1^ST DAY – MALPENSA AIRPORT/LOMELLINA COUNTRYSIDE

Arrival at Malpensa Airport. Transfer with private driver in Mercedes V Class to a 4* historic hotel placed in the heart of the amazing Ticino Park. Accommodation in Suite.

At 3:00 PM, you will enjoy an extraordinary pic-nic in the Garden of the Villa, a park of more than 10 hectares. You will be enveloped in the idyllic atmosphere in the name of peace and well-being, among flowering areas of a thousand colors, green meadows and an important variety of trees. In the park that embraces the Villa there are also many animals such as donkeys, peacocks, black and white swans, geese from the capitol, rabbits, squirrels and much more, giving you moments of relaxation immersed in lush nature. Your bucolic experience will be accompanied by a basket of delicious dishes prepared by the chef of the Villa and a good bottle of wine. Overnight stay at the Hotel.

2^ND DAY: LOMELLINA – CERTOSA DI PAVIA – OLTREPO’ PAVESE (10H)

After breakfast in hotel, departure with your private driver to the Certosa di Pavia (around 40 minutes’ drive), to spend an unforgettable journey in Pavia’s countryside. Meeting with your Official Guide English speaking, who will lead you to the discovering of the most beautiful Certosa of Northern Italy. If the frescoed Renaissance gate that impedes access yet invites one in whispers the language of wealth, the carved and statued marble façade of the Basilica Santa Maria delle Grazie shouts it. Surely the benefactor lord of Milan – Gian Galeazzo Visconti – sought to purchase the good wishes of his deity by funding the church and complex, and surely he made a very grand effort.

Lunch in a typical trattoria placed close to the Certosa.

After lunch, departure to an Aristocratic Winery, a place where art and history meet each other, where design and architecture alternate harmoniously. Private Aperi-Bike (duration: 3h): this unique experience will allow you to immerge yourself in the nature and to know not only the techniques of the winery, but also appreciate the natural beauty of the estate. After a guided tour of the winery, you will enjoy an e-bike tour and a basket set-up with everything you need for an open-air aperitif, a selection of artisanal Oltrepò food products and 1 wine to choose from Saint Valier, Costa del Nero, Maria Novella and Saignée della Rocca. Return and overnight stay in Hotel.

3rd DAY: LOMELLINA – LEONARDO EXPERIENCE: THE TAMING OF THE WATERS (10H)

After breakfast, departure with private driver to visit a Lomellina traditional rice farm (about 30 minutes’ drive), to learn about the history, development, nutritional value and techniques of cultivation of rice, the Lombardy’s most important crop. Lunch will be hand crafted – by you! Under the guidance of a cook and rice expert, you will create your own culinary masterpiece to satisfy your hunger and curiosity at the same time.

After a risotto-based lunch, in the afternoon, a special extended Original History Private Walk of Vigevano, telling the incredible story of the Ideal City of the Renaissance and how Leonardo da Vinci made a contribution, among many other things, to the modern rice industry by learning to tame the waters required for its cultivation. The private visit will begin at the heart of the historic center, Piazza Ducale, a grand square renowned for its elegance. Today, it’s a vibrant meeting spot for locals, enriched with shops, cafés, and restaurants. The Palazzo Ducale, once the residence of Ludovico il Moro, his wife Beatrice d’Este, and their court. Redesigned in the Renaissance style by Bramante, it is one of Europe’s largest castles and now houses museums. Among these, there’s the Leonardiana Museum, celebrating Leonardo da Vinci’s genius, and the Museum of Footwear, honoring Vigevano’s legacy as the birthplace of industrial shoemaking and stiletto heels.

4^TH DAY: LOMELLINA – BERGAMO WALKING TOUR UP & DOWN (6H)

After breakfast, transfer to Bergamo by private driver in Mercedes V Class (1h20 minutes’ drive).

Check-in at a 4* Sup. Hotel, obtained from the complex of an ancient Celestine convent from 1309. Accommodation in Welness Room – SPA included double bedroom. Brunch at an historic café with a Viennese atmosphere, with ancient frescoes and friezes from the end of the nineteenth century, whose buffet is dominated by the tradition of the Da Vittorio’s Master Confectioners.

