Italy’s Vibrant North: A Cultural Immersion Tour of Veneto & Piedmont

In the morning you will find the captivating and refreshing aromas of sweet brioche and cappuccino filling the air. Sip your morning cup and you will delight in the frothy, creamy texture that adds a slight sweetness to the rich coffee blend. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you in your hotel lobby eager to escort you through the lavish decor and exciting history of Venice, beginning with St. Mark’s Square. The square gained prominence in the 9th-century when the remains of St. Mark were brought to the Doge’s chapel to turn the noble church into a grand basilica. Life in the Venetian Republic revolved around the square, whether civic or religious and arcades border three sides to nearly frame the edges of the Basilica di San Marco. The elaborate façade shimmers with the golden mosaics and recessed arches support the iconic Byzantine domes.

A significant portion of the basilica’s grandeur derives from an 11th-century law that states that any ship that returns to port must bring a precious artifact with which to decorate the interior. 500 rare marble columns, including alabaster and jasper, were brought back from the East. The interior will take your breath away as the mosaics cover a surface area of nearly 45,640 square feet. The luminous colors develop an ethereal glow in the glass pieces and gold leaf that drape the ceiling. You can find remnants of frankincense and myrrh from morning mass, and the windows in the five domes provide natural light to flicker off of the artwork to bathe you and the church gallery in light.

Lake Garda has inspired poets and offered secluded grounds for divas and politicians to relax amongst Italy’s pure and natural landscape. The lake encompasses a surface area of more than 140 square miles that cross from Veneto into the Lombardy region. After breakfast, you will step onto the palace’s private dock and return to Venice’s mainland shore for a private transfer to Garda Lake. The beauty of Venice’s marble facades and meandering stone walkways fade along the marshy horizon behind you as you travel. Ahead of you rises the hills of the countryside lined with cypress trees and vineyards. You will stop in the town of Padua, which once challenged Verona and Venice for power. The university was founded in the 13th-century and continues to lend a youthful ambiance to the city with ancient roots.

The cream-colored façade of the Basilica de Sant’Antonio rises above the heart of the city with Byzantine features that mingle with the Romanesque and Gothic design. Three piazzas converge in the old city center where the 12th-century Palazzo della Ragione contains frescoes that depict mythological and zodiac motifs. Your cultural exploration of Padua culminates at the Cappella degli Scrovegni, a 14th-century chapel constructed with rosy brick. The exterior has a humble quality while the interior contains the splendor of the Middle Ages. The master artist Giotto painted the walls with images of the life and times of Jesus and the masterful way Giotto humanizes the figures inspired artists from Dante to da Vinci.

In the morning, the sunlight will wash over the alpine foothills and bring the emerald trees, limestone ridges, and turquoise waters of Lake Garda to light. Beaches line the south and offer views to the sheer cliffs that fringe the northern shores. Venture out onto the Gardone Riviera for a perfect introduction to the province and the local culture. Art Nouveau and Art Deco buildings overlook the water as beautiful vegetation grows around the town due to the perfect climate caused through a mixture of the lake’s moisture and the hillsides. The tropical foliage in the Hruska Botanical Garden grows thick and crisp. Lotus flowers and water lilies decorate the ponds and dragonflies flitter around the trickling creeks.

You will hear the waterfalls tumbling down the rocky ridges and into the waiting pools to add layers to the living qualities of the lake. Tulips and bamboo contrast in normal temporal zones but unite perfectly in the garden, along with elements of the African Savannah and the plains of Central America. The wonders of the lakeside span cultures and centuries and takes you from the collected charms of an international garden to the medieval streets and promenades of Riva del Garda, which maintains its Venetian watchtower and arcaded harbor square.

The roads hug the mountainside along the small lakes that lead from Lake Garda. The dramatic waterfall of Cascata del Varone corkscrews downward along the gorge fed by the glacial lakes of the mountains. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you at the villa hotel and escort you northward through the winding roads of the Italian Alps.  You will soon reach the charming town of Como, located on the shores of the homonymous lake. The snow-capped peaks of the Rhaetian Alps will provide a perfect frame for the spectacular color and relaxed ambiance of town. Take the time to wander along the stone streets of town leading to the Piazza Duomo.

The Gothic architecture of the 14th-century contains a lavish marble façade and detailed rose window. Images of Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger decorate the pinnacles and commemorate the historic residents of the province. The dome was erected in the 18th-century and now resembles the mountains and hills that border the town. Step aboard a private launch at the harbor to reach the Menaggio, a picturesque town at the foot of Val Menaggio, a valley connected to Lake Lugano. The medieval town showcases artisan shoe shops and locally made home accessories. The lakeside Piazza Garibaldi contains charming cafes shaded with parasols overlooking the water.

Your hotel overlooks the heart of Menaggio’s center and includes a lavishly manicured garden. From your window, you can see the colorful homes and ascend the cliff-side streets of the town of Bellagio. After breakfast, you will have time to enjoy more of Menaggio as your wander along the bridges over the Sanagra stream. The waterfall rushes below, and boats ferry locals and visitors away from the lakeshore. The day is yours to relish the beauty and culture around the lakes.

