DAY 1
MILAN – MAGGIORE LAKE (km 100)
In the morning, pick up of the rental car at Milan Malpensa airport or Central Station,
then departure towards Stresa, the pearl of Maggiore Lake. Here a cruise on the lake
to the Borromean Islands is included, 3 small jewels to be discovered: Isola Madre, the
largest, houses a villa-museum with a spectacular English garden; the picturesque Isola
dei Pescatori was also mentioned by Hemingway in his 'A Farewell to Arms'; and finally the
Isola Bella, where you can visit a noble palace with a beautiful botanical garden. For those
interested, there is also the possibility to visit the interior of the buildings and gardens by
buying an additional ticket.
At the end of the boat cruise, return to Stresa and from here we continue to the hotel,
where we have dinner and spend the night.
Meals included: Dinner.
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Palace and Garden entrances on Isola Madre, Palace
entrances, Pinacoteca and Garden on the Isola Bella.
DAY 2
MAGGIORE LAKE - COMO LAKE – MAGGIORE LAKE (km 130)
Breakfast at the hotel, then departure for Tremezzina on the lake to visit Villa Carlotta,
the interior of the museum and the magnificent gardens. Rest of the day at leisure to
visit the towns that line the lake, such as Tremezzo, Cernobbio. We recommend stopping
in Bellagio to visit the ancient village and admire the noble villas with their magnificent
gardens. In Como, you can participate in a food tour to taste the local delicacies, such as
the local “salumi” (cured meat), the “polenta” and the delicious “sciatt”, crispy pancakes
with a heart of stringy cheese.
At the end of the day return to Arona, dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner.
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Lake Como food tour
DAY 3
MAGGIORE LAKE – GARDA LAKE (km 240)
Breakfast at the hotel, then departure for Lake Garda. Along the way you can stop for
a visit to Brescia, a city less known but declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for
its history and monuments. Then we arrive in Sirmione, the pearl of Lake Garda. Here a
short boat cruise on the lake is included that will allow you to admire what was once the
Maria Callas’s Villa, the ruins of an ancient Roman villa, known as the Catullo Caves, the
sulphurous source of Boiola and finally the Scaliger Castle from an unusual perspective,
passing under its drawbridges.
At the end of the day, arrival at the hotel in the Garda area, dinner and overnight stay.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner.
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: : Guided walking tour of Brescia.
DAY 4
GARDA LAKE - VERONA - MANTOVA - GARDA LAKE (km 160)
Breakfast at the hotel, then departure for Verona.
Opportunity to visit the city on a guided walk in the historic centre to the main
monuments, such as Juliet's Balcony, Piazza delle Erbe and the famous Arena, symbol of
the city. Cooking enthusiasts can join a lesson to learn how to prepare a real Italian risotto,
very much typical of this region. Then we continue towards Mantua, one of the most
representative centres of the Italian Renaissance. Surrounded on 3 sides by artificial lakes
created to defend the city, it is rich in monuments and places of interest, to be explored
on foot, slowly. Not to be missed is the magnificent Palazzo Te, which houses wonderful
frescoed rooms. It is also possible to take a boat tour along the Mincio river, a lure for birdwatchers to observe many species of water birds, such as herons, storks and ibis.
Return to the hotel in the Garda area, dinner and overnight stay.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner.
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Guided walking tour in Verona, Risotto & pasta cooking
classes in Verona, Boat ride on the Mincio river in Mantua.
DAY 5
GARDA LAKE - VALPOLICELLA - MONZA - MILAN (km 200)
Breakfast at the hotel, then visit to a cellar in the renowned Valpolicella wine area with
a tasting of local wines and products. Then we continue towards Monza. Along the way
you can make a detour to Iseo Lake for a short cruise on the lake, or to Crespi d'Adda, an
exceptional example of a 'workers’ village' built by an illuminated textile industrialist to meet
the needs of its workers, recognized as Unesco Heritage site.
In Monza we recommend taking a walk in the historic centre, with the Duomo and the
Arengario (the ancient Town Hall), and above all not to miss is a visit to the Villa Reale,
surrounded by a very extensive park. Monza is a place well known by motor enthusiasts,
because it yearly hosts the Formula One Italian Grand Prix. Those who wish can visit the
racetrack, take a lap on the track (by minivan or bicycle) or even experience the thrill of
a virtual tour at 300 km per hour on a driving simulation. At the end of the day arrival in
Milan, hotel accommodation and overnight stay
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Boat ride on Iseo Lake, Guided tour of the workers' village
of Crepi d’Adda, Tour of the racetrack with track tour in Monza, Virtual Formula One Car
Race with a driving simulator in Monza.
DAY 6
MILAN
Breakfast at the hotel, then free day to visit the city. You can opt for a guided tour of
the centre, which reaches the main symbols of the city, such as the Duomo, the Galleria
Vittorio Emanuele, the “Teatro alla Scala” and the Castello Sforzesco , or go by the
hop-on / hop-off tourist bus with multilingual audio guide to move around on your own.
Alternatively, you can take an in-depth visit to the “Teatro alla Scala” or the Duomo with
access to the crypt and the panoramic terraces, or participate in an unusual treasure hunt,
an interactive and fun experience to discover the most famous monuments and the most
hidden corners to answer the quiz questions. At the end of the day, we return the car to
Milan airport or Central Station.
Meals included: Breakfast.
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Optional experiences: Guided tour of the centre of Milan,
Hop-on / hop
