Milan, Lake Como, Portofino, The Cinque Terre, and Bologna
$6700/person
This tour is priced for a minimum group of 8 people. Per person. Double occupancy. Please inquire about a single-supplement room price. Get a group together and let's get something on the calendar!
Please join Tour Director Sandy Gregory for this wonderful adventure through Italy, or contact us to help you create your own independent travel experience in Italy with our Concierge Travel Services.
Join us to experience la bella vita. We know that the decision to spend your valuable time and money traveling is a costly investment. Call on us to create the perfect guided or independent travel custom itinerary. We work closely with groups who want a personalized, private experience. Che Bella Tours is Creative Travel, and the partner you want when planning a remarkable family vacation, destination wedding, trip of a lifetime or other special occasion. Contact us for more information. We'll be happy to send you the detailed itinerary for this tour.
Day 1: Arrive in Milan
Overnight in Milan 2 nights, including breakfast
Our stylish, contemporary 5-star property is set in the historic center and just 1,650 feet from the Cathedral and Milan’s famous shopping street, Via Monte Napoleone, with popular brands nearby: H&M, Zara, Tiffany & Co, Nike, Prada and more. Rooms are furnished with elegant, contemporary furniture and parquet floors. All of them come with a air conditioning, minibar, and flat-screen TV. Each bathroom boasts a rain shower and soft towels. A generous breakfast buffet is served daily and includes fresh fruit, organic yogurt and jams, homemade juices, and a selection of cereals and milk.
After you drop your bags, we’ll have time for lunch and a walking orientation of the area. The rest of the afternoon is on your own to get settled, take a short nap to help with the jet lag and prepare for our Included Welcome Dinner.
$6700/person
This tour is priced for a minimum group of 8 people. Per person. Double occupancy. Please inquire about a single-supplement room price. Get a group together and let's get something on the calendar!
Please join Tour Director Sandy Gregory for this wonderful adventure through Italy, or contact us to help you create your own independent travel experience in Italy with our Concierge Travel Services.
Join us to experience la bella vita. We know that the decision to spend your valuable time and money traveling is a costly investment. Call on us to create the perfect guided or independent travel custom itinerary. We work closely with groups who want a personalized, private experience. Che Bella Tours is Creative Travel, and the partner you want when planning a remarkable family vacation, destination wedding, trip of a lifetime or other special occasion. Contact us for more information. We'll be happy to send you the detailed itinerary for this tour.
Day 1: Arrive in Milan
Overnight in Milan 2 nights, including breakfast
Our stylish, contemporary 5-star property is set in the historic center and just 1,650 feet from the Cathedral and Milan’s famous shopping street, Via Monte Napoleone, with popular brands nearby: H&M, Zara, Tiffany & Co, Nike, Prada and more. Rooms are furnished with elegant, contemporary furniture and parquet floors. All of them come with a air conditioning, minibar, and flat-screen TV. Each bathroom boasts a rain shower and soft towels. A generous breakfast buffet is served daily and includes fresh fruit, organic yogurt and jams, homemade juices, and a selection of cereals and milk.
After you drop your bags, we’ll have time for lunch and a walking orientation of the area. The rest of the afternoon is on your own to get settled, take a short nap to help with the jet lag and prepare for our Included Welcome Dinner.
Day 2. A Day in Milan
This morning we’ll enjoy a private tour of Milan, including reserved timed admissions to the Scala Opera House and the Last Supper. Discover how business and history blend together in Milan. We'll begin our morning at the Piazza del Duomo, including a skip the line ticket to the roof. Just across the square is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, one of the most beautiful covered gallerias in the world. Begun in 1865, it was the first to make use of an iron glass structure. We’ll then visit La Scala opera house, the most famous theatre hall in the world. After lunch (not included), we're on to see Leonardo’s masterpiece, The Last Supper, painted in the refectory of the Santa Maria Delle Grazie church. The church and adjoining refectory were badly damaged in World War II, and during the repair work, old sgraffito paintings in the dome were brought to light.
The rest of the afternoon and evening is on your own.
