaborate process of rendering grapes and decanting must into wooden barrels. Your visit is memorable, as is the sampling of this aromatic staple of gourmet cooking aged from 18 to 25+ years! Journey on to the celebrated university town of Bologna, where food, fashion and culture reign supreme. Dine this evening at a local restaurant.

Bologna & a cooking class with a chef
Surrounded by hills, the dusky red buildings, marble-floored ancient porticoes and wide piazzas contribute to the distinctly Renaissance feel in the center of Bologna, a bastion of food, fashion and culture. Home of the world's oldest university, the Alma Mater Studiorum, founded in 1088, notable scholars such as Dante, Boccaccio and Petrarca once walked its streets. A walking tour this morning reveals sights that they may well have seen centuries ago – including the university's magnificent Archiginnasio, the Church of San Domenico, Piazza Santo Stefano and the city's iconic Two Towers. After time to explore on your own, learn the secrets of Bologna's cuisine in a cooking demonstration by a chef.

The Venetian Islands & a private music recital
Take a high-speed train to Venice today; board a private boat to begin exploring the islands of the Venetian Lagoon, starting with Torcello, where you'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, you'll have a chance to tour its 11th-century basilica. Then continue on to nearby Burano, known for its exquisite lacemaking and picturesque colored homes. Back on dry land (or at least the Venetian version thereof), check into your home for the next two nights in the City of Canals – The Gritti Palace, Venice, originally the 15th-century private home of a doge of Venice overlooking the Grand Canal, recently re-emerging and reopening after a painstaking, handcrafted restoration. Tonight, a Tauck Exclusive awaits when you experience a private recital at the Museo della Musica in the heart of Venice.

More Venetian delights as you please
Awaken in intriguing Venice, one of the world's most beloved cities, today and indulge in all things Venetian just as you choose. You might begin your day enjoying a coffee in Piazza San Marco, referred to by Alfred de Musset as "the drawing room of Europe." Here in the city where streets are paved with water, the sound of human voices replaces the traffic noise so common in the other great cities of Europe as pedestrians (and pigeons) flock to this central gathering place for Venetians. Perhaps you'll choose to see the magnificent view of the city from the top of St. Mark's bell tower, stroll over to the Rialto Bridge, take in some of the city's excellent museums or shop for distinctive Venetian souvenirs such as the traditional Carnival masks and colorful Venetian glass. Or, just follow your nose and see where the tiny streets might take you. This evening, join us as we celebrate the end of a splendid trip with our farewell cocktail reception and dinner at the hotel.

Journey home
Tour ends: Venice. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Gritti Palace to Venice's Marco Polo International Airport and / or Santa Lucia train station. Please allow 3 hours for airport check-in formalities. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.

Check Mark Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.

People have asked, What's the relationship between Pavlus and Tauck. It's simple, Pavlus Travel is the Worlds largest seller of Tauck tours. We enjoy a close working relationship. Another question, Are Tauck tours worth the money? They sure are. Yes, Tauck is a bit more expensive. Everything is taken care for you on your tours. Tauck tour directors are all employees of Tauck unlike virtually every other escorted European Tour Company. We highly recommend Tauck verses any other tour company. There are two other questions asked often of our staff, What is the Tauck guest protection plan and what is the Tauck cancellation policy? Our staff will be pleased to provide complete answers to you. We always welcome questions on any travel topic.