Couples Getaway to Italy’s Fashion Capital

What to expect on this itinerary
Milan is one of Italy’s most elegant cities. Typically known for fashion and business, Milan will not do anything short of impressing during your week in this luxurious city. Enjoy a 7-day vacation in this fabulous city that is specifically designed for couples. Romantic boat rides and candlelit dinners await you, along with artistic and historical wonders like Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper and La Scala Opera House. An excursion to idyllic Bellagio rounds out this memorable and unique couple’s trip through Milan. This 7-day, romantic excursion through Milan will have you reminiscing about this trip for the rest of your life.
Customizable Itinerary
Milan – Arrive in Milan and Evening Canal Cruise
The first feelings of amore, or love, will set in as you arrive in Italy to begin your wonderful couple’s vacation in one of its leading cities, Milan. A private transfer will greet you at Malpensa Airport and bring you to the luxurious hotel that will be located in the heart of the city. You will have time to get acquainted with the hotel and your luxurious room before heading out on an exclusive evening sightseeing cruise along one of Milan’s canals. The city’s interconnecting canals date back hundreds of years, and you will set sail on a private boat tour of the oldest canal: the Naviglio Grande. The serene waters and quaint buildings that you pass will certainly set the perfect romantic atmosphere. As you glide around the winding waterways, you will learn about the history of the canals and bask in all the sights and sounds from your unique perspective. When the cruise concludes, you can share a sweet gelatoor Italian ice cream for two from one of the many gelateriasin the area before returning to the hotel.
What's Included:
Milan – Tour of Milan Cathedral and La Scala Opera House with Show
Milan – Visit Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Sforza Castle
Bellagio – Sights of Lake Como with Boat Ride and Dinner
Milan – View Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper and Wine Tasting
Milan – Visit Brera Art Gallery and Botanical Garden and Dinner on Tram Restaurant
Milan – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Bask in an evening canal cruise around Milan
- Witness an unforgettable show at the famous La Scala Opera House
- Shop in high-end boutiques at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II mall
- Marvel at Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supperpainting during a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
- Enjoy an excursion to the fabulous village of Bellagio
- Venture to gorgeous Lake Como on a private boat
- Indulge in an exclusive tram restaurant in the heart of Milan
Detailed Description
An immersive and romantic 7-day couple’s vacation in Milan will begin when you land at Malpensa Airport. After checking into the centrally located and fabulous hotel, you will have some free time before setting out on an evening sightseeing cruise along Milan’s Naviglio Grande canal. Take in the sights of the old buildings and learn some of the history that relates to the canals as you travel in a private boat. Day two of the vacation will begin with a trip to Milan’s Cathedral. The impressive church will amaze you with its detailed statues, and you will enjoy the vast views of the city from the cathedral’s rooftop. In the afternoon, the tour will continue to the world-famous La Scala Opera House. Here, you will witness the main auditorium and nearby museum before viewing a special opera performance in the evening. The legendary building and romantic music will be a perfect end to the day.
A combination of shopping and history highlight day three, which will feature exciting visits to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Sforza Castle. During the trip to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which is one of the world oldest shopping malls, you will discover some of the best of Italian fashion and have the opportunity to shop at high-end boutiques such as Gucci and Prada. After lunch, head to the ancient Sforza Castle. This grand castle is home to various museums and exploring them will be a great way to dive deeper into Milan’s history and culture. You will then have free time in the park, Parco Sempione, which is located outside the castle, to spend at your leisure. The beautiful green grass and pretty flowers will be the ideal way to balance your day. On the morning of day four, you will depart Milan for a one-night excursion to the renowned village of Bellagio. Your private transfer will first stop in the city of Como where you will go a tour of its main attractions before embarking on a private boat ride around the gorgeous Lake Como. After taking in all the spectacular sights of the lake, you will arrive in the waterfront village of Bellagio. The village is highly sought after for its ideal location that overlooks the lake and its luxurious villas, and you will spend one night in a lavish hotel that is located on the water where you will also have a romantic dinner for two.
