The north-west of Italy offers a world of cultural sightseeing and relaxing. The Northwestern Italy Tour, with departure and arrival in Milan, has a duration of 10 days. As with all our tours, you will have your personal driver-guide and minivan / limousine all along, and the tour will be custom-designed to suit your interests and needs. This tour circles the northwestern corner of Italy, with escorted excursions in Genova, Turin, Stresa, and Como. Highlights of this tour include a historic city tour of Turin, a lakeside walk in Stresa, and a visit to da Vinci's "The Last Supper" in Milan. This tour includes also the Cinque Terre, Riviera di Levante, Lombardy, Liguria and Piedmont regions.
This privately guided and chauffeured tour in Italy can be redesigned to suit your specific
interests, needs or timeframe. Unless you wish otherwise, your guide will take you to:
Milan - Camogli - Genova - Portofino - Val di Susa - Saluzzo - Turin - Isole Borromee - Stresa - Lake Orta - Lake Maggiore - Como - Milan
Our suggested itinerary begins and finishes in Milan
1
Milan:
Your very own chauffeur picks you up from Milan international airport. The Lombard city of Milan is famous for its fashion and style. It is said that the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele is the oldest shopping center in the world. It has two glass-covered arcades, and was built in 1865. This is the place to view luxury goods by Gucci and Prada. Next door, visit Milan Cathedral (Duomo). It is in Late Gothic style. It is often considered as one of the major churches in the world. There are amazing sights from the roof. Although its construction started in 1386, it was only completed in 1805. A few yards away, another timeless monument: La Scala Opera-House. It was expensively refurbished in 2004. Overnight in Milan.
2
Genova:
Before leaving Milan, your A La Carte Italy Tours guide will lead you to the Brera Art Gallery. It is one the major collections of Italian paintings. At the Church of Holy Mary of the Graces, see and understand the "Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci. Travel to Pavia, a city with a peaceful atmosphere. 5 miles away from the center, see the Certosa di Pavia (Carthusian Monastery), both Gothic and Renaissance. Carthusian monks are the most isolated of all; they live in individual cells and have no contact with the outer world, or even with each other. 2 nights in Genova area.
3
Portofino:
In your private minivan, follow the Riviera di Levante and visit Camogli and Portofino (Cinque Terre). Cinque Terre means "Five Villages" - these are five very picturesque villages perched on rocky terraces over the sea. This is where pesto and focaccia bread come from. Your A La Carte™ Italy Tour guide will explain the history of this incredibly beautiful area. Portofino is a fishing village, but also a retreat favored by aristocracy from the entire world. The bay with its beautiful yachts, the pastel houses and bougainvillea gardens are a delight. Walk to lighthouse and see olive groves and yew trees. 2nd night in Genova area.
4
Turin:
Leave Genoa and stop at Manta Castle in Saluzzo. This 12th century fortress was converted into an aristocratic mansion with Gothic frescoes. Let's head in comfort to Turin (Torino), home to a million people. This is the city of FIAT automobiles (FIAT stands for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino). Italo Calvino, Umberto Eco, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Jacques Rousseau all lived for some time in Turin. Your A La Carte Italy Tours personal guide will show you the Piazza San Carlo, a harmoniously arranged group of historic buildings. The elegant Po Street, with its palaces, and the Mount of the Capuchin Monks (Monte dei Cappuccini) with its lookout point are also on our city tour. 2 nights in Turin area.
5
Val di Susa:
We spend the day out of town, on a day tour to the Val di Susa (Susa valley). This part of the Piedmont region of Italy leads to the French border. The valley is flanked by the Alps. The tallest mountain is the Mont Blanc (15,770 feet). Visit the Abbey of the Sacra di Michele, a former Benedictine monastery, now in the hands of the Rosminian order (Fathers of Charity). Its construction started in 966 AD. In Susa, see the Romanesque cathedral of San Giusto (11th century). In the same town, the Arco di Augusto (Augustus Arch) was built in year 9 BC to commemorate peace between emperor Augustus and Ligurian tribes' king Cottius. 2nd night in Turin area.
6
Stresa:
Travel to Stresa, on the shores of Lago Maggiore. Stresa offers breathtaking panoramas and heritage sites. Lakeside stroll. Your A La Carte™ Italy Tour will lead you to the Piazza Marconi. This where lake boats leave from. The San Ambrogio Church was built in 1790; it contains paintings from the 17th century Lombard school. Ernest Hemingway stayed in Stresa, and partly staged his novel Farewell to Arms here. The Villa Ducale dates from 1770. It is home to the International Center for Rosminian Studies. Ascend Mt Mottarone to admire the panoramic view over the lake and mountains. 3 nights in Stresa area.
