four properties
viewing, Milan
boat, Lake Como
1,800 metres
Italy: The Long Way North
Eleven nights through four parts of northern Italy. Milan, then Lake Como, then the vineyard hills of Franciacorta, then five days at altitude in the Dolomites. The stages are distinct: urban, lacustrine, viticultural, alpine. Enough time in each to register what it actually is.
This suits couples who know northern Italy and want to move through it with structure. The sequence has its own logic. Each stage shifts the pace for the next, and the five nights at Forestis are long enough for the mountains to do what they do.
An early slot at the Cenacolo Vinciano, before the rooms fill. Less than half the surface visible today is original to Leonardo. The visit is arranged for the time of day when that registers properly.
Departure from Passalacqua's private dock. North to Bellagio, east to Varenna, aperitivo on board for the return crossing as the light shifts across the water.
Guided hiking on the Plose ridgeline. A full morning under the Tree Circle spa protocol. Lunch at a rifugio beneath the Geisler peaks. Five nights is long enough for something to change.
Your Italy itinerary
Eleven nights across four distinct parts of Lombardy and the Dolomites. Late June to early July is the preferred window; early September works equally well.
Four properties. Four chapters.
Each property is chosen for a specific stage of the journey. The Bulgari grounds the first two days in Milan. Passalacqua puts the lake at the centre. L'Albereta connects Franciacorta's vineyard landscape to its wine and its wellness. Forestis ends the journey at elevation.
Bulgari Hotel Milano
Via Privata Fratelli Gabba, Milan
A renovated 18th-century Milanese palazzo designed by Antonio Citterio and Partners, on a quiet private street between the Quadrilatero della Moda and Brera. Its 4,000 sqm garden, adjacent to the Botanical Gardens, provides calm and green that the centre of Milan rarely offers.
Suite
Superior Suite. Approximately 70 sqm, facing the hotel's private garden. Separate living room and bedroom. Bathroom in white Navona travertine with floor-to-ceiling windows, free-standing bathtub and large shower.
Passalacqua
Moltrasio, Lake Como
An 18th-century villa on the western shore of Lake Como, restored and opened by the De Santis family in 2022. Twenty-four rooms across three buildings, seven acres of terraced gardens descending through fountains and cypress to a private dock on the lake. It operates with the logic of a private house.
Suite
Suite Agnese in the Villa. 90 sqm, within the main villa, looking out over the Palazz and the rooftops of Moltrasio. An enfilade of rooms with gilt-framed mirrors, neoclassical portraits and stuccoed ceilings. Bathroom with bathtub and walk-in shower.
L'Albereta Relais and Chateaux
Erbusco, Franciacorta
A late 19th-century neo-Renaissance villa on the Bellavista hill above Erbusco, owned by the Moretti family and a member of Relais and Chateaux. Private vineyard, views south to Lake Iseo and the Alps. The Espace Chenot Health Wellness Spa, at 2,000 sqm, is the longest-running Chenot facility in Italy.
Suite
Torre Bellavista Suite. 60 sqm, on the top floor of the Bellavista Tower. Living room, bedroom, two bathrooms, balcony and private terrace. Views across the Franciacorta vineyards to Lake Iseo and the Alps.
Forestis
Bressanone, Dolomites
Forestis sits at 1,800 metres on the southern slope of the Plose mountain, built around a 1912 Habsburg-era structure and expanded with three sculptural towers. With a 2,000 sqm spa rooted in Celtic forest traditions and an adults-only policy, the property functions as a sustained wellness experience as much as a hotel. Guests must be 14 or older.
Suite
The Suite. 50 sqm, in the historic building. Bedroom with king-size bed, separate living area, rain shower. South-facing balcony with views across the Dolomite massif.
Helicopter flight over the Dolomites
A scenic flight over the Tre Cime di Lavaredo or the Marmolada glacier. Weather dependent; operated June through September. Confirmation required four to six weeks ahead. Not included in base pricing.
Private shopping at Palazzo Fendi, Milan
After-hours access to the Palazzo Fendi flagship in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, with a dedicated stylist. For guests with a specific interest in Italian fashion and craft.
Brescia cultural day
A privately guided day in Brescia from Franciacorta, approximately 25 minutes by car. Roman ruins, a Renaissance piazza and the Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo, without the visitor volumes of Milan or Verona.
Best time to travel
Late June to early July is the preferred window: ahead of the Italian domestic surge, the Dolomite trails fully open, wildflowers on the high paths. Early September works equally well, with cooler mountain temperatures and harvest beginning in Franciacorta. Mid-July through August brings peak pricing across all four properties and minimum stays at Forestis during peak weeks.
Planning your trip
The Last Supper requires booking three to four months ahead; early-slot summer access sells out quickly. Passalacqua's summer availability is limited. Plan to enquire at least four months ahead for a late June or early July departure.
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