What to do for the rest of the day:
• Castello Sforzesco, which features a collection of decorative art, prehistoric and Egyptian antiquities, a collection of musical history, and an armory of weapons and medieval armor. Between the two rear courtyards of the Castello, a passage leads into the park, originally the garden of the dukes of Milan and later a military training ground.
• Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology. Housed in a former Olivetan monastery, the museum illustrates the history of science and technology from the work of early scientists into modern times. Of particular interest is the Leonardo da Vinci Gallery with working models of many of his inventions and machinery, created from da Vinci’s drawings. In the physics exhibits are apparatus used by Galileo, Newton, and Volta, and there are sections relating to optics, acoustics, telegraphy, transport, shipping, railroads, flying, metallurgy, motor vehicles, timekeeping, and timber. In all, more than 15,000 technical and scientific objects represent the history of Italian science, technology, and industry.
NEW! Dig a Little Deeper Series. Need more? Inquire about one of our private optional tour excursions. Pricing will be based on number of participants:
Milan Fashion Tour. Since the beginning of the 20th century, Milan has symbolized the concept of “Made in Italy,” and evolved into a mecca for for fashion lovers, trend setters, and fashion businesses. As you wind our way through the heart of Milan’s fashion district with a local insider, you'll learn about the history of fashion in Italy, how it evolved from something for the elite during the Italian monarchy to the democratization of boutiques and department stores today. This 1/2 day private tour will help you dig in deeper into the ins and out of today's styles and trends plenty of time to shop.
Day 3. To Lake Como
Today we transfer from Milan to the town of Bellagio. About an hour's drive north of Milan, the region has an unbelievably picturesque setting that includes lush greenery and lakeside historic villages framed by the backdrop of the Italian and Swiss Alps. Travel around a bit more, and you'll find ornate centuries-old villas, elaborate gardens brimming with fragrant flowers, tiny churches and endless scenic walks and hikes. On the southern shore of Lake Como the town of Bellagio is called la perla del lago (the pearl of the lake). Thanks to its narrow cobbled streets, breathtaking views, impeccable homes and glorious villa gardens, many consider this to be the most beautiful town in all of Europe.
Bellagio, 2 nights, including breakfast.
Included dinner in Bellagio.
This morning we’ll enjoy a private tour of Milan, including reserved timed admissions to the Scala Opera House and the Last Supper. Discover how business and history blend together in Milan. We'll begin our morning at the Piazza del Duomo, including a skip the line ticket to the roof. Just across the square is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, one of the most beautiful covered gallerias in the world. Begun in 1865, it was the first to make use of an iron glass structure. We’ll then visit La Scala opera house, the most famous theatre hall in the world. After lunch (not included), we're on to see Leonardo’s masterpiece, The Last Supper, painted in the refectory of the Santa Maria Delle Grazie church. The church and adjoining refectory were badly damaged in World War II, and during the repair work, old sgraffito paintings in the dome were brought to light.
The rest of the afternoon and evening is on your own.
What to do for the rest of the day:
• Castello Sforzesco, which features a collection of decorative art, prehistoric and Egyptian antiquities, a collection of musical history, and an armory of weapons and medieval armor. Between the two rear courtyards of the Castello, a passage leads into the park, originally the garden of the dukes of Milan and later a military training ground.
• Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology. Housed in a former Olivetan monastery, the museum illustrates the history of science and technology from the work of early scientists into modern times. Of particular interest is the Leonardo da Vinci Gallery with working models of many of his inventions and machinery, created from da Vinci’s drawings. In the physics exhibits are apparatus used by Galileo, Newton, and Volta, and there are sections relating to optics, acoustics, telegraphy, transport, shipping, railroads, flying, metallurgy, motor vehicles, timekeeping, and timber. In all, more than 15,000 technical and scientific objects represent the history of Italian science, technology, and industry.
NEW! Dig a Little Deeper Series. Need more? Inquire about one of our private optional tour excursions. Pricing will be based on number of participants:
Milan Fashion Tour. Since the beginning of the 20th century, Milan has symbolized the concept of “Made in Italy,” and evolved into a mecca for for fashion lovers, trend setters, and fashion businesses. As you wind our way through the heart of Milan’s fashion district with a local insider, you'll learn about the history of fashion in Italy, how it evolved from something for the elite during the Italian monarchy to the democratization of boutiques and department stores today. This 1/2 day private tour will help you dig in deeper into the ins and out of today's styles and trends plenty of time to shop.
