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Formed at the end of the last ice age, and a popular holiday spot since Roman times, the Italian Lakes have an enduring, beguiling beauty.
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The Italian Lakes activities
Milan Sightseeing Tour with da Vinci's 'The Last Supper'
Milan boasts plenty of superlatives: it's home to one of the world's oldest churches, a renowned opera house, the most fashionable city in Italy, and Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece, The Last Supper. You get to see all this and then some on this 3.5-hour tour. Meet your guide near Sforza Castle in central Milan and set out on your tour. (The exact route will depend on your departure time.) First, head to the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie — a UNESCO World Heritage site — and feast your eyes on The Last Supper in the refectory. This exquisite and incredibly important mural is thought to have been completed toward the end of the 15th century and depicts Jesus' last meal with his disciples. Hear from your guide how da Vinci painted it directly onto a dry wall, a choice that makes it extremely delicate. For this reason, entrance is limited to those who have pre-booked, with the numbers of people and duration of visits also strictly controlled. Each visiting group is only allowed to stand with the painting at any one time in a specially conditioned room for a maximum of 15 minutes.After admiring da Vinci's work, continue your explorations of Milan, where centuries of history and heritage blend seamlessly with cutting-edge styles and fashions. Follow your guide to the Teatro alla Scala (La Scala Theatre), considered by many to be one of the world's most famous opera houses and learn how it has hosted leading lights such as Italy’s own Luciano Pavarotti. Admire the ornate stage, crystal chandelier and orchestra pit from your vantage point in one of the public boxes (unless there’s a rehearsal or show on). Your entrance ticket provides admission to the theater and museum, which you may like to revisit for a longer period.No tour of Milan would be complete without taking in some of the city’s finest shopping hotspots — this is the world’s fashion capital! Wander around the chic boutiques and luxury stores of the glamorous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping arcade, and admire the many luxurious items on sale.After 3.5 hours discovering some of Milan’s top attractions, return to Sforza Castle in central Milan where your tour will conclude.Please note: the order of the itinerary may vary on the day.If a rehearsal or show is taking place during your La Scala visit, you will not visit the public box.Please note: Entrance to the Cathedral is not permitted during Services
Milan to Lake Como, Bellagio or Brunate Day Tour and Boat Ride
Lake Como Cruise and Brunate Panoramic View (Nov - March)Departing from central Milan in the morning, take a 1-hour drive up to Como, arriving around 10am. Take a guided tour of the city and then ride the funicular up to the town of Brunate, one of the best places to soak up a sweeping panorama of the city and the lake. You'll then have free time for lunch (own expense) in Brunate before the highlight of your afternoon: a Lake Como cruise. Board the boat at the Como city center and then sit back and relax on a 1-hour cruise around the breathtaking lake. Admire the splendid lakeside villas and keep an eye out for Villa d'Este at Cernobbio, a luxurious hotel with tropical gardens.After your Lake Como cruise, you'll have free time to shop, sightsee and grab some coffee if you wish before heading back to Milan around 4:30pm. On the way back, you'll stop to visit the Basilica of Sant'Abbondio, a notable church built in the 11th century in Romanesque style. You'll arrive in Milan in the evening. Lake Como Cruise and Bellagio Visit (April - Oct)Board the coach in central Milan in the morning and relax on the 1-hour drive to Como. Start with a visit to Basilica of Sant'Abbondio. Take a tour of the city and enjoy free time to shop at local boutiques for fine Italian goods. Then, board a boat at the Como city center for your extended 2-hour cruise on Lake Como.Soak up picturesque views as you make your way to Bellagio, one of the many scenic villages surrounding the lake. You'll have free time to explore this delightful town on your own and have lunch (own expense). Back on board, savor the last views of Lake Como as you cruise to Cadenabbia, where you'll hop on the coach and head back to Milan, arriving around 6:30pm.
Swiss Alps Bernina Express Rail Tour from Milan
What better way to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Switzerland and the Alps year-round than a ride on the Bernina Express? Known as the ‘Little Red Train,’ the Bernina Express was built more than 100 years ago to scale the majestic mountain landscapes of the Swiss Alps. This historical feat of engineering still climbs up the 7,330-foot (2,235-meter) high Bernina Pass along a UNESCO World Heritage-listed route.Depart by comfortable coach from Milan at 7am and enjoy a scenic bus tour to the Swiss town of Tirano, situated at the foothills of the Alps. Pass mountain streams and forested hills against a backdrop of steep, snow-capped peaks. When you arrive in Tirano at approximately 10:30am, you’ll have free time to explore before boarding the train.Your rail journey starts amid the palms and oleanders of northern Italy, taking you over the spiraling viaduct at Brusio and through the Bernina Pass into Engadin, arriving in St Moritz 2.5 hours later. Along the way you'll pass wild gorges and icy glaciers, cross soaring bridges and shoot through loop tunnels. This north-south alpine crossing offers eye-catching vistas of stunning scenery from your rail car. Capture photographic views of the Alps and its glacial lakes, and look out your window to watch the bright red train curve against a snow-speckled landscape (if traveling in winter). You’ll see impressive alpine valleys, lakes and waterfalls at almost every turn!When you arrive at the exclusive resort of St Moritz, disembark and spend about 1.5 hours in town. Flanking the shore of a beautiful lake in the middle of the Upper Engadin, St Mortiz offers an array of attractions and is famous for its winter sports as well as polo, golf, cricket and tennis. Set out on foot to discover the town’s elegance, perhaps stopping for lunch (own expense) or visiting a chocolatier before departing by coach at 4:30pm and arriving in Milan around 7:30pm.