At 3h00 p.m., meeting with your guide for a private walking tour of the town. You will explore the Old Town “Città Alta”, so called because it’s placed on a hill, surrounded by the fortification of the Walls, UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will discover Piazza Vecchia – important stage of historical events encircled by important private and public buildings: the XI Century first City Hall of Bergamo, the Civic Tower nicknamed “Campanone” on the top of which enjoy a breathtaking panorama – and “Città Bassa”, the Modern Town, with the Piacentini Centre planned at the beginning of the XX° Century.  After the visit, Overnight stay in the hotel.

^5TH DAY: BERGAMO – CHEESE VALLEY EXPERIENCE (10H) 

After breakfast in hotel, meeting in hotel with the driver and departure to Branzi, a village located in the northern part of Bergamo, in the mountain region named Val Brembana, at a distance of 49 kms (about 1,20 hour) from Bergamo. Meeting with your expert guide – an ONAF Cheese Taster – National Organization for Cheese Tasters in Italy. She will escort you in the homeland of two great cheeses: Branzi FTB and Formai de Mut Dell’Alta Val Brembana D.O.P., the white fruits produced by the nature in joint-venture with men, the cheesemakers who have been able to create pure masterpieces for the cheese lovers. The cheeses taste will take place in one of the local dairy factories, where you will also take part to the production of the cheese. After the cheese factory, you will stop in a typical restaurant where you will taste the most traditional dish of the village and probably of the Val Brembana: the Polenta Taragna, made of course with Branzi cheese.

The afternoon will be dedicated to a relaxing walking tour in the village of San Pellegrino, where the springs of the San Pellegrino Water, the champagne of the water, fill millions of bottles every year to be exported on the world market. Return to Bergamo.

6^th DAY: BERGAMO – LEONARDO EXPERIENCE: THE ROUTE OF INGENUITY (10H) 

After breakfast, at 9:30 a.m. departure with private driver to Crespi d’Adda (about 30 minutes’ drive), a company town of workers founded in 1878 by Cristoforo Benigno Crespi on the border between the province of Bergamo and Milan, separated by the river Adda. Meeting with your guide to start a private walking tour of this site entered the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995, as an “extraordinary example of the industrial archeological world”.After the visit, you will reach Villa d’Adda for a seasonal tasting-menu lunch at a traditional Gourmet restaurant.

After the break, you will follow your second stage in the trail of the genius of Vinci, by following the Adda river. In fact, even Leonardo was inspired by the wild landscape that you’ll find along the river. While busy studying the dynamics of liquids, da Vinci produced sketches that were useful for works of art. In fact, some say that the gorges, or so-called ravines, which create a powerful landscape, were the inspiration for the “Virgin of the Rocks.” You will get on one of the ferries portrayed by Leonardo and cross the Adda from one bank to another. Return to Bergamo. Overnight stay in hotel.

7th DAY: BERGAMO – MILAN’S BEATING HEART WALKING TOUR (4H) 

After breakfast in hotel, check-out and departure with your private driver to Milan (around 1h drive).

Check-in at a refined 4* Boutique Hotel, housed in a historic building in the heart of Milan, just 200 meters from the entrance of the Duomo. Accommodation in Junior Suite, a double room with a sitting area.

At 11 a.m. Meeting at the reception with your private English speaking guide, for an unforgettable private tour of Teatro alla Scala and the Duomo. The tour will start with the visit of the world-renowned Teatro alla Scala. Our guide will lead you through its museum galleries and will tell you secrets and details about its most distinguished performances and extravagant protagonists. Walking through the magnificent Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II you’ll reach an historic iconic restaurant placed just close to the Cathedral for a tasting-menu lunch.

After lunch, visit of the cathedral of Milan, which is an absolute masterpiece, a stunning architecture that took centuries to complete. In 1386, the first duke of Milan, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, commissioned a new cathedral upon the ruins of two previous churches, Santa Maria Maggiore and Santa Tecla. Today the Duomo is the biggest church in Italy and the sixth biggest church globally.

