Discovery Italy

Day 1: OLD MILAN, NAVIGLIO GRANDE
Arrival at the airport and transfer to 3* Hotel or B & B in air-conditioned buses. Refreshing welcome drink and free time to begin to immerse yourself in the fascinating atmosphere of Milan.

Evening: Dinner at one of the oldest and charming trattoria in the suggestive atmosphere of the ancient vicolo dei Lavandai along Naviglio Grande. You immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere of the old canals of Milan and the wide variety of ancient Lombard cuisine: you can choose among many delicious dishes such as “risotto alla Milanese”, cottoletta, mozzarella, tomato and basil with a glass of Barbera, Garda Cabernet or Franciacorta.

Day 2: HISTORICAL MILAN, THE MEDIEVAL MILAN, MUSEUM OF THE FAMOUS SCALA THEATRE
Traditional ice cream tasting
You start exploring the historical Milan: a tour of Piazza del Duomo, the magnificent gothic-lombard Cathedral with its beautiful terraces, the Baptistery of San Giovanni alla Fonti and the Archaeological site of the Dome Cathedral.
Your tour continues then with Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, built in an eclectic style, typical of Milan’s nineteenth century, a dear place to all Milanese people and where can be found designer shops, bars and restaurants.
A typical macchiato coffee, a delicious cappuccino and a typical Milanese cake must definitely be tasted during a stop in the Gallery.
The tour continues with the charming old Piazza Mercanti, symbol of the city, created in medieval times, recalling the past.
We also recommend you to visit Sforzesco Castle and the old Brera district, populated by artists and celebrities.
You can also join an ice cream tasting in a famous old gelateria in Milan.

Afternoon: you walk towards the elegant Piazza della Scala with world's most famous theater, a temple of opera.
A visit of Theatre’s Museum is also on the schedule.
The old Piazza Mercanti, symbol of the city, created in medieval times as a center of the city life with the lively atmosphere of inns, trattorias and workshops and where today we find Palazzo della Ragione is your next destination during the afternoon.

Late afternoon: free.
We recommend a shopping tour in via Torino, Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the surrounding area, a tour of Parco delle Basiliche where can be visited the ancient christian basilicas built in roman times: San Lorenzo and Sant'Eustorgio and a walk in the fashionable Corso Ticinese where you can also taste a typical piedina with bresaola, parmigiano cheese and ruccola or a delicious chocolate crepes and admire the Columns of San Lorenzo.
Alternatively you can choose a City Tour by the Hop On Hop Off open double decker bus.

Evening: Aperitif at “Victoria” bar, right behind Piazza Duomo and dinner by candlelight at “Old America”, the elegant Via Vincenzo Monti or at “Acero Rosso” in Conciliazione area, a pizza restaurant where you can choose to eat at moderate prices meat or fish first and main courses, pizzas and typical milanese desserts.
You absolutely have to taste Millefoglie or Meringata desserts as well as a limoncello, a strong flavor drink made by lemons

Day 3: SFORZESCO CASTLE, ARENA, BRERA QUARTER, BRERA ART GALLERY
Wine tasting in wine cellar
We recommend you to start the day with a tour to Sforzesco Castle, a place of great culture that preserves many testimonies of the Lombard art, built by Galeazzo II Visconti who wanted to build a fort and then restored in 1450 by Francesco Sforza.
A visit of the castle and its museum is on the schedule.
You take afterwards a tour and a stroll in Sempione Park that extends from the shoulders of the Castle to Milan’s Arena.
For lunch you are going to head towards the old district of Brera, populated by artists and celebrities.
"Jamaica" is a historical bar of Brera, where you can take an aperitif and a drink and for lunch can be found numerous restaurants and typical trattorias. The milanese cutlet with small tomatoes and lettuce is a “must-try” as well as the traditional Margherita pizza or spaghetti with tomato sauce or clams
Wine tasting in an old wine cellar

Afternoon: Visit of the “Pinacoteca di Brera”, the famous Museum of Art where, in a magnificent fourteenth-century monastery, alongside the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, where you will find works of art and collections of paintings of the most famous painters:
-“The Marriage of the Virgin” by Raffaello
-“The Virgin Mary with the child” by Giovanni Bellini
-“The Crucifixion” by Bramantino
…as well as other important paintings of Raffaello and Leonardo.

