Date
September 1 – 10, 2023
Extend to Cinque Terre
September 10 – 14
About This Tour
One of Italy’s most beautiful regions is Lombardy on Italy’s northern border with Switzerland. The region has long been a target for invaders. Its position, with travel through the Alps limited to a few narrow passes, made it both strategically important and an economic goldmine, with the majority of those passing to or from Italy having to cross through the region. With medieval pilgrimages to Rome (and that would mean thousands of foot travelers each year) there was a ready supply of money to pay for bed, board, food and drink. Based on this foundation, and with absolutely stunning scenery, Lombardy became, and remains to this day, the country’s preferred vacation spot.
Writers, artists and composers have flocked to the Lake District for millennia. American novelist Henry James wrote that “One can’t describe the beauty of the Italian lakes, nor would one try if one could.” John Keats was one of many romantic writers who came here to for inspiration. And Italians were equally besotted, with Bellini, Rossini and Verdi among the composers who took lakeside homes, the better to inspire their art. This tour allows you to drink deep of the same inspiration. Each of the five lakes we visit has its own unique character. The lakes make this a perfect tour already, but Toto Tours adds an optional extension to the nearby Liguria region and its postcard-ready five seaside towns on the cliffs known as Cinque Terre.
COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY:
All plans for this tour are made considering the COVID procedures in effect at the time of publication. Entry requirements and vaccination requirements are subject to change at any time without notice. Please be sure you comply with the latest Italian entry requirements at the time of departure. For the safety of our groups, we only accept tour participants who are fully vaccinated, and current with their covid boosters as of 4 weeks prior to departure. Proof of vaccination will be required no later than 4 weeks prior to departure.
Tour Highlights
- City of Verona *
- Lake Maggiore’s historical past
- Lake Orta’s picture-perfect setting
- Sirmione
- Lake Garda’s many lovely resorts
- Como
- Lake Como’s magnificent villas
- Lake Lugano’s mountains * UNESCO World Heritage Sites
MAIN TOUR ITINERARY
Arrive in Stresa / Welcome Dinner
Please arrange your international flight to arrive at the Milan Malpensa Airport (airport code MXP) this morning. Before departure we will send you instructions about how to transfer from the airport to Stresa by train. If you prefer to arrive one night early (August 31) and stay in downtown Milan, our tour guide will assist with the Stesa transfer from Milan. Indicate your preference on your reservation form. Stresa is famed for its lush gardens and mild climate. It soared in popularity following the construction of the Simplon Tunnel through the Alps in 1906, and Ernest Hemingway used the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees in his 1929 novel A Farewell to Arms. On arrival, enjoy a relaxing walk along the lake shore. Our group convenes this evening for a Welcome Drink and introductions followed by our Welcome Dinner. (Dinner included)
Lake Maggiore
Despite its name, Maggiore is not the largest lake in Italy, but it is certainly the most famous. Visit the Borromean Islands, named after the family who owned the lake in the 15th century. A barren rock until developed by Count Carlo III Borromeo in the 17th century, Isola Bella was named after his wife Isabella, embellished with grottoes, gardens and white peacocks. After touring the palace continue to the fisherman’s island, Isola dei Pescatori, and enjoy free time for lunch before returning to Stresa. (Breakfast)
Lake Orta
Take a private vehicle for a three-quarter day excursion to Lake Orta, perhaps most beautiful of all the Italian lakes. After some time in the town of Orta San Giulio, we visit the island of the same name, just 328 yards long and 175 yards wide. See the Basilica of San Giulio, dating from the 4th century, when San Giulio, a Christian preacher from Greece, spread his cloak on the waters of the lake and floated across to the island. We return to Stresa for a free evening. (Breakfast)
Verona / Sirmione
We transfer by private vehicle to Verona, one of the richest and most elegant cities in northern Italy. It was a Roman colony, and several historical sites from that time, including the Arena where the yearly opera festival takes place, are well preserved. William Shakespeare set both Two Gentlemen of Verona and Romeo and Juliet in this city, the latter based on a true story from the year 1302. Enjoy a guided tour of the old town, built in a bend of the river Adige, full of historic buildings, attractive squares and beautiful shops. In the late afternoon, we continue to Sirmione on Lake Garda. Enjoy dinner at our hotel following check-in. (Breakfast / Dinner)
Lake Garda
Garda is the largest of the Italian lakes, covering nearly 150 square miles, surrounded on three sides by mountains, including the Dolomites to the north. The southern end features many resorts, including Salò, where Benito Mussolini was set up as head of the Salo Republic in 1943 by the Nazis, after having been overthrown by the Italian people. Enjoy a day on the lake, first visiting Salò, before crossing the lake to Garda town for time for lunch (on your own) before returning to Sirmione via Lazise, a small commune with a well preserved old town and city walls. (Breakfast)
Sirmione Free Day
