12-Day Air of Decadence in Italy

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Take a morning private tour with our local guide to discover the most authentic side of Venice, from Jewish Ghetto to Cannaregio. You can taste some of the famous Cicchetti tapas as a true local. Finish the day with a romantic gourmet dinner on the secluded island of Mazzorbo. You will be welcomed by a tasting of locally produced wine, which has a very particular and unique flavour as it comes from the vineyards located right in the lagoon.

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After breakfast, the boat will take you to Venice railway station for the high-speed train to Verona. In the afternoon, meet our local guide for a private discovery of Verona highlights. Exploring the old town and medieval castle, admire the first century B.C Roman ‘amphitheatre’ from the outside and learn of the games of the gladiators as well as facts, myths and legends of the arena, then walk along the cobblestone streets to Juliet's balcony.

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You will learn how to cook real Italian homemade pasta with our local chef and enjoy a social lunch with your classmates. In the afternoon, depart for Lake Garda to visit Peschiera del Garda and Sirmione with its famous castle. Return to Verona for dinner.

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Start your visit at a local Bottega farm with panoramic views and taste traditional salami and cheese. Enjoy a traditional Veronese lunch with Amarone, a local wine, in a typical tavern of Valpolicella. Depending on the season, you can find the Lessinia truffle or the traditional cured meats prepared by a farmer from the hills. After lunch, visit a small family-run winery to explore the wine production, the history of the old cellars and enjoy a wine tasting. Return to Verona.

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Have breakfast, check out and transfer to Verona by high-speed train. Arrive in Milan to find your accommodation in a centrally located hotel and have some free time. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the city on the historical tram no.1. You will see the main sites of Milano from Brera quarter to Duomo and La Scala Theatre. Finish the day with an aperitif on the rooftop terrace overlooking the Duomo.

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Have breakfast and enjoy some free time. You can book a tour to Pinacoteca di Brera. This art gallery, founded in 1809 by Napoleon I, is one of the most important museums in Milan, if not Europe. It houses more than 400 works from the 14th to the 20th century by master painters.

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After breakfast, check out and transfer to your hotel on Lake Como. Having inspired artists for centuries, Lake Como is a spectacular sight. Winding like a silky snake through the mountains and sparkling in the sunlight, the lake is somewhat of a celebrity among celebrities, a name to drop that is still frequented by the elite today. To the north, there is the only island in the lake, Isola Comacina, home to Sacro Monte, the Sacred Mountains, which attract many pilgrims.

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After breakfast, meet our local guide for a private discovery of the beautiful Lake Como. Embark on a public ferry boat and start exploring the lake and its beautiful villas. Arrive at Bellagio, where you will enjoy lunch in a local fish restaurant. Return to your hotel and relax and enjoy the lake's beauty.

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After breakfast, check out and transfer by boat taxi to the magnificent palace of the Borromeo family, Isola Bella to see it's art collection and stunning garden. Have a break at the lakeside cafè then head to another island, Isola Madre. Here you can walk in the immense botanical garden with rare species of plants and trees, explore the palace and the Puppet Museum. Lunch will be served in a family-run restaurant on Pescatori island, tasting the local fish while admiring the calm waters.

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After breakfast, enjoy some free time on the lake or take optional excursions to Orta Lake or Mottarone Mount. Stresa, a resort town, still has an air of elegance and bygone decadence with easy access to Milan for artists and writers. Meander along its promenade and explore the cobbled streets in its old centre, marvel at the landmark buildings, including Villa Pallavicino, with its gardens and zoo and the Grand Hôtel des Îles Borromées, where Hemingway once stayed.