Gardens and Villas of Como and Maggiore
This 6 night tour combines stays in five star hotels on both Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, both of which have a distinctly alpine feel but are also luxuriant in their vegetation. The tour operates with a maximum of 10 people.
This tour of two very popular and dramatically beautiful Italian lakes features a splendid range of striking villas and their gardens on Como including the splendid Villa Melzi d’Eril at Bellagio with its eclectic collection of sculptures in this essentially English-style park that abounds with excellent tree specimens, the enchanting Villa Balbianello facing Serbelloni, secluded in its setting and full of woods of pine, cypress and oak as well as flowerbeds, Villa Carlotta at Tremezzo, full of imaginative planting, sunny terraces, with climbers, ferns, giant magnolias and cork oaks and to the formal terraces of the gardens of the Villa d’Este. Two more gardens complete the tour at Lake Como; Villa Cipressi which is poised upon a rocky promontory with terraces leading down to the lake, planted with Mediterranean shrubs and vines, laced with magnolia, eucalyptus, pittosporum, lavender and agave and Villa Monastero, renowned for a fine collection of Mediterranean and tropical vegetation, as well as fountains and statues. On Lake Maggiore we had to include Isola Bella, one of the most dramatic 17th Century Baroque gardens in Italy, seemingly floating on the surface of the lake with its ten-terraced garden and marble balustrades. Water theatre, putti and grottoes embellished with tinted stucco, pebble mosaic and shellwork add to the sense of fantasy here. Trees include orange trees, lemons and pomegranates. We also include the Villa Taranto, a botanical feast of eclecticism with wisteria, roses, caesalpina, gardenias and magnolias, the Villa San Remigio with its spectacular views and its early 20th Century interpretation of a Renaissance garden, Villa Rusconi Clerici, the Villa Giulia in Verbania and the Botanical garden in Alpinia.
Day by day itinerary
Day One: Arrive in Milan
You either join our flight at 14.50 from Heathrow, arriving in Milan Malpensa at 17.50 or you make your own way either to Milan Malpensa for this time or directly to the hotel. At Milan you are met by your Iveco Daily small coach which seats a maximum of 16, although we have limited the tour to 10 participants. You arrive at your first hotel, Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como in time for dinner.
Day Two: Full day tour of nearby gardens
This is quite a full day with a total of four gardens to be visited on different shores of Lake Como. Today your coach and driver are joined by a local guide to accompany you as you visit the Villa Melzi d’Eril, Villa Balbianello, Villa Carlotta and Villa d’Este. Time to stop for your packed lunch in the course of the day. You return to the hotel for dinner.
Day Three: Half day visit to Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi
Today you have the services of the local guide for the morning as you visit the garden, villa and museum of the Villa Monastero and then the garden of the Villa Cipressi. The afternoon is free for you to relax at the hotel, making the most of its lakeside swimming pool or to explore on your own, perhaps by lake steamer. Dinner is included at the hotel.
Day Four: From Como to Maggiore
Today you leave to drive over to Lake Maggiore heading for Stresa and your guide to accompany you by boat to the magnificent Isola Bella. After the tour you check-in at your hotel, the Grand Hotel Majestic in Pallanza in time for dinner.
Day Five: Full day tour of Villa Taranta and Villa San Remigio
Today is spent with the local guide and driver who take you to the charming villas and gardens of Villa Taranta and Villa San Remigio. You enjoy a packed lunch along the way, returning to your hotel for dinner.
Day Six: Full day tour of Villa Rusconi Clerici, Villa Giulia and Stresa
This magnificent feast of luxuriant lakeside gardens is rounded off with three on the last day, with Villa Rusconi Clerici, Villa Giulia and the botanical gardens in Alpinia, reached by cable car. A packed lunch accompanies you today but your final dinner is taken back at the Grand Hotel Majestic.
Day Seven: Back to Milan and London
You have a large part of the day at leisure on Lake Maggiore today as your flight does not depart until 19.00 from Milan Malpensa. Stroll the lakeside promenades, do some last minute shopping or drink in the beauty of the lake from the hotel gardens.
Dates and prices:
This tour departs on the following dates from London for these prices per person
15 May 2012 £2940
22 May 2012 £2940
12 June 2012 £2940
19 June 201 £2970
11 September 2012 £2970
18 September 2012 £2970
Prices are based on two people sharing a double or twin room and are based on 10 people taking part. If there are fewer than 10 participating, the price may be increased.
Deposit payment:
£300 per person
Supplements:
Lake view double or twin room at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo £52 per person per night in May, £47 per person per night all other dates.
We include:
• Flights with British Airways London Heathrow to Milan Malpensa in Euro traveller
• Transportation from Milan airport and back to Milan airport in a small Iveco Daily 16 seater coach for maximum 10 people with one piece of luggage per person, English speaking driver
• Entrance tickets to the gardens mentioned
• Services of an English speaking local guide as mentioned
• Three nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo in a double or twin park view rooms, plus one packed lunch
• Three nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast at the Grand Hotel Majestic, Pallanza in double or twin rooms with partial lake view, plus two packed lunches
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Tremezzo, Lake Como
A 5 star hotel in the grand ‘turn of the century-Liberty’ style on the shore of Lake Como a short distance from the beautiful Villa Carlotta. There is a swimming pool in the lake, just separated from the hotel building by the lakeside road and verdant gardens that climb the hillside behind. Restaurant with panoramic views and spa. (Jacket required for dinner in the Terrazza restaurant).
See more details on the Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Grand Hotel Majestic
Pallanza, Lake Maggiore
Situated on a promontory in Lake Maggiore surrounded by English-style gardens of lawns and trees, the Grand Hotel Majestic dates from the 1870s and is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. There are 90 rooms, two restaurants, a spa and an indoor swimming pool.
See more details on the Grand Hotel Majestic
Alternative travel arrangements
If you want us to arrange flights on other dates allowing you more time in Italy before and/or after the holiday, if you want to fly into and out of a different airport or fly at different times to the ones suggested, if you want the use of a hire-car for your holiday or if you want to travel out and back by train instead of flying, all this is possible. Just discuss your travel plans with us and we will adjust the details and the price accordingly.
Important information
This holiday is based on 10 people participating. Flight times are subject to alteration and are confirmed at the time of booking. We reserve the right to consolidate departure dates if there are insufficient numbers for any of the departure dates. Our booking conditions apply to this holiday. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary if we cannot be accommodated in any of the villas and gardens for any reason closer to the date of departure. Holiday insurance is not included but it is absolutely essential that you are fully insured.