The Very Best of Northern Italy
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Romantic and glamorous, this private journey encapsulates the very best of northern Italy. From the majestic lakes area surrounded by snow-capped mountains, elegant 17th century villas and gardens plus a bevy of charming towns and villages nearby, it is one of Italy’s most beautiful areas. The fashion capital of Milan is a fitting inclusion capped off with a stay in the chic resort town of Portofino, heart of the Italian Riviera.
This is an Abercrombie & Kent private journey and can be tailor-made to fit with your travel dates and built around your desires.
Highlights
- Stay at the renowned Villa d’Este on stunning Lake Como
- Cruise around Lake Como visiting Villa Balbianello, one of the most striking in in the world
- Soak up the vibe in the smaller and less visited Lake Varese
- See the finest works of art in Milan
- Marvel at the extravagant monastery of Certosa di Pavia
- Design your Day on the Portofino Peninsula
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Milan – Cernobbio.
On arrival into Milan, enjoy a warm welcome from your Abercrombie & Kent local Guardian Angel, before privately transferring to your luxury hotel on the shores of Lake Como. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Villa d’Este (Deluxe Lake View Room)
Day 2
Lake Como.
Board your private vessel for a cruise around beautiful Lake Como. Soak up the scenery and the beautiful villas and gardens visible from the water. Make a stop at stunning Villa Balbianello, whose grand terraces cascade down to the lake’s shore. It has been the site of many film locations including a Star Wars episode and ‘A Month on the Lake’ with Vanessa Redgrave and Uma Thurman. Afterwards, stop in the delightful village of Bellagio, located on a peninsula in the middle of the lake. With a long history in silk production, shopping for scarves and ties is a popular pastime in Bellagio. Relax this afternoon at your splendid hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Villa d’Este (Deluxe Lake View Room)
Day 3
Cernobbio – Lugano – Cernobbio.
Travel along the lake shore today heading heading up towards the Alps and across the border into Switzerland. When you arrive at the picturesque town of Lugano, delightfully situated on one of the smaller lakes in the Lake District, you will be introduced to the most important sites, including the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Villa d’Este (Deluxe Lake View Room)
Day 4
Cernobbio – Lake Varese – Milan.
Soak up the slower pace on the smaller and less visited Lake Varese. Visit the Villa Panza whose simple 18th century façade belies a grand and complex interior. Admire the impressive contemporary art collections before lunch in a local restaurant (payable locally). Afterwards visit the Villa della Porta Bozzolo, originally built in 1500. Admire the splendid Italian garden with its steps, fountains, streams, and the interior frescoes by the Varese artist’s studio Magatti. Finish up today in the buzzing cosmopolitan Milan.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Milano (Deluxe Room)
Day 5
Milan
Explore Milan in-depth today. Sights will include Leonardo’s newly restored “Last Supper”, located in the refectory of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the colossal and flamboyant Gothic Cathedral and the Brera Gallery. Housed in a 17th century palace, the Brera Gallery was built for the Jesuits and is considered Milan’s most formidable art museum. The collections here are mainly of northern Italian religious art from the late 18th century, but they also include other European schools and 20th century works. Visit the vast and imposing Castello Sforzesco where Michelangelo’s Pietà can be found. The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, founded in 1618 by Cardinal Federico Borromeo houses some important works by artists such as Titian, Caravaggio, da Vinci and Botticelli.
This evening venture into Milan’s lively Navigli district, defined by its waterways, which has become one of the coolest parts of the city. While most of Milan has a reputation for high fashion, the navigli have a more bohemian and artistic vibe. With beautiful scenery and lots of outdoor cafés, it is one of the best areas in the city to explore and grab a sunset spritz to kick off your typical Milanese evening.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Milano (Deluxe Room)
Day 6
Milan – Certosa di Pavia – Milan.
Head out of town to the Certosa di Pavia, one of the most extravagant monasteries in Europe. Commissioned by the Duke of Milan, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, in 1396 as the family mausoleum, the church here was intended to resemble Milan’s late-Gothic cathedral and the same architects and craftsmen worked on the building throughout its construction. Admire the monastery’s fine terracotta decoration and charming geometric garden. Also visit the town of Pavia, once known as the city of a hundred towers in the Middle Ages, today only a handful remain along with numerous Romanesque and Gothic churches that are tucked away in a web of narrow streets and cobbled squares.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Milano (Deluxe Room)
Day 7
Milan – Genoa – Portofino.
Travel down to the stunning Italian Riviera in the province of Liguria. Stop en route in the region’s capital, Genoa – home town of Christopher Columbus. Begin with visits to the Church of Gesù, a Baroque structure built between 1589 and 1606 and the Duomo of San Lorenzo with its black and white Gothic façade. Continue on to take a look at the Porta Soprana, the eastern gateway to the city, located next to one of various homes belonging to Christopher Columbus’s family. After lunch at leisure, it’s just a short distance to Portofino – the most exclusive marina town in Italy and the perfect base to stroll up in to the local cypress lined hills for breath-taking coastal views.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Belmond Hotel Splendido (Seaview Balcony Room)
Day 8
Design Your Day Cinque Terre.