Day 3. To Lake Como
Today we transfer from Milan to the town of Bellagio. About an hour's drive north of Milan, the region has an unbelievably picturesque setting that includes lush greenery and lakeside historic villages framed by the backdrop of the Italian and Swiss Alps. Travel around a bit more, and you'll find ornate centuries-old villas, elaborate gardens brimming with fragrant flowers, tiny churches and endless scenic walks and hikes. On the southern shore of Lake Como the town of Bellagio is called la perla del lago (the pearl of the lake). Thanks to its narrow cobbled streets, breathtaking views, impeccable homes and glorious villa gardens, many consider this to be the most beautiful town in all of Europe.
Bellagio, 2 nights, including breakfast.
Included dinner in Bellagio.
Day 4. A Day on Lake Como
This morning, we’ll meet our guide at our hotel and walk to the dock to meet our private boat. Your tour price includes a private guide, 3 hour water limo and admissions to Villa Balbianello, a place of rare beauty, combining luxurious interiors, great views and gardens. We’ll finish our tour with an included lunch at one of the most beautiful restaurant locations in the world - and it is only accessible by boat. At the Locanda, the same set menu has been served since 1947 and it remains an exquisite example of simplicity. Six courses are offered which includes a finale that makes it a unique experience.
The rest of the day and evening is yours to enjoy in Bellagio.
There is lots of great shopping and nooks and crannies to explore. Villa Melzi is one of Bellagio’s most famous residences. English style gardens are embellished by monuments, artifacts (including a Venetian gondola transported to Bellagio, expressly desired by Napoleon, and two precious Egyptian statues), rare exotic plants, secular trees, hedges of camellias, groves of azaleas and gigantic rhododendrons.
This morning, we’ll meet our guide at our hotel and walk to the dock to meet our private boat. Your tour price includes a private guide, 3 hour water limo and admissions to Villa Balbianello, a place of rare beauty, combining luxurious interiors, great views and gardens. We’ll finish our tour with an included lunch at one of the most beautiful restaurant locations in the world - and it is only accessible by boat. At the Locanda, the same set menu has been served since 1947 and it remains an exquisite example of simplicity. Six courses are offered which includes a finale that makes it a unique experience.
The rest of the day and evening is yours to enjoy in Bellagio.
There is lots of great shopping and nooks and crannies to explore. Villa Melzi is one of Bellagio’s most famous residences. English style gardens are embellished by monuments, artifacts (including a Venetian gondola transported to Bellagio, expressly desired by Napoleon, and two precious Egyptian statues), rare exotic plants, secular trees, hedges of camellias, groves of azaleas and gigantic rhododendrons.
Day 5: To the Cinque Terre
This morning we take our private motorcoach from Lake Como to the Cinque Terre. It’s going to be about a 5 hour drive and we’ll make a stop in beautiful Portofino for lunch and some leisure time. We’ll get to Monterosso al Mare in the late afternoon to enjoy the town.
Cinque (FIVE) Terre (LANDS): Monterrosso, Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglia and Riomaggiore. Each of these little jewels clings to the rocky coast and tumble down right to the sea shore. They defy gravity and, most of all, defy time. Cars are not allowed in most areas here, so we’re going to explore by a variety of narrow walks, paths, trains and boats.
2 nights, including breakfast.
The CInque Terre is a very casual resort area. Our hotel is in a great location in the hill town of Monterosso al Mare. There are no high-end hotels here, but it’s all about location, location, location. Tonight we’ll enjoy an included dinner. Since we are in Liguria, we’ll feast on seafood and of course, lots of fresh pesto.
