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8-Nights Best of the Italian Lakes from $2,453
Trafalgar
OFFER ID 1568128
Northern Italian Lakes & Countryside
From the grand boulevards of Turin to the fashion streets of Milan, this nine-day journey takes you through the lakes, countryside and traditions of northern Italy. Spend time in Verona and Modena, where you’ll visit an acetaia for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and taste aged balsamic vinegar made using centuries-old methods. Settle into the lakes to explore the winding shores of Lakes Garda, Maggiore and Como. Visit the Enzo Ferrari Museum and share a home-cooked meal with the Serenelli family on their farm, a site tied to the Battle of Solferino. Along the way, take in the scenic towns, local flavors and an easy going pace of life.
Dining Summary
- 8 Breakfast (B)
- 4 Dinner (D)
- Solferino: Walk the property with Anna Serenelli, meet the animals and hear how the farm played a part in Napoleon’s Battle of Solferino, an event that helped inspire the founding of the International Red Cross, before sitting down to a hearty Lombardy meal.
- Modena: Celebrate all things Ferrari, past, present and future, at the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena. This pit stop includes intriguing exhibitions and an immersive experience that you'll never forget.
- Turin: Explore Turin on a city tour by coach with a Local Specialist. Take in the city’s elegant streets and baroque buildings as you learn about its royal past and the influence of the House of Savoy from a local who knows it best.
- : Visit Lake Orta, one of northern Italy’s lesser-known gems. You’ll have time to enjoy the peaceful lakeside setting, take in views of the island of San Giulio and maybe stop for a coffee in the town of Orta San Giulio, known for its quiet charm and narrow, cobbled streets.
- Como: Enjoy free time in Como to explore your way. Known for its Alpine backdrop and lakeside setting, Como offers cafe-lined squares, quiet lanes and waterfront views.
- Modena: Delve into the history and culture of Modena with a Local Specialist. Stroll through the Old Town streets and see the beautiful arcade of the Piazza Grande.
- Verona: Join a Local Specialist on a sightseeing walk along Verona's charming central streets. See the bronze statue of Juliet and the Roman arena.
- Milan: See Milan's central highlights.
- Modena: Enjoy a gourmet interlude at a historic, traditional acetaia with a tasting of some of the world’s finest balsamic vinegar. As pioneers in organic and biodynamic production, they place sustainable practices and soil care at the heart of their craft. This experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Production and Consumption.
- Explore Verona and Modena
- Visit Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, Lake Garda and the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena
- View Bergamo’s Piazza del Duomo, Juliet’s Balcony and Roman Arena in Verona, Modena Cathedral and Milan’s Duomo and La Scala Opera House
- View Bergamo’s Piazza del Duomo, Roman Arena in Verona, Modena Cathedral and Milan’s Duomo and La Scala Opera House
Whats Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized
8 nights from $2,453 per person
Trafalgar Tours: Northern Italian Lakes & Countryside
Day 1 - Welcome to Turin
Welcome to Turin, the starting point for a journey through Italy’s northern countryside and lakes. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers and get to know one another over dinner at a local restaurant, sharing your first taste of regional flavors.
Accommodations: AC Hotel by Marriott Torino
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 - Explore Elegant Turin
Get your bearings on a city tour of Turin with a Local Specialist, taking in piazzas, wide boulevards and baroque architecture. The afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Stroll the arcaded streets, sip a rich bicerin at a cafe or join an Optional Experience to the UNESCO-listed La Venaria Reale, once a royal hunting lodge and today one of Italy’s most impressive palace complexes.
Accommodations: AC Hotel by Marriott Torino
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore
Start your day lakeside at Lago d’Orta. There’s time to enjoy a coffee by the water and take in views of the island and the Alps beyond. Later, follow the shoreline of Lake Maggiore by road, enjoying scenes of pastel villas and wooded hills. In the town of Stresa, you can enjoy more time at leisure or join an Optional Experience to explore the Borromean Islands, a group of private isles once home to aristocratic families. You’ll end the day in Erba, a gateway to the Lombardy countryside.
Accommodations: Hotel Leonardo da Vinci
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 - Admire Beautiful Lake Como
Spend the day in Como, with plenty of time to explore at your own pace. You might take the funicular up to Brunate for panoramic views, browse local boutiques or relax by the lake with a gelato. For a different perspective, you can join an Optional Experience cruise with a Local Specialist to learn about the history, culture and villas of Lake Como from the water.
Accommodations: Hotel Leonardo da Vinci
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 - Continue to Lake Garda
Explore the upper town of Bergamo, where medieval streets lead to Piazza Vecchia, once the heart of civic life. See the Contarini Fountain and Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, built in the 12th century as a tribute to the Virgin Mary. Walk past Renaissance facades before traveling into the Lake Garda area. Enjoy a Be My Guest experience with the Serenelli family at their farm where you’ll dine on Lombardy favorites. Settle in for a three-night stay surrounded by the Italian countryside and tree-covered hills.
Accommodations: Poiano Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Admire Ferraris in Modena Make Travel Matter
Your day starts with an introduction to the gastronomic hub of Modena, home of sparkling Lambrusco, salty prosciutto and the aromas of parmigiano, for an exploration with a Local Specialist. Wander past pastel-hued facades in the heart of the city that was the birthplace of Ferrari, Pavarotti and tortellini. Modena's Old Town and the Piazza Grande with its 12th-century cathedral and Torre Civica, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As the day continues, visit the Enzo Ferrari Museum where you'll Dive into Culture and explore the history of this Italian icon. Enjoy a gourmet interlude at a historic, traditional Acetaia on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience to taste the delicious flavors of some of the world’s best organic and biodynamic balsamic vinegar. Settle in for a leisurely dinner with your traveling companions and Travel Director.
Accommodations: Poiano Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - Explore Verona
Romance is in the air today as you journey to Verona, the home of Shakespeare's tragic star-crossed lovers. A walking tour with a Local Specialist will take you to Juliet's Balcony, as well as the Roman arena, still in use today. There is also plenty of time to explore the city at leisure - see the seven medieval towers of Castelvecchio, relax under the shady trees in Verona's Piazza Bra or clamber up Lamberti's Tower for city views.
Accommodations: Poiano Resort
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 - Onwards to Milan
In search of spires that reach the sky, we leave our tranquil lakeside setting behind for the chic northern capital of Milan. Admire the extraordinary Gothic Duomo, La Scala Opera House and 19th-century Galleria with its impressive glass and iron-domed roof. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure to jostle with the glamorous Milanese for your spot in the shopping district of Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga and Via Sant'Andrea. This evening, join your fellow travelers for dinner to celebrate the end of an exquisite holiday together.
Accommodations: Starhotels Business Palace
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 - Farewell Italy
Your leisurely jaunt through the Italian Lakes has come to an end. Say arrivederci to Italy and your newfound friends.
Meals: Breakfast
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
Reference this number when contacting our agency so we may better serve you. Also keeping this number handy will allow you to locate this document again quickly.
Great Escape Travel Company
18 6th Street North
Great Falls, MT 59401
USA
406-727-6022
800-727-6022