Explore the charming Cinque Terre your way today. Built along the steep coastal cliffs of Liguria, its vineyards and fishing villages still retain the old customs and traditions. Visit Vernazza, a beautiful village consisting of tall, colourful houses and a church clustered together at the head of a sheltered cove. Manarola is a fishing village set amidst terraced vineyards where you can take a walk to see the coast and other neighbouring villages including Camogli, one of Italy’s most romantic coastal spots where sea-shells adorn pastel-painted house walls, and the smell of freshly cooked fish wafts out of the restaurants and onto the street. Or for the more active, a full day hike along the Sentiero Azzurro reveals the five dramatically located villages which cling to the vertiginous cliffs and breathtaking views. Or take to the water on a ferry ride to San Fruttuoso and its stunning abbey which was founded in 711 AD. Continue to the picturesque colourful fishing town of Camogli to visit the Maritime Museum and then elegant Santa Margherita where the stunning Villa Durazzo takes pride of place. The villa has an amazing position overlooking the gulf of Santa Margherita Ligure. The 17th century building is adorned with statues and rich paintings, tapestries, marbles, ceramics and Venetian chandeliers however the Italianate garden is the pièce de résistance.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Belmond Hotel Splendido (Seaview Balcony Room)
Day 9
Depart Portofino – Milan.
Private transfer to Milan Malpensa Airport for onward flight.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Departures & Rates
Per Person Twin Share: From $18,365
Solo Traveller: From $34,515
This is an Abercrombie & Kent private journey and can be tailor-made to fit with your travel dates and built around your desires. Depending on your preferred dates and arrangements, final pricing will vary from low season to peak season travel.
Earn 1 Qantas Point* per $1 spent on this itinerary
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Important Terms
- Earn 1 Qantas Point* per $1 spent on this itinerary
*Rates are subject to availability and seasonality and may change without notice. Rates are based on two adults sharing. For solo travellers or single person occupancy rates or further information on terms and conditions, please contact our Travel Specialists at time of booking.
Accommodation
Villa d’Este, Lake Como
The magnificent Villa d’Este, formerly a grand Renaissance-style palazzo is now a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, offering a wonderful fusion of flawless service and cuisine, architectural grandeur and sumptuous accommodation.
The 152 classically styled rooms, Junior Suites and Suites are located in the original Cardinal Building or the more intimate Queen’s Pavilion, with varied garden or lake views. Every room has its own personality, based on period furniture, fine paintings adorning the walls, Como silk covered sofas and chairs, curtains in silk brocade and the finest linen sheets on the super-comfortable beds.
The public areas of the hotel are astonishing, with grand architectural details at every turn and old world charm in abundance. It is hardly surprising to find that this hotel was once the favourite playground of European royalty.
Four Seasons Hotel Milano
The Four Seasons Hotel Milan is a luxurious and exclusive hotel located on a quiet street in Milan’s most elegant quarter, near La Scala and the Cathedral. In its atmosphere and design it is quite unlike any other for its gracious building was formerly a convent and its transformation into a hotel has restored many of the architectural and decorative features of its early years. Surrounding a peaceful, landscaped courtyard, the 118 spacious guest rooms and suites are individually appointed in the finest Italian style.
Enjoy innovative Mediterranean cuisine at La Veranda, the hotel’s all-day-dining restaurant which faces the beautiful cloistered courtyard, or enjoy a delicious afternoon tea at Il Foyer, where you can choose between 29 varieties of tea leaves. Wellness facilities at the hotel include a sleek urban spa and modern fitness centre. Thrill seekers will be pleased to hear Four Seasons Milan can arrange exhilarating experiences such as a spin in a 1961 Giuletta Spider or scenic helicopter flight over the Rhaetian Alps.
Belmond Hotel Splendido, Portofino
The Belmond Splendido and its sister property, Splendido Mare are situated on Northern Italy’s Ligurian coast high above Portofino and the Mediterranean. For nearly a century the Splendido has been meeting the needs of a distinguished guest list, drawn by its high standards. The hotel has just the right blend of beauty, style, comfort and service.
If you prefer to stay close to the action, Splendido Mare stands beside the renowned Piazzetta, near to the resort’s lively quay. Both properties are connected by a scenic path, taking just 10 minutes to walk or alternatively the complimentary shuttle service will whizz you between them.
The Belmond Splendido has 64 beautiful rooms including 35 suites, while the smaller Splendido Mare has just 16 rooms and suites. All rooms are light, airy and elegant, and most offer balconies with superb views of the village, the harbour and the Castle of San Giorgio.
Splendido Mare shares all the facilities of the Hotel Splendido, including a spectacular open-air-heated pool and all-weather tennis courts. Enjoy the very best of fine Italian cuisine at La Terrazza Restaurant, where you can enjoy magnificent views of the bay, or dine indoors in elegant splendour. For more relaxed al fresco dining, opt for the Pool Restaurant, where the lunchtime salad buffet is legendary. The brand new Smile Club for children aged 4 to 12 years offers arts and crafts and scavenger hunts.
The treatments on offer at the Wellness Centre are wide and varied and make use of the garden for massages – drift off among the flowers in a secluded corner of the terraced gardens as your aches and pains are expertly pummelled. Children can join in and enjoy Kid’s Yoga or perhaps a family session is more to your taste.
