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

$3,600 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

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.

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Zicasso’s travel company did such a great job putting the trip together. I was charged for an extra night at our hotel in Paris, but they are refunding that and the Cairo portion of the trip we had to cancel.

Our Paris tour guide was great and I’d recommend her to anyone. Our Rome tour guides were very good. Hong Kong was fine. Our Tokyo guide was wonderful.

Really, the only hiccup on the trip was our hotel in Hong Kong. The company that picked us up dropped us at one hotel, not the correct one. Thankfully, a couple of their bellhops walked us and all our luggage several blocks to the correct hotel. Our tour guide the next day also went to the wrong hotel, but we only lost about 45 minutes before we figured out the issue. If you use that hotel again, please make sure folks know which hotel is which.

The "Fast and Furious" car experience was OK; however, my grandson was so tired he slept through most of it. The chopstick-making was fun, as was the glass-blowing experience.

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Zicasso’s travel specialist made this our best trip ever. She was communicative and accommodating, as well as always available for our questions. Every tour and every guide was exceptional. Their ability to communicate their enthusiasm and passion was jaw-dropping. We came back each day with our mouths dropped by the amount of information and the fun we had. Each hotel the travel specialist picked for us was great, offering the best locations and caring, accommodating staff. She was a lovely and genuine person.

One of the highlights was our cooking class with a chef. This does not diminish each tour guide; they were perfect. Also, she arranged private transport that made our trip a breeze from beginning to end. Especially cool was the taxi in Venice! Thank you, to our travel specialist and Zicasso, for an amazing vacation. Oh, the wine and olive oil were perfection. Highly recommend!

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The trip was well organized, customized to our needs and interests, and offered a variety of different cultural experiences and activity levels.

The Zicasso team was extremely responsive and kept us organized and on track. The guides and drivers selected were always timely and enthusiastic. The restaurant recommendations were exceptional.

We have traveled often overseas and found this company to be among the very best. We would highly recommend their services and would not hesitate to refer them to our friends or use them again.

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Our travel company and Zicasso were truly excellent trip resources and designers of our two-week vacation to Greece. They arranged every detail. We had transportation prearranged, lodging that was extraordinary, and food that was unforgettable.

Our guides for various day tours in each location were phenomenal. They were never rushed and seemed to give us limitless time. They made arrangements for us that were not part of their paid services, just because they were so welcoming. The guides were all graduates of universities who had completed months of additional studies to become certified as guides. We learned so much from our trip about the places, but also about the culture and what it's like to actually live in Greece. Bravo!

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Zicasso and our tour operator were both so easy to work with. We were a fairly large group (eight adults) and they did everything they could to accommodate and create a vacation to Italy that we will remember forever.

The communication was always prompt and efficient. They went out of their way on several occasions to accommodate changes and/or personal preferences during the planning process. We are so very grateful to Zicasso and the tour operator for helping us plan our perfect family vacation!

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Our Italy trip was so wonderful. From start to finish, Zicasso’s travel specialist curated a memorable and very special, life-changing experience. Our itinerary was amazing, thoughtfully planned (full, but not overwhelming), fun, and precise. We had great small/private tours and guided adventures, from wine tastings and a cooking class to historical explorations, with introductions to local cultural activities and immersion experiences. The attention to detail for the train and other ground transportation we needed during our daily trips was impressive.

I would highly recommend our travel specialist, the travel company, and Zicasso to assist you in planning your next trip/journey/adventure if you want an exceptionally individualized, unique, and special travel experience that will provide you with great, lifelong memories.

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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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