Step aboard the ferry to Varenna to visit the village on the eastern shores of the lake. The water mists upwards from the boat as the aromas of pine and fresh water blend in the refreshing alpine air. The colorful fishermen’s homes of Varenna contrast with the emerald trees that carpet the hillside. The town has remarkable medieval lanes that are graced with a serene ambiance. Pebbles fill the beach as families and locals alike bask in the sun with their lounge chairs facing the lapping water.

A pathway leads from the jetty to the waterfront promenade as an arcaded walkway leads to the elegant cafes that serve the preferred flavors of local gelato. Villa Monastero contains a long, thin garden that lines the lakeshore. Rhododendrons bloom against cypress trees as the terraces contain more than 1,000 species of plants that thrive in the mild climate. The aroma of citrus emanates from the orchard and oleanders fan their petals with pearly tones. The villages around Lake Como provide a perfect atmosphere to wander and relax, for the enchanting towns are themselves a site to see.

In the morning, the grandeur of Villa d’Este returns with the rising sunlight. The villa adorns the west lakeshore with an opulent façade as the hedges frame the café and restaurant as it looks out to the water. The tables will fill in at breakfast with locals and visitors alike all eager to bask in the beauty of the landscape and the frothy layers of a fresh cappuccino. After breakfast, you will return to Como by ferry to meet your private transfer ready to lead you west to the shores of Lake Maggiore, Italy’s second largest lake. The body of water divides Piemonte from Lombardy, as it crosses over into Switzerland. The opulent mountain peaks rise over the lake’s north shores to offer a distinct view of the Swiss Alps.

Your hotel is located in a 19th-century villa that prides itself on its traditional atmosphere of antique furnishings with modern amenities. Discover the splendor of the landscape as you make your way to the Monte Mottarone Cable Car at Stresa. As you ascend to the height of more than 4,650 feet above sea level, you will have a panorama of Lake Orta below and the chain of Alps in the distance. The snow-capped peaks of Monte Viso to Ortles are striking. At the top of Monte Mottarone, the view widens to encompass the cobalt waters of Lake Maggiore and its gorgeous pockets of land known as the Borromean Islands. You can stop at the Giardino Alpinia to bask in the charms of the thriving mountain plants.

In the morning you will wake up to the quiet charms of Lake Maggiore. The water laps at the shore beneath the colorful homes that overlook the lakeside promenades. Today you can wander along the waterside quays or visit the Borromean Islands at your desired pace. Locals sip their espresso on the way to work and spill out of cafes to enjoy the refreshingly cool air of the early morning. The aroma of olives, figs, and pomegranate fill the air and accompany the fresh scent of coffee. You will venture next to Stresa to board a boat to Isola Bella, a small island known for its 17th-century villa erected under the patronage of Count Vitaliano Borromeo.

The palace structure rises out of the water with grace and opulence and embodies the wealth and power of the family after which the islands are named. The second and third floors remain off limits to visitors, as the current owner of the property inhabits the villa during the summer months. The first floor retains its majesty with guest rooms, ballrooms, and studies. The ballroom of Salone Grande has a ceiling that is 75 feet tall, and 130 paintings decorate the walls of Berthier’s gallery. The lavish décor extends to the gardens, which contains ten tiers of terraces, including the grottoes adorned with pink marble and lava stone.

Today you will depart from the stunning scenery and relaxed pace of Lake Maggiore, to venture south and to the bustling metropolis of Milan. The shimmering waters and snow-capped peaks to the north fade into the meandering streets of the city and towering spires of the Duomo, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. The structure was erected in the 11th-century with the main spire added in the 18th-century to reach a height of more than 357 feet. You will marvel at the detailed statues that adorn the exterior and amount to 3,400 statues and 135 gargoyles. Near the main entrance, you will find a sundial that decorates the floor. A single ray of light beams through a hole on the opposite wall to strike against the bronze tongue that offers a surprisingly precise time of day.

You can venture out to the terrace for a view of the statues that frame the city as you ascend the marble stairway. The Teatro alla Scala acts a tribute to the opera, a form of entertainment revered by local Milanese. The theater can seat up to 2,800 patrons and the accompanying museum exhibit costumes from renowned performances, along with mementos from celebrated conductors, including Verdi and Rossini. Connect to the operatic culture through the museum and inside the theater gallery to witness the grand architecture dedicated to harnessing perfect acoustics.

The image of Castello Sforzesco offers an image of Milan during its formation of the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. The Visconti and Sforza families ruled Milan between the 13th and 16th-centuries and today the grounds maintain a number of museums dedicated the history of the families, and prehistoric antiquity, along with a collection of containing Michelangelo’s final Pieta. Spend your morning out exploring and then your private transfer will meet you at your hotel to escort you to Malpensa Airport with plenty of time to check-in to your flight home.