Day 6: A Day the Cinque Terre
We’ll enjoy the day together exploring the Cinque Terre by hiking, ferry and local train. If you plan on hiking make sure you HAVE GOOD SHOES. The best way I like to tackle the 5 lands is to use all three modes of transportation. I’d like to start early for the hike, before the hoards of day-trippers and cruisers arrive. We’ll purchase a hiking passes and ferry tickets right in Monterosso based on how you would like to enjoy your day. (Not included). The trails linking the five villages—especially the rugged Vernazza-Monterosso section—offer a wonderful and rewarding mix of environments and scenery. The beauty of Cinque Terre is that you can easily skip from one village to the next: we can hike from Monterosso to Vernazza (90 minutes), meet up with everyone who would rather take the ferry to Vernazza for lunch, enjoy the view from the ferry to Riomaggiore, grab a gelato and train back in time for a nice swim or afternoon stroll in Monterosso. We can also make arrangements for a private boat for the day to make traveling from town to town easy and on your own time.
Tonight dinner is on your own, but I’d like to invite you to join me for a stroll along the boardwalk. We’ll enjoy the easy-breezy nightlife scene by strolling along the boulevard, tasting wine, nibbling on bruschetta and trying some local delicacies. I have a few favorite paces I like to go.
Day 5: To the Cinque Terre
This morning we take our private motorcoach from Lake Como to the Cinque Terre. It’s going to be about a 5 hour drive and we’ll make a stop in beautiful Portofino for lunch and some leisure time. We’ll get to Monterosso al Mare in the late afternoon to enjoy the town.
Cinque (FIVE) Terre (LANDS): Monterrosso, Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglia and Riomaggiore. Each of these little jewels clings to the rocky coast and tumble down right to the sea shore. They defy gravity and, most of all, defy time. Cars are not allowed in most areas here, so we’re going to explore by a variety of narrow walks, paths, trains and boats.
2 nights, including breakfast.
The CInque Terre is a very casual resort area. Our hotel is in a great location in the hill town of Monterosso al Mare. There are no high-end hotels here, but it’s all about location, location, location. Tonight we’ll enjoy an included dinner. Since we are in Liguria, we’ll feast on seafood and of course, lots of fresh pesto.
Day 6: A Day the Cinque Terre
We’ll enjoy the day together exploring the Cinque Terre by hiking, ferry and local train. If you plan on hiking make sure you HAVE GOOD SHOES. The best way I like to tackle the 5 lands is to use all three modes of transportation. I’d like to start early for the hike, before the hoards of day-trippers and cruisers arrive. We’ll purchase a hiking passes and ferry tickets right in Monterosso based on how you would like to enjoy your day. (Not included). The trails linking the five villages—especially the rugged Vernazza-Monterosso section—offer a wonderful and rewarding mix of environments and scenery. The beauty of Cinque Terre is that you can easily skip from one village to the next: we can hike from Monterosso to Vernazza (90 minutes), meet up with everyone who would rather take the ferry to Vernazza for lunch, enjoy the view from the ferry to Riomaggiore, grab a gelato and train back in time for a nice swim or afternoon stroll in Monterosso. We can also make arrangements for a private boat for the day to make traveling from town to town easy and on your own time.
Tonight dinner is on your own, but I’d like to invite you to join me for a stroll along the boardwalk. We’ll enjoy the easy-breezy nightlife scene by strolling along the boulevard, tasting wine, nibbling on bruschetta and trying some local delicacies. I have a few favorite paces I like to go.
Day 7: To Bologna
Today we're on to the Emilia-Romana. If Italy is food and food is Italy, Bologna is it’s culinary capitol. Striking medieval architecture, one of the oldest universities in the world -- and mama mia -- the food! Bologna has been nicknamed “La Grassa” or “The Fat.” The region is home to the most famous cured pork meats of Italy: prosciuttos, sausages, salamis and mortadella are raised from pigs raised freely on the slopes of the Apeninnes. The most renowned aged cheese on the planet, Parmigiano-Reggiano, is also found here. The Bolognese enjoy every variation of egg noodle; raviolis and tortellini are stuffed with pumpkin, chestnut, and roasted meats, served with rich sauces and ragu. Gifts of the orchards and gardens include rich asparagus, cherries, onions, chestnuts ... all accompanied by the local dry, slightly sparkling Lambrusco wine. Buonissimo!
