Immersive History and Culture Vacation of Lake Como

Varenna old town on Lake Como, Italy

What to expect on this itinerary

Uncover some of the best of Italy during this 8-day journey that blends Lake Como’s captivating history and culture through exclusive tours and immersive experiences. Italy’s gorgeous Lake Como is filled with breathtaking towns, an intriguing history, and a welcoming culture. Explore the ancient Como Cathedral, traverse the Roman Bridge, and sail around lake Como in the lap of luxury.

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Milan, Como, Argegno, Bellagio, Varenna, Gravedona

Suggested Duration

8 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Milan – Visit Milan’s Premier Cathedral

Your amazing journey around Lake Como will immerse you in the history and culture of the area and will begin when you land at Milan’s Malpensa Airport. When you land, a private driver will be waiting to greet and transfer you to your luxurious accommodation in the heart of the city. Once you have had time to settle in and relax, you will be greeted by an expert guide, who will lead you on an afternoon tour of the impressive Milan Cathedral. The Milan Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Italy, and you will feel the grandeur and history that emanates from its walls as you enter.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Day 2

Como – Introductory Tour of Como

Day 3

Como – Explore Cernobbio and its Villas

Day 4

Argegno – Exclusive Tour of the Town of Argegno

Day 5

Bellagio – Immersive Village Tour of Bellagio

Day 6

Varenna – Immersive Cultural Tour of Varenna

Day 7

Gravedona – Indulge in a Tour of Gravedona

Day 8

Gravedona – Depart for Home

Trip Highlights

  • Marvel at incredible views of Milan from the rooftop of its beautiful Cathedra during a private tour
  • Explore the ancient Como Cathedral, which is home to many preserved tapestries, during a private tour of Como
  • Indulge in visits to two of Cernobbio’s wonderful villas: Villa Bernasconi and Villa Erba
  • Traverse Argegno’s age-old Roman Bridge, where you will feel the history and appreciate the scenery around you
  • Traverse through the Loppia neighborhood, which is known for the detailed Larian gondolas on display
  • Discover the antique furniture and decor of the Casa Museo Museum inside Villa Monastero, which is a gorgeous villa in Varenna
  • Witness ancient wall markings that date back to the sixth century in the Church of San Vincenzo in Gravedona
  • Sail around Lake Como in luxury boat as you venture from one remarkable destination to the next

Detailed Description

Italy’s Lake Como is steeped in history and surrounded by beauty, making it the ideal destination for an idyllic vacation. Your intriguing 8-day adventure has been customized to immerse you in the culture and history that surrounds Lake Como. Your journey will begin when you land at Milan’s Malpensa Airport, and you will have one night in the captivating city of Milan, which will allow you to discover its gorgeous Cathedral during a private tour. The beautiful, stained-glass windows and breathtaking views from the Cathedral’s rooftop will make your visit extremely memorable, but the following morning, you will set your sights on the towns and villages that surround Lake Como.

A private transfer will lead you to the City of Como, where a guided tour will provide you with an intriguing discovery of this lakeside city. From the 14th-century Como Cathedral to the fascinating Volta Museum, you will explore nearly all of the locales of cultural and historical significance. The following day will feature an exciting excursion to the nearby city of Cernobbio. Cernobbio’s stunning villas, which date back centuries, will immerse you in the luxurious lifestyle of the area.

On the fourth day of the trip, you will leave Como in the background and set sail for your next destination of Argegno. Your guided tour with an expert guide in the afternoon will allow you to experience the history of the village with visits to its age-old church and centuries-old Roman Bridge. An enjoyable cable car ride will also lead you to the nearby village of Pigra, which is located over 2,700 feet above sea level. The sweeping views from this impressive vantage point will be breathtaking, and after a tasty breakfast the following morning, you will continue your travels to Bellagio. The roads of Bellagio exude elegance and history, and you will experience both during an engaging tour of Bellagio’s sites and neighborhoods. During your tour, you will admire the scenic views of Pescallo, Aureggio, and Loppia. After your tour concludes, you will continue to discover all Bellagio has to offer during your one amazing night in the village.

After breakfast the next morning, your boat will cruise across Lake Como to your next waterfront destination of Varenna. Your beautiful surroundings will seem to be taken from a postcard, and you will enjoy every minute of the ride. After you arrive in Varenna and check-in to your luxurious accommodation, you will be greeted by an expert guide, who will lead you on an afternoon tour. The details inside the 14th-century Church of San Giorgio will be gorgeous and intricate, and the impressive botanical garden of Villa Monastero will impress all of your senses. Furthermore, Varenna will be beautifully illuminated under the night sky as you indulge in a delicious dinner and enjoy the rest of your evening in the village.

The following day, you will set sail on your private boat for your final lakeside destination of Gravedona. Your private tour of this magnificent town will be highlighted with visits to some of its ancient churches, and the many age-old details and paintings that you see may be awe-inspiring. The following morning, a private transfer will lead you to Milan’s Malpensa Airport for your return flight. Although you will not want your trip to end, you will return home knowing that you were entirely immersed in the captivating history, culture, and beauty of Lake Como during your unforgettable vacation.

Starting Price

$3,600 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

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Italy Vacation Review: 12 Days

It was a fantastic trip. Everything we planned with Zicasso’s travel company was on time and with high-quality local guides and drivers. They were very responsive and helped us build an itinerary for our 12-day trip to southern Italy. They stayed in touch throughout the planning process, helping us find restaurants and answer questions. I would highly recommend this travel company to anyone planning a trip to Italy.

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Zicasso’s travel specialist was a pleasure to work with. She helped me plan our trip of a lifetime to Italy. I told her which cities we wanted to visit and our interests, and she gave me great recommendations for tours and experiences. She was flexible with the itinerary changes I made beforehand and, after our arrival, the pre-arranged transportation was seamless and the hotels were great.

Our ambassador during the trip was very responsive when I had questions. I appreciated the daily messaging app reminders for the times and activities for the next day, including a location link on Google Maps for the meeting points. Our pre-arranged drivers and tour guides were excellent.

This holiday was everything I hoped for. If I am fortunate enough to plan another holiday to Italy, I will definitely use the travel company again! Based on this experience, I will definitely use Zicasso again for an international holiday.

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Zicasso’s travel company was highly responsive and understanding of what we wanted to experience and used their expertise to steer us to the best people and locations possible.

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It was a wonderful vacation. Zicasso's travel company provided amazing customer service before and during the trip.

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Zicasso’s tour operator and our travel specialist were professional from start to finish, and we enjoyed a wonderful trip.

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First time to the Olympics and an add-on to Switzerland! Zicasso’s travel specialist was great at listening to our needs and putting together an itinerary.

Our trip to Livigno was fantastic! The location to the two Olympic venues was ideal.

All of the details were covered and when we had a change in one of our day tours due to potential avalanches, the team at the travel company was extremely responsive and was able to adjust.

All of our transportation was well organized and on time. We also had to pivot when our flights home to the US were changed due to weather and the team quickly helped with adjustments to our schedule.

We loved the train from Italy to Switzerland.

We highly recommend this travel specialist and the travel company!

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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