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Bellissima Northern Italy
Tour Description:
"Romancing the senses" is an apt description for the experiences showcased on Bellissima Northern Italy... for the landscapes you'll see and the lifestyles you'll sample take you on a love affair with Italy.
It starts with fashion and art in Milan. It continues during a private Tauck cruise across Lake Como to Bellagio and a boat ride to Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore. It captures your heart along the cobblestone streets of Verona, home to Romeo & Juliet... your taste buds at an agriturismo in the Franciacorta region and a cooking demo in Bologna (whose nickname is La Grassa, "the Fat One")... and all the senses in Venice, with visits by boat to some of the Venetian Islands and a private music recital, for Tauck guests only... Now that's amore, from pane to formaggio to vino...
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Dates & Pricing
| Monday 07 Oct 24 — Thursday 17 Oct 24 | Starting at $10,590 |  SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 09 Oct 24 — Saturday 19 Oct 24 | Starting at $9,690 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 14 Oct 24 — Thursday 24 Oct 24 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 21 Oct 24 — Thursday 31 Oct 24 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 26 Mar 25 — Saturday 05 Apr 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 02 Apr 25 — Saturday 12 Apr 25 | Starting at $9,690 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 05 Apr 25 — Tuesday 15 Apr 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 07 Apr 25 — Thursday 17 Apr 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 23 Apr 25 — Saturday 03 May 25 | Starting at $9,690 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 26 Apr 25 — Tuesday 06 May 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 28 Apr 25 — Thursday 08 May 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 03 May 25 — Tuesday 13 May 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 05 May 25 — Thursday 15 May 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 07 May 25 — Saturday 17 May 25 | Starting at $9,690 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 14 May 25 — Saturday 24 May 25 | Starting at $9,690 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 17 May 25 — Tuesday 27 May 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 19 May 25 — Thursday 29 May 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 21 May 25 — Saturday 31 May 25 | Starting at $9,690 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 26 May 25 — Thursday 05 Jun 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 31 May 25 — Tuesday 10 Jun 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 02 Jun 25 — Thursday 12 Jun 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 04 Jun 25 — Saturday 14 Jun 25 | Starting at $9,690 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 07 Jun 25 — Tuesday 17 Jun 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 09 Jun 25 — Thursday 19 Jun 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 14 Jun 25 — Tuesday 24 Jun 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 16 Jun 25 — Thursday 26 Jun 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 21 Jun 25 — Tuesday 01 Jul 25 | Starting at $9,690 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 02 Aug 25 — Tuesday 12 Aug 25 | Starting at $8,990 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 16 Aug 25 — Tuesday 26 Aug 25 | Starting at $9,990 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 30 Aug 25 — Tuesday 09 Sep 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 01 Sep 25 — Thursday 11 Sep 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 06 Sep 25 — Tuesday 16 Sep 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 10 Sep 25 — Saturday 20 Sep 25 | Starting at $9,690 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 13 Sep 25 — Tuesday 23 Sep 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 15 Sep 25 — Thursday 25 Sep 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 20 Sep 25 — Tuesday 30 Sep 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 27 Sep 25 — Tuesday 07 Oct 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 29 Sep 25 — Thursday 09 Oct 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 01 Oct 25 — Saturday 11 Oct 25 | Starting at $9,690 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 04 Oct 25 — Tuesday 14 Oct 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 06 Oct 25 — Thursday 16 Oct 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 11 Oct 25 — Tuesday 21 Oct 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 13 Oct 25 — Thursday 23 Oct 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 15 Oct 25 — Saturday 25 Oct 25 | Starting at $9,690 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 18 Oct 25 — Tuesday 28 Oct 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 22 Oct 25 — Saturday 01 Nov 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 27 Oct 25 — Thursday 06 Nov 25 | Starting at $10,590 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & Sightseeing
"Romancing the senses" is an apt description for the experiences showcased on Bellissima Northern Italy... for the landscapes you'll see and the lifestyles you'll sample take you on a love affair with Italy.
It starts with fashion and art in Milan. It continues during a private Tauck cruise across Lake Como to Bellagio and a boat ride to Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore. It captures your heart along the cobblestone streets of Verona, home to Romeo & Juliet... your taste buds at an agriturismo in the Franciacorta region and a cooking demo in Bologna (whose nickname is La Grassa, "the Fat One")... and all the senses in Venice, with visits by boat to some of the Venetian Islands and a private music recital, for Tauck guests only... Now that's amore, from pane to formaggio to vino...
Highlights
TAUCK'S YELLOW ROADS – Picture-postcard settings await at every turn, dip and bend in the Italian Lakes region – tranquility perfected
TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – A private recital at the Museo della Musica, housed in a church that dates back to the 10th century, located in the heart of Venice
Private Lake Como and Lake Maggiore cruises featuring spectacular scenery & elegant villas
A cooking class in Bologna; learn the secrets from a chef
Tours & tastings in Modena; experience the art behind balsamic vinegar at the source and learn how Parmesan cheese is made
Highlights
TAUCK'S YELLOW ROADS – Picture-postcard settings await at every turn, dip and bend in the Italian Lakes region – tranquility perfected
TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – A private recital at the Museo della Musica, housed in a church that dates back to the 10th century, located in the heart of Venice
Private Lake Como and Lake Maggiore cruises featuring spectacular scenery & elegant villas
A cooking class in Bologna; learn the secrets from a chef
Tours & tastings in Modena; experience the art behind balsamic vinegar at the source and learn how Parmesan cheese is made
ITINERARY
ITINERARYArrive in Milan
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.
Art and architecture of Milan
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.
Lake Como villas and a cruise to Bellagio
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.
Lake Maggiore and Baroque Isola Bella
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.
Bergamo, a wine tasting & on to Verona
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, the home of Romeo & Juliet
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.
Ferraris, Parmigiano & balsamic in Modena
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.
Bologna & a cooking class with a chef
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.
The Venetian Islands & a private music recital
Take a high-speed train to Venice today; board a private boat to begin exploring the islands of the Venetian Lagoon, starting with Torcello, where you'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, 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. Back on dry land (or at least the Venetian version thereof), 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. Tonight, a Tauck Exclusive awaits when you experience a private recital at the Museo della Musica in the heart of Venice.
More Venetian delights as you please
Awaken in intriguing Venice, one of the world's most beloved cities, today and indulge in all things Venetian just as you choose. You might begin your day enjoying a coffee in Piazza San Marco, referred to by Alfred de Musset as "the drawing room of Europe." 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. This evening, join us as we celebrate the end of a splendid trip with our farewell cocktail reception and dinner at the hotel.
Journey home
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.
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
