Immersive History and Culture Vacation of Lake Como

Varenna old town on Lake Como, Italy

What to expect on this itinerary

Uncover some of the best of Italy during this 8-day journey that blends Lake Como’s captivating history and culture through exclusive tours and immersive experiences. Italy’s gorgeous Lake Como is filled with breathtaking towns, an intriguing history, and a welcoming culture. Explore the ancient Como Cathedral, traverse the Roman Bridge, and sail around lake Como in the lap of luxury.

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Milan, Como, Argegno, Bellagio, Varenna, Gravedona

Suggested Duration

8 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Milan – Visit Milan’s Premier Cathedral

Your amazing journey around Lake Como will immerse you in the history and culture of the area and will begin when you land at Milan’s Malpensa Airport. When you land, a private driver will be waiting to greet and transfer you to your luxurious accommodation in the heart of the city. Once you have had time to settle in and relax, you will be greeted by an expert guide, who will lead you on an afternoon tour of the impressive Milan Cathedral. The Milan Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Italy, and you will feel the grandeur and history that emanates from its walls as you enter.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Day 2

Como – Introductory Tour of Como

Day 3

Como – Explore Cernobbio and its Villas

Day 4

Argegno – Exclusive Tour of the Town of Argegno

Day 5

Bellagio – Immersive Village Tour of Bellagio

Day 6

Varenna – Immersive Cultural Tour of Varenna

Day 7

Gravedona – Indulge in a Tour of Gravedona

Day 8

Gravedona – Depart for Home

Trip Highlights

  • Marvel at incredible views of Milan from the rooftop of its beautiful Cathedra during a private tour
  • Explore the ancient Como Cathedral, which is home to many preserved tapestries, during a private tour of Como
  • Indulge in visits to two of Cernobbio’s wonderful villas: Villa Bernasconi and Villa Erba
  • Traverse Argegno’s age-old Roman Bridge, where you will feel the history and appreciate the scenery around you
  • Traverse through the Loppia neighborhood, which is known for the detailed Larian gondolas on display
  • Discover the antique furniture and decor of the Casa Museo Museum inside Villa Monastero, which is a gorgeous villa in Varenna
  • Witness ancient wall markings that date back to the sixth century in the Church of San Vincenzo in Gravedona
  • Sail around Lake Como in luxury boat as you venture from one remarkable destination to the next

Detailed Description

Italy’s Lake Como is steeped in history and surrounded by beauty, making it the ideal destination for an idyllic vacation. Your intriguing 8-day adventure has been customized to immerse you in the culture and history that surrounds Lake Como. Your journey will begin when you land at Milan’s Malpensa Airport, and you will have one night in the captivating city of Milan, which will allow you to discover its gorgeous Cathedral during a private tour. The beautiful, stained-glass windows and breathtaking views from the Cathedral’s rooftop will make your visit extremely memorable, but the following morning, you will set your sights on the towns and villages that surround Lake Como.

A private transfer will lead you to the City of Como, where a guided tour will provide you with an intriguing discovery of this lakeside city. From the 14th-century Como Cathedral to the fascinating Volta Museum, you will explore nearly all of the locales of cultural and historical significance. The following day will feature an exciting excursion to the nearby city of Cernobbio. Cernobbio’s stunning villas, which date back centuries, will immerse you in the luxurious lifestyle of the area.

On the fourth day of the trip, you will leave Como in the background and set sail for your next destination of Argegno. Your guided tour with an expert guide in the afternoon will allow you to experience the history of the village with visits to its age-old church and centuries-old Roman Bridge. An enjoyable cable car ride will also lead you to the nearby village of Pigra, which is located over 2,700 feet above sea level. The sweeping views from this impressive vantage point will be breathtaking, and after a tasty breakfast the following morning, you will continue your travels to Bellagio. The roads of Bellagio exude elegance and history, and you will experience both during an engaging tour of Bellagio’s sites and neighborhoods. During your tour, you will admire the scenic views of Pescallo, Aureggio, and Loppia. After your tour concludes, you will continue to discover all Bellagio has to offer during your one amazing night in the village.

After breakfast the next morning, your boat will cruise across Lake Como to your next waterfront destination of Varenna. Your beautiful surroundings will seem to be taken from a postcard, and you will enjoy every minute of the ride. After you arrive in Varenna and check-in to your luxurious accommodation, you will be greeted by an expert guide, who will lead you on an afternoon tour. The details inside the 14th-century Church of San Giorgio will be gorgeous and intricate, and the impressive botanical garden of Villa Monastero will impress all of your senses. Furthermore, Varenna will be beautifully illuminated under the night sky as you indulge in a delicious dinner and enjoy the rest of your evening in the village.