Feeling totally relaxed and content, you will return to Milan via private transfer on the morning of day five and begin a tour of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The ancient church will be filled with sights to see, and the highlight of the visit will be having the opportunity to view Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece: the Last Supper. Later today, you will head to a local wine bar for a private wine tasting. Here, you will have the chance to sample various delicious wines as you learn about the winemaking process and discover your favorite, Italian blend. Day six of your vacation will feature a visit to the Brera Art Gallery and Brera Botanical Gardens. The massive gallery will fascinate you with its hundreds of works of art by master artists such as Raphael and Bellini. The botanical gardens will also be extraordinarily scenic and peaceful. For dinner, you will have the exclusive chance to dine aboard one of Milan’s most prestigious restaurants. This will be a very unique experience as you will be served the utmost romantic and delicious meal as you ride through the breathtaking city. This sought-after experience will be the perfect way to spend your last night in Milan. On the morning of day seven, your private transfer will lead you to Malpensa Airport for the return flight home. This couple’s trip to the best of Milan’s attractions and most romantic locations will be remembered forever.
Starting Price
$2,600 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 230 reviews
Overall, this trip was fantastic!! Everything was arranged for us to the point that we just had to show up and someone took care of us from there. Before departure, all of our vouchers were sent to us along with a detailed itinerary of each day and activity, down to the name of the person picking us up. If something changed, our travel agent thoughtfully texted us the new information. Yes, texted us, because we were provided with a phone that contained our itinerary and all of our vouchers along with a GPS program in case we got lost. We used the GPS a lot! If there were any issues I could easily call our agent or text him and he answered immediately, always!
All of our pick-ups were on time and in very comfortable cars with water provided. All of the drivers were extremely professional in their demeanor and appearance.
We also loved our guides in every city. I never imagined that this would be so intimate. I have only ever been in group tours where you get a headset and there are 25 or more people. There were 3 of us on this trip and it was the 3 of us with the guide. This allowed for questions and explanations that you could easily hear and understand.
The hotels, with the exception of Como, were superb with our favorite being in Florence at the Hotel Santa Maria Novella. Breakfast was always included and it was beautiful as well as delicious! I was sorry that we had booked Como. We had no activities planned there and I am not sure why so we were on our own. I also think it was the wrong time of year (March) to be going there as nothing was in bloom and there was a lot closed. Our guide in Milan told us that we could have done it as a day trip and she could have accompanied us. Oh well, this was the only piece that was not perfect, yet we still enjoyed it. It is a lovely little city on the lake. We took a water boat to Bellagio and walked around and then decided to take a local bus back. It was actually more scenic than the water boat.
The only other disconnect we had was the first day. We arrived at the hotel at 7am after a very long flight and our room was not ready. It took 3 hours to get something ready and it was not what we had booked but that was okay. In retrospect it might have been good to send us out on a city tour by car or bus to give us the big picture view and to kill time. Instead we sat in the warm lobby waiting and waiting.
As I said before, overall this was a fabulous trip. Being able to customize exactly where you want to go is invaluable. Working with our travel agent on getting our activities just right was so easy too. And being taking care of as we were was priceless!
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Firstly let me say this: Im a very well educated,travelled, sophisticated, and reasonably successful “independent’ thinking man. It had been my dream not to take some blasted ‘package’ but to go to Italy…something i had wanted to do since my college years when i minored in Italian at Columbia University….(but ran out of money like most who give up everything to attend the university of their dreams.
Trying to do this on the internet i lucked into Zacasso who referred me to this Italy travel company and lucked in again when i began working with Laura. You see…it meant so much to me to be working with a knowledgable Italian who knew my tastes were more ‘Italian’ and wanted to experience that which was authentic and of high and human culture.
Laura is quite simply the best travel professional…in my world!! She knows the Piedmont and part of my concentration was the mushrooming of the area, truffles. Yes i wanted something unique and extraordinary and in each case, there were three hunts, all were quite good. Furthermore…without behaving like a instructor she vastly helped me with
my Italian…a dream..speaking Italian after having minored in it at university….within this dream. Laura is sensitive, knowledgable, authentic, and unbelievably conscious of my doings often conveying really crucial info thru my email and messenger. It was NO SMALL PART attributable to Laura that this 30 year dream of mine came to such superb
execution.
Let me say a bit about each stage of the trip…hotels…etc.
Florence
Both times i stayed at some really charming boutique hotels…the former being a fav of poet TS Elliot who came from ST Louis…well we went to the same prep schools….but the hotel was old world aristocratic and superb experience. Although i lived in NYC and SF, Firenze is far more animated and tumultuous….im so glad i opted
for GPS…really shouldn’t allow someone to get in a car over there without it…took me right out to the resort. The Agriturisimo there…beautiful and isolated…was really set up for ‘wedding parties’ and such…so i went to the next town over Paoli for breakfast and see the real deal at the ‘Bar’ that also is the breakfast coffee place for the town.
the hunt and dinner was SO world class: they had a beautiful show with every type of sauce, apron, and gizmo under the sun….they let me go back into the kitchen to see the prep and the chef was most cordial…then they have an elegant dining area…and i had the most mind blowing 5 course truffle meal…well i had to take some home as i simply could eat it all. The guide was superb, a super truffle dog…we found 4 lickety split…when i got back to the lodge…i had to sleep…just not accustomed to these 2-3 hr cents!!