The location of our hotel is perfect. The rooms are comfortable and elegant with king-size beds and spacious marble bathrooms. The breakfast is very good and they have a complimentary happy hour buffet with purchase of a cocktail in the late afternoon.
2 nights with breakfast
We'll meet our local guide for our walking tour of Bologna, including the Piazza Maggiore, Bologna University, Piazza Santo Stefano, Corte Isolani and the Torri. We're then on to the market where we'll learn about the legends, recipes, history and rules about Bolognese gastronomy, From tagliatella to lasagne, through Certosino cake or Tortellini, each dish has a real code and some of them are registered to the chamber of trade and industry. Our passeggiatta, or evening walk, will be through the electric atmosphere of the market streets, teeming with beautiful displays of fresh produce, cheeses, meats, boutiques and wonderful book stores. Evening food shopping is a very local experience in the Emilia-Romania, and the perfect place for your aparativo and included dinner.
Today we're on to the Emilia-Romana. If Italy is food and food is Italy, Bologna is it’s culinary capitol. Striking medieval architecture, one of the oldest universities in the world -- and mama mia -- the food! Bologna has been nicknamed “La Grassa” or “The Fat.” The region is home to the most famous cured pork meats of Italy: prosciuttos, sausages, salamis and mortadella are raised from pigs raised freely on the slopes of the Apeninnes. The most renowned aged cheese on the planet, Parmigiano-Reggiano, is also found here. The Bolognese enjoy every variation of egg noodle; raviolis and tortellini are stuffed with pumpkin, chestnut, and roasted meats, served with rich sauces and ragu. Gifts of the orchards and gardens include rich asparagus, cherries, onions, chestnuts ... all accompanied by the local dry, slightly sparkling Lambrusco wine. Buonissimo!
The location of our hotel is perfect. The rooms are comfortable and elegant with king-size beds and spacious marble bathrooms. The breakfast is very good and they have a complimentary happy hour buffet with purchase of a cocktail in the late afternoon.
2 nights with breakfast
We'll meet our local guide for our walking tour of Bologna, including the Piazza Maggiore, Bologna University, Piazza Santo Stefano, Corte Isolani and the Torri. We're then on to the market where we'll learn about the legends, recipes, history and rules about Bolognese gastronomy, From tagliatella to lasagne, through Certosino cake or Tortellini, each dish has a real code and some of them are registered to the chamber of trade and industry. Our passeggiatta, or evening walk, will be through the electric atmosphere of the market streets, teeming with beautiful displays of fresh produce, cheeses, meats, boutiques and wonderful book stores. Evening food shopping is a very local experience in the Emilia-Romania, and the perfect place for your aparativo and included dinner.
Day 8. To the Countryside: a morning tour and tasting of Italy's liquid gold: balsamic, and then an afternoon of choices
We'll begin our day with a short drive for a balsamic tour and tasting, where you will learn about how they make this liquid gold.
In Modena, Italy, making balsamic vinegar is a rich family tradition. Almost every household makes their own supply. The tradition is passed on from generation to generation; often parents start a new battery (barrels) for their children when they are born which are presented to them on their wedding day. Ingredients: Grapes, weather, wood and time. True balsamic uses two kinds of sweet grapes: Trebbiano and Lambrusco. Traditional balsamic from Modena is only sold in this bulb-shaped 100ml bottle. It has a rich, complex sweetness that explodes in your mouth with notes of fig, molasses, cherry, chocolate and prune.
NEW! Dig a Little Deeper Series. Need more? Inquire about one of our private optional tour excursions. Pricing will be based on number of participants:
Biking tour of Bologna: Bologna is a city made for a bicycle: flat and with traffic restrictions! This tour is for those of you who want to dig a little deeper and taste a bit of each monument. Did you know that Bologna is famous for its towers? Today, the red city boasts and jealously hides 18 proud and beautiful towers. It could be quite a hard job finding them unless you have expert eyes helping you out! A symbol of Bologna, the towers were strongly built as important military fortifications and also as social pride for each prestigious family. This is not a race, but rather a relaxing pleasant visit, taking advantage of the shade of the arcades, off-the-beaten-path squares, and secret courtyards.
