7 days from £799
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Day 1 UK to Lake Maggiore
Scheduled flight to Milan where we are met by
our tour manager and transfer in our private
executive coach to Lake Maggiore and our 4*
Hotel Slendid in Baveno for a three night stay on
half board basis.
Day 2 Villa Cicogna & Lake Como
Today’s first stop is Villa Cicogna located in the
hillside village of Bischio. The garden is a hidden
treasure with wonderful views of Lake Lugano and
the Brevio Valley. We then travel on to Lake Como
and take a boat to Villa Balbianello. Rising out of
the water and with wonderful views across the
Lake, this wonderful 16th century villa is known
for its picturesque gardens in the colours of the
Italian flag.
Day 3 Lake Maggiore & the Borromean Islands
We meet our boatman at Stresa on Lake Maggiore
for our trip out to the Borromean Islands. Our first
stop is the beautiful Isola Bella with its 17th century
Baroque gardens owned by the Borromeo family
and built on ten terraces adorned with fountains,
statues and rare exotic plants. After Isola Bella it is
off to Isola Madre, home to botanical gardens with
exotic trees. We have an optional lunch on the Isola
dei Pescatori which is a pretty fishing village before
returning to Stresa and onto our hotel.
Day 4 Portofino & Montecatini Terme
After breakfast we depart for Tuscany and
Montecatini Terme. On the way we stop at Portofino
for an optional lunch set along the Italian Riviera
and then make our way along the coast to
Montecatini Terme and the 3* Hotel Boston where
we stay three nights on half board basis.
Day 5 Villa Garzoni & Villa Torrigiani
After breakfast we head for the Villa Garzoni in
Collodi, north of Lucca, to see Tuscany’s best
Baroque garden. It is set between Lucca and
Pescia and the Valleriana, a lush fertile zone
through which the River Pescia flows. We then
head to the beautiful gardens of Villa Torrigiani
lying in the foothills of the Apennines. The rest of
the day is spent at beautiful Lucca where we have
free time for lunch and to explore the birthplace
of Puccini.
Day 6 Villa Medici & Florence
We visit the 15th century Villa Medici and its
Renaissance garden in Poggio Caiano. The
afternoon is spent in Florence with free time to
visit the Duomo, Uffizi or Boboli Gardens or to
relax for lunch by the River Arno.
Day 7 Bologna
Prior to our return flight to the UK from Bologna,
we visit the Pinacoteca Nazionale, one of Northern
Italy’s finest art galleries with works by Giotto,
Raphael and Perugino.
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