Things to do in

Brescia

Spend an enjoyable 4 days and 3 nights touring the lakes region of northern Italy. Admire the scenic beauty of the area as you tour by land and water. Visit lovely lakeside villages and islands and explore the historic city of Verona on a guided tour. Day 1: Milan, Lake Orta, Stresa, Como Depart Milan at 08:30 for the drive to Lake Orta, a small, charming lake situated in the north-eastern part of the Piedmont region. Stop in the beautiful village of Orta San Giulio for a short visit. Then take a boat to the island of San Giulio, the gem of the lake that is almost entirely occupied by the Mater Ecclesie Monastery. After a short visit, you’ll take the ferry back to Orta, and travel by bus to Stresa, on Lake Maggiore, one of the largest of Italy’s lakes. Arrive in Stresa, an international tourist resort, where you’ll enjoy free time for lunch, and in the afternoon take a tour of Pescatori island by boat. Continue to Bella Island, where you can visit Borromeo Palace with its magnificent gardens. Return to Stresa before heading on to Como. Overnight in Como. Day 2: Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Bergamo, Brescia Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, followed by a short visit to Como. Take in views of the high mountain overlooking the lake, the wild alpine valley, and the surrounding villages. On Lake Como you’ll board a boat to take you to Bellagio, located at the tip of the peninsula that separates the lake's 2 southern arms. You’ll have views of the Alps across the lake to the north. There will be free time for lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll depart by boat for Varenna. After a panoramic tour you’ll continue on to Bergamo. Enjoy a short walking tour of the city center before heading to Brescia. Overnight in Brescia. Day 3: Brescia, Sirmione, Riva Del Garda, Verona You’ll depart Brescia for Lake Garda after breakfast. Enjoy a panoramic tour along the western coast of the largest of the Italian lakes. Admire the splendid natural landscapes surrounded by the Dolomites of Brenta to the north and gentle sloping hills to the south. When you arrive in Sirmione you’ll have the best panoramic views of the lake. Take a boat tour and admire the Sirmione Cape, the castle, and the Grotto of Catullo. Depart for Riva del Garda on the north side of the lake. Visit its historic center with free time for lunch before the drive to Verona. Overnight in Verona. Day 4: Verona, Milan After breakfast at the hotel you’ll tour the famous city of Verona, a work of art in itself. This fascinating crossroads of historical periods and cultures is a blend of Nordic and Mediterranean influences. See traces of its splendid Roman origins, its prevailing medieval structures, its magnificent Renaissance palaces, and impressive fortifications. You’ll have free time for lunch before departing for Milan in the afternoon.

Head off on a beautiful journey into the countryside of northern Italy and discover the best food and wine the region has to offer, served in one of the most sumptuous Renaissance surroundings. At one of Verona’s most distinguished villas, encircled by the vineyards of Valpolicella, you will not only taste the gourmet delights of this top Italian kitchen, you will get a chance to cook them. See the ancient, well-stocked cellars and taste Amarone, the rich, dry red wine made from partially dried grapes. Start with a guided tour of the best Valpolicella wine cellar before moving onto Amarone vineyards, owned by one of the most renowned wine makers in Italy and set in the beautiful rolling hillsides surrounding Verona. Here you will learn all about the characteristics of the various grape varieties and the viticulture behind Valpolicella wine. Then, continue to one of the finest examples of Renaissance buildings just 30 minutes from Verona. The villa is famous for its magnificent fireplaces, featuring stone-carved recherché creatures that are both a wonder and a mystery to behold. The villa’s architecture is typical of sixteenth-century Italy, symmetric but versatile, and designed to revive the Golden Age. While there, you will learn how to cook some of the dishes traditionally served in this region, as the villa’s head chef takes you through a late-morning cooking class entitled, "The Pearls of our Cuisine: Pasta and Amarone." Learn the fundamentals of fresh pasta-making in all its different forms and find out about the delicious sauces and condiments that traditionally accompany it. You will also be shown how to make braised beef with Amarone and, to top it all off, the chef will introduce you to sbrisolona, the delectable, crumbly Italian sweet. The chefs of the villa will do their best to please you with fine, traditional cuisine complemented with the best local wines. Taste several kinds of Amarone and learn to recognize it by its slightly spicy bitterness, which is reminiscent of roasted almonds. Indulge in the gourmet lunch before the monstrous fireplaces in one of the spectacular halls of the villa. Finally, digest your meal with a stroll in the idyllic and mesmerizing landscape surrounding the villa. Gaze out onto the vineyards that spread out for miles under the Italian sun, as they have done for hundreds of years.