7
Lake Orta:
Orta San Giulio. Travel to Lake Orta, and the village of Orta San Giulio. The village is so beautiful that many young couples come here for their wedding. On the San Giulio island, the Benedictine monastery Mater Ecclesiae is still the home to monks who pray from before dawn to sunset. After we leave the boat, your A La Carte Italy Tours driver takes you for a Scenic drive around the lakes. Lake Maggiore has a tectonic origin (resulting from ancient earthquakes), and its shape has been eroded by glaciers 15,000 years ago. 2nd night in Stresa area.
8
Isole Borromee:
A gentle day spent on a boat on Lake Maggiore. See Isola Madre island, with its lush gardens. The Borromeo palace dates back to the 16th century. Isola Pescatori (Fishermen’s Island) offers the San Vittore church, parts of which had been built in the 9th century. Napoleon, the Princess of Wales, Caroline of Brunswick stayed on Isola Bella ("Beautiful Island"), where your A La Carte™ Italy Tour guide will point you the Palazzo Borromeo. It is the Borromeo family that gave their name to the three Borromean Islands. 3rd night in Stresa area.
9
Como:
Travel along the shores of Lago Maggiore. Your A La Carte™ Italy Tour will include Angera, a small town dating back to Roman times. Discover Angera's Rocca castle, and its wines. Stop at Laveno Mombello lake port town. At Sacro Monte di Ghiffa, one of the nine Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy, on the UNESCO World Heritage list, see the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary Crowned, built in 1647. The breathtaking panorama, and the 19th century frescoes, render the place magic. After having traveled to Como, your A La Carte Italy Tours guide will lead you through that town. The cathedral was started in 14th century. The church of San Fedele is even older, as it was built in 1120. And the basilica of Sant'Abbondio, the patron of the town, dates back to 1095; it is in Romanesque style, and houses 11th century paintings. Overnight in Como.
10
Como - Milan:
This last day has some free time for you to shop, relax or enjoy more sightseeing. Your A La Carte™ Italy Tour driver will make sure you enjoy traveling across Italy to the last minute. If desired, a fascinating visit is that of the National Museum of Science and Technology in Milan (Leonardo da Vinci’s machine models, beautiful setting in a 16th century Olivetan monastery). Drop-off at Milan international airport. This is the end of your "Northwestern Italy Tour."
Tour departures: on request - please book at least 3-6 months ahead
Northwestern Italy Tour in 10 days - prices
Type of Accommodation
If your party has 2-3 passengers price per person is
If your party has 4-6 passengers price per person is
Boutique
US$ 11,900
US$ 10,500
Luxury
(best available)
US$ 18,500
US$ 15,800
All
prices are per person in a twin / double room, and the currency is US dollars
private driver-guide all along during your travel in Italy
minivan (limousine) with A/C
luggage handling
domestic flights in Italy (if mentioned in the itinerary)
train rides 1st class (if mentioned in the itinerary)
all entrance fees
accommodation (2 categories to choose from: Boutique or Luxury)
if you select Luxury accommodation, you will also have the best available "room" in that establishment ("suites" or "apartments" upon request)
continental breakfasts
light lunches (lunch is usually kept light and short so we can sightsee more)
dinners in gourmet restaurants (for a Boutique tour); or in best overall restaurants (for a Luxury tour); in all cases, dinner is a la carte (you choose any three items)
1/2 bottle per person of best local wine at dinner
all taxes and tolls
or, if you prefer, please fill out the enquiry form
once you are satisfied with the suggested custom tour that we will design for you, we will ask you to pay a 20% deposit (usually between 3-12 months in advance)
the balance of the tour price is payable 60 days before the start of the tour
A La Carte Italy Tours accepts and MasterCard
Please do not send us your credit card details by email. In our correspondence, we will point you to a secure form.
Cancellations:
the 20% booking deposit is non-refundable
cancellations until 30 days before departure: 50% refund
cancellations until 3 days before departure: 20% refund
cancellations after 3 days before the tour: no refund
We will be happy to answer all your questions. There is no particular charge for a custom tour; if you wish a travel itinerary to suit a particular need, timeframe or interest, just ask us, and we will suggest a tour priced similarly to our advertised tours. Send us an email to private.tours@alcitalytours.com .
A La Carte Italy Tours offers exclusively private driver-guide tours. All our tours are custom-made to suit your needs, tastes and dates. On our tours, we never mix passengers who do not know each other. All our tours are run on an exclusive basis.
The north-west of Italy offers a world of cultural sightseeing and relaxing. The Northwestern Italy Tour, with departure and arrival in Milan, has a duration of 10 days. As with all our tours, you will have your personal driver-guide and minivan / limousine all along, and the tour will be custom-designed to suit your interests and needs. This tour circles the northwestern corner of Italy, with escorted excursions in Genova, Turin, Stresa, and Como. Highlights of this tour include a historic city tour of Turin, a lakeside walk in Stresa, and a visit to da Vinci's "The Last Supper" in Milan. This tour includes also the Cinque Terre, Riviera di Levante, Lombardy, Liguria and Piedmont regions.
and MasterCard 
