Attractions

Lake Como Region

Lake Como Lake Como lies 50km/31mi north of Milan between the Lugano and the Bergamo Alps. Narrow and fjord-like, the lake fills the glaciated valley of the Adda, which flows through it from end to end.

Villa Carlotta Villa Carlotta is a place of rare beauty, where masterpieces of nature and art live together in perfect harmony in over 70.000 square meters of gardens and museum. The villa is located in a natural basin between lake and mountains, facing the Dolomite Grignas mountains and the peninsula of Bellagio with an Italian garden decorated with sculptures, stairs and fountains. The last kiss of Romeo and Juliet is only one of the masterpieces that enrich this extraordinary collection. The gardens are worth a visit year round: the wonderful views on the lake make it still today considered "a place of heaven".

Bellagio Bellagio is a very popular spa on the west side of the Punta di Bellagio, one of the most beautiful locations on Lake Como. On the promontory is the Villa Serbelloni, with a park that affords views of the three arms of Lake Como. Farther along the road are the park of the Villa Melzi and the gardens of the Villa Trotti.

Enoteca Cava Turacciolo Located down the narrow Via Salita Genazzini and beside the Hotel Splendide in Bellagio, you can find this gem of a wine bar. The premises consist of three small rooms cut into a cave with bottles of wine lining the walls. For a true taste of Italian culture.

Milan

Milan is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy, and is one of the most highly developed urban centers in Europe. Milan is also renowned as one of the world capitals of design and fashion.. Inhabitants of Milan are referred to as "Milanese" (Italian: Milanesi or informally Meneghini or Ambrosiani).

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele In the Piazza Duomo (reputed to be the world's oldest shopping mall), the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele is one of the most beautiful covered galleries in Europe. Begun in 1865, it was the first of its kind designed with an iron and glass structure. In 1867, Giuseppe Mengoni, the architect, fell to his death from the heights of the glass dome while scrutinizing decorative details two days before King Vittorio Emanuele led the opening ceremony. It was built not only to connect La Scala to Il Duomo, but to represent a connection between church and state.

The Gothic Duomo There is no better place to begin a tour of Milan than at its spiritual hub, the Duomo, described by Mark Twain as “A poem in marble.” Situated at the very heart of Milan, the Duomo is one of the largest gothic churches in the world; at 12 thousand square meters, it can hold one and a half football fields.

Castello Sforzesco This castle in Milan now houses several of the city's museum and art gallery collections. The original construction on the site began in the 14th century. Following the unification of Italy, the restoration of the castle began following its transfer from military use to the city of Milan.

La Scala Museum The Teatro alla Scala Museum was founded in 1913. Just like the opera house, it was restored a few years ago and reopened in 2004 with a new display by Pier Luigi Pizzi. Besides being a meeting place for the general public, the museum is a point of reference for opera enthusiasts and for scholars. The Teatro alla Scala Museum tells the life of the opera house through a vast collection of music instruments, portraits, busts and documents dedicated to the greatest musicians, from Giuseppe Verdi to Arturo Toscanini.

Venice

St. Mark’s Square St. Mark's Square lies in the heart of Venice and is one the most photographed attractions in the world. The square is defined by arcades on three sides and St. Mark's church on the eastern end. During the day, St. Mark's Square is filled with people, pigeons and music. You can spend the whole day in this area, visiting the interior of St. Mark's Church, the Doge's Palace and Museo Correr. Or go to the top of the bell tower, which offers spectacular views of Venice.

Doges’ Palace The Palazzo Ducale, or Doge’s Palace, was the seat of the government of Venice for centuries. As well as being the home of the Doge (the elected ruler of Venice) it was the venue for its law courts, its civil administration and bureaucracy and—until its relocation across the Bridge of Sighs—the city jail.

Murano Along with Burano and Torcello, Murano is one of the three main islands in the Venetian lagoon. Visitors can watch artisans creating the famous Venetian glassware in its workshops here and can also wander around the canals and take in the views. Its a miniature version of Venice and much more peaceful! What made Murano's glassmakers so special? For one thing, they were the only people in Europe who knew how to make glass mirrors.