Bellissima Northern Italy

Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Grand Hotel et de Milan. A transfer is included from Milan's Malpensa Airport or Linate Airport to Grand Hotel et de Milan, close to the La Scala Opera House and the city's celebrated fashion district. Please join us to meet your Tauck Director and your fellow travelers at a welcome reception followed by dinner this evening.

Milan's wealth of art and architecture awaits on your first day of sightseeing in this remarkable city. Join a local guide for a guided walking tour including views of the Duomo, the great Cathedral of Milan and a striking example of Gothic architecture; the famous La Scala opera house; and the impressive Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. The rest of the day is free to explore what interests you most, perhaps visiting the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie to take in Leonardo da Vinci's mural The Last Supper, which he painted on the refectory wall at the request of his patron, Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. This afternoon, you'll have a choice between either Ambrosiana Art Gallery or the Duomo Museum, to be explored on your own.

It's said to be Italy's most beautiful lake, and you'll understand why it entrances celebrities, aristocrats and jetsetters when you see Lake Como for yourself today. In Tremezzo, discover Villa Carlotta, known for its lovely setting and splendid 17th-century gardens decorated with sculptures, stairways and fountains. A private boat ride across the lake to Bellagio reveals the grand villas of the rich and famous. After lunch on your own, board another private boat for a cruise to Como en route to your Belle Époque hotel in Stresa on Lake Maggiore.

Your vacation continues as you travel by boat to Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore and the exquisite Villa Borromeo on the tiny, private island. Count Vitaliano Borromeo began the construction of this opulent Baroque palace and its splendid gardens in 1632. A guided tour of the ornate family home showcases priceless works of art, tapestries and furniture in an elegant and sumptuous setting. Have lunch on Isola Pescatori, then return to lovely Stresa, where the afternoon and evening are free to enjoy as you please.

Today's travels take you across lush rural landscapes to ancient Bergamo, where you'll explore its walled medieval center – straight out of a storybook illustration – with a local guide; visit the Piazza Vecchia, the 12th-century Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, and the Cappella Colleoni. After a wine tasting and tasty lunch at an agriturismo in the Franciacorta region, your northern Italy vacation continues to Verona, land of Romeo and Juliet, where your accommodations at the Due Torri Hotel are not far from the famous balcony that recalls Shakespeare's timeless tragedy.

Verona is probably best known as the home of Shakespeare's tragic lovers, Romeo and Juliet… and of The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Valentine and Proteus. But, Verona is so much more. In honor of its many historical buildings, Verona has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is famous for its Roman amphitheatre, the third largest after the Colosseum in Rome and still used for operas and other cultural entertainment, and other buildings that have survived since Roman times... as well as for its outstanding wine and cuisine. A walking tour this morning reveals the many charms of the city; the afternoon is free to continue your explorations on your own. Enjoy dinner with wine at a local ristorante tonight.

Travel to Modena, where you'll visit a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory to experience first-hand the process of cheesemaking; from the milk delivery to the finished wheels, follow each detail of the production – and end with a tasting! You'll then hear the story of Enzo Ferrari, driver and creator of Scuderia Ferrari in the 1930s, at the Enzo Ferrari Museum. Later, a guided visit reveals the art of balsamic vinegar making – an elaborate process of rendering grapes and decanting must into wooden barrels. Your visit is memorable, as is the sampling of this aromatic staple of gourmet cooking aged from 18 to 25+ years! Journey on to the celebrated university town of Bologna, where food, fashion and culture reign supreme. Dine this evening at a local restaurant.

Surrounded by hills, the dusky red buildings, marble-floored ancient porticoes and wide piazzas contribute to the distinctly Renaissance feel in the center of Bologna, a bastion of food, fashion and culture. Home of the world's oldest university, the Alma Mater Studiorum, founded in 1088, notable scholars such as Dante, Boccaccio and Petrarca once walked its streets. A walking tour this morning reveals sights that they may well have seen centuries ago – including the university's magnificent Archiginnasio, the Church of San Domenico, Piazza Santo Stefano and the city's iconic Two Towers. After time to explore on your own, learn the secrets of Bologna's cuisine in a cooking demonstration by a chef.

Board a high-speed train this morning as you make your way to Venice and the last leg of your journey. One of the world's most beloved cities, this afternoon you may indulge in all things Venetian just as you choose. Here in the city where streets are paved with water, the sound of human voices replaces the traffic noise so common in the other great cities of Europe as pedestrians (and pigeons) flock to this central gathering place for Venetians. Perhaps you'll choose to see the magnificent view of the city from the top of St. Mark's bell tower, stroll over to the Rialto Bridge, take in some of the city's excellent museums or shop for distinctive Venetian souvenirs such as the traditional Carnival masks and colorful Venetian glass. Or, just follow your nose and see where the tiny streets might take you. Following an afternoon of free time to explore the city as you wish, check into your home for the next two nights in the City of Canals – The Gritti Palace, Venice, originally the 15th-century private home of a doge of Venice overlooking the Grand Canal, recently re-emerging and reopening after a painstaking, handcrafted restoration.

Board a private boat this morning for an exploration to the islands of the Venetian Lagoon, starting with Torcello, where you'll have a chance to tour its 11th-century basilica. Then continue on to nearby Burano, known for its exquisite lacemaking and picturesque colored homes. Tonight, a Tauck Exclusive awaits when you experience a private recital at the Museo della Musica in the heart of Venice. Back at your hotel, join us as we celebrate the end of a splendid trip with our farewell cocktail reception and dinner.

Tour ends: Venice. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Gritti Palace to Venice's Marco Polo International Airport and / or Santa Lucia train station. Please allow 3 hours for airport check-in formalities. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.