The following day, you will set sail on your private boat for your final lakeside destination of Gravedona. Your private tour of this magnificent town will be highlighted with visits to some of its ancient churches, and the many age-old details and paintings that you see may be awe-inspiring. The following morning, a private transfer will lead you to Milan’s Malpensa Airport for your return flight. Although you will not want your trip to end, you will return home knowing that you were entirely immersed in the captivating history, culture, and beauty of Lake Como during your unforgettable vacation.

Starting Price

$2,900 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

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 1752 reviews

Italy & Switzerland Vacation Review: Milan, Varenna, Monforte d'Alba, Sondrio, Cheese & Wine Making, Michelin Star Dining
WOW!  This vacation far exceeded our expectations.  The travel company took our starting point, a half marathon race in the Italian Alps, and created a memorable experience.  This occurred at several levels.  First, the accommodations were all top notch.  In Milan, they had wonderful English speaking front desk staff who even found a camera charger with outlet adapter left behind.  The Milan location allowed easy walking to major attractions, dining, and shopping.  In Varenna we had a lake view room with a  balcony overlooking Lake Como, and again, attentive English speaking staff and convenient to local shopping, dining, and the ferry to Bellagio.  The same occurred in Sondrio and Monforte as well.  All guides spoke adequate to fluent English, and we enjoyed the large variety of activities, from hiking to visiting operations for cheese and wine making to dining at Michelin star restaurants. All reservations were as expected.  The drivers were all professional, courteous, and spoke some English.With regard to service during the trip, this travel company again excelled.  At a couple of times on the trip I had concerns about something upcoming (I am a control freak with a small Italian vocabulary).  The travel designer at this company had welcomed us to contact her by the an App if we had any questions or issues during the trip.  On all three occasions she responded to my text message inquires via the App, made phone calls on our behalf, and assured everything went seamlessly.  Having someone with a strong language fluency and familiarity with the region made us feel very secure. 

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Italy Travel Review: Milan, Lake Como, Florence

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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Italy Vacation Review: Milan, Turin, Stresa, Lake Maggiore

Northern Italy - Milan, Turin , Stresa (Lake Maggiore)

Our agent did a terrific job in making the arrangements for our trip.  The hotels selected in each of the cities were well located with excellent amenities.  All of our tours, pick-ups and excretions were on time and well done. 

We appreciated that our agent checked-in with us twice during our trip to make sure all was going well.  All in all, a wonderful experience.

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Italy Trip Review: Venice, Como, Tuscany, Florence, Rome, Bellagio, Sistine Chapel, Lake Como Boat Tour
Our custom trip through Italy was one of the most amazing travel experiences we have had. Cameron’s attention to details and knowledge of unique and incredible activities created a whirlwind tour through Venice, Como, Tuscany, Florence, Rome, and more. We had the absolute best hotels, restaurants, tour guides, ground transportation, boat tours, and more. We had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stand in the Sistine Chapel alone, before any other groups, in the cool and quiet of the morning and really take-in the art, history, and feeling of it all. We had a boat tour of Lake Como where we were literally the only ones on the water and with the sunshine peaking through clouds like spotlights on the villas that lined the coast. We had a private lunch of the best northern Italian wines, cheeses, meats, and more while in Bellagio with a charismatic host who told us stories about the vineyards in the region. We had the privilege of having the center table at the fine dining restaurant located in the hills of Tuscany and enjoyed their specially prepared tasting menu. We enjoyed 5-star hotels with rooms that overlooked the Grand Canal in Venice and the Domo in Florence. Our tour guides were traveling professors from prestigious universities, art and architecture historians, and locals who had childhood friendships with museum curators that allowed us special access to restricted areas. If you are thinking about a trip to Italy, I highly recommend you contact Cameron - you will never forget your experience.

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Italy Luxury Vacation Review: Milano, Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, Private Tour Guide, Local Culture

Last year we did a fabulous trip to Tuscany. It was our first time traveling with Zicasso and our travel company. It was an incredible and beyond-expectations trip. So this year we decided to repeat the formula and travel to the Lake Region in northern Italy.

We contacted Zicasso and our travel stylist. She knows us well and this time recommended Lago Maggiore, Lago di Como, and Milano, considering every detail - a perfect mix between quiet and astonishingly beautiful towns, active hikes through small towns, and hidden gems hardly seen by tourists. This private journey was perfect, planned as it was to avoid crowds and ensure we could enjoy the beautiful lake region without missing any highlights. We discovered timeless hidden towns and villas, and wonderful people and culture.

We were guided privately every day through different experiences by amazing professionals who gave us a good rundown in history, architecture, and botanical lessons, as well as time to enjoy the beautiful scenery by ourselves.

Our travel agent's recommendations on hotels and restaurants could not have been better.

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Travel Review: Luxury Italy Vacation, Venice, Florence, Bellagio, Lake Como

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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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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