Garda Lake & Dolomites only summer period

1^st day Milan/ Riva del Garda

Arrival at Milan Malpensa airport and transfer to the lake Garda. Arrival in Salò, the city where in 1943 Mussolini founded La Repubblica di Salò, and from where governed the Northern Italy until 1945 when he was killed from the partisans. Trough the Ancient Porta dell’Orologio you will discover , with local guide, the historic centre of Salò with Piazza Zanelli, the Teatro Vecchio and San Giovanni Battista Church. Continue to Gardone Riviera known for the luxury villas and tropical gardens. You will see the Vittoriale degli Italiani, the Monumental Citadel created by Gabriele D’Annunzio , a famous Italian writer, between 1921 and 1938 when he moved to Gardone Riviera. It is not only a house, but a complex made of buildings, streets, theatres and gardens, visited also by Mussolini in 1921. In year 2000 the WarMuseum was opened to underline the military experience of Gabriele d’Annunzio, who was not only a writer but also awarded with medals for the risks in the skies during several wars. Continue to reach Riva del Garda. On the way you will see Limone sul Garda, a village surrounded by the mountains, with olive and lemon trees, which name comes from the latin world “limen” that means border., we proceed for Maderno and Gardone Riviera known for the luxury villas and tropical gardens. Arrival in Riva del Garda and accommodation at hotel. Dinner and overnight.

2^nd day Riva del Garda / Trento/ Rovereto / Riva del Garda

After breakfast departure to Trento. Visit with local guide of the BuonconsiglioCastle. Castelvecchio , the oldest part of the Buonconsiglio complex, was built in the first half of the 13th century on a rocky hill against the eastern side of the city walls, near the AdigeRiver. The Torre del Falco is reached by following the walkway of the eastern walls that leads to the Torre Aquila above the Porta d’Aquila . The frescoes that cover the walls of the Torre del Falco , date back to the 1530s, and are dedicated to hunting themes, one of the preferred pastimes of the noble class.

Then stroll along the historic centre you will reach the beautiful and scenic Piazza del Duomo that is the historical and monumental center of the city dominated by the baroque fountain of Neptune, by Francesco Antonio Giong, surmounted by a copy of a bronze statue of Neptune and animated by tritons, mermaids and dolphins. Time free for lunch .

In the afternoon you will reach visit a famous distillery in the proximity of Rovereto. 100 days of uninterrupted work, 24 hours per day, from September to December, during which tons of freshly selected pomace is distilled each day. This pomace comes from the best autochthonous classical vineyards of Trentino, planted in soils where climatic conditions are optimal for their cultivation. The luxuriant vineyard surrounds the distillery, in absolute harmony with the territory. Grappa tasting. Dinner in a historic restaurant in the proximity with local products of Trentino. Back to Riva del Garda . Overnight.

3^rd day Riva del Garda /Brenta Dolomites

After breakfast departure from Riva del Garda to reach the Brenta Dolomites. On the way visit the Nardis waterfalls, located in the Val di Genova, in the Adamello-BrentaPark. Adamello-Brenta Nationa Park is the largest park in the Trentino region, in the heart of the Retiche Alps, among the Giudicarie, Non and Sole valleys. Its perimeter encloses quite distinct geomorpholocical areas: in the west there are the volcanic, glacial rocks of the Adamello-Pressanella massif, in the east the dolomites, sedimentary ones of the Brenta mountain range. Rendena valley (Val Rendena) splits the two mountain range. Lunch at a restaurant in front of the Nardis waterdalls.

Continue to Madonna di Campiglio , where you can admire the Brenta Dolomites from the Monte Spinale.

Accommodation at hotel, dinner and overnight.

4^th day Brenta Dolomites /Bolzano

After breakfast you will reach Campo Carlo Magno pass and after a short stop you will proceed along the Val Di Sole and Val Di Non valleys, famous for the apple production. Stop in Mezzocorona for a wine tasting: Teroldego, Marzemino, Pinot Nero, Lagrein and Chardonnay. Continue along the Adige river and arrival in Bolzano. Accommodation at hotel.

Time for visiting Piazza Walther (Walther square), also known as the “gute Stube” or parlour of the city. In 1808 King Maximilian of Bavaria wanted this square built and at first it took his name, later that of the Archduke Johann of Austria (Johannesplatz) and in 1901 it received its present name after Walther von der Vogelweide (1170-1230), one of the greatest German poets of the Middle Ages. In the centre of the square stands the Walther monument in neo Romanesque style made by the sculptor Heinrich Natter (1889) in white marble from Lasa. The Iceman "Ötzi" has been on exhibit since March 1998 at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology: over 5000 years ago, a man climbed up to the icy heights of the Schnalstal glacier and died. He was found by accident in 1991, with his clothes and equipment, mummified and frozen. Dinner at hotel and overnight.

5^th day Bolzano/ Marmolada

After breakfast you will reach Val Gardena valley, known on an international scale for its numerous winter sports opportunities, but also for the wood-carving tradition. Stop in Ortisei for some shopping and continue to Selva di Valgardena located at the bottom of the majestic Sella Group and is thus part of the Sella Ronda, a world-famous ski circuit in the Dolomites. Stop for lunch with local products. In the afternoon you will reach Canazei on the top of Fassa Valley ; you will admire the Sella Group from Sella pass. Accommodation at hotel. Dinner and overnight.

6^th day Marmolada/ Cortina d’Ampezzo

After breakfast departure for Cortina D’Ampezzo. On the way you will admire the Marmolada from Pordoi and Arabba pass. Arrival in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Accomodation at hotel and lunch.In the afternoon time for a mountain bike tour with teacher in the Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites that was established on 1990 and spreads out over an area of 11,000 hectares to the north of Cortina d'Ampezzo on the border with Alto Adige (South Tyrol) in the heart of the Eastern Dolomites. Dinner at an alpine hut. Overnight at hotel.

7^th day Cortina d’Ampezzo / Venice

After breakfast departure to Venice. Accommodation at hotel and free lunch.

In the afternoon visit with local guide of Palazzo Ducale (inside). The Palazzo Ducale, the seat of the ancient courts of the Republic, was built between the'300 and'400 Gothic "bloom" and the decorations of the rooms date from institutional and celebrate'500 end the myth of Venice, whose glory was allegorically represented by Veronese in the ceiling of the hall of the Higher Council. Then visit of St. Mark’s Basilica called golden for its mosaics glass tiles covered with gold leaf, was the private chapel of the Doge, strange combination of East-Christian art and ornamentation of Muslim origin, Byzantine and Gothic. You will admire the Tower from the square. Farewell dinner in a restaurant of the

Island and back to hotel for overnight.

8^th day Venice

After breakfast transfer to Venice-Marco Polo airport for departure.