Combine the stunning sights of Brescia with the fun of travelling on a segway with our half-day guided segway tour. The tour kicks off at the parking lot in Via Mantova, where you will become familiar with your segway during a 30-minute orientation. After that, it’s time to get on with the tour, starting with a cruise down a bicycle path to the Porta Venezia gate. Then we cross Piazzale Arnaldo da Brescia and go down Via Tosio and Via San Siro to reach Via dei Musei, following the route of the ancient Roman city plan. Next it’s time to take in some real history, as we proceed toward the Forum, presenting the great ruins of the Roman Theater and Capitoline Temple, as well as the remains of the eastern gate of the city. From here we go down Via Agostino Gallo, Piazza Labus, San Marco and the Tower of Hercules, passing through the Piazza Martiri di Belfiore which opens directly onto the inner courtyard of the Broletto – one of the most significant municipal buildings in all of Lombardy, with its medieval late renaissance origins. After a quick visit inside the churches dedicated to Saints Faustino, Giovita and the Santa Maria delle Grazie, the tour continues in the square that takes its name from the Loggia, an emblem of the renaissance in the Vento-Lombardy regions. Here you can admire the genuine XVI century buildings, the porticoes, the clock tower and a wide range of Roman remains. The next stop if Piazza Paolo VI, the square swimming with history and stunning monuments. Finally, the tour meanders along Corso Magenta to Piazzale Arnaldo da Brescia.

Although mostly known around the world for its violin-making traditions, this city hides beautiful examples of medieval architecture, summed up in the picturesque Piazza del Comune, the real heart of Cremona.  This itinerary begins with a visit to the Cathedral with its sixteenth-century fresco cycle in the central nave, the great Baptistery in Romanesque style, the famous Torrazzo (the highest masonry bell tower in Europe), the Town Hall with beautiful frescoed rooms and the Militia Lodge. The tour then continues with a pleasant walk in the so-called district of luthiers to see the places where the famous Stradivari lived. Follow your guide and visit some historical shops in Via Solferino, then walk through the paved Roman road where you can observe up-close two important remains of "cardo" and "decumano" streets, which are situated approximately 4 feet from street level. 

Meet your guide next to the famous Violin Museum and discover the most representative and beautiful sites around the old town, such as Piazza Stradivari, Piazza del Comune, the Cathedral of Cremona and the Torrazzo, the legendary Negozio Sperlari (the most ancient shop in town), the Church of Sant'Abbondio and the Church of Santa Agata. Visit the Cathedral with its sixteenth-century fresco in the central nave, the great Baptistery in Romanesque style, the famous Torrazzo (the highest masonry bell tower in Europe), the Town Hall with beautiful frescoed rooms and the Militia Lodge.  The tour then continues with a pleasant walk in the so-called district of Luthiers to see the places where the famous Stradivari lived. Follow your guide and visit some historical shops in Via Solferino, then walk through the paved Roman road where you can observe up-close two important remains of 'cardo' and 'decumano' streets, which are situated approximately 4 feet from street level. Towards the end of the guided tour, head back to the Violin Museum for a visit. You'll be fascinated by the five centuries old violin-making tradition in Cremona, by the instruments, and the stories you'll discover inside the museum.