Milan Walking Tour, The Last Supper Skip-the-Line Tickets
Get to know the stylish city of Milan on foot, starting with a visit inside the famous Duomo in the heart of the city. This impressive and beautiful cathedral is often described as one of the most beautiful churches in the world! Your next stop is the impressive Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – a 19th-century glass-vaulted shopping arcade. Brimming with fashionable shops and cafes, you can admire the spectacular shop windows as you pass through the gallery to reach Piazza della Scala. This famous square is home to the world-renowned La Scala – Milan’s opera house since 1778 and still in use today. Some of the greatest musicians and singers the world has ever known have performed here! Next, take a stroll through the Brera District, rich in historical buildings, restaurants and fashionable bars – this area has long been home to artists and intellectuals. Its picturesque and winding streets lead you north to Sforza Castle, where you will take a short stop to admire the imposing medieval castle and fortress. The final stop and highlight of this walking tour is Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, hidden inside a Dominican refectory next to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. This enormous and complex 15th-century mural captures the emotional moment in which Jesus announces that one of his 12 disciples will betray him. The painting had been severely damaged over the centuries, and has only very recently undergone a painstaking 21-year restoration, revealing the original colors and details of this masterpiece. The delicate nature of the mural and its importance means entrance is strictly limited to those who have pre-booked – only one group is allowed to stand with the painting at a time, in a specially conditioned room, for 15 minutes only. This skip-the-line tour includes pre-booked entrance, so you avoid the lines and enjoy an intimate viewing of this sublime and incredibly special painting. Please note: The above itinerary is applicable to options departed from Piazza Duomo only. If you select a departure time from Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie , the tour will start at The Last Supper and finish with the walking tour around Piazza del Duomo. Visits inside the Duomo are not possible on Sundays or religious holidays. On these days, a detailed tour will be given from outside of the Duomo.
Milan Duomo Tour with The Last Supper or Da Vinci Vineyard
Meet your guide near Cadorna railway station in central Milan to begin your walking tour. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes as well as clothes that keep your knees and shoulders covered; a strict dress code is in place at many of Italy's churches. Once you get acquainted with your small group, set off on foot, taking in Milan’s famously beautiful architecture along the way. Listen to tales about one of the city’s most famous structures, Milan Duomo, a Gothic cathedral that took nearly six centuries to complete. As Italy’s largest church, and reputedly the fifth largest in the world, you'll want to capture this moment with a photo. The wait to get in can be painfully long, but with your guide you'll skip past the entrance lines and head directly inside. After the Duomo, peruse the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the world’s oldest shopping malls dating back to 1877, with four stories and dozens of stores. Check off a few more of Milan’s must-see sights, like Teatro La Scala, the Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, Sempione Park, Arco della Pace, Piazza Mercanti and Castello Sforzesco, a castle built in the 15th century. Other highlights include quirky examples of art such as Bramante’s optical illusion inside the Church of Santa Maria presso San Satiro and L.O.V.E — the ‘flipping the middle finger’ sculpture by controversial artist Maurizio Cattelan. Take a break for lunch (own expense) in Piazza Duomo or around the Brera district. If you select The Last Supper option, head to the Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie, the UNESCO-listed place of worship and Dominican convent where da Vinci's world-famous mural is housed. Bypass the crowds with your skip-the-line ticket and enter the intimate room with your guide. Get an up-close look and hear about the painstaking 21-year restoration that is has recently undergone. Alternatively, head to Leonardo da Vinci's Vineyard. This historical treasure was abandoned for many years and has been recently redeveloped. Learn how the vineyard's roots were saved and hidden under the land after the fires of World War II. Located in the heart of the city, the amazing vineyard is thriving again exactly as it was during Leonardo’s time. Please note:Leonardo's Vineyard is available daily, while The Last Supper option is available only Tuesday to Sunday. On Sunday, the visit to the Duomo can be replaced with the visit to Piazza Gae Aurenti. The order of the itinerary is subject to change.
Lake Como, Lugano, and Switzerland 1-Day Tour from Milan
Leave central Milan by air-conditioned coach, and travel away from the city toward the snowcapped Italian Alps and Swiss border. Relax on the scenic journey and get ready for your 2-hour cruise!Board on the boat to cruise past luxury real estate along the shoreline. You quickly realize how Lake Como has become one of Italy’s most exclusive residential areas. Plush villas belonging to the likes of Sir Richard Branson and George Clooney are common sights around the glamorous lake.Hear about the mansion-size villas and their celebrity owners from your onboard guide, and look out for some of Como’s historical landmarks, too. After returning to dry land, explore the beautiful town of Bellagio, the 'pearl of Lake Como'. Make the most of your free time here to get to know the town. For lunch, stop at one of Bellagio’s cafes (own expense). After your break, leave the lakeside area and travel over the border to Lugano, aka the Monte Carlo of Switzerland. Located on a lake of the same name, Lugano is an Italian-speaking Swiss town and favorite vacation spot for affluent Europeans. How you spend your time in the chic city is up to you. Pay homage to Lugano’s cultural scene with a visit to Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angioli to see Bernardino Luini’s Renaissance masterpiece titled Passion and Crucifixion; hit the downtown shops and scout out Swiss chocolate, fine luxury goods and clothes; or simply soak up the lakeside sights. Meet back up with your guide in the late afternoon, and finish your day trip by traveling back to the start point in central Milan.