A trip to the Motor Valley. See where the famous car constructors mixed up their passion and skills: Maserati, Lamborghini and of course, Ferrari. You take a tour of the Ferrari Museum. The Museum not only tells the story of Ferrari’s founding father but also showcases some of the most beautiful cars ever built. You’ll see the former workshop of Enzo Ferrari’s father which has been meticulously restored and now houses the Museum of Ferrari Engines, where visitors can see the Prancing Horse’s most experimental power units as well as the perfect engines that equip the track and road cars. Please inquire for pricing. Interested in getting behind the wheel? Let us know and we can make arrangements for you to either drive on the track or take one of these beauties on the open road.
Cooking lesson. “When you hear mention of Bolognese cuisine, take a bow, for it deserves such respect,” wrote Pellegrino Artusi in his 1891 cookbook, “The Science of Cookery and the Art of Eating Well,” which was the Italian housewife’s bible for decades. No longer just a city of delicious homemade food whose secrets are vigilantly guarded by aging nonnas, Bologna is having a culinary renaissance. Here, the making of fresh pasta — more than a dozen varieties of it — is approached with precision, almost a kind of reverence. Join us for an afternoon of cooking in Italy's culinary capitol.
Day 9. Depart from Bologna
Transfers to the Bologna International Airport for flights back to the U.S. or enjoy more of Italia. Think about adding an excursion to the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany or Lucca and Florence.
We'll begin our day with a short drive for a balsamic tour and tasting, where you will learn about how they make this liquid gold.
In Modena, Italy, making balsamic vinegar is a rich family tradition. Almost every household makes their own supply. The tradition is passed on from generation to generation; often parents start a new battery (barrels) for their children when they are born which are presented to them on their wedding day. Ingredients: Grapes, weather, wood and time. True balsamic uses two kinds of sweet grapes: Trebbiano and Lambrusco. Traditional balsamic from Modena is only sold in this bulb-shaped 100ml bottle. It has a rich, complex sweetness that explodes in your mouth with notes of fig, molasses, cherry, chocolate and prune.
NEW! Dig a Little Deeper Series. Need more? Inquire about one of our private optional tour excursions. Pricing will be based on number of participants:
Biking tour of Bologna: Bologna is a city made for a bicycle: flat and with traffic restrictions! This tour is for those of you who want to dig a little deeper and taste a bit of each monument. Did you know that Bologna is famous for its towers? Today, the red city boasts and jealously hides 18 proud and beautiful towers. It could be quite a hard job finding them unless you have expert eyes helping you out! A symbol of Bologna, the towers were strongly built as important military fortifications and also as social pride for each prestigious family. This is not a race, but rather a relaxing pleasant visit, taking advantage of the shade of the arcades, off-the-beaten-path squares, and secret courtyards.
A trip to the Motor Valley. See where the famous car constructors mixed up their passion and skills: Maserati, Lamborghini and of course, Ferrari. You take a tour of the Ferrari Museum. The Museum not only tells the story of Ferrari’s founding father but also showcases some of the most beautiful cars ever built. You’ll see the former workshop of Enzo Ferrari’s father which has been meticulously restored and now houses the Museum of Ferrari Engines, where visitors can see the Prancing Horse’s most experimental power units as well as the perfect engines that equip the track and road cars. Please inquire for pricing. Interested in getting behind the wheel? Let us know and we can make arrangements for you to either drive on the track or take one of these beauties on the open road.
Cooking lesson. “When you hear mention of Bolognese cuisine, take a bow, for it deserves such respect,” wrote Pellegrino Artusi in his 1891 cookbook, “The Science of Cookery and the Art of Eating Well,” which was the Italian housewife’s bible for decades. No longer just a city of delicious homemade food whose secrets are vigilantly guarded by aging nonnas, Bologna is having a culinary renaissance. Here, the making of fresh pasta — more than a dozen varieties of it — is approached with precision, almost a kind of reverence. Join us for an afternoon of cooking in Italy's culinary capitol.
Day 9. Depart from Bologna
Transfers to the Bologna International Airport for flights back to the U.S. or enjoy more of Italia. Think about adding an excursion to the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany or Lucca and Florence.