TOUR - Italian Lakes - May 2012

Sun, 20 May 2012

TOUR - Italian Lakes

Sirmione, Lake Garda

Sirmione has been drawing visitors to its beautiful setting since its days as a Roman spa. The resort offers several shore-side lidos, an attractive waterfront promenade and a good selection of cafes and trattorie.

Lake Mergozzo

Lago di Mergozzo lies two kilometres from Lake Maggiore, in a peaceful location beneath beautiful Mount Orfano. The village of Mergozzo is one of the prettiest in the whole region, its stonebuilt houses clustered round the lakefront promenade. This is Italy's cleanest lake, and its pristine beaches are perfect for sun-bathers and swimmers.

Day One

Fly to Italy, meet your tour manager and board the coach for your journey to Lake Garda. Dinner will be served in the hotel this evening.

Day Two

Hemmed in by steep hillsides to the east, backed by the craggy Dolomites to the north, and surrounded vineyards, olive groves and woodland on its western and southern shores, Lake Garda is the setting for some of Italy's most attractive resorts. And today's coach tour is the perfect way to enjoy the area's marvellous scenery.

Day Three

Spend today's optional excursion exploring "fair Verona", the historic backdrop for the tragic tale of "Juliet and her Romeo", and home to the famous opera season held yearly in its Roman amphitheatre. Explore this fascinating place, then take a seat in an open-air cafe in Piazza Bra to watch the world go by.

Day Four

Today you'll leave Lake Garda behind and journey west across the Lombardy Plain, and then north towards beautiful Lake Maggiore.

Stopping in elegant Stresa, you'll board a boat for the short journey to the tiny, idyllic Borromean Islands. Stunning Isola Bella, with its 17th-century Baroque palace, picturesque Isola dei Pescatori, still inhabited by local fishermen, and Isola Madre with its Renaissance villa and superb botanical gardens.

Later this afternoon, you'll continue to delightful Lake Mergozzo and your hotel.

Day Five

This morning's optional excursion takes us to Lake Orta, and the wonderful medieval town of Orta San Giulio, with its narrow streets, wrought-iron balconies and stunning lakeside piazzas. There'll also be a visit to the lakeside town of Omegna to wander around its bustling weekly produce market.

Day Six

Today's wonderful included tour takes in two of the most beautiful of the Alpine lakes.

Backed by steep mountains, with a shoreline dotted with elegant villas and glorious gardens, Como combines Italian sophistication with the stunning scenery. Head to Tremezzo, on the lake's eastern shore, to visit the museum and gardens of the famed Villa Carlotta (entrance payable locally), then hop across the border into Switzerland and to Lugano. Here pretty Swiss villages nestle around the lake, and you'll have time to browse in the town centre.

Day Seven

Enjoy a last day in Mergozzo, or join our final optional excursion and cross into Switzerland, this time on the beautiful Cento Valle train from alpine Domodossola, through the breathtaking "hundred valleys", to sun- kissed Locarno. The views during this train journey are simply stunning, and you'll have plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere of colourful, Swiss Locarno before returning to the hotel.

Day Eight

Transfer to the Airport for Flight/s back.

Fee/s

NOTE - some attractions visited offer FREE admission to visitors aged Under 18 and Over 65. For anything else, Fee/s are payable locally, where applicable.

For any other help or information, please don't hesitate to either telephone through or e-mail - +44 (0)1624 621770 or sales@richmondtravel.co.uk.