We als recommend you to visit the Filodramatic Theatre, Clerici Palace, the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine, Church of San Marco and the Botanical Garden
Late afternoon: free to walk and discover the trendy shops and antiques or simply have a break and taste a good Italian ice cream. We recommend you the ice cream shop “Chocolat” in Via Boccaccio 9, Conciliazione area.

Evening: optionally dinner at the hotel or a walking tour to “Trattoria Toscana” or the Pizzeria - restaurant “Acero Rosso” in Conciliazione area

Day 4: RENAISSANCE MILAN, THE ROYAL VILLA, THE GARDEN OF THE CITY, MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Your tour starts today with breakfast at the bar tasting a freshly baked croissants, cappuccino and other italian delicacies and then continues with the Renaissance Milan walking towards the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where you have the chance to admire the famous painting “Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci.

We also recommend you to visit Magenta district with its wonderful examples of nineteenth-century houses, early twentieth century Liberty Art buildings and many nice shops.
The tour continues then towards the ancient Basilica of Sant Ambrogio, "queen and mother" of all Lombard churches with its interior that includes works of art of 1600 years of history and then continues towards the Chiostri della Cattolica / Catholic Cloisters, originally belonging to the Benedictine Monastery of Sant Ambrogio Church, San Bernardino alle Monache Church, the Renaissance Palace of Donato Bramante: Palombelli Palace and the Church of Santa Maria presso San Satiro Milan.
Lunch in a typical restaurant in Milan

Afternoon: visit of the Garden of Corso Venezia, the Museum of Natural History and the lively Corso Buenos Aires.

Evening: Bar Executive Lounge, Sozzani Gallery (exhibition space dedicated to visual arts: photography, painting, drawing and sculpture) and dinner in the area of Corso Como with piedmont cuisine and entertainment in various fashion bars.

Day 5: CHIARAVALLE ABBEY, RESIDENCE AND MUSEUM OF THE FAMOUS ITALIAN WRITER, ALESSANDRO MANZONI
The morning starts with a trip out of town by train to the ancient Abbey of Chiaravalle, belonging to the Cistercian monks.
Chiaravalle is a charming little town about 9 km from Milan. You are going to immerse in atmospheres of other times and in fascinating history and stories with the help of the tour leader.Lunch at the Abbey or in a trattoria in the Village of Chiaravalle.
Return to Milan.

Afternoon: great italian painters such as Botticelli and Pollaiuolo at Poldi Pezzoli Museum.
A visit to the Residence and Museum of the famous Italian writer Alessandro Manzoni, who wrote the famous work “I promessi Sposi”, "The Betrothed"…is also on the itinerary schedule.

Evening: Wine and tasty dishes in a restaurant in Brera.

Day 6: TOUR OF NAVIGLIO CANAL BY BOAT, DESIGN MUSEUM
Wine tasting in an old cellar
The day begins with a boat trip on Naviglio Canal Grande following "Conche" route from Porta Genova.
Alternatively can also be chosen the longer route, traveling to Sesto Calende, a town outside of Milan and taking the boat from Viale Italia following "Parco del Ticino" route that starts at Sesto Calende, a few km from Milan.
Lunch in Naviglio’s area where can be admired the small church of San Cristoforo.
A walk to Senigalia market and the fruit, vegetables and antiques market in Viale Papiniano.

Afternoon: Triennale Design Museum which houses various exhibitions every week.
Aperitif at “Noon” bar in Cadorna area, not far from the central Piazza del Duomo

Evening: in search of a new favorite restaurant or pizzeria

Day 7:
MILAN: ROYAL PALACE, RISORGIMENTO PALACE, THE FASHION DISTRICT,
MONZA: VILLA REALE WITH THE BEAUTIFUL PARK
The tour starts with a visit of thE Royal Palace and then Risorgimento Palace where it will be illustrated through several collections of paintings and prints the history of Italy from the Napoleonic period.
It follows a walk towards the Fashion District with the famous upscale shopping streets: Via Montenapoleone, Via Manzoni, Via della Spiga and Corso Venezia.

Afternoon: trip by train to Monza, a charming medieval town about 20 km from Milan, where it is going to be visited the beautiful Park, hunting summer residence of Napoleon III and Savoia’s family, the last royal Italian dynasty.
A visit of the Royal villa is on the schedule.

Evening: “Cantina di Monza”, a well-known restaurant where in addition to fresh fish, pasta salads, pizzas, meat dishes and other delicacies you can taste different wines.
“Cantina di Monza” also offers entertainment: dance, games, karaoke and other funny entertainment.
Return to Milan
End of the program.