Venice
Is the most romantic and exotic city i ever visited…staying at a 500 year old palace…was genius…its out of the way…all the rooms are monstrous…the people are so cordial…great courtyards….a total riot. my tickets were right up front…the opera house Felice is the most beautiful imagined…one thing…you need a personal GPS in Venice…i have never been lost so many times in my life so yes my new iPhone 6 google map was ESSENTIAL> Trains were great…and got a superb sports car Lexus hybrid to race up to Lago Como in…
Lake Como
it took 4 hrs to find the b n b because the GPS is inaccurate and the host really didn’t go out of his way to put me right. The b n b was beautifully situated…its ideal to stay up on the hill as its quieter and more beautiful…the people…well there wasn’t any privacy…i was put in a room that was ALL PINK! and there were some noisy other people….i couldn’t lay down without the proprietor interrupting me for some item…one day a television man visit of one hour…i don’t watch television…the food and digs were most clean…but there were more ‘donts’ than dos…his only suggestion was to take a bus! to a pizza joint!!! so i cut out and went to Bellagio a great decision…i love that area and look forward to going back…but with more privacy and greater insight as to what is really fun to do there than just shop till i drop.
Alba
What a superbly run hotel here!!! they helped me with my wash ( no one else had!!! save the place in Colleoli…a bit)….everything was run like a 5 star…..the transfer people were EXTRAORDINARY…sorry i can’t remember her name…but she took me to the HEAD TRUFALAU and his super dog Rocky for a smashingly beautiful
day of truffling in the hills of Barberesco…across from Borrollo….a winos paradise. Turns out her family had a restaurant…really great one..and her husband was the chef…he took some fresh porcini i had purchased in Alba and turned the meal into a work of art experience even allowing me to see him prepare the sauce…that i have on video!! as a cook myself…its such an honor to be allowed into a professional kitchen..following my ******GUIDE EXTRAORDINAIRE*** a university of Torino art history grad…took me to a Romanesque church…******this was the highpoint of my Italy ‘ stay….she was professional…charming….extremely knowledgeable and could explain Charlemaignes influence in the area even down to what it means in current life….****this is what i had most wanted*** an insiders authentic full day experience of high and human culture. ***if i knew this persons name i would write her a separate recommendation as she was extraordinary..it was always this focus of art and civilization that i most enjoyed at Columbia and the reason it was chosen. Who could imagine…an isolated old Romanesque church in Piedmonte would answer my prayers?
The hotel had a very charming set up…though not to busy…most isolated but beautiful…again…chef very wonderful and prepared me a full truffle mean…it was a family place..the room itself was probably ordinary but the setting and all in all was still very high mark….****i left my beloved Corneliani linen travel jacket there…and Laura retrieved it and its being sent to me….can you ask for better service? Its new to me!
Milan
The hotel here…if you can find it…is a wonderful experience…the staff was a little stiff/big city…but it was so charming…everyone so first rate…restaurant courtyard room setting…best experience in weekdays as that area is a madhouse on weekends….La Scala…well tickets were not so great..up in a balcony next to stage over the pit…rather hard to
see the stage…but it was pretty wonderful…I really liked Milan and it was more like the city that i can relate too…as to the overwhlemingingness of Venice and Florence. The transfer very professional…id didn’t realize had to really get out of there as airport so far…so i ran quite a bit in that airport not getting my taxes refunded…think i can mail them in anyhow..Milan airport is the nicest one i believe i every saw in my life!!!
***it should be noted that preceding this i had spent a week biking the ‘hills’ of the Val dal Orcia…a real workout but got me properly ‘Tuscanized”….i was amazed how little spicing/seasoning is used in Italian cooking compared to what we do here in the USA…live and learn!
Hope this helps…Want you people to always be part of any trip i every take there…i want Laura’s cards to refer her within my sphere…..I want to thank you for doing such an exceptional job here…it was so better than expected…gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!
Arriva Derci Y’all!!!
michael m
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If I could give more than five stars, I would.our agent at this Italy travel company put together a perfect trip for my husband and I. Hotels, guides, connections, drivers, restaurants and reservations, absolutely everything in Venice, Florence and Bellagio was seamless and beyond wonderful.
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