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Touring among the Lakes of Northern Italy Day 1 - Arrival at Milan-Malpensa Airport (everyone) Take a short taxi ride to nearby Le Robinie Hotel and Country Club. Relax and maybe take a little nap before dinner. We will gather in the hotel restaurant for the Welcome Dinner, where we will begin to get acquainted, and enjoy a nice meal together. After dinner, we will distribute some information and answer any questions about the adventure on which we are about to embark. Have a good night's sleep -- buona notte! Day 2 - Milan (non-golfers)
After wishing the golfers well, we will leave for Milan. This is one of Italy's major cities, and its history goes back more than 2,500 years. Its location, directly south of the primary passes across the Alps, and bordered by three navigable rivers which connect Milan with the rest of the country, has rendered it one of the most important commercial centers in all of Italy. Historically, it is one of the most valuable political properties in Europe. Very little of Milan's antiquity has survived three episodes of partial or total destruction in the course of its history, and so much of the vibrant center seems quite modern. We will have tickets to view the very famous "Last Supper" of Da Vinci, and the La Scala opera house as well. The focal point in Milano is the truly amazing gothic cathedral (above), Italy's largest, with 135 marble spires and 2,245 marble statues. Begun in 1386, it was not completed until 1897, and through the ages it has provided a peaceful sanctuary amidst the bustle of the city just outside its doors. Quite nearby, we will visit the shops of the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. We will have lunch in the city center and have a little free time before we return to Le Robinie to pick up our golfers and proceed to our hotel in Como. Evening free.
Day 3 - Lake Como Boat Tour (everyone)
Today we will enjoy a relaxing cruise by private boat called the "Villa d'Este" to view this beautiful lake from the water. We will pass by many picturesque lakeside villages and the impressive villas that remain as a souvenir of the lovely moment in time when the stylish upper classes summered here in their palatial homes. We will stop at Bellagio, sometimes called the prettiest town in Europe, for lunch and free time to shop or explore a bit before we start back to Como.
Day 4 - Villa Carlotta and Villa Balbianello (non-golfers)
After dropping the golfers off in Menaggio, we will have the chance to explore the village and stop for morning coffee. We will continue on to tour the interior and the fabulous gardens of one of the most beautiful villas on Lake Como. Villa Carlotta, at Tremezzo (above left), was built during the 18th century and is surrounded by a magnificent garden housing more that 500 species of exotic trees and plants. After lunch, if time allows, we will visit Villa Balbianello (above right) which sits on a little promontory near the quaint fishing village of Lenno and which is a favorite with American film directors. In any case, we will have already enjoyed a wonderful view of the villa from the lake on our boat tour. We will pick up the golfers at Menaggio and return to Como. Evening free.
Day 5 - Morning Walking Tour of Como with Free Afternoon (everyone) This is your chance to slow down a bit and get to know Como better. In the morning, our guide will walk with us through the Old City and point out important landmarks, such as the Duomo and the funicular up to the hilltop village of Brunate. Afterwards, you may choose to take a public boat from the dock just in front of our hotel to revisit an intriguing spot on the lake, or stroll through the narrow streets to select a picnic for a lunch along the promenade, or just park yourselves in the central square and people-watch.
Day 6 - Lugano, Switzerland and Lake Lugano (non-golfers)
Leaving the golfers at Monticello, we will venture a little farther afield to Lugano, just over the border into Switzerland. The city of Lugano sits on the northern shore of the sparking and pristine Lake Lugano, where dramatic peaks of the Alps seem to rise directly out of the water. We will have a guided tour of the city, which is very Italian in appearance and nature, to observe this interesting blend of charming Old Town and modern vacation resort. Among the principle landmarks are the 13th century Cathedral of San Lorenzo, the 15th century church of Santa Maria dei Angioli and its remarkably well-preserved frescoes. We will take the funicular up to the top of Monte San Salvatore for an incomparable view of Lake Lugano on one side (above) and on a clear day, all the way to Lake Maggiore on the other. We will have lunch overlooking the lake, before returning to Como. Evening free. Day 7 - Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands (everyone) Lake Maggiore has its less mountainous eastern shore in Lombardy, its higher western shore in Piedmont, and its northern tip in Switzerland. Stresa is the principle town, and you may remember it as the setting for Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms. On the lake, we will visit the major Borromean islands, named for the family that has owned the land since the 13th century: Isola Bella (Isabella's Island, named for Isabella Borromeo) with its palace and terraced gardens, the tiny and very quaint Isola Pescatori (Fishermen's Island) where we will have lunch, and Isola Madre (Mother Island) the largest of the three, which we will view from the lakeside perspective where vegetation represents each of the four seasons. We will have a little time in the charming village of Stresa before returning home to Como as the sun sets. Evening free.
Day 8 - Isola Comacina (non-golfers)
The golfers are on their own today as they play the Villa d'Este golf course, a few kilometers outside of Como. The non-golfers will take a short mid-morning boat ride to Isola Comacina, the only island in Lake Como, where we will disembark among the olive trees which conceal the ancient ruins of eight churches and a castle (destroyed in 1169). A single church remains for us to visit today, and there are excavations of fascinating mosaics of the roman age . We will experience a traditional and very unique 4-course lunch in the wonderful restaurant, Locanda dell'Isola Comacina, where the same menu has been offered since 1947. The owner, Signore Benvenuti, will demonstrate the ancient tradition of the Coffee Ceremony at the end of the meal while he tells us about colorful history of the tiny island. After lunch, we will have time to explore a bit on our own before catching the boat back to Como. Evening free.
Day 9 - (everyone) - Historic city of Bergamo and Bergamo Alta
For our final touring day, we travel eastward to the foot of the Bergamese Alps to historic Bergamo. As we come upon the city from the plain, you will be struck by the impressive skyline of towers, church steeples and cupolas silhouetted against the mountains. This interesting city is in two parts: Bergamo Bassa, (Lower City) is the more modern section, which houses several important art museums and municipal buildings. We will climb by funicular to Bergamo Alta, (Upper City), one of northern Italy's most charming medieval centers, traces of which date from the 6th and 5th centuries B.C. In the Upper City, you will marvel at the beautiful architecture of the 12th century Palazzo della Ragione, the Colleoni chapel, the baptistery, and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, surrounding the 15th century Piazza Vecchio. We will have lunch in the town center and have time to visit some of the fascinating buildings and shops. After returning to Como, we invite you to gather in the hotel diningroom for a Farewell Dinner.
Day 10 - Arrivederci, Como! Our motor coach will deliver you back to Malpensa Airport for your flight home, or on to new horizons. Larry and Carolyn will wave good-bye and hope to see you again soon on another Stowe Away Tour. [note: "up" button takes you back to previous page]
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