Tour Lakes of northern Italy, The beautiful Italian Lakes: Maggiore and Como

Just half an hour from Milan, lake Como is a jewel-like oasis of tranquillity,a magical combination of lush Mediterranean foliage and snowy alpine peaks. Wooded mountain slopes protect the lake from extremes of temperature. Lake Maggiore, repository of the wealth and cultural patrimony left by the Borromeo family, is still testimony to their prestige and refinement which can be seen in their magnificent island palazzi with their impressive Italian gardens. The most popular resort of Lake Maggiore is Stresa, a very charming town. The town, already at the middle half of the 19th century was the most elegant place to stay, the most visited by the international upper middle class. The Lake Garda attracts a huge number of Germans, Austrians and Italians atracted by some of Europe's best windsurfing and gentle climate. Lombardy is Italy's richest and most developed region. Milan is an unbeat city, with some great classical and contemporary art galleries and a splendid cathedral , as well as world-famous designer stores and a lively night scene. If you are keen in fashion, in this region you'll find several outlets with many prestigious fashion brands. Many towns of this region are worth a visit: the pretty medieval town of Pavia and its fabulous Certosa/Chartusian Monastery, Cremona the birthplace of the violin and home of Stradivari, the elegant Mantua, the medieval romantic high town of Bergamo.

ITINERARY

1 Day:
Half a day guided visit of the charming town of Stresa, on Lake Maggiore, with its elegant villas and beautiful flourishing gardens. The "pearl of the lake" is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful and prestigious lakeside destination in Europe.

2 Day:
Full day excursion by private boat to the Borromean Islands, "Isola Madre" and "Isola Bella", renowned for their beautiful palaces and gardens with fountains, camellias, magnolias, cypresses, citrus fruits, rare plants and flowers in abundance. Continue towards "Isola dei Pescatori", a characteristic fishermen's island.

3 Day:
Full day excursion to Locarno - Suisse and visit of the city. In the afternoon, return to Domodossola with the characteristic "Centovalli" train passing through picturesque landscapes.

4 Day:
The entire day is dedicated to the visit of Lake Como and three famous Villas: Villa Carlotta and the botanical garden, Villa Balbianello and Villa Melzi. Then short visit of the town of Como.

5 Day:
Full day excursion to the centre of Milan, visiting the restored Leonardo's Last Supper in the refectory of the Church St. Maria delle Grazie, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Visit to the Duomo, the symbol of Milan, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and the Scala Theatre. Free time for shopping.

6 Day:
At disposal for optional excursions and departure.

OPTIONAL VISITS / EXCURSIONS

Como : shopping tours :
Visit to the world of Silk in the Emporio della seta in Como. Through illustrations and explanations the history of silk from its origins will be explained. Visit to one of the oldest textile Company in Como, where the working looms can be seen, possibility of shopping where many of the famous brand names are sold.

Milan : Shopping tour
Milan is the capital of the italian fashion with its elegant boutiques and world-famous designer stores. The so-called Quadrilatero d'Oro (the few hundred square yards bordered by Via Monte Napoleone, Via Sant'Andrea, Via Spiga and Via Borgospesso) is home to the shops of all the big designer names, along with design studios and cotemporary art galleries.

Pallanza
Located on Lake Maggiore, the town of Pallanza, of Roman origin, is extremely proud of its beautiful monuments, and of Villa Taranto in particular. It has an English-style botanical garden that boasts more than 20,000 different species of plants and trees.

Monza
During the month of september there is the Grand Prix Formula One race. Tickets for all sectors can be arranged.

Sacred Mountains
Full day excursion to the nine Sacri Monti, a group of chapels created in the late of 16th and 17th century, with life-size stautes made of wood and terracotta and paintings representing the life, the Passion and the death of Christ, and the life of S. Francesco d'Assisi. They have been integrated into the surrounding natural landscapes of great beauty, hill, forests and lakes. This site has been declared World Heritage by Unesco.

USEFUL LINKS
Museo della Scienza: www.museoscienza.org
Teoatro della scala: www.teatroallascala.org
Castello Sforzesco: www.milanocastello.it
Duomo: www.duomomilano.com
Cenacolo Vinciano: www.cenacolovinciano.org
Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio:
www.santambrogio-basilica.it
Pinacoteca Ambrosiana: www.ambrosiana.it
Stadio di San Siro: www.stadiosansiro.it
Lago Maggiore: www.lagomaggioreonline.it
Isole Borromeo:
www.primitaly.it/piemonte/verbania/isoleborromee.htm
Como: www.comune.como.it