A Magical Week in Milan & Scenic Northern Italy: An Ideal One-Week Itinerary

Take a tour or experience an opera or ballet in this world-famous opera house.

Considered one of the most important and famous theatres in the world, known as the ‘Temple of Opera’, La Scala has hosted the most revered names in the world of music and theatre. Many famous operas have had their first production in La Scala, such as Othello, Nabucco by Verdi or Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini. While seeing a performance is the best way to experience the theater, visiting the Theatre Museum or taking a guided tour which includes the museum are also great options. In addition to a large collection of paintings, busts, costumes, and other objects related to the world of opera and theater, you will get to see parts of La Scala which are otherwise off limits, like the boxes. Unless a rehearsal or show is in progress, visitors can even watch the set-moving machinery in action. 

A huge Medieval-Renaissance fortress with a number of interesting history and art museums

The Sforzesco Castle, one of the most popular monuments in Milan, has undergone various and complex transformations over the centuries; it has been defense fortress, military barracks, private residence and now a center of cultural institutions with several specialized museums and galleries that hold important fragments of Milan's cultural and civic history.

Take a stroll through this ornate covered shopping mall that was completed in 1877.

Known as the "drawing room" of Milan, due to its numerous shops and importance as a common Milanese meeting and dining place, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is Italy's oldest active shopping mall and a major landmark in the city. It is one of the most magnificent shopping arcades in the world, home to some of the most luxurious boutiques and brands including Prada, Armani, Gucci.

Take a tour or experience an opera or ballet in this world-famous opera house.

Considered one of the most important and famous theatres in the world, known as the ‘Temple of Opera’, La Scala has hosted the most revered names in the world of music and theatre. Many famous operas have had their first production in La Scala, such as Othello, Nabucco by Verdi or Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini. While seeing a performance is the best way to experience the theater, visiting the Theatre Museum or taking a guided tour which includes the museum are also great options. In addition to a large collection of paintings, busts, costumes, and other objects related to the world of opera and theater, you will get to see parts of La Scala which are otherwise off limits, like the boxes. Unless a rehearsal or show is in progress, visitors can even watch the set-moving machinery in action. 

Explore the lush gardens surrounding this villa and enjoy stunning lake views from its terraces.

Just a short distance from Villa Monastero, you'll find the Villa Cirpressi, a grand villa built between the 15th and 19th century which offers great architectural elements of late Renaissance and fine Neoclassical features. Aside from the villa which is now a 4-star hotel, it is home to another manicured lakeside garden. Smaller in size, the centuries-old gardens are open to the public to visit, offering a journey of perfumes and magical sensations that go beyond a normal botanical garden. The terraced garden overlooking the lake deserves a visit, especially for anyone interested in nature. 

Ride a 19th Century funicular up the mountainside above Como to enjoy beautiful views over Lake Como.

Lake Como is surrounded by beautiful hills and mountains, and while it’s definitely possible to hike up the steep incline on foot, most people opt to ride on the Brunate Funicular, which brings riders to the small town of Brunate in just 7 minutes. The Funicular Railway has linked Lake Como and Brunate since 1894 and is still the quickest way of travelling between these two towns. A trip on the railway offers stunning views and an opportunity to see panoramic views of rural Como, all whilst having an enjoyable jaunt on a train!

Take a liesurely private sail, enjoy a lake cruise, or villa hop by ferry.

One good way to combine a lake cruise with visits to the best villas and prettiest towns is to use the lake ferries. Just take the train from Milan to Varenna and then when you're done there, catch a ferry across the lake to Bellagio. From Bellagio you can take another ferry to Como, where you can catch a train back to Milan. If you go straight to Como, from April to October there are leisure boats offering 30-minute journeys along the nearby shoreline. With a high number of tourists, boats leave quite frequently and are very affordable at around 5 Euros per person. The better boats will point out sites of interest along the way, including spots where famous movies were filmed. If you want a truly special experience, you can also hire a private tour on a sail boat or small motor yacht. You'll feel like a real movie star as the you glide across the blue waters of the lake and wave to your fellow celebrities in the passing boats.

Visit Lake Como's most famously beautiful lakeside town.

It is impossible not to be smitten by Bellagio's picturesque waterfront, bobbing boats and its maze of stone staircases, alleys, and cypress tree groves, and you may want to spend the most time during your day trip here. Bellagio has been a favored summertime resort since the Roman Times, and very little has changed, with Italians and tourists heading to the lakes for a cooler (but still incredibly warm) climate, away from the sweltering heat of the cities.

Admire the wonderful details of this grand Duomo which incorporates architectural styles from across five centuries.

The imposing cathedral (Duomo) is located in the heart of Como's medieval walled city. Built between 1300 and 1744, the cathedral brings together elements of several architectural styles, including the late Gothic structure, the Renaissance facade, and the imposing Baroque dome. The front façade boasts an abundance of ornate stonework and stone statues, and is topped with a series of small decorative towers. The interior is also lavishly decorated. The standout feature is a central dome covered with gold artwork and other beautiful decor.

Wander through the magnificent lakeside gardens which surround this beautiful white villa in Bellagio.

The town of Bellagio was fought over in wars between Como and Milan, but most of the time, it has been a destination of pleasure and leisure since late Roman times. For this reason, Napoleon decided to reward one of his generals, Francesco Melzi, with the white neo-Classical Villa Melzi. Located to the south of the Bellagio, it is visited primarily for its spectacular gardens, embellished with ancient artefacts such as an Etruscan urn that dates back to the 3rd Century BC and two ancient Egyptian sculptures.

Visit a villa that began as a peaceful lakeside convent and was later transformed into a luxurious residence.

Built-in various styles (Baroque, Classic and Moresque), the origins of the Villa Monastero in the town of Varenna stretch back to the 12th century, when it was founded as a Cistercian convent. The estate was purchased by Paolo Mornico in 1569, using his fortune amassed through iron mining. He then transformed it into a very elaborate aristocratic residence, while retaining some beautiful elements from the convent. These days the villa is now used as an international conference center and wedding venue. Luckily for visitors, the gardens are open to the public and there is also a House Museum, which features 14 lavish rooms filled with period furniture, refined decorations, and luxurious furnishings.

Explore the lush gardens surrounding this villa and enjoy stunning lake views from its terraces.

Just a short distance from Villa Monastero, you'll find the Villa Cirpressi, a grand villa built between the 15th and 19th century which offers great architectural elements of late Renaissance and fine Neoclassical features. Aside from the villa which is now a 4-star hotel, it is home to another manicured lakeside garden. Smaller in size, the centuries-old gardens are open to the public to visit, offering a journey of perfumes and magical sensations that go beyond a normal botanical garden. The terraced garden overlooking the lake deserves a visit, especially for anyone interested in nature. 

Discover a fascinating and oft-missed church that dates all the way back to 387 AD.

One of the finest examples of Romanesque churches in all of Lombardy, the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio is perhaps Milan's most underrated place of worship. Founded back in the 4th century and renovated in the 11th, the basilica is dedicated to St Ambrose, the patron saint of Milan whose relics can be seen in a glass crypt within the church. St. Ambrose was key in the conversion of St. Augustine, who later become one of the most significant figures in Christian history and theology. The red-bricked Basilica’s exterior is quite unique, with two bell towers of differing height towering above a courtyard which is almost as large as the church itself. The Basilica’s earliest history can still be seen near the back of the church, where you will discover 4th-century mosaics and a picture of Saint Ambrose. Another precious piece of more-than-thousand-year-old history is the 9th century Golden Altar, which is completely covered in gold, silver, and over 400 precious stones. It is covered by a Byzantine-Lombard style canopy resting on four salvaged Roman columns.

Discover this large science museum dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci, and see some of his theoretical inventions brought to life.

The museum first opened to the public in 1953 with the Leonardo da Vinci exhibition, the Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia (National Science and Technology Museum) is the largest museum of science and technology in Italy and one of the most important in the world. It houses a number of permanent exhibitions including more than 1,300 square meters and 170 historical models and works of art from Leonardo da Vinci, bringing his creations and antiquities to life. 

Discover this famous Renaissance church and convent which is the home of The Last Supper.

This terracotta Renaissance church and Dominican convent is the home to Da Vinci's The Last Supper. It was also once home to another great masterpiece, Titian's altarpiece depicting Christ receiving the crown of thorns. However, as that work was stolen by the French in 1797, you would have to travel to the Louvre in Paris to see it. Luckily The Last Supper was painted onto the wall, otherwise it probably would have ended up in the Louvre as well. The church is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as it is an outstanding work of architecture in its own right. In 1460, the Duke of Milan Francesco I Sforza ordered the construction of the convent and church, which was also to serve as a family burial place. The groundbreaking architecture of the church, attributed to its architect Bramante, as well as Da Vinci’s The Last Supper, are both considered symbols of Renaissance Milan, as well as of a new era in European art. 

Visit a historic vineyard that once beloved by Leonardo di Vinci.

In 1498, the Duke of Milan, Ludovico “Il Moro”, gifted this beautiful vineyard to Leonardo in return for his work on The Last Supper. It is said that Leonardo da Vinci cherished the vineyard, so much so that he cared for it until the day he died. Even after fleeing Milan during the French invasion, he returned to the city and recovered his precious vineyard. The vineyard, as well as a museum dedicated to the artist , can both be visited. 

Take a little time to visit Bergamo's oft-overlooked cathedral .

Bergamo's Duomo (i.e. cathedral) is often overlooked by its more sumptuous counterpart, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. But this church dedicated to the city's patron saint, Alexander of Bergamo, is definitely worth a visit.. It contains numerous fine paintings and other treasures, including its most precious item, the tiara that belonged to Pope John XXIII, now Saint John XXIII. Born in the village of Sotto il Monte near Bergamo in 1881, Pope John XXIII is still a much-loved figure in the city. His sparkling gold tiara is decorated with pearls, rubies, diamonds and emeralds, and was created by the master goldsmith Attilio Nani.

Admire the fortifications and the impressive views as you walk the 4-mile (6 km) long Venetian city walls that surround Bergamo's old town.

Bergamo's mighty wallls once protected the city. Having never been torn down like the obsolete walls of most other cities in Italy, or even put to the test by a siege, they are now remarkably well-preserved and are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Construction of the walls began in the 16th century when Bergamo was ruled by the Republic of Venice, hence they are known as the Venetian Walls. Today if you walk along the Viale Della Mura that stretches around three sides of the old city, you can visit several sections of the walls. Possibly the most impressive stretch of the wall is the tree-lined section to the east of the Porta San Giacomo – from here you can admire the architecture of the fortifications and look down onto the modern part of Bergamo and the Lombard countryside. The Porta San Giacomo, with its arched stone bridge leading up to the neo-classical gate, is by itself an impressive site.

Hang out in this historic square surrounded by many of Bergamo's top sights.

Piazza Vecchia is the beating heart and center of social life in Bergamo Alta (Bergamo's Old Town). This delightful square may be small in size compared to other Italian cities, but it is home to most of the Upper City's sights including Bergamo's Duomo, Baptistery, Civic Tower and Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Visiting all these attractions can easily consume half of your day. 

Experience the otherworldy aura of this basilica known for its ornate Baroque interior.

The breath-taking Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was first built in the 12th-century, reportedly by workers who were saved by the intercession of the Virgin Mary when the plague broke out in 1100. Its exterior is overshadowed by the adjacent Capella Colleoni, but its interior is simply outstanding and you could easily spend an hour just sitting inside admiring every small detail, including ornate marble columns, tapestries, statues, and stucco work on the ceilings. The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore also houses the funerary monument dedicated to the composer Gaetano Donizetti, who is one of Bergamo's most famous native sons.