Lakes in Northen Italy

1^st day - Milan/ Stresa

Arrival at Milan/ Malpensa Airport and transfer to Stresa. Accommodation at hotel.

Visit with local guide of the town situated in a central but also panoramic and picturesque position just in front of the Borromeo Islands. Stresa was built in a Liberty style and nowadays it is a famous holiday resort. You will see Ambrogio church in Neo-Classical Style, the Villa Ducale, the first villa built in 1770 that now hosts an international religious and cultural centre and Villa Pallavicino, a botanical and zoological garden which covers a surface of 20.000 hectares. Dinner at hotel and overnight.

2^nd day - Lake Maggiore

After breakfast departure for the visit of the Borromeo Islands linked by the ferry-boats to Stresa. The Isola Bella lies just off Stresa and you will visit the famous Mansion Borromeo, built at the beginning of the 17Th century by the noble house of Borromeo. Inside it is possible to see the 25 richly decorated rooms with statues, pictures, tapestries and Murano chandeliers. The mansion has a terraced garden where among statues, azaleas and white peacocks. Then continue to the Isola dei Pescatori, that lies to the north of Isola Bella and was inhabited by simple fishermen. It is a small village with old houses with wooden balconied and granite portals. Stop for lunch in a local restaurant. Continue to see the Isola Madre , situated in the middle of the Gulf Borromeo and it is the biggest Island of the Maggiore Lake. The whole Island is private and is important for the botanical garden where from the beginning of the 19th century on have been cultivated exotic species like camellia, azalea, rhododendron bushes, tea plants. Visit of the house with important collections of Lombard paintings, marionette theatres, dolls of the servants of Borromeo Family. Back to Stresa , dinner and overnight.

3^rd day - Stresa / Como

After breakfast departure to Como. Accommodation at hotel.

Visit with local guide of the centre with neoclassic buildings , the cathedral in gothic style and the S. Abbondio basilica in roman style. Short panoramic tour of the south part of the lake by private boat and dinner at a famous restaurant on Comacina Island . Overnight.

4^th day – Lake Como

After breakfast departure for the visit of the Villa Carlotta with the Museum and the Botanic Garden. The Museum contains remarkable works of art. Marble sculpture by Canova and by Acquisti and attracted famous travellers as Stendhal and Flaubert. The Botanic Garden is formed by two arms with five terraces adorned by citrus fruit-tree pergolas and many vases. In the centre there is a wonderful perspective with parapets and statues. Some water-plays make this lovely Italian garden further pleasant. Rare varieties give to the Villa Carlotta the reputation of a really botanic garden. Transfer by ferry boat to Bellagio for the visit of Villa Melzi with its Museum and its gardens. It was built between 1808 and 1810 from Giocondo Albertolli on behalf of Francesco Melzi, canceller of the Kingdom of Italy and friend of Napoleone. At the end of the visit dinner at a local restaurant and back to hotel for overnight.

5^th day - Como / Bergamo/ Lake Garda

After breakfast departure for the visit of Bergamo. Characterized by a division of the urban structure on two levels, the “Lower town” (Città bassa), modern and dynamic and the famous “Upper town” (Città alta), a truly historic and artistic jewel, Bergamo is certainly an important point of reference for the tourism. Visit with local guide of the Piazza Vecchia ; the Basilica di S. Maria Maggiore, considered the most important monument of the town; The Cappella Colleoni s built in 1472 when Bartolomeo Colleoni, famous “condottiero” of the Serenissima and Captain of the Venetian army, decided to build his own mausoleum. Free lunch and continue to Desenzano. You will reach Desenzano, on the lake Garda ,the town where St. Angela Merici was born in 1474. You can see the Birthplace, the Cathedral, the Statue in Piazza Malvezzi, the Convent of the Ursuline Sisters and the place where Saint Angela lived in Le Grezze. Accommodation and dinner at hotel.

6^th day - Lake Garda

After breakfast departure from Desenzano to reach 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. Time free for lunch an in the afternoon visit of Sirmione, a peninsula on the lake, where not only Catullus, but also Caesaris stayed. In the 8th century the Longobards built a convent and Dante, Carducci and Boito spent meaningful hours here. The Romans built 2 castles and a gigantic villa that rises on the rocks. Sirmione is well known all over the word for the thermal baths of Catullo. Visit of the Castle and by private boat you will see the Catullo Baths from the lake.Dinner in a local restaurant . Back to hotel and overnight.

7^th day - Verona

After breakfast departure for the visit of Verona. Half day with local guide for the visit of the Arena,a Roman amphitheatre completed in the year 30 A.C., where gladiators fought against each other or wild animals; it can held around 30.000 spectators; the Juliet’s house the heroine of the Shakespeare play set in Verona. You can see the balcony , the inside with 16/17th century frescoes and painting relating to the story of Romeo and Juliet and the bronze statue of Juliet which stands in the courtyard; Piazza delle Erbe, centre of the city with its colourful market, the fountain with the roman statue known as Madonna Verona and the nearby Baroque Palazzo Maffei; not far Piazza dei Signori and the Scaligeri tombs in the Scaligeri Palace, that once was theTribunal, on the far side is the Palazzo del Governo also built by the Scaligeri. The basement of the ex- tribunal provides a suggestive archaeological journey. Free time for lunch and shopping. Farewell dinner at a typical restaurant of the lake.

Back to hotel in Desenzano for overnight.

8^th day - Verona / Venezia or Milan

After breakfast transfer to Venezia Marco Polo Airport for departure.