8th DAY: MILAN – LEONARDO EXPERIENCE: DA VINCI’S MASTERPIECES IN DOWNTOWN (6H)

After breakfast in hotel, departure with private driver to Santa Maria delle Grazie Church. Meeting with your guide, who will lead you to discover two jewels of the city of Milan: the Last Supper and Leonardo’s Vineyard. The first, located inside the refectory of the church, is a true masterpiece of Renaissance art, one of the most famous works of Leonardo da Vinci’s genius. During this visit you will discover all the secrets and symbolism behind this famous fresco. Afterwards, the cultural itinerary continues to other prestigious Vincian works housed in the city. So here we are at the Castello Sforzesco, where Leonardo painted the splendid vault of the Sala delle Asse and where today the Codex Trivulzianus, one of the many vincian manuscripts preserved all over the world, is kept. Leonardo da Vinci in Milan does not end there. After a lunch at the foot of the Madunina, we will continue our guided tour of Leonardo’s Milan to the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana. In the Leonardi Hall and in the Federiciana Hall are in fact preserved the portrait of the Musico and the Codex Atlanticus, the largest and most astonishing collection of Leonardo Da Vinci’s sheets of drawings and writings. Return to the hotel.

9^TH DAY: MILAN – SWITZERLAND & COMO LAKE EXPERIENCE: A TOUCH OF GLAMOUR (12H)

After breakfast in hotel, at 8.30 a.m. departure with private driver to Switzerland. Arrival in the city center of Lugano at 10.00 a.m. Meeting with your private Official Guide English speaking, who will embark you on a captivating journey in Lugano to discover its treasures and secrets: Lugano’s Mediterranean charm, with sunny weather, lush landscapes, a captivating lake, and shopping opportunities, is a magnet for travelers. However, beneath its modern allure lies a rich tapestry of ancient history. Enjoy serene lake views under mulberry trees, reminiscent of Lugano’s silk industry. Across the lake stands the imposing Casinò di Campione in the Italian enclave of Campione d’Italia, entirely surrounded by Switzerland. Stroll Via Canova, passing the Palazzo Reali, a museum exhibiting 19th- and 20th-century art. At the heart of it all is Piazza Riforma, known as the city’s living room. Lugano seamlessly blends history and glamour in its captivating ambiance.

Lunch in an Ancient Osteria, where you will enjoy a great lunch outdoors looking towards the lake.

At 3.00 p.m. departure to Como. Boarding for a 2 hour private boat tour along the coast. This magical stop-less itinerary will take you through the wonders of Lake Como from a unique perspective. Nature, history and architecture come together to deliver you endless memorable views. Gear up for a close view of the main Villas on the lake: includinf the magnificent Villa Oleandra and Villa Fontanelle – residences of George Clooney and Gianni Versace – the legendry Villa Balbianello – where the Star Wars movie was filmed, Villa Erba, Villa Olmo, Villa d’Este, Villa Pliniana, Villa Trubezkoy, Blevio, Villa Roccabruna, Torno, Laglio, Villa Balbanio and the breathtaking Orrido di Nesso. On board you will find a captain at your disposal, who will take you on a tour recounting the beauties you will see in detail, fresh water and a bottle of Prosecco.

After this exclusive private mini-cruise, time for a relaxing walk at the historic centre of Como. Unforgettable good-bye dinner in One Star Michelin Restaurant and among the best restaurants in Italy by Gambero Rosso Guide. Nestled in the middle of a green private park, this gourmet restaurant awaits you with a unique dining experience through a refined fusion of tradition and creativity. You will have the chance to indulge in Italian flavors with modern twists in the Restaurant’s sophisticated yet informal atmosphere.

After dinner, return to Milan. Overnight in the hotel.

10^th DAY: MILAN – MALPENSA AIRPORT

After breakfast in hotel, check-out and transfer with private driver to Malpensa Airport. Free lunch (Possibility to have a light lunch with pizzas slices and the fries by a famous Michelin star chef in the Terminal 1 of the airport).

Flight departure. Buon viaggio e arrivederci!