Milano is a thriving metropolis in the Lombardy region, known as a financial hub with its home to the national stock exchange. But Milan is much more than that, it is also known for its exquisite fashion sense and high end shops. Enjoy a welcome dinner and evening at the hotel.

After breakfast proceed on a guided tour of several of Milan’s historic and artistic attractions. Gaze in awe of the worlds largest gothic cathedral, ponder at the beauty of the Last Supper Painting and stroll past the famous La Scala Opera house. Lunch on your own followed by an early afternoon departure to Lake Como. Lake Como is the most exquisite of the three lakes in the Lombardy Region, surrounded by the Swiss Alps on both sides. Enjoy an evening on your own, possibly taking the foniculare to Brunate for shopping. Return to the hotel for dinner.

After breakfast proceed on a guided tour of several of Milan’s historic and artistic attractions. Gaze in awe of the worlds largest gothic cathedral, ponder at the beauty of the Last Supper Painting and stroll past the famous La Scala Opera house. Lunch on your own followed by an early afternoon departure to Lake Como. Lake Como is the most exquisite of the three lakes in the Lombardy Region, surrounded by the Swiss Alps on both sides. Enjoy an evening on your own, possibly taking the foniculare to Brunate for shopping. Return to the hotel for dinner.

After breakfast explore Bellagio, the picturesque town located at the middle of the three legs of Lake Como. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the lake while the cool breeze hits your face. Meander through its cobblestone streets filled with quaint stores, cafes and gelato shops. Bellagio has become a town popular with the rich and famous including George Clooney so perhaps you’ll rub shoulders with a celebrity! You will also prepare and enjoy a delicious lunch of regional cuisine. In the evening return to the hotel. Dinner on your own.

Enjoy breakfast and then a guided tour of Verona where you will see the famous “juliets balcony”. Then take an afternoon bus ride to the Valpolicello hills. Once there choose between a wine tasting at a winery, a visit to the medieval town of Soave for a white wine tasting in a castle, or a visit to an Oil mill for an olive oil tasting. Enjoy dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast attend a cooking lesson of regional cuisine at the hotel. Enjoy the fruits of your labor for lunch! Spend an afternoon on your own maybe enjoying a coffee at the beautiful Piazza delle Erbe and exploring the shops of Verona. In the evening, if available, enjoy a show at the famous Roman Arena built in the 1st century (show not included in trip price).

After breakfast depart for Moena but first stop in Balzano. For a moment in Balzano you may think you have left Italy and traveled to Germany with its beer, sauerkraut and German speaking crowds but this is just the wonderful marriage of the European and Mediterranean cultures. Balzano is the entrance to the Dolomities and sitting in the town center you will be amazed by the spectacular views you have of the mountains. You will also have the chance to meet the worlds oldest man, preserved in ice of course. You can view Otzi, a man frozen in ice from the mountain 5,300 years ago, in his freezer at the Museum of Archeology. Enjoy lunch on your own and arrive at the hotel in Moena for dinner and to relax.

After breakfast you will have a chance to explore Moena on your own. Located in the middle of the Dolomities, Moena is a picture perfect resort town. Knows as the pale mountains the Dolomities were formed into mountains during the Ice Age and are composed of calcium and magnesium. People flock to Moena in the winter for skiing and snowboarding, but in summer there are a multitude of activities as well such as biking and hiking. We will visit a museum in the afternoon and take a bus ride to enjoy the stunning panoramic views of the Dolomites. We will return to the hotel for dinner.

After breakfast depart for Venice. We will stop along on our journey for you to enjoy lunch on your own and arrive at the hotel for dinner.

After breakfast we will take a half day tour of a truly one of a kind city. Venice has 180 canals and 450 bridges connecting its 118 small islands. There are no roads, cars or vespas in Venice, only canals filled with singing gondoliers. Sights include the Gothic Doge’s Palace and the Basilica of San Marco with its Byzantine gold mosaics. Then you will have the rest of the day to sip a cappuccino and enjoy an Italian pastry in San Marco’s square while watching children chase the pigeons, spend an afternoon wandering from palace to piazza shopping for Venetian glass and masks, or be serenaded while riding in a gondola. We will meet back together in the evening to enjoy dinner at a Venetian Restaurant.

After breakfast our time together is finished. Depart for the Venice airport to return to the USA.