We have a free day to explore Sirmione, where our hotel is located. Sirmione is situated on a peninsula which juts out from the southern shore of the lake, combining a medieval old town with luxurious vegetation. Visit the Castello Scaligero, built in the 13th century, or the remains of the villa of the Roman poet Catullus (neither included). This evening, we reconvene at our hotel and walk the short distance into Sirmione town for an included dinner. (Breakfast / Dinner)
Lake Como
We depart Sirmione for Como, situated on the shore of the eponymous Lake Como, Italy’s most prestigious lake since the earliest days of the Roman Empire, when Pliny wrote of the luxuriant beauty surrounding the villas on the shore. Later the lake enraptured Verdi, Rossini, Bellini and Liszt, while Shelley and Wordsworth were regular visitors. More recently, George Clooney bought a villa on the lake in Laglio, where he and his wife entertained Barack and Michelle Obama in the summer of 2019. You will have time after our arrival to explore the area surrounding our hotel on your own. After an included dinner, the evening is free. (Breakfast / Dinner)
Lugano, Switzerland
We take a three-quarter day excursion to Lugano, Switzerland, in the Italian speaking canton of Ticino. The city, situated on the lake of the same name between Monte Salvatore and Monte Bre, has a lovely old town and a beautiful lakeside promenade. Enjoy a guided tour before shopping for Swiss specialities or taking the funicular up Monte San Salvatore (not included) for magnificent views of the surroundings. Return mid-afternoon to Como for a free evening. (Breakfast)
Touring on Lake Como
We have a full day guided tour of Lake Como, beginning with a morning boat cruise north along the lake to Tremezzo, visiting Villa Carlotta. Built in 1747, the villa takes its name from Princess Carlotta of the Netherlands, who received it as a wedding gift from her mother upon her marriage to the Duke of Saxony-Meiningen in the 1850s. She laid out the magnificent gardens, while the palace itself is a neo-classical joy. We cross the lake by boat to Bellagio and enjoy a short walking tour before free time for lunch. The inspiration for the hotel of the same name in Las Vegas, Bellagio (bi-lacus in Latin) is a beautiful village which occupies a promontory where the lake branches in two. We return to Como by boat in mid-afternoon. This evening we celebrate the conclusion of our Lake circuit with a festive Farewell Dinner. (Breakfast / Farewell Dinner)
Depart or Extend
The tour officially ends after breakfast. Milan’s Malpensa airport is conveniently situated about 40 minutes from Como, and transfers can be arranged. Or continue on to Santa Margherita Ligure if you are taking the Cinque Terre extension. (Breakfast)
OPTIONAL CINQUE TERRE EXTENSION
In northwestern Italy, the Liguria coast is a stunning treasure with a dramatic chain of hills cradling a series of five small villages known as the Cinque Terre. They are awash in colorful houses spilling down the hillsides to the sea. It is a perfect place for an active walking/sightseeing holiday. A scenic pathway, the Via dell'Amore, connects the towns, winding along terraced hillsides through olive groves and vineyards. Best of all, these picturesque villages are all off limits to automobiles!
Tour Highlights
- Cinque Terre National Park *
- Riomaggiore
- Manarola
- Corniglia
- Vernazza
- Monterosso al Mare
- Santa Margherita
- Portofino * UNESCO World Heritage Site
ITINERARY
Transfer from Como to Santa Margherita Liqure
We depart Como by private vehicle, crossing the mountains to the resort town of Santa Margherita Ligure, situated on a secluded bay at the beginning of the Portofino peninsula. After checking in at our hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure before reconvening for an included dinner. (Breakfast / Dinner)
Lovers Way
We take the train from Santa Margherita to Riomaggiore, most southerly of the Cinque Terre, a rugged portion of coast meaning “Five Lands.” The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape, right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. Part of its charm is the lack of visible corporate development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach them from the outside. We will walk the Lovers Way between Riomaggiore and Manarola, and then continue along the coastal path to Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. In late afternoon, we catch a train for the trip back to Santa Margherita. The evening free is free at leisure. (Breakfast)
Portofino
We walk across the hills behind Santa Margherita through olive groves and hidden paths, enjoying spectacular views, before arriving in Portofino, one of Italy’s most elegant resorts. It was named Portus Delfini by the Romans due to the large number of dolphins seen offshore. The harbor, populated in the past by fishing boats, now welcomes luxury yachts, and is surrounded by restaurants, while the town itself has many boutiques. Above the harbor is the fortress, which protected the harbor in days gone by, while the nearby church of San Giorgio contains relics of St. George. Enjoy time for lunch and shopping before returning to Santa Margherita by public bus or on foot. Our Farewell Dinner is included at our hotel this evening. (Breakfast / Dinner)
Return to Milan
After a leisurely morning, we take breakfast and then check out of our hotel. We transfer back to Milan for a final afternoon and evening at leisure. Overnight in Milan. (Breakfast)
Departure
The Cinque Terre extension ends this morning after breakfast. Taxis can be arranged for airport transfers, although the location of the hotel near the Central Station makes bus or train an easy option. Please let us know on your reservation form if you would like to extend your stay in Milan. (Breakfast)
