IC Bellagio was founded in 1999 by Andrea Grisdale. IC is short for Italian Connection, and the destination management company uses the team’s two decades of experience to create tailor-made Italian experiences for discerning clients. IC Bellagio has won numerous awards, including from Conde Nast, Wendy Perrin and Travel + Leisure. This week, Senior Itinerary Designer Virna Fumagalli shares with us a great itinerary for those of you who want to visit Italy without the crowds.
Day 1 – Milan
On arrival in Milan and you will be met by your driver at either of the main airports or an FBO if you are traveling privately. Check in to Hotel Mandarin Oriental where you have your room reserved for three nights. Refresh with a dip in the indoor lap pool (below).
Ideally placed in the heart of the fashion quarter, the Mandarin Oriental Milan has 104 luxurious rooms and suites that blend contemporary Italian design with the hotel group’s signature Asian-inspired touches. Guests can dine on Antonio Guida’s two-star Michelin cuisine at SETA, sip seductive cocktails at the Mandarin Bar & Bistrot or stage an urban escape with the holistic treatments on offer at The Spa.
Day 2 – Milan
Meet your expert guide after breakfast at the hotel. Explore the cultural complex created by one of Italy’s first families of fashion. Founded by Prada CEO Miuccia Prada and her husband, Fondazione Prada is dedicated to contemporary art and culture, with properties in Venice and now Milan. Join your guide to explore the vast complex, including the nine-story tower with exhibition spaces and a panoramic restaurant and café on the top floor.
Day 3 – Milan
Enjoy a very special Shopping Experience with your very own Personal Shopper. Any sophisticated shopper needs a sophisticated advisor, and this is exactly what your personal shopper is. She will introduce you to the best designers, stores and products that Milan has to offer ensuring you the best possible advice, product and style to suit your needs. Not only does your personal shopper have the knowledge she also has the eye and will offer great input regarding your purchases and how to get the most out of them.
Today, experience a private visit to the Last Supper after closing time. Together with your private expert, discover the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which is one of Renaissance art’s most important testimonies and a shining symbol of creative human genius and the Last Supper, one of the most recognized and appreciated artistic masterpieces in the world. The church and convent were struck by bombs in 1943: a few of the structure’s walls survived, including that of the refectory.
Day 4 – to Bologna
Check out of your hotel and meet your driver in the hotel lobby for your sedan transfer to Milan Central Station for your high-speed train journey to Bologna. On arrival at Bologna Train Station, meet your driver for your sedan transfer to the hotel. Check in to Grand Hotel Majestic where you have your room reserved for two nights. A glorious 15th century palace in the heart of Bologna, The Grand Hotel Majestic is ideally located for exploring the city’s rich cultural history. Stunning marble floors, period antiques and chandeliers give the property and all 98 rooms their unique old-world charm. Breakfast is served in the downstairs conservatory with its retractable roof, while I Caracci offers a contemporary take on traditional Bolognese cuisine.
Explore the sights, tastes and smells of Bologna’s rich culinary history. Join your guide to explore Bologna at its most delicious: from the medieval market to a range of family-run food establishments. Among other treats, you’ll sample torta di riso at a traditional bakery and learn the fascinating history of mortadella. Your guide will be at your disposal to tailor the tour to your personal preferences!
Day 5 – Museo Ferrari
Enjoy a day trip to Maranello to learn more about the world of Ferrari. The Museo Ferrari is a monument to the brand’s exciting past and promising future. As a VIP visitor to the museum, your guide will lead you past the lines, issue you your personalized Ferrari pass, guide you through the key exhibits – including the collection of amazing vintage Ferraris! – and treat you to a drink at the café. Later, enjoy a rare chance to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari and live the dream! After a short briefing on the dos and don’ts of driving a Ferrari, you will get behind the wheel, take this authentic Ferrari out on Maranello’s streets and become a member – if only briefly – of the select Ferrari club.
Day 6
Check out and meet your driver in the hotel lobby for your sedan transfer from Bologna to Florence. Check in to Hotel Savoy where you have your room reserved for three nights. The nearby Column of Abundance is a fitting symbol for the Savoy, where the understated elegance, attentive staff and dolce vita are abundant. Sir Rocco Forte and his designers cleverly mix luxe fabrics with tongue-in-cheek art in all 102 spacious rooms.
Enjoy Bond-worthy cocktails and inspired cuisine at Irene bar and restaurant, with tables spilling onto the lively square during the warmer months.
Day 7
Explore the neighborhoods of Florence’s artigiani on this craftsmanship tour. Join your guide to wander the city’s medieval backstreets and learn about the tricks of the traditional trades from wrought iron and leather gilding to shoemaking and jewelry. Learn how the rich artisanal culture from the Middle Ages is still very much alive in the workshops of today and meet some of the artisans carrying the torch.
Late this afternoon, get ready for a unique and unforgettable experience with a private visit to Brunelleschi’s Dome after hours. Enjoy a breathtaking view of the city of Florence at the most special hour and discover this absolute masterpiece of art, enchanting the world since its creation: the symbol of Florence and Renaissance culture. Enhance this unforgettable experience with a classic Italian aperitivo, adding a touch of authentic charm to your evening.
Day 8
Today’s tour gives you the rolling hills and vineyard views of Chianti. Head for the Tuscan hills and cruise through scenic Chianti byways with your driver. You’ll find out Chianti is so much more than just a wine as you explore picturesque towns like Gaiole, Radda and Greve, spot the many hilltop castles dotting the horizon and stop off along the way to sample some of Italy’s best food and wine. During your special experience you will enjoy a private visit, tasting and lunch at Casa Emma, an excellent family run winery in the heart of Chianti.
Day 9
Depart from Florence Airport.
Recommended Hotels
Mandarin Oriental Milan
Grand Hotel Majestic Bologna
The Savoy Florence
VIP Contact
Contact Verna Fumagalli at IC Bellagio at